BE-100, ON THE MEND

[spirit7]

the issue with small brands like Friedman etc in the UK is that they have no distribution, so we all read how amazing they are online and watch all the clips then think, shit i want one of those! the problem is that if you buy it from the US you end paying the full price of the head, international shipping, VAT, and customs charges which on a Friedman BE100 i would guess is around $1000 on top of the original price...

the point is it's VERY expensive to get your hands on an amp like this in the UK, so people roll the dice with the valuation and try to save some coin.

it is illegal, and it is a HUGE risk, this whole scenario is a good lesson for all of us outside the US about the dangers of trying to save money by doing a move like this

Absolutely, though I believe Musik Produktiv now sell Friedman gear (albeit at a pretty hefty mark-up).

-C

Also you guys over in Europe should be looking to vote out or elect people that are putting these unreasonable tax burdens on you. I hate getting political but I have had overseas buyers complain to me about their taxes being too high and I explain that it's really not my problem and that they need to vote those people out. I really feel bad for the guys down in South America, Brazil in particular.

Tax burdens in the UK aren't that bad to be honest, particularly in comparison to continental Europe (e.g. France). But that's a whole other debate Incidentally, I hope this trade agreement mooted to be entered into between the EU and the US gets done and removes some of these artificial tax barriers to encourage competition with (e.g.) China. Would be a huge boost to both parts of the West.

-C

 

[steve_k]

amateurs.....

 

[peterc52]

Taxes for import in denmark are 33% more.

 

[rlord1974]

amateurs.....

 

[RedRider]

I was hoping the OP would post up with the part he left out but seeing how he has not and I am being thrown under the bus here for something outside of my control.

Here is the real story.

The OP ordered the amp from my shop and all was cool and we ordered it from Friedman. It took longer to be completed by the manufacturer than was anticipated which was not in my control. What I could control is how quickly it got to him when it was done so I offered to upgrade his shipping from regular USPS International Priority 10-14 days to USPS Express International (2 day air to the UK) at my expense as a goodwill gesture for the extra time it took to be completed (which cost me a few extra hundred bucks).

The OP requested that we mark the value low ($300) for customs so he would not get hit with a ton of import duties. I told him I would do that for him but he would have to take the responsibility for the amp once it left our possession as I would not be able to insure it for more than the declared value. He agreed and I had it shipped straight from the production facility to the OP.

From there it was picked up at USPS and processed out of the country, it got to the UK and went MIA. I spent days on the phone with USPS trying to figure out where it was. They could only tell me it left the USA and was en route. This went on for months and then they sent us letters saying it was un located and we could file an insurance claim which I let the OP know about. I did file the claim for the $300 with USPS as that was the max we could claim due to the value being marked what it was. They kept telling us it was open due to trace and investigation and thats where it has been.

Luckily they finally found it and got it to him but that is the reason we couldn't file an insurance claim for the full amount. Why it was in a Cameron box I have no idea, we never touched the amp but all of the other Friedmans we have ordered have come in Friedman specific boxes. I am guessing the amp was delayed and they were trying to get it out to meet the air deadline and used whatever box they had on hand. I cant comment on that as I didn't see/touch/ship it.

I am glad it is all working out and we will not agree to try to save an overseas buyer customs/duties expenses any more because if something goes wrong we get flamed for it. Its not the OPs fault that USPS had it go missing but he knew the reason why we couldn't file a claim and he should of posted it here.

And NOW it all makes sense....thanks for posting it up Brad!! So the delay in any type of refund/replacement was all on the buyer anyhow...

Yeah, I am in the same boat every time I ship something overseas...I want the 300-400 bucks or so to ship it via UPS so I can insure it...and if the buyer says no, then its totally on him if something happens (granted the VAT and extra shipping is expensive, but man its nerve wracking worrying about it!!)...I shipped a prototype Suhr 10th anniversary guitar overseas via USPS...talk about being on pins and needles wondering if it would be damaged or lost....guy would have lost well over 4 grand if anything happened (luckily it didnt, but after all the stress involved on my end hoping I wouldnt be in a fight with the guy if something did happen, I vowed to NEVER do it again...)

 

[steve_k]

You just got pack smarter than your average postal worker's capability to destruct.

 

[Red_Label]

I stopped selling/shipping outside the continental U.S. years ago. WAY too much hassle/risk/expense. But I'm not a dealer, so I can afford to limit myself like that.

Anyways... this was quite the cat-herding story and like many others here I started out sympathetic to the OP and ended-up like after new details were disclosed.

Glad the OP got his amp (despite his lack of details), and glad Brad was able to clear his name. I also agree with him that it's just not worth it to play with fire in terms of skirting the regs in trying to help international buyers save some $$$.

 

[ttosh]

I just shat myself

Shit. Better go get the goats outta the barn again......

