Buying Drumsticks from USA?

Has anybody tried buying sticks from US via VpostUSA?
It is cheaper that buying from Yamaha?
I really doubt it. Even if you did bulk order, and the onlineshop offers you a bulk discount, you'd still be paying more because of shipping. A brick of 12 sticks isn't light mind you. If you're getting individual pairs, why bother going through all that trouble? A short bus/mrt ride down to town and $14-$15 on a pair of sticks before the 10% yamaha discountt is definitely more worth it than ordering sticks online, checking conversion rates, factoring in shipping costs, and waiting for your sticks to arrive.

Imo, no.
 
I bought a brick of Vater sticks online before. Including shipping, it's actually substantially cheaper than Yamaha.

But that's because Yamaha's stuff are overpriced. If you get the sticks from Ranking who sells Vater sticks cheaper, buying online only saves you $1 - $2 dollars per pair. Pro-mark and Zildjian sticks are entirely another case. It's a monopoly! So you just have to pay the price of $17 for a pair of Pro-marks and Zildjian sticks.

Buying online is only more feasible when the sticks you want to get isn't available here and you would like to get them in bulk so you would have sticks to play for a long time. Like alvyn said, if you are just getting one or two pairs that's available in Singapore, it's better get it from the shops.

For me, I ordered online because I waited for 2 months for my Vater 5Bs. Ranking doesn't stock them and Yamaha is constantly out of stock.

Dejected, I thought what the heck, I would just order online in bulk to end my misery. I'm one of those who when I want something, I simply need to have it. This is baaaad. The brick of sticks traveled with the cymbals that I ordered online too. Shipping was expensive due to the cymbals. But when I did my calculations, everything was still cheaper as supposed to me getting everything at Yamaha (who also doesn't stock the Zildjian cymbals that I want).

Let's say even if the shipping did jack up the final price slightly, if it's within your budget, it's still okay too. It's a choice between:

- Order from Yamaha, wait for four months, but you can't use what you like within that 4 months. Sigh.

- Order online, get it within one - two weeks, play your new gear almost instantly without waiting! WHEE!

The downside is buying in bulk is that...now I am stuck with a lot of Vater 5Bs! A couple of months ago, I actually tried Vic Firth Stanton Moore's signature series and fell in love with it. So I had to sell the rest of my Vater sticks away.

Hope this little story helps in your decision! Supporting your local music shops is important to keep the drum community alive here, but sometimes, those corporations make things a little hard for us too because at the end of the day, as consumers, we naturally want to get a cheaper and better deal. Cest la vie!
 
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Was at Yamaha the other day and they are selling those zildjian signature sticks at $17+ a pair. I think this is really over priced. Similar sticks, I get buy them online for US$6.70 or about S$9.70 with free delievery to local US address.

Killerbee, do you think it is possible to give me the dimension of the brick of 5B stick as I would like to do a calculation of the shipping cost via Vpost website.

Thanks
 
The brick was packed with my cymbals in a box and what's left of the brick is now 4 pairs of sticks, as I've used some and sold some! LOL!

But a brick is simply 12 pairs of sticks stacked together with shrink wrap. I brought a brick of Stanton Moore sticks too in the shops here, so I can give you the dimension of that, which is: 41.5 x 6.5 x 9cm

Just add/minus a few cm for the sticks you want to buy due to the difference in diameter and length.

Also take note that that measurement will not be the final dimension of the package. The seller might pack the sticks differently with padding in a box. So that would add to the shipping cost too, as VPOST charges by volumic weight (dimensions of the box) if it's bigger than the actual weight.
 
Killerbee, thanks for the information. I just placed an order for 20 pairs of Dennis Chamber signature sticks. I will update the final landed cost when they arrive.
 
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awesome. yes. it is much cheaper :). I buy promark in bulk. adds up to about $9 per stick. as opposed to 16 at yamaha. furthermore. yamaha is always out of stock. I break my sticks too easily :). where did u get yours from?
 
dang man. i need to get a credit card, pronto. my sticks are like, well, sticks (if you get my drift). i need to get more! more!

i use Zildjian Roy Hanes Model and it costs S$17.70 at Yamaha. damn. Ranking doesn't sell it. and i sure as hell don't wanna look in Swee Lee. i haven't checked at penin but i'm sure the price is about the same. minus a dollar or two.

so i guess its smart to order in bulk online. but, like killerbee, i dun wanna fall in love with a new model of sticks while i still got a brick of sticks left.

sigh. i guess this is one problem that 'good' drummers face. heheh
 
Hi jeepers. i got that particular batch from guitarcenter. one thing about buying online is that u dont get to select each pair individually so you cant check the grain pattern on the shaft. Haha. Jugman. you'll love Promark 5As. Its been my stick of choice for a long time now.
 
sadly. it retails at yamaha at 16 after discount. but u can just get one to try. may not be in stock at the moment.
 
hmm one of these days, i'll go check if they're in stock. if not, i'll just get my zildjian. and if it's also not in stock, i'll burn the place down! MUAHAHAHAHAHA
 
Hmm.. I think i need to get sticks in bulk online too. My sticks really aren't lasting me. I tried out a pair of Zildjian 5As recently, hoping they would last longer than the Pro-mark Portnoy Signature sticks (yeah, i know they aren't exactly the same dimensions) i normally use. One of the Zildjians broke after only about 10 hours + of actual playing time. :(

The last "batch" (i bought 3 pairs at a time) of Pro-mark Portnoy sticks i bought had problems with the nylon tip flying off though. Didn't have that problem with the previous "batches". Seems i could have got lemons. Which is dangerous considering u might get 12 lemons in a pack. :p
 
Does anyone wanna get Vater 7A's(Maple)? I can't bring it in as I don't have a credit card.

Is there anyone who doesn't mind setting up a pre-order list?
 
To people who've ordered their sticks in bulk:

How many stick will there be in a brick??? i estimate a 12pairs?

i think frakae really got a gd deal off for like 9 bucks for a pair on promarks... i've been using vater 5a's los angeles until recently the tip got chipped by my wuhan chinese and my snare have this little flaked off coating due to it....

Took out my 5A pro-mark shira kashi oak and been using it for awhile already...

the oak does give my hands a little blisters near the pinky finger but i think it just needs to get some used to and now no more blisters... i got mine for 16 bucks after yamaha discount...

great sticks yeah... wished i didn't have bought so much sticks during SL sale and off sales... im stuck with so many signature sticks now!!
 
I ordered mine from musicianfriends and you dont really need to buy in multiple of bricks unless they are special promotion items. Sometime it is more advisable to buy above a certain amount to enjoy free local shipping.
 
Erm.. i need some help from u guys here... I've read most of the posts which is supposed to have provided me with lots of help but i still can't decide. Another softie "HighFlyer" is buying stuffs from musician's friend and he is taking orders from fellow softies. If i'm not wrong its becos if the orders are over a certain amount then the local shipping fee or something can be waived(really not very sure though:X).

The thing is i'm ordering 4 pairs of sticks with him. All vic firth. the total adds up to about 60 dollars(average of $15/pair) according to my calculations after checking the price at musician's friend and converting the currency.

I'm not sure if its more worth it or is it better to jus make a trip down to sweelee to get my sticks?cos i forgot(and partly lazy to make a trip to swee lee to check) how much the sticks cost in S'pore becos i either never or forgot to check prices of sticks when i buy them.LOL.

should i go ahead with ordering from musician's friend or order from musician's friend but order more in order to save or jus buy from swee lee?

Really appreciate any help/advice/comments given:D
 
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