N
neuroop
Member
I did a fair amount of research but had trouble finding a whole lot about this. So maybe this will help someone considering a similar purchase. Forgive the details.
I wanted to detail my experience with Ikebe-Gakki from Japan. Communicated with them via their website, they have a link to email for overseas customers. Quick response within 24 hrs or so. Tried to haggle with the price for a bit, but no dice. Paid their listed price. Annoyingly, because I did not want to wire money, also paid for shipping and PayPal fee. More lameness - the guitar comes with a gig bag - a case is an add on charge. Not even a free t shirt!
great communication from the store in Japan - sent 11 photos of the guitar and asked me to confirm prior to shipping.
They sent me a PayPal invoice and confirmed payment. Two days later (Thursday) guitar ships out fed ex international priority (ems is down because of covid). Friday morning I get a call from fed ex in Memphis saying they see on the description this is a guitar and need to know the wood type, person leaves her email for me. I emailed her the guitar Is maple and ash and she responds saying customs needs a form filled out so I emailed that back to her. So far no news from customs and no payment for import tax to fed ex. (I’ve used dhl and got stuck with around 10-15 import tax on the spot before the item would move from port of entry)
guitar ships out the next day and arrives locally on Saturday where it sits until Monday - I had diverted to local fed ex for pick up Monday as it was sent signature required.
picked up Monday with id. Packed extremely well with tons of bubble wrap covering all sides. the cardboard box is in better shape than most packages sent locally. Guitar was detuned on all strings.
I consider myself very lucky, guitar arrived quickly and was exactly what I was expecting.
Not a deal at all but if you really have to have that guitar from overseas ...and kudos to fed ex on this one.
just be aware , lots of potential for problems at each step and of course if there is a problem when it arrives
hope that helps someone
Post pandemic I’d probably rather go to Tokyo and pick it up next time ...
I wanted to detail my experience with Ikebe-Gakki from Japan. Communicated with them via their website, they have a link to email for overseas customers. Quick response within 24 hrs or so. Tried to haggle with the price for a bit, but no dice. Paid their listed price. Annoyingly, because I did not want to wire money, also paid for shipping and PayPal fee. More lameness - the guitar comes with a gig bag - a case is an add on charge. Not even a free t shirt!
great communication from the store in Japan - sent 11 photos of the guitar and asked me to confirm prior to shipping.
They sent me a PayPal invoice and confirmed payment. Two days later (Thursday) guitar ships out fed ex international priority (ems is down because of covid). Friday morning I get a call from fed ex in Memphis saying they see on the description this is a guitar and need to know the wood type, person leaves her email for me. I emailed her the guitar Is maple and ash and she responds saying customs needs a form filled out so I emailed that back to her. So far no news from customs and no payment for import tax to fed ex. (I’ve used dhl and got stuck with around 10-15 import tax on the spot before the item would move from port of entry)
guitar ships out the next day and arrives locally on Saturday where it sits until Monday - I had diverted to local fed ex for pick up Monday as it was sent signature required.
picked up Monday with id. Packed extremely well with tons of bubble wrap covering all sides. the cardboard box is in better shape than most packages sent locally. Guitar was detuned on all strings.
I consider myself very lucky, guitar arrived quickly and was exactly what I was expecting.
Not a deal at all but if you really have to have that guitar from overseas ...and kudos to fed ex on this one.
just be aware , lots of potential for problems at each step and of course if there is a problem when it arrives
hope that helps someone
Post pandemic I’d probably rather go to Tokyo and pick it up next time ...