 

[Schaf]

Why would you go on a forum and post about this without contacting the seller first?....And when the amp went missing, I would have been in contact with the seller as well.....I would have given the vendor the opportunity to fix it first.

You seem to be assuming that he did not first contact the vendor. The OP never stated he didn't......

Never stated he did either and if he did that would be leaving out a pretty big part of the story, don't you think?. And, you seem to be assuming he did.

Forget it. Already addressed

 

[Jofipe]

Taxes for import in denmark are 33% more.

Wrong, it's all the same in EU.

 

[supersonic]

I was hoping the OP would post up with the part he left out but seeing how he has not and I am being thrown under the bus here for something outside of my control.

Here is the real story.

The OP ordered the amp from my shop and all was cool and we ordered it from Friedman. It took longer to be completed by the manufacturer than was anticipated which was not in my control. What I could control is how quickly it got to him when it was done so I offered to upgrade his shipping from regular USPS International Priority 10-14 days to USPS Express International (2 day air to the UK) at my expense as a goodwill gesture for the extra time it took to be completed (which cost me a few extra hundred bucks).

The OP requested that we mark the value low ($300) for customs so he would not get hit with a ton of import duties. I told him I would do that for him but he would have to take the responsibility for the amp once it left our possession as I would not be able to insure it for more than the declared value. He agreed and I had it shipped straight from the production facility to the OP.

From there it was picked up at USPS and processed out of the country, it got to the UK and went MIA. I spent days on the phone with USPS trying to figure out where it was. They could only tell me it left the USA and was en route. This went on for months and then they sent us letters saying it was un located and we could file an insurance claim which I let the OP know about. I did file the claim for the $300 with USPS as that was the max we could claim due to the value being marked what it was. They kept telling us it was open due to trace and investigation and thats where it has been.

Luckily they finally found it and got it to him but that is the reason we couldn't file an insurance claim for the full amount. Why it was in a Cameron box I have no idea, we never touched the amp but all of the other Friedmans we have ordered have come in Friedman specific boxes. I am guessing the amp was delayed and they were trying to get it out to meet the air deadline and used whatever box they had on hand. I cant comment on that as I didn't see/touch/ship it.

I am glad it is all working out and we will not agree to try to save an overseas buyer customs/duties expenses any more because if something goes wrong we get flamed for it. Its not the OPs fault that USPS had it go missing but he knew the reason why we couldn't file a claim and he should of posted it here.

As an overseas buyer I appreciate whenever someone goes the extra mile to help me out. I actually got scammed years ago under valuing a guitar, the seller actually told me it got lost, paid me my declaired value the re sold the exact same guitar on ebay. Anyway HONEST sellers should not take responsibily for these type of deals, and you were only trying to help the guy out. Idiots like this make it harder for me the buy from the U.S.
This buyer is tainting the names of two reputable dealers and really should start a thread giving a formal apology.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I was hoping the OP would post up with the part he left out but seeing how he has not and I am being thrown under the bus here for something outside of my control.

Here is the real story.

The OP ordered the amp from my shop and all was cool and we ordered it from Friedman. It took longer to be completed by the manufacturer than was anticipated which was not in my control. What I could control is how quickly it got to him when it was done so I offered to upgrade his shipping from regular USPS International Priority 10-14 days to USPS Express International (2 day air to the UK) at my expense as a goodwill gesture for the extra time it took to be completed (which cost me a few extra hundred bucks).

The OP requested that we mark the value low ($300) for customs so he would not get hit with a ton of import duties. I told him I would do that for him but he would have to take the responsibility for the amp once it left our possession as I would not be able to insure it for more than the declared value. He agreed and I had it shipped straight from the production facility to the OP.

From there it was picked up at USPS and processed out of the country, it got to the UK and went MIA. I spent days on the phone with USPS trying to figure out where it was. They could only tell me it left the USA and was en route. This went on for months and then they sent us letters saying it was un located and we could file an insurance claim which I let the OP know about. I did file the claim for the $300 with USPS as that was the max we could claim due to the value being marked what it was. They kept telling us it was open due to trace and investigation and thats where it has been.

Luckily they finally found it and got it to him but that is the reason we couldn't file an insurance claim for the full amount. Why it was in a Cameron box I have no idea, we never touched the amp but all of the other Friedmans we have ordered have come in Friedman specific boxes. I am guessing the amp was delayed and they were trying to get it out to meet the air deadline and used whatever box they had on hand. I cant comment on that as I didn't see/touch/ship it.

I am glad it is all working out and we will not agree to try to save an overseas buyer customs/duties expenses any more because if something goes wrong we get flamed for it. Its not the OPs fault that USPS had it go missing but he knew the reason why we couldn't file a claim and he should of posted it here.

Small, but important detail. Figured there was more to this story.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I wouldn't ship overseas, period. Fuck that shit. You live in the UK. Buy something made on your side of the pond.

This.