Where to buy guitars cheap?

white_falcon

Hi lads,
I've been looking around and America seems to be the cheapest place to buy guitars due to the dollar being so cheap at the mo. However, a lot of the sites I've been looking at don't ship to Ireland or outside US.

I know the whole tax thing of 21% plus 3.7% adds on the cost, but if one was to avoid the taxes in some way when it was shipped into the country it would defintively be cheaper

so where in the US does anyone buy guitars from?

or is there cheaper places to buy from. I know thomann is great, but the US is just so much cheaper...

feylya

Discussion of tax evasion will result in a ban.

Alanstrainor

It really isn't worth the hassle 90% of the time, with tax and excessive delivery charges you'd end up paying the same on thomann. I wouldn't bother, and as well as the issues with tax, there's very little come back if you have an issue with it.

DeadSkin

white_falcon wrote: »

Hi lads,
I've been looking around and America seems to be the cheapest place to buy guitars due to the dollar being so cheap at the mo. However, a lot of the sites I've been looking at don't ship to Ireland or outside US.

I know the whole tax thing of 21% plus 3.7% adds on the cost, but if one was to avoid the taxes in some way when it was shipped into the country it would defintively be cheaper

so where in the US does anyone buy guitars from?

or is there cheaper places to buy from. I know thomann is great, but the US is just so much cheaper...

If you know what make/model, try ebay, worked for me. Also people here have used Ishibashi, worth a look, link in the resource sticky my friend.

white_falcon

true i suppose...:(

me wants new guitar so badly - damn you Irish government. No tax evasion talk will be had

Voodu Child

Cheap guitars come from research and homework. There's no 'one' place to buy cheap guitars.

You'd buy Edwards guitars cheapest from Japan, Mesa/Boogies cheapest from US, Marshalls cheapest from the UK, xyz cheapest from Thomann etc. You can save a fortune buying expensive guitars from the US, but when you look at cheap stuff, you end up paying a big percentage of the cost of the guitar on shipping, so it's not always the bargain you think.

Just put on a pot of coffee and do some googling, learn what market prices are, shipping costs from various countries, taxation rates etc. Start with the Resources sticky, it has lots of stores, and plenty of info on import tax.

If you know what you want (brand/model), im sure guys could help point you in the right direction, but if it's just a vague 'where's the cheapest' question, you're not going to get very far.

white_falcon

yea well im actually looking at this since my other guitar fell through

http://www.samedaymusic.com/product--ESPFX400

Even with 21% tax it works out at around 515 euros, which is cheaper than thomann and a load of other sites...

Voodu Child

It's a cheap guitar. Like I said, the saving you make buying it from the US will probably be offset by shipping costs. That's if you find somewhere that'll ship it - I didn't check that site, but most big US chains have manufacturer agreements that they can't ship guitars outside the US.


I wouldn't bother looking to the US for something like that.

-=al=-

feylya wrote: »

Discussion of tax evasion will result in a ban.

isnt it tax avoision?


i got a lovely ibanez rg for half the cost on music123 when it was shipping ibanez to ireland it cost about 700 or 800 before it got all weird and new, music123 used to be great, it stil ships to ireland but not all brands if u wana check


but yes it usually is a lot of effort and hassle, try n keep it in europe if u can

Voodu Child

-=al=- wrote: »

isnt it tax avoision?

Tax avoision is legally avoiding paying tax (through loopholes, clever accounting etc.)

Tax evasion is illegally avoiding paying taxes.

Bringing a guitar in on the sly falls into the second category, and being illegal, it's against the charter to discuss tips for doing it.

-=al=-

didn't anyone else see that tax avoision thing in the simpsons with Kent Brockman!?

its pretty funny and that thing above will make more sence ^^

white_falcon

voodoo_child wrote: »

It's a cheap guitar. Like I said, the saving you make buying it from the US will probably be offset by shipping costs. That's if you find somewhere that'll ship it - I didn't check that site, but most big US chains have manufacturer agreements that they can't ship guitars outside the US.


I wouldn't bother looking to the US for something like that.

how so?

most american sites are $629 = 426euros


21% tax = 89euros

426 + 89 = 515 euros

3% tax for electric guitar - 15 euros

Total price without shipping 530 euros

Add shipping charge of 50 euros

Total cost 580 euros

Cost on Musicstore.de - 710 euros
Cost on Thomann.de - 699 euros

Its still a big difference no?

