Stewmac!

Haych

So I ordered a few things from Stewmac about Wednesday lunchtime.  I've just had notification that they're en route and will be delivered by the end of the day!

That's pretty a decent service!

Not sure how the import duty is going to work though, will I get a bill from HMRC or will FedEx demand paying at the door? 

axisus

Haych said:

So I ordered a few things from Stewmac about Wednesday lunchtime.  I've just had notification that they're en route and will be delivered by the end of the day!

That's pretty a decent service!

Not sure how the import duty is going to work though, will I get a bill from HMRC or will FedEx demand paying at the door? 

I ordered from America once and got a card through the door saying come to the post office to collect, you owe £xxx

I'd be interested to know how much you pay, I've always avoided Stewmac. I have twice ordered things for under £30 and avoided any extra payment!

stickyfiddle

Stewmac use USPS or DHL. If you chose USPS it'll arrive via Royal Mail and you'll get a card saying you owe HMRC. If DHL they should either ask for cash in advance via phone or email, or possibly just show up with the parcel and you pay then.

Haych

Defo says it's coming via FedEx.  Maybe they'll hand it over to a 3rd party, though?

Haych

Just pulled this off the FedEx website under their FAQs on imports duty and charges:

FedEx will expedite delivery of the shipment and seek reimbursement by issuing you an invoice for the import charges + administration fee after delivery of the shipment.

IvisonGuitars

I was made aware of these guys the other day, they seem to either be the European distributor for Stewmac or carry a lot of their stock. I’ve not ordered from them yet but probably will when I need too. 

https://www.madinter.com/en/stewmac-en.html

Also, don’t discount G&W, they are great.

AustrianJohn

miserneil said:

https://www.madinter.com/en/stewmac-en.html

Thanks for the pointer. I've bought wood from Madinter before, but didn't realise they carried Stewmac stock.

I've also bought from Stewmac in the US, paid 20€ fees and taxes on a $40 order 

thermionic

Haych said:

Just pulled this off the FedEx website under their FAQs on imports duty and charges:

FedEx will expedite delivery of the shipment and seek reimbursement by issuing you an invoice for the import charges + administration fee after delivery of the shipment.

The administration fee will be next to nothing, as there's hardly any administration involved in issuing you an invoice is there?

Haych

thermionic said:

Haych said:

Just pulled this off the FedEx website under their FAQs on imports duty and charges:

FedEx will expedite delivery of the shipment and seek reimbursement by issuing you an invoice for the import charges + administration fee after delivery of the shipment.

The administration fee will be next to nothing, as there's hardly any administration involved in issuing you an invoice is there?

Ha!  I won't hold my breath.

stickyfiddle

Ok, if Fedex they'll likely just show up with a bill and the parcel. If your'e lucky you'll get an online payment link while it's in transit

Haych

stickyfiddle said:

Ok, if Fedex they'll likely just show up with a bill and the parcel. If your'e lucky you'll get an online payment link while it's in transit

FedEx have been and gone with the first half of the order - there's a second part still out for delivery today.  Maybe they'll turn up with a card machine when delivering the second bit.  I asked the first driver about the customs charges etc when I was signing for it and he just shrugged and said he didn't know.

axisus

miserneil said:

I was made aware of these guys the other day, they seem to either be the European distributor for Stewmac or carry a lot of their stock. I’ve not ordered from them yet but probably will when I need too. 

https://www.madinter.com/en/stewmac-en.html

Also, don’t discount G&W, they are great.

G&W???

Haych

axisus said:

miserneil said:

I was made aware of these guys the other day, they seem to either be the European distributor for Stewmac or carry a lot of their stock. I’ve not ordered from them yet but probably will when I need too. 

https://www.madinter.com/en/stewmac-en.html

Also, don’t discount G&W, they are great.

G&W???

I use them quite a lot, guitarsandwoods.com, based in Portugal.

Corvus

^ Guitars & Woods, based in Portugal, good gear & postage not bad either.

rexter

miserneil said:

I was made aware of these guys the other day, they seem to either be the European distributor for Stewmac or carry a lot of their stock. I’ve not ordered from them yet but probably will when I need too. 

https://www.madinter.com/en/stewmac-en.html

Also, don’t discount G&W, they are great.

@miserneil ; I reckon you've just saved me about £50 in import fees!    buffing wheels needed.

Once I ordered a Pigtail bridge from Stewmac and it turned up super quick, no import fees and with a Norwegian postmark?? 

stephen.wood125

I ordered a painting from the US came via FedEx, I got an invoice separately, £4.68 VAT and £12 Admin fee.

gavin_axecaster

thermionic said:

Haych said:

Just pulled this off the FedEx website under their FAQs on imports duty and charges:

FedEx will expedite delivery of the shipment and seek reimbursement by issuing you an invoice for the import charges + administration fee after delivery of the shipment.

The administration fee will be next to nothing, as there's hardly any administration involved in issuing you an invoice is there?

The admin fee is a fee for the courier using their disbursement account with HMRC to pay the tax/duty in advance on your behalf. Without this service your parcel would sit in customs until HMRC got round to sending a bill for you to settle, which could take weeks.

Royal Mail/Parcelforce have two fees depending on the shipping service/speed - c.£8 and c. £13 for express shipping.

Couriers usually charge a % of the amount collected with a minimum charge - I think Fedex is £12

A real pain on low value imports as the value that VAT is due is £15 including shipping.

sixstringsupplies

you should get an invoice through the letterbox about 1 week later, assuming they don't hold it for delivery until you pay.

Haych

sixstringsupplies said:

you should get an invoice through the letterbox about 1 week later, assuming they don't hold it for delivery until you pay.

No, they delivered the stuff and within about an hour I received a text message with a link to the customs charges payment. 

Really rather slick. So all paid and delivered in less than 48hrs of ordering from the US!

timdecker

Their service better be good for how much their tools cost. haha. Don't get me wrong. They make awesome stuff, but crazy expensive. 

CasperCaster

As others have said G&W in Portugal are good, as are G.M.I. in Greece (https://www.ebay.com/str/gmitoolsparts). I've ordered from both (via eBay) and had great service.