Author Topic: Shipping To Germany (Read 234 times)

precarius · « **on:** March 24, 2006, 06:12:42 AM »

Does anybody here have any experience shipping basses or guitars to Germany? What is the best and cheapest shipping service to use? Also what kind of paperwork is involved? Thanks
Mike

longhorncat · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2006, 10:55:39 AM »

It will cost you $125 (plus insurance) to send a 35 pound package (size limited to 108 inches length plus girth) to Germany using US Postal airmail. You will need to fill out customs form 2976-A and attach 5 copies to an envelope on the box. All this is available at usps.com including an online form generator.

I just shipped my Persuader to France two days ago. It would cost you around $250 to use FedEx or UPS.

Bill

reinier · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2006, 02:20:33 PM »

Mike,

The best will probably not be the cheapest ;-)

When I bought my bass (from a US private individual) I was rather worried about the dangers of rough air freight companies and the likes, so I gladly accepted the seller's offer to have a specialised packaging company float the bass in its HSC in a wood-reinforced carton box filled with foam chips for 150 bucks. Together with the 2-day expedited UPS air service it costs me some US$ 450,= to get it here (The Netherlands), but the biggest blow came on my doorstep when the UPS guy also delivered the tax man's claim: 4% import duties over the purchace price and on top thereof 19% VAT over the total shipment value (incl. shipping & insurance).

In Germany VAT is lower (16%) but don't overlook that component because you'll have to pay it when you officially import the instrument into the country.

As for paper works: the seller had made a neat one pager describing the shipment's content & value, saying it was a second hand instrument being sold by a private individual to another private individual. Apparently that worked for Customs on both ends, but no doubt any shipping company can give you advice or a template to fill out.

Reinier

longhorncat · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2006, 10:13:50 PM »

Reinier,
Mike sold his bass on eBay to someone in Germany.

Mike,

Be careful when you sell your Spoiler to someone overseas. Buy full insurance ($1400) and do not undervalue it on the customs papers. If the buyer used Paypal and the package is lost, they can get their money back and you are stuck with what ever insurance pays.

When you package the bass, make sure it can't slide around in the hard case. (I use several micro fiber cloths to fill up extra space.) Bubble-wrap the hard case so it doesn?t move around in the standard (50x20x8 or smaller) cardboard box. Your spoiler is not fragile or super expensive ? double boxing gives it all the protection it needs. Your package weight should be right at 30 pounds.

Bill

(Message edited by longhorncat on March 24, 2006)

precarius · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2006, 10:57:45 PM »

Bill- Thanks for the advice. The buyer wanted me to declare it's value at $500 so he wouldn't have to pay the import taxes. I guess that's a bad idea. Thanks.
Mike

palembic · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2006, 03:03:43 AM »

It's understandable that we try to declare the lowest possible this side of the pond: we have to add -apart from the insurance- the imlport tax AND the VAT.
I said it's understandable NOT that it's smart. It's rather stupid for the insurance part of the deal.I imported my Rob Allen from Canada. It was packed by a professional packer and send by UPS who handled all the paperwork. As far as I understand there are stores your side ofth epond who are licensed packers for UPS, TNT, FedEx etc ...; THOSE are the guys you need for the job.
The wholme process went flawless for me but I paid the dues I had to pay.
With all pleasure!

Paul TBO

ajdover · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2006, 06:01:18 AM »

Mike,

Declaring the value (your selling price to the buyer) to be less than what it is is illegal as far as I know under U.S. law (if anyone knows the specifics, chime in). I wouldn't do it if I were you. That's the reason some folks won't sell to people outside the States - they get the request to declare it's value as lower, which it isn't, and then they're now breaking the law. I'd research this before telling him you'll do this for him.

Alan

precarius · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2006, 06:31:52 AM »

I just saw this on the USPS website.

7. Germany will not accept any Global Express Mail or airmail parcel post insured item valued at more than $500. Items valued at more than $500 will be returned to sender.

yggdrasil · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2006, 06:37:46 AM »

Hey Paul- is that Rob Allen acquiring a nice lambic patina from being played in the the brouweries in the payottenland? :-)
I have a Mouse now.

Alan - I think sellers just can't be bothered with cross-border shipping paperwork, when it's easier to just sell within the USA. I don't think it has anything to do with a mere request to under-declare, a request that can simply be declined. Although it's definitely illegal to mis-declare when you are importing something to the USA and depriving Uncle Sam of his portion,I doubt they give a hoot if you are exporting,since there is no material negative effect on the US treasury, (except for some commodities sold for export are subject to enforcement requirements of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other U.S. government agencies. In particular, cars and goods with potential military applications, including some electronics and software, must be cleared through CBP before they are exported. And if you export goods worth more than $2,500, you will have to follow formal export procedures.)

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/infrequent_importer_info/internet_purchases.xml

Frank in Toronto

palembic · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2006, 08:55:23 AM »

Hey my friend Frank!
My ethernal thanks for her!
She was baptised Chi as you know!
Well ...I like to use her in smaller settings -and when I am in a more reflective mood- playing the blues with BLUE STUFF. I always get this reaction from bass-players in the audience who you see looking very puzzled with that slanted head, than in a break they come asking hey ...great sounding bass ...but ...isn't there missing something?

HA!
Though I learned that she must be played with a decent filter system when played loud.
You on the Mouse??
Great!
Those are medium scaled no???

Paul the bad one

PS: we will play in the REAL pajottenland on Friday 1th of September on : Pajotblues in Galmaarden Belgium. Two bands are doing that festival opening night BLUE STUFF and another band. Hey ...hop over, dust your volkwagen van and we'll quaff some geuzes!!!!!

yggdrasil · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2006, 09:40:29 AM »

>the Mouse?? Those are medium scaled no???

Paul- The Mouse is short scale - nice fit with my Series 1 short scale, my Stanley Custom and my Guild Starfire Reissue with Dark Stars!

The only VW van I have now is sadly here in N.Am. - and it's a 22 foot VW/Winnebago Rialta - the Jefferson Campervan :-)

We might aim to rent a camper summer of 07 - Dokumenta is on in Kassel,D, and I'm mighty tempted by that geuze - although I'm saddened since one of my favourites - the Oudlambikbrouwerie (Vandervelden IIRC ?)in Beersel has closed.

Frank