Buying Fender from Thomann?

prowla

mbe said:

I wonder if things get complicated when an item has to be returned damaged/faulty or plain unsatisfactory. Presumably Thomann would honour the spirit of the distance selling regs but technically one would be exporting and reimporting in the case of an exchange.

I think someone said that there is a route for repairs and returns so you don’t get double taxed. 

prowla

thebreeze said:

prowla said:

thebreeze said:

prowla said:

thebreeze said:

prowla said:

The difference is that the VAT comes to the UK taxman, rather than the other country's, which ain't a bad thing. However, UK VAT is 20% vs Germany's 19%.

There is still 2% import duty on items which aren't manufactured in the EU, though and the courier will charge you a £12 (or so) admin fee for paying it on your behalf.

So, as it stands an item listed at £1000 will cost you an extra £42:

• £10 more in VAT +
  
• £20 import duty+
• £12 admin fees.

I'd expect Thomann to be sorting out paying UK VAT and import duty at point of sale fairly soon, thereby removing the courier's admin fee.

Lovely attempt to paint over what is clearly (you just have to read what people are saying) a complete pain in the arse for all involved.  What is also clear is that the choices and the market in new and second hand guitars is now greatly diminished - I’m looking to buy myself and that’s the reality.  Just a microcosm of things at large I suggest.  

No worries - just the facts vs sensationalism. 

Please just have a think about what "the facts"/reality actually are.  Your "facts" are half the picture at best - you completely ignore the fact that the collection of tax was reciprocal for all governments and now that the market has diminished all governments will be collecting less tax, ours included (for guitars maybe more so) - "which ain't a good thing".  (We'll ignore that this government will use swathes of tax they get to cover up their incompetence, e.g. compensating fishermen for shafting and lying to them etc).

There's a reality here, born out by people's experience (already) and what they're saying.  To dismiss it as sensationalism is just being in denial, aloof and a tad insulting.

I'm not going to comment any more, Brexit has been utterly divisive and retrograde, here and elsewhere.  This was a post from someone who wanted to think about buying a guitar from Europe.  He was getting advice about the mechanics, considerations and reality of doing that now that we're not in the EU anymore.  Your post didn't really seem to be aimed at that but an attempt to make a political point.

Actually, I was stating facts regarding the tax and mechanics of buying from the EU. 

The fact is that you can buy from the EU and a £1000 purchase of a luxury item will cost you £42 more. It’s not the end of the world, is it?

But if you want to turn it into another brexit whingeathon, then fill your boots!

As you couldn't resist the sneery "whingeathon" insult, I'll add this....£42 worse off, not the end of the world? (but convenient to ignore all the waiting, red tape, hassle etc) - individuals can decide that for themselves.  This particular person has decided it's not worth it so he won't buying his guitar from Thomann.  Multiply that (BOTH ways) over thousands of transactions.  You can choose to be dismissive and think it's of little consequence, but you're in denial.

If you don't want to get likewise back, then don't post sneery comments, enclose my phrases in quotes to denigrate them, etc...

My post (repeated below) was completely on-topic; I don't see how it could be making a political point, but you seemed to want to argue politics, brexit, whatever.

prowla said:

The difference is that the VAT comes to the UK taxman, rather than the other country's, which ain't a bad thing. However, UK VAT is 20% vs Germany's 19%.

There is still 2% import duty on items which aren't manufactured in the EU, though and the courier will charge you a £12 (or so) admin fee for paying it on your behalf.

So, as it stands an item listed at £1000 will cost you an extra £42:

• £10 more in VAT +
  
• £20 import duty+
• £12 admin fees.

I'd expect Thomann to be sorting out paying UK VAT and import duty at point of sale fairly soon, thereby removing the courier's admin fee.

If you've got an issue with the UK's democratic process, then you're wasting your time trying to argue with me; it's been discussed ad-nauseum.

Roland

Can we end the political arguments there please? They don’t contribute to the thread, and hence count as derailment. 

prowla

Roland said:

Can we end the political arguments there please? They don’t contribute to the thread, and hence count as derailment. 

I agree.