God Damn B**tards at the airport!!

Citizen_Erased

So I just got 52 reissue tele in america and was over the moon and everthing with its brand spanking new retro tweed case. Then I get to the airport and I have to say my goodbyes and watch it dissappear into the holds..
Oh dear god , It wasnt a pretty sight. Several black and brown stains all over it and some b**tard had pulled the security sticker off to hard and frayed the tweed... God Damnit

disgruntled

At least it was only the case that got damaged and not the guitar. It could have been worse, you could have got caught for vat and duty as well.

Citizen_Erased

Yeah the guitars seems okay visual and stuff. Thats why I am wondering if I should complain or not , first dodging customs and then not actually paying for the special care for the guitar he he he , fight the system :cool:

dabhoys

I never check in my guitars. I always carry them on the plane. My PRS case is exactly like the old style fender ones and it fit perfect on the flight. I never trust those baggage handlers. Unless its in a heavy duty flight case. Even then I'd worried. Once the guitar is ok man your laughing...

Citizen_Erased

Buying an extra seat for the guitar was the only option for taking it into the cabin place and though it would have been more expensive it now seems like thet right choice. I thought that sticker they put on saying fragile incintuated that it was delicate and that it needed to be andled gently but what do I know???

Karl Hungus

dabhoys wrote:

I never check in my guitars. I always carry them on the plane.

You can do that? I would've thought a guitar would be far too big to be allowed on.

Citizen_Erased

Most companies will make you purchase a seat for you if you want to do that

david

Karl Hungus wrote:

You can do that? I would've thought a guitar would be far too big to be allowed on.

And your BC Rich collection would be considered as weapons...

jcoote

i bought my telecaster in LA when i was there 2 year ago and i just said to your woman that it was hand luggage and she asked if i had travelled with it before .. i said yeah and stuck it in the overhead luggage compartment... happy days... i've heard it helps to have it looking a bit worn i stuck an old set of strings on it just in case !!!

disgruntled

I brought a p bass on as hand luggage on a couple of flights in the states but I took the neck off, not ideal I know but it meant no one said anything and it fit in the over head bin.

Citizen_Erased

Skipping Customs Tip #104 : Inform a customs officer that you are still in transit to Northern Ireland , and that you definately will declare it at the border.

Skipping Customs Tip #105 : Get a document from the shop stating that your guitar "is" second hand and therefore cannot be taxed. If a second hand receipt is not available , try a receipt for a much cheaper but similar guitar thus paying less taxes.

Afternote : Like customs give a crap anyway.

Eoin Madsen

Citizen_Erased wrote:

Skipping Customs Tip #104 : Inform a customs officer that you are still in transit to Northern Ireland , and that you definately will declare it at the border.

Skipping Customs Tip #105 : Get a document from the shop stating that your guitar "is" second hand and therefore cannot be taxed. If a second hand receipt is not available , try a receipt for a much cheaper but similar guitar thus paying less taxes.

Afternote : Like customs give a crap anyway.

Not sure option 1 would really work (since I presume they'll check your passport and all that). And technically I think you need a permit to carry goods through a country without being taxed anyway. If they're being pricks about it, you don't have a leg to stand on.

Option 2 is definitely not worth the bother - secondhand good ARE TAXABLE. Both import duty and VAT, I'm afraid.

They really don't seem to give a crap, so I wouldn't tempt fate. If you walk through you walk through - if you get stopped, you plead ignorance, come clean and pay up. Falsifying a receipt is fraud, and though it's unlikely they'd find out, you're in for a whole world of sh*t if they do. (Besides which, no professional retailer will help you misdeclare a customs declaration.) For a couple of hundred quid I wouldn't risk it anyway. If you really want to steal money just go shoplifting.

dabhoys

I've never had a bother taking my guitars on board. They fit perfect into the overhead compartments with space to spare. I just watch to make sure dumb people put stuff on it.

The PRS case was the biggest one I've carried on. But I've seen people with full acoustic cases on board.

Who did you fly with???

Citizen_Erased

The cheaper receipt definately works though , dont kno the others just kinda rumors

selephonic

Citizen_Erased wrote:

The cheaper receipt definately works though , dont kno the others just kinda rumors

Assuming the customs officer doesn't know the difference between a MIM tele and a reissue broadcaster!

I think I heard tell of someone telling a customs officer that a guitar was worth very little, to which the officer replied, "actually, that's an original 57 gold top,"