Buying Bass online
- Thread starter Lithumn
- Start date
5stringwonder
Member
Think as long as you buy from a reputable eBay store it should be ok. Look for stores will high number of transactions and good feedback.
Not sure what you are getting at with the comparison with Ishibashi. No reason why another store can't be cheaper...
Not sure what you are getting at with the comparison with Ishibashi. No reason why another store can't be cheaper...
5stringwonder
Member
I've bought plenty of times off eBay without any major problem. If fact, the only time I had an issue with an eBay seller, the seller was based in Singapore!!
frenchtoast
New member
Make sure you just check that the seller has got good feedback with good rep. I dont know if you guys remember a poor guy that got conned i think a Gibson lp custom and when it arrived he just got a hardcase with a...fluoresent light rod? I bought from ishibashi plenty of times. Very reliable. I would try to avoid ebay though if i were you. Heard of too many scam cases from there. Thats just me.
rottenramone
Active member
i just love receiving packages in the mail! i get all excited when my dad calls me up and says "your package is here".
ive shipped pedals and basses (hardcase) from musicianfriend and zzsounds. one was lompanging on a friend's trip, the other via vpost. i almost bought on ebay a few times too, but got outbidded in the last few mins or when auction ended when asleep etc.
for the one that lompang-ed the friend, pedals were fine, BUT the first bass vol pot somehow came out and was bouncing around inside the hardcase, and the body had a slight ding when it came in. not sure whether it was because it wasnt packed or handled properly and the ding is from the vol pot hitting the body, or whether the bass itself came with a ding.
strangely, the other basses (all without hardcase) were fine. the singpost pple did a great job of stuffing enough styrofoam to make a little kiddy playground in the cardboard box they survived fine.
my takeaway: go ahead n try ebay or talkbass or the other forums, esp for 2nd hand stuff, but let the experts handle shipping.
for the one that lompang-ed the friend, pedals were fine, BUT the first bass vol pot somehow came out and was bouncing around inside the hardcase, and the body had a slight ding when it came in. not sure whether it was because it wasnt packed or handled properly and the ding is from the vol pot hitting the body, or whether the bass itself came with a ding.
strangely, the other basses (all without hardcase) were fine. the singpost pple did a great job of stuffing enough styrofoam to make a little kiddy playground in the cardboard box they survived fine.
my takeaway: go ahead n try ebay or talkbass or the other forums, esp for 2nd hand stuff, but let the experts handle shipping.
jackyboyboy
New member
I still havent to manage to buy from ebay and US. The shipping really kills man.
garagesale_01
New member
but will we be charged for some sort of tax on singapore side?
5stringwonder
Member
Yes, GST for purchases above $400.
but will we be charged for some sort of tax on singapore side?
nope
there's a rather naughty way of avoiding tax.
to put simply. i always hear of people being billed GST on top of CIF + cost of the bass(or any other gear for that matter), this is because the item will be delivered to you, thus, making you liable for the service that you receive when u get the item.( GST for the act of local reception of item)
usually what i do is, when i know the tracking number and estimated arrival date, i give singpost a call and tell them specifically.
LEAVE THE ITEM AT POST OFFICE, i will collect meself. and they are ok with it. so i'd pop over to singpost office and collect the item. just show IC to verify ID and give them the tracking number. even though items were over S$400. they dont charge me anything. done this with both EMS shipped items and Vpost shipped items.
no extra payment beyond what you have paid for item and CIF. no GST. not sure if this is counted tax evasion since you dont use a service. they ship it to you and so as long as the good reach the customer and they dont ship from their end node to your home. its not considered a service provided since you basically self collect.
iverson763
New member
good only? i'm going to vote stars as softie of the year
jackyboyboy
New member
nope
there's a rather naughty way of avoiding tax.
to put simply. i always hear of people being billed GST on top of CIF + cost of the bass(or any other gear for that matter), this is because the item will be delivered to you, thus, making you liable for the service that you receive when u get the item.( GST for the act of local reception of item)
usually what i do is, when i know the tracking number and estimated arrival date, i give singpost a call and tell them specifically.
LEAVE THE ITEM AT POST OFFICE, i will collect meself. and they are ok with it. so i'd pop over to singpost office and collect the item. just show IC to verify ID and give them the tracking number. even though items were over S$400. they dont charge me anything. done this with both EMS shipped items and Vpost shipped items.
no extra payment beyond what you have paid for item and CIF. no GST. not sure if this is counted tax evasion since you dont use a service. they ship it to you and so as long as the good reach the customer and they dont ship from their end node to your home. its not considered a service provided since you basically self collect.
Cool. Its a huge savings. Consider u buy a few thousand $ cost for a Bass.
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