Yakult

Go for it then.

Personally, I wouldnt go thru all the hassel. But if you wanna by all means do it.

DeadSkin

white_falcon wrote: »

yea well im actually looking at this since my other guitar fell through

http://www.samedaymusic.com/product--ESPFX400

Even with 21% tax it works out at around 515 euros, which is cheaper than thomann and a load of other sites...

Here's a suggestion, in or around the same ballpark moneywise, Tokai Explorer. I was on to them before and I think shipping was around £20.
What's your budget anywho?

Voodu Child

white_falcon wrote: »

how so?

If you've done the sums and think it's worthwhile, by all means go for it.

But 50euro shipping from the US for a guitar sounds way too conservative, you'll pay closer to 25% tax (all-in), and you'll be taxed on the shipping cost as well as the cost of the guitar. You'll also pay a nominal administration fee to anpost or whoever.

And that's if the store will ship that brand to Europe - like I said, some don't.

Most of the time, for cheaper guitars there's just no saving to be made, and a whole lot of extra hassle if something gets damaged or goes wrong. But if your sums tell you differently, go for it.

white_falcon

voodoo_child wrote: »

If you've done the sums and think it's worthwhile, by all means go for it.

But 50euro shipping from the US for a guitar sounds way too conservative, you'll pay closer to 25% tax (all-in), and you'll be taxed on the shipping cost as well as the cost of the guitar. You'll also pay a nominal administration fee to anpost or whoever.

And that's if the store will ship that brand to Europe - like I said, some don't.

Most of the time, for cheaper guitars there's just no saving to be made, and a whole lot of extra hassle if something gets damaged or goes wrong. But if your sums tell you differently, go for it.

yea i see what you're saying. would be hard for sending it back and the like...

i dont really have a budget of sorts. i just want a new guitar badly and want to use it for home recording for metal

i just really fell in love with that guitar when i saw it tho..

DeadSkin

white_falcon wrote: »

i dont really have a budget of sorts. i just want a new guitar badly and want to use it for home recording for metal

i just really fell in love with that guitar when i saw it tho..

Is it the whole explorer shape you're after? I was after one for a while last year but ended up getting a Schecter Hellraiser, great for metal.

Voodu Child

white_falcon wrote: »

yea i see what you're saying. would be hard for sending it back and the like...

That's not my main point. My main point is that shipping a guitar from the US is fairly pricey - you pay by size and weight, and a guitar in a hardcase weighs 10kg+.

The cheaper the guitar is, the less the savings are going to be compared to the shipping cost. At some point it's just not worth it.

Im not saying it's never worth it, just that you have to do all your sums beforehand. And in this case, personally I wouldn't bother.

white_falcon

voodoo_child wrote: »

That's not my main point. My main point is that shipping a guitar from the US is fairly pricey - you pay by size and weight, and a guitar in a hardcase weighs 10kg+.

The cheaper the guitar is, the less the savings are going to be compared to the shipping cost. At some point it's just not worth it.

Im not saying it's never worth it, just that you have to do all your sums beforehand. And in this case, personally I wouldn't bother.

yea i see your point

why is everyone saying this is a cheap guitar lol? i know its not exactly top of the range like but it aint that bad...

Dord

Personally I'd look at the used market in the states. Plenty of used guitar sites there and also Japan is good for that too. Check out the musical instrument sticky for an excel based calculator to help you easily work out how much you'll pay in the end.

Dord

white_falcon wrote: »

yea i see your point

why is everyone saying this is a cheap guitar lol? i know its not exactly top of the range like but it aint that bad...

Its not a bottom of the range guitar but its certainly not top either. You can pick up much better out there if you look.

Voodu Child

white_falcon wrote: »

yea i see your point

why is everyone saying this is a cheap guitar lol? i know its not exactly top of the range like but it aint that bad...

I just mean cheap in relation to the likely shipping cost.

white_falcon

voodoo_child wrote: »

I just mean cheap in relation to the likely shipping cost.

ah

johnboy8

try chris' guitars.they are in the states.i have never tried them,but i heard they are good.