Added Cost

[shredaholic]

Would I have to pay extra to get a custom shop pickup here in the UK, in addition to the already higher cost compared to the production models? A lot of the time when you import stuff from the US into the UK you have to pay customs duties and other costs (brokerage fees? ? ?). Would the custom shop be able to ship the pickup with no charge to ARIA U.K which is their distributor over here and then I could purchase it from them, or is the added cost unavoidable?

 

[shredaholic]

Re: Added Cost

<bump>

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Added Cost

A lot of the UK guys act like the duties are unavoidable. Keep your eyes on the post till some UK guys comment.

Luke

 

[darkshadow54321]

Re: Added Cost

No idea about the Aria thing, but if you get them to ship the pickup directly to you, there are several ways to get around customs:

1. Declare a low value for the item (under $70 seems to work, at least for me)

2. Make them tick the box that says 'gift'

Unfortunately, the first option is illegal, and as SD is a respected company, it is unlikely they'd be willing to do this for you.

 

[rinse_master]

Re: Added Cost

If you buy the pickups from a UK dealer there shouldn't be any extra charges AFAIK, but I brought all of my pickups from the US, either via Ebay or the Trading Post here, and out of about 15 parcels only about 3 have been charged for customs duties, plus buying from the US the exchange rate is your favour, $70 is like £35 or near enough, so even with the customs you are better off, IMO.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Added Cost

I would avoid going through Aria UK - they're just an extra middle man taking their cut.

When I've bought regular SD pickups from Black Rose it works out cheaper than buying from a UK retailer, even after paying the shipping and customs charges. Sometimes a parcel gets through without having to pay the customs charges, but that seems to be getting rarer and you can't count on it.

If I wanted a custom shop pickup my first step would be to e-mail the custom shop and ask whether they ship to the UK and, if so, what would be the shipping cost.

 

[shredaholic]

Re: Added Cost

Thanks Ill do that when ordering the custom shop pickup

 

[shredaholic]

Re: Added Cost

Thanks Ill do that when ordering the custom shop pickup

 

[nuntius]

Re: Added Cost

I would avoid going through Aria UK - they're just an extra middle man taking their cut.

When I've bought regular SD pickups from Black Rose it works out cheaper than buying from a UK retailer, even after paying the shipping and customs charges. Sometimes a parcel gets through without having to pay the customs charges, but that seems to be getting rarer and you can't count on it.

If I wanted a custom shop pickup my first step would be to e-mail the custom shop and ask whether they ship to the UK and, if so, what would be the shipping cost.

+1 to everything Simon said!

 

[twoheadedboy]

Re: Added Cost

I live in Canada, and I usually have to import things from the States when i buy them. I have people tick the "gift" box and declare the value low and it keeps me from paying lots of GST/PST taxes. You risk not being able to get your money back if it gets lost in the mail or something. I trade gear mostly, so technically I am paying nothing for the item anyway, so I shouldn't have to pay sales taxes on it.

 

[shredaholic]

Re: Added Cost

If SD wouldn't put it as a gift, would one of the dealers on this forum be able to obtain one and then do that for me? They seem like really cool guys

 

[shredaholic]

Re: Added Cost

...any ideas?