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Post by richclough on Mar 30, 2018 8:25:34 GMT
Hi, Okay, after a couple of years of thinking about it I'm about to order (for me) my dream guitar - National Style 1 Tricone, cutaway, removable t-bar strap. It's a bespoke order, there appear to be no cutaway Style 1s in the UK, never mind ones with removable straps. I'd appreciate advice on the best way to do this. There are three options as I see it: - Order via a UK main dealer - Frailers in Runcorn is closest to me
- Order via a US main dealer - e.g. Elderly
- Order via a US National sole-trader dealer e.g. Catfish Keith, Mike Dowling etc.
Obviously there are pros and cons to all of these. I suspect ordering direct from the US will be slightly cheaper than the UK, but then there's the old 'what happens when something goes wrong' issue. Does anyone have any experience, good and bad, of doing this? Any dealers to recommend/avoid? Cheers, Rich
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Post by wezzywest on Mar 30, 2018 11:08:06 GMT
I don`t think that there is a right or wrong way to get the dream guitar. I would make enquiries with all of the options and National themselves. What you will have to watch out for is the `hit`, from customs and excise. 20% on top the price, including agreed post from the US!! also the dollar/ pound exchange rate. Good luck.
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Post by snakehips on Mar 30, 2018 14:34:25 GMT
I think their prices are going up soon - so be quick about it !!
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Post by groff on Mar 30, 2018 17:24:17 GMT
I have had an instrument from Elderly in Lansing Michigan and it was a very happy experience. Excellent communication and all round service. So I'd certainly suggest including them on your list of places to enquire. There's an excellent guide to importing instruments from the USA on www.homeoftone.co.uk. It's a few pages back in the blog section. The add-on costs are quite high. Basically, you need to add together the cost of the instrument, shipping costs, UK Customs duty, courier's customs clearing fee and then to this sum add 20% VAT. I've done it several times and you can reckon on adding on about a third of the retail price.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2018 18:21:33 GMT
I'd go with Frailers. You'll probably get as good a deal from them as anywhere else. As groff points out importing from US won't save you much,if any, money at the end of the day.
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Post by groff on Mar 31, 2018 6:20:27 GMT
I should have said I was talking about banjos from small specialist US builders just not available through UK retailers. Much better to use a UK dealer if you can, though Elderly were a pleasure to work with.
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Post by twang1 on Mar 31, 2018 8:55:27 GMT
A good place to shop National Reso-Phonic guitars in Europe is Palm Guitars in Amsterdam. They have been doing it for many years and they have good prices (for Europe). Frank
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Post by jono1uk on Mar 31, 2018 9:47:03 GMT
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Mar 31, 2018 9:53:18 GMT
I suggest you use the calculator if you are going to import direct and don't forget to add on the shipping company's customs clearance/admin charge as well. You might get a fright if you don't.
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Post by slidefever on Apr 1, 2018 12:14:47 GMT
Add 25% for vat and import duty
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