Author Topic: 5 String Fretless Alembic (Read 639 times)

hasadari · « **Reply #15 on:** July 05, 2008, 05:24:32 PM »

If you call a FedEx store, they will walk you through the process. I did the same when I sold my MK4 to ghostyhead in New Zealand recently.

David Houck · « **Reply #16 on:** July 05, 2008, 05:50:27 PM »

Thanks Robert!

dannobasso · « **Reply #17 on:** July 05, 2008, 06:11:43 PM »

I just sent an sf2 to Germany and the shipping store took care of everything. Its not cheap though but our European friends are on the plus side of the monetary exchange.

David Houck · « **Reply #18 on:** July 05, 2008, 06:16:05 PM »

Not cheap. I guess one of the issues might be getting a good estimate of total shipping costs before actually shipping the bass.

dannobasso · « **Reply #19 on:** July 05, 2008, 08:29:42 PM »

Dave, fedex has an estimate page where you put in dimensions, weight, destination and insurance. It will most likely be hundreds.
http://www.fedex.com/ratefinder/home?cc=US&language=en

thebass · « **Reply #20 on:** July 06, 2008, 01:08:35 AM »

Dave,

when shipping to Europe (Germany in my case) german customs office is mainly asking for a customs value declaration bill so that they are able to calculate the correct customs and tax payments. I will have to pay 19% VAT + 3,7% Tax (Musical Instrument) on the declared value and shipping.

USPS charges $140 for shipping (Priority Mail International), UPS (Air Freight Consolidated) is about the same. FedEx charges for the same package approx. $340 which seems incredibly high to me. Maybe I did a mistake with the cost estimator.

I had my last shipments done with USPS and never had any trouble with them. Choose Priority Mail International and complete the customs declaration Form PS 2976-A.

Before shipping please ensure that you note my adress and phone number on the adress label. When the package arrives in Germany to the nearest customs office next to me (Cologne or Wuppertal) they will call me to pick it up and pay customs and tax. Therefore it is handy to have the customs declaration bill accessible without having to open the package.

That's all.

white_cloud · « **Reply #21 on:** July 06, 2008, 06:34:00 AM »

Let me tell you this Alembic lovers - living in europe (especially the outrageous tax rip off that is Britain)is very painful when trying to source Alembics.

Dave Im sad that you have to let this one go - it is quite outstanding. Life is cruel!

John.

tbrannon · « **Reply #22 on:** July 06, 2008, 07:23:11 AM »

Werner,

Perhaps it's different because it's to Europe, but when Charles shipped the Rogue I currently own to me in New Zealand we found that the box size exceeded the allowable limits for USPS. Charles didn't pick an extraordinarily large box- it was as large as it needed to be in order to protect the bass. I'm not sure USPS will take a box large enough to take one of the G&G Alembic cases to any International destination. Have you used USPS to ship basses recently?

My experience is only to the South Pacific, so I may be off, but I've always found that FedEx was competitive price wise, if not slightly cheaper than UPS, DHL or any of the other major international carriers.

thebass · « **Reply #23 on:** July 06, 2008, 09:36:29 AM »

Well, you might be right Toby. I really don't know if there was size limitation shipping with USPS. I bought a Lakland from the US in April and had it shipped by USPS but with neck dismounted. Rather to protect the bass during shipping than to save cost. When I was checking the cost yesterday (as listed above) I checked the UPS cost for a box of 130cm x 50cm x 20cm and 40 lbs. weight. UPS was listing $133 (Air Freight Consolidated) from Alembic factory (that's an adress I know in the US :-) to my house. I guess this should work.

FedEx (and TNT also) was way more expensive, even at their lowest rates. As mentioned, it's possible that I made an error entering the data, but I checked it twice with the same result. No transfer for less than $340.

Any help welcome.

BTW: Don't waste money with ensurance. Not even worth spending one cent for it. I learned an expensive lesson 4 years ago loosing one shipment via TNT. They just covered approx. 25% of my loss just because it was used as well. To make it even worse I was just left plain stunned after the stupid TNT office geek told me that ... a high insurance would even make thieves aware, that it might be worth stealing it.... This guy is just lucky to be still alive. F*** them !

thebass · « **Reply #24 on:** July 29, 2008, 02:35:53 PM »

This one will stay in the Alembic Club and has found a new home in my house in Germany. The pictures couldn't really catch the beautiful zebrawood top. It looks much better in reality.

BTW: shipping was $127.50 with USPS. USPS shipping time took ten days including weekends and another nine (!) days in german customs.

artswork99 · « **Reply #25 on:** July 29, 2008, 02:45:33 PM »

Congratulations Werner! Enjoy that Beauty.
Play it Healthy!
Art

klinkepeter · « **Reply #26 on:** July 30, 2008, 06:31:46 AM »

Hi folks, there is a better, safer and cheeper way to get intruments of this size to europe, you or a friend of you just takes the intrument on board of an overseeflight, I made the experience that it is better to buy or bring an extra softcase and take the bass with you in the cabin ,it?s just safer, the hardcase just to the baggade. So you can also avoid extra money like taxes and VAT because they treat you as it is your own intrument and you are on tour. I did this for at least 10 years with my upright bass because I was playing every year a tour in US until I became a father of 2 children not having time for this anymore and I never made a declaration for the bass before the flight. Actually the Series I I bought last year in New Jersey came the same way with a friend of mine. Also if you think about all the expenses including taxes and so on it might be sensefull just to get yourself a flight.

Author Topic: 5 String Fretless Alembic (Read 639 times)

white_cloud