dstroud
Well-known member
got a Harley Benton guitar I really want to get but a little confused how the customs work with how I get charged. anyone in the us order from them?
rsm
Well-known member
I have, a few times; before the current tariffs.
Most items were below the price cutoff IIRC.
I did buy something from Thomann that required customs / import duties (which was worth it because it cost nearly half the price of what US retailers were selling it for, with the customs charges included!).
The US shipper sent me a bill via email; I paid it, and the item was released. Same thing recently buying a guitar from Japan a few weeks ago; US shipper sent me the customs bill, and I paid it which released the shipment.
Canada is another story. I purchased a guitar from a Canadian retailer, and we couldn't get it through customs; it was returned to the seller twice (a music retailer, not a private seller), and I asked for a refund.
Most items were below the price cutoff IIRC.
I did buy something from Thomann that required customs / import duties (which was worth it because it cost nearly half the price of what US retailers were selling it for, with the customs charges included!).
The US shipper sent me a bill via email; I paid it, and the item was released. Same thing recently buying a guitar from Japan a few weeks ago; US shipper sent me the customs bill, and I paid it which released the shipment.
Canada is another story. I purchased a guitar from a Canadian retailer, and we couldn't get it through customs; it was returned to the seller twice (a music retailer, not a private seller), and I asked for a refund.
Mike Oxhuge
Well-known member
My question is if I ordered a 2203x from them, would it still be cheaper than the extra $1170 Sweetwater charges? But I suppose it would need a step down tranny. So maybe a wash?
mbt64
Active member
So I've done it twice. The first one was for some small items, but the last order was in May after they did some tweaking to the tariff rates, I think.
I bought Hughes & Kettner Ampmans (Ampmen?) Classic and Modern for $145 each (retail in the US is $469 each). Cost = $290.00
Shipping = $54.83
Customs Fees = $136.46
Total = $481.29
Ordered on May 8th, 2026 and received it on May 14th, 2026. UPS will reach out to you to pay fees before shipment is released from customs. They threw me a twist this time by requiring a weird "Section 232 Copper, Steel, & Aluminum Form" that drove me crazy trying to figure out until I could speak directly with someone at UPS who said just put "NA" on the form and send it back to them.
Basically, for the US cost of one unit, I got both delivered within a week. Also, I didn't realize this, but Thomann bought Hughes and Kettner last year, which is why their products are so cheap there. Plus, those two Ampmans with all the packaging were under 10 lbs, so I'm guessing a Marshall head will cost a lot more to ship. Thomann has good customer service; I would send them a message about shipping costs, but they won't quote customs duties.
I bought Hughes & Kettner Ampmans (Ampmen?) Classic and Modern for $145 each (retail in the US is $469 each). Cost = $290.00
Shipping = $54.83
Customs Fees = $136.46
Total = $481.29
Ordered on May 8th, 2026 and received it on May 14th, 2026. UPS will reach out to you to pay fees before shipment is released from customs. They threw me a twist this time by requiring a weird "Section 232 Copper, Steel, & Aluminum Form" that drove me crazy trying to figure out until I could speak directly with someone at UPS who said just put "NA" on the form and send it back to them.
Basically, for the US cost of one unit, I got both delivered within a week. Also, I didn't realize this, but Thomann bought Hughes and Kettner last year, which is why their products are so cheap there. Plus, those two Ampmans with all the packaging were under 10 lbs, so I'm guessing a Marshall head will cost a lot more to ship. Thomann has good customer service; I would send them a message about shipping costs, but they won't quote customs duties.
bste328
Active member
Marshalls usually have multi tap transformers and in this specific amp models you have directly a voltage selector rotary switch on the back of the head. You probably just have to change the main fuse.
