Tax on Japan Purchases w/Reverb

  • Thread starter Thread starter skoora
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skoora

skoora

Well-known member
Last time I bought a guitar from Japan it was on EBay, many years ago. There was only the price and shipping, no taxes or fees. I get the tax changes within U.S. States but we get charged that on international as well? Was about to buy a guitar and got hit with taxes.
 
I think I paid taxes on my Greco. I will have to go back and look.
 
Also anything over 800 you get hit with customs and their extra fees….
 
Crap, I accepted their counter offer so Reverb locked me in (haven’t paid yet). Didn’t occur to me to check their Japanese website and they have the guitar listed there for $300 less. I messaged the seller to cancel the Reverb acceptance so I can buy from their website.
 
Well I accidentally went one step further that I thought I was doing (thanks PayPal, I figured review order didn’t mean submit order..lol) and ended up ordering it from their website…Hopefully, if anything the sale on their website will negate the Reverb thing as it will no longer be available.
It was from Ishibashi.
 
Hopefully they will see that they would make more money selling through their own site, versus sharing a "cut" of the money, with PayPal....and cancel the Reverb order.
 
My last Greco was ordered from Ishibashi last fall; no tax, just shipping....no customs fees also. In fact I've never paid custom fees with any of the 5 Grecos I've ordered.
 
You might be able to get your money back if you ask the seller nicely. I did some regretful, alcohol related, purchases on Reverb a couple of times and they were kind enough to cancel the order the next day.
 
When I bought my Greco through eBay there was no tax added. But that was years ago.
 
DanishDon said:
You might be able to get your money back if you ask the seller nicely. I did some regretful, alcohol related, purchases on Reverb a couple of times and they were kind enough to cancel the order the next day.
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I actually didn’t complete the sale with Reverb. Once I acccepted the counter offer, it goes into my cart and they say I’m obligated to buy it. I messaged the seller and said please cancel it because I will be buying through the website directly. The order that went through that it took me by surprise was when I was doing it through the website.
 
I've purchased from them directly numerous times. They are good with paperwork and have had most orders arrive in less than a week. Seems you've figured out the state sale tax issue and import taxes are (suppose to be) zero on made in USA goods (gibson, for example) and made elsewhere only apply to the amount over $800, not the first $800.

When import taxes do apply the amount depends on where the goods country of origin is and not the country it's being imported from (unless it's the same country, of course). You may owe the courier/customs import or paperwork fees. The most I recall ever paying was still under $100. If I'm not mistaken it's like around 3% of the amount over the first $800. A MIJ Fender that let's say is $2,000 you'll (may) pay roughly $36 import tax on (the $1,200) and $0-50ish in paperwork. Technically you're still suppose to pay your state sales tax, but that's on you.
 
skoora said:
It was a Japanese made Gretsch. Just shy of 1300.
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So worst case you're (may be) looking at another $15-65. Keep an eye out for emails from the courier is all I'm saying.
 
Did you calculate shipping buying from the dealers website? I've purchased guitars from Ishibashi and the shipping rates were way higher when ordering directly from their website vs their Reverb listing.
 
skoora said:
I actually didn’t complete the sale with Reverb. Once I acccepted the counter offer, it goes into my cart and they say I’m obligated to buy it. I messaged the seller and said please cancel it because I will be buying through the website directly. The order that went through that it took me by surprise was when I was doing it through the website.
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They will prefer to sell away from Reverb because they don't get hit with Reverb fees. You shouldn't have to buy it off Reverb.. they'll just tell you:

If you fail to pay for this order within 24 hours of receiving this notice, you risk order cancellation, and multiple cancelled orders result in account suspension. Thanks!

I just did this with Mojotone. I thought I was getting a better deal through an offer on Reverb but after investigation the better deal is with Mojotone. I called them and they said they'd prefer I buy it straight from them because they don't get hit with all the fees for selling there.
 
Ishibashi cancelled the Reverb sale per my request. I haven’t received a shipping notification yet from them. Shipping on their website was more than on Reverb but the sale price was a lot less on their website. I haven’t received a shipping notification from GC either for an amp I got on Saturday. C’mon! They had Sunday to pack the damn thing!! You always like to think there’s a delay, because they were waiting to have the right packing materials but then it will show up with a piece of brown paper in there, in a box they could fit two amps in ?
 
Reverb will always charge sales tax no matter what. I won’t get started on how paying tax on something that was already taxed, with taxes money is theft though.


When I ordered from Ishibashi over the summer, it took them 3-4 days to finally ship my guitar. Was to Indiana from Japan in another 2 days. Hope your guitar comes 100% as described, my junior was in rougher condition than stated, and they basically told me to pound sand when I mentioned any issues. Good luck op!
 
jtgainor said:
Reverb will always charge sales tax no matter what. I won’t get started on how paying tax on something that was already taxed, with taxes money is theft though.


When I ordered from Ishibashi over the summer, it took them 3-4 days to finally ship my guitar. Was to Indiana from Japan in another 2 days. Hope your guitar comes 100% as described, my junior was in rougher condition than stated, and they basically told me to pound sand when I mentioned any issues. Good luck op!
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I’m a little nervous because they described extensive buckle rash but I just wasn’t seeing it in the photos. I was putting it down to Japanese being very particular about details but the guitar looked in great condition with the photos.
 
jtgainor said:
Reverb will always charge sales tax no matter what. I won’t get started on how paying tax on something that was already taxed, with taxes money is theft though.


When I ordered from Ishibashi over the summer, it took them 3-4 days to finally ship my guitar. Was to Indiana from Japan in another 2 days. Hope your guitar comes 100% as described, my junior was in rougher condition than stated, and they basically told me to pound sand when I mentioned any issues. Good luck op!
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Not trying to add fuel to the fire but my last purchase from Ishibashi was I got a guitar with a crack where the neck was glued to the body and Ishibashi did not show or say anything about it in their listing. Even though they admitted they left it out, they only wanted to discount the guitar $20 and would not accept a return.
https://www.rig-talk.com/forum/threads/bad-experience-ordering-guitar-from-japan.274726/post-3380971
 
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