Shipping guitars from overseas

[stars]

is it alot ? e Singpost should cover wad ... sommore singapore got FTA with america ... dun like eliminate tariffs and all tt shit ?

 

[fretless6]

is it alot ? e Singpost should cover wad ... sommore singapore got FTA with america ... dun like eliminate tariffs and all tt shit ?

Becos it's shipped to a domestic address, you get taxed within the USA. The retailer doesn't see the order as an international one, so u get dun exempted from that. I think u got wrong ideas bout wat the FTA is about. Californian sales tax is around 7.25 to 8.25% if I'm not mistaken.

Anyway, if ur goods are valued at more than S$500, changes are you will get taxed for GST once the goods come in. And if u do get charged GST, it's based on CIF. Which means value of your goods, insurance and freight totalled. So even if your items costs less than $500, but adding in insurance and freight it exceeds, u still pay GST. And the GST covers the freight and insurance costs as well.

Sometimes u cross ur fingers and u might not get taxed. But chances that since it's going through speedpost, and the invoice of the goods is used for the airway bill, u probably will get taxed.

 

[stars]

oh ... i tot e FTA mean no double taxation then dun have to pay GST + californian sales tax ...

jeez like tt means if u buy a us$ 500 guitar + tax everything total its like S$ 1.2k + freight almost $1.5k ?

jeez

 

[fretless6]

By right, when u ship it over from the USA, u dun pay domestic sales tax. If you use speedpost, the shipping address is domestic, so sale tax applies. Anyway, most US dealers that dun allow a non USA shipping address, probably does not allow a non USA billing address either. So even if u wanna get em to ship to speedpost, u'll still have a problem.

 

[JMguitars]

If i didn't remember wrongly, the shipping charges cost about SDG$100 (and without any taxes). This was via EMS or something like that.

That means there are no additional charges besides the shipping fee?

If you're using UPS or other courier companies, do factor in 5% GST.

In addition, should you require to pay by money order (if you're not using credit cards) make allowance for the cost of the money order, shipping and even insurance. These are all small amounts but on aggregate, they do add a noticeable figure to the cost.

 

[JMguitars]

Just my 2 cents on debit cards ...........

Try to avoid using them for payment.

Transactions via debit cards are directly deducted (debited) from your account (savings/current) ..... think of them as globally accepted ATM cards.

With most sites, its hard to know the level of client information confidentiality that is practised .... i.e. should debit card info fall into the wrong hands, criminals have direct access to draw on your cash deposits in ur bank.

Credit card payments are only credited to retailers 1-2 months following the payment date. This allows you as a buyer the buffer to contest any incorrect charges, any inconsistencies in the product whilst allowing you to instruct your credit card company to isolate and freeze the payment on the credit card sale.

If you can't get a credit card, send a money order drawable on major US banks. Its still a much safer route than debit card transactions in my opinion.

 

[MidnightFender]

Just to rub some salt in all your wounds, just ordered a guitar in music123 and my friend in US is bring it back for me...

yeah...

Maybe you guys can consider making some good old fashion penpals.
8)

 

[Prognosis]

Does music123 accept debit card transactions?

 

[MidnightFender]

Sorry Prognosis,

can't help you with that. But what about the shipment back to sg? which guitar do you want to buy? You settled all the issues discussed under this topic? Tell me your kang tao if you have any...

 

[stars]

Does music123 accept debit card transactions?

yea
it does . tt day i tried ordering . it accepts

1) credit card / debit card
2) western union ( they bill u a reciept u pay at any western union outlet)
3) money order
4) mail them $

 

[trianglebiscuit]

midnightfender: u order ur guitar with credit card issit. cos got billing address and shipping address. so if my fren in us i write the billing address as his address or mine?

 

[MidnightFender]

I put both address as his address. But I think you should ask music123, just to be on the safe side.

 

[cherubrock]

Hey midnightfender, mind if you disclose what guitar you are getting from US?

 

[MidnightFender]

Fender!!! of course!
(don't want to go into details...)

I like the vintage ones, my favourite fender color is the vintage white.

http://www.fender.com/resources/colors/

er... one more problem, how much is the American Strat in SG? after "discount"?

music123 cost US$879.99, about SG$1500 after the bank fees. Where buy cheaper? thinking of getting one.

 

[gruel]

WA i emailed the company Music 123 they say epiphone/gibson/fender/squier all cannot ship here one. Got many other companies oso cannot ship here like Boss.

 

[stars]

yeap ! wad a dissapointment rite ?

 

[trianglebiscuit]

wth. i ship to my frens house now ask him ship over now he say ownself ship by ups the cost is $298 dollars. still waiting for hsi reply weather is USD or not 8O

 

[fretless6]

Ship by UPS, be prepared to pay for 5% GST as well.

 

[JMguitars]

wth. i ship to my frens house now ask him ship over now he say ownself ship by ups the cost is $298 dollars. still waiting for hsi reply weather is USD or not 8O

That looks quite correct.

Its roughly about USD 160-180 depending on the package size (volumetric weight).

 

[trianglebiscuit]

then why the website 80usd plus only for shipping to singapore? (although cant ship the brand i wan)

anyway i ask my uncle ship back with his company so free shipping