Ordering From SD Custom Shop

[treyhaislip]

Ordered my first SD Custom Shop pickup and was just wondering on the turn around. Ordered a single coil bridge pickup and asked to make a more full bridge version of the Fender Fat 50 since mine sounds thin (I debated about converting to a HSS but decided I really wanted to keep it SSS.)

While on the subject, anyone else ordered from the Custom Shop before? Thoughts?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

I got a few...it took a few weeks. I think it varies according to work load. Don't know if they are ramping up for NAMM or not.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

I got a few...it took a few weeks. I think it varies according to work load. Don't know if they are ramping up for NAMM or not.

Thanks for the info! I'm not worried about it–ordering from Becky Lawrence took 3 months. lol

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

I think about it but, from without The Lower 48, the process is riddled with obstacles.

Fill in form.
Present form to authorised dealer.
Trust dealer to forward form to national importer/distributor.
Trust distributor not to lose form.
Hope that SD Custom Shop actually receives form.
Wait a reasonable length of time.
Wait a little bit longer, just in case.
Contact national importer/distributor for update.
Wait again whilst national distributor attempts to communicate with SD.
Curse national importer/distributor.
Give up.
Purchase pre-owned example of nearest equivalent pickup via Internet.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

I think about it but, from without The Lower 48, the process is riddled with obstacles.

Fill in form.
Present form to authorised dealer.
Trust dealer to forward form to national importer/distributor.
Trust distributor not to lose form.
Hope that SD Custom Shop actually receives form.
Wait a reasonable length of time.
Wait a little bit longer, just in case.
Contact national importer/distributor for update.
Wait again whilst national distributor attempts to communicate with SD.
Curse national importer/distributor.
Give up.
Purchase pre-owned example of nearest equivalent pickup via Internet.

Oh wow, so no fun for international ordering! Thankfully I'm in the 48 Contiguous States.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

I think about it but, from without The Lower 48, the process is riddled with obstacles.

Fill in form.
Present form to authorised dealer.
Trust dealer to forward form to national importer/distributor.
Trust distributor not to lose form.
Hope that SD Custom Shop actually receives form.
Wait a reasonable length of time.
Wait a little bit longer, just in case.
Contact national importer/distributor for update.
Wait again whilst national distributor attempts to communicate with SD.
Curse national importer/distributor.
Give up.
Purchase pre-owned example of nearest equivalent pickup via Internet.

What would be the negative of a friend (say, a SDUGF member ) buying the item in question, then shipping it as a gift? Is there a VAT gift exclusion, or even if it was included in shipping cost?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

The negative side of attempting to avoid local purchase tax and European Union import charges would be risk of discovery and a heavy fine PLUS having to pay the previously avoided taxes PLUS a criminal record.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

The negative side of attempting to avoid local purchase tax and European Union import charges would be risk of discovery and a heavy fine PLUS having to pay the previously avoided taxes PLUS a criminal record.

I guess what I'm saying is, if the taxes were paid, what's the problem? It cuts out all the risk in communication, doesn't it?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

Then, there is the small matter of my local importer/distributor's rather generous mark-up.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

Just curious, aren't there companies that offer you a shipping location in said country so you can have something shipped there and subsequently sent to you? I thought I had a friend in England who did that because of time spent in the states for a while but still lives in England–forwards mail and orders from the USA to England. Don't know how customs and import taxes play out but was just thinking that may be an option...dunno

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

Did you send MJ flowers? That helps. [emoji6]

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

Did you send MJ flowers? That helps. [emoji6]

Haha! Ooops! What type does she like??

 

[Drunken Uncle]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

A voice from overseas throws in his tuppenceworth

I emailed the Custom Shop, no reply, emailed the normal site to ask, no reply, asked my local SD Approved dealer to contact on my behalf, that was four months ago, heard nothing back, gave up and my money went to other boutique builders

Just ordered three non Custom Shop SD pups today so at least we're still on talking terms

Re importing, here in UK it's a swine, you're charged 20% of the item value on anything over £18, you're also charged a "holding fee" which is basically a ransom/extortion charge without having paid which you won't get your item.
For small items like pots and switches I've had a mark up of about 50% added before I can get the items. The upshot of this is that the tax pays for the upkeep of things like roads which are the envy of the world (sarcasm alert, I have relatives who drive for a living and who went on holiday to Mexico and came back with the news that the roads are in better condition than here in UK)

 

[Will S-T]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

It's difficult, lengthy delays and costly, ordering from outside the US, even from Australia.
There are three more mouths to feed, distributor, retailer and local postage, not to mention
problems with accurate info making it's way intact and ending up with right product.
It took three months and returned items to get some Duncan strat covers.

If it's a standard item I order directly from a trusted eBay seller at about two thirds
of the cheapest price I can get here. $102 for a JB TB compared to $145 delivered.
I've not ordered Duncan CS but deal directly with Warmoth over the phone with a
real person and seal the deal with email and payment.

That would be a nice option.

 

[raistlin]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

I emailed them almost a week ago regarding the repair of my Seth Lover, and haven't heard of them since except the automated email. Do they usually take long to reply?

 

[jonsick]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

Anything ordered from outside the USA is generally more of a buttpain.

I have been to two different dealers to get a pair of SD pickups made up for me. I've already had communication from SD themselves that they can do it. But I just get derp stares from guitar stores and the distributor didn't seem to have a clue what I was talking about. R even went and said, "SD don't offer a custom shop service" complete with rising inflection and bored voices. They did promise to send me an SD catalog though which never appeared.

I gave up. I have had similar issues with other music manufacturers for what it's worth.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

The EU business model is at fault here.

SD negotiates with somebody that can move a certain amount each year, giving the "representation" of the brand in that country.

All of these "importers" manage at least fifteen other brands at the same time, in the particular case of Italy, Casale Bauer, it's also the Fender importer. Guess why SD is not selling almost any single-coils in Italy?

As their business is to sell numbers, any custom order is discouraged, plus, they don't have any knowledge of their product line, nor they care to acquire it. I've reported to SD that they wanted to charge Custom Shop prices for Custom Floor items, then guess what it happen? Not only they refuse to place the order, they blacklisted me.

The final answer of SD on the matter: it's out of our hands. And they're right! They can't do anything.

"You're born suffering, life sucks, then you die. Get used to it! "

HTH,

 

[Mincer]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

Well, what we can do is get better at answering questions. And we have. I answer the customer service emails I get within 15 mins of getting them most of the time, but email communication with the mothership from a customer point of view hasn't been great recently. That is changing. And you guys are not the only ones complaining! But yeah, we are working on it.

As far as the fees for shipping overseas, Pepe is right, there isn't much that can be done. I am sure SD would love to ship directly everywhere, but can't due to laws in each region.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

What if I baked a cake full of pickups and shipped it to you.

I see how Bare Knuckle got big in the UK.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Ordering From SD Custom Shop

I am sure SD would love to ship directly everywhere, but can't due to laws in each region.

Well, if SD decide to open an Italian branch, it actually can sell Custom items (or anything, really!) directly, at the same time with, and even at lower prices than Casale Bauer.

If you need full-time consultant and/or sales manager specialized in Duncan products in Italy or in Europe, I'm your man. I speak six languages plus I have more than 35 years of experience in guitar gear, plus ten years working with Commercial-, Consum- and Intellectual Property Law professionals.

Hint, hint!