FenderBender
Bwahahaha! Too true!
Alecsu
I see the topic has strayed a little and I just want to ask if anyone knows if there is still a Schecter agent in South Africa. the Store where I got C-7 Hellraiser from is no longer and I would really like to either get another one locally or import it myself if there isn't a local agent.
Any one know anything?
Getting back to the salesperson thing. I agree that nowadays most of the sales guys have no clue. More often than not none of them are encouraged to keep abreast of what's happening. Harldy any of them are actually able to string and tune a guitar. I would say that would be a prerequisite to even getting the job. How many guitar oriented mags are there out there? Has anyone ever seen one at a music store.
I think the other thing to consider here is the fact that most musical instrument stores also have their own import sections so they really punt a certain brand, their brand, more than others. There is no way that a Fender whatever does what an Ibanez or a Schecter blah blah does. Application is key not brand to selling a guitar or any other instrument, I suppose.
deanBailey
Alecsu wrote: the Store where I got C-7 Hellraiser from is no longer and I would really like to either get another one locally or import it myself if there isn't a local agent.
Any one know anything?
Lol I wish I was mean enough to send them an "I-told-you-so" email. This post will have to do 8)
I heard from Igor that the store (All about Music) turned into a Music Mate now so I don't think they'll have any Schecters. I went to MM asking about them the guitars and they just told me I must go to AAM.
I also didn't see any SA dealer on their site :/
dee
That's odd, since both the Music Mate's in Pretoria stock Schecters, as well as another local shop. They were even willing to get me any of the models I wanted to try out before I buy... ?
Se7en
I'm also interested in getting myself a Schecter. Looking at getting the Hellraiser Tempest but apparently they are not available in South Africa. Does anyone know what kind of duties we pay for importing a guitar?
AlanRatcliffe
Does anyone know what kind of duties we pay for importing a guitar?
You'll pay at least VAT (14%) on the total invoice value (including delivery). If it's one of the big courier companies, they will charge you an additional few hundred bucks as a "clearance fee".
Se7en
That's the only problem I can see. Minimum of 14% Tax. I know it's anything between 14% and 45% and if it's the later, it could work out a bit expensive. ?
I remember when I imported a few things from an online shop in the USA. I asked them if they could write "GIFT" on the package, cause then the border control can't charge you on TAX (because you didn't "buy" the package) and you would only have to pay the delivery cost. Maby it could work again.
*edit* Found this website www.ishopusa.com You can order from any store even if the store doesn't do international shipping.
AlanRatcliffe
It's always at 14% - there are no additional duties or ad velorem on musical instruments or spares (used to be 15 -25%, years ago). There is often an additional handling charge or clearance fee, but I find if I calculate on 15% for all duties including VAT, it works out about right. I order a lot of stuff and have never paid more than that.
Shipping can be a problem. USPS is the cheapest (about $150 for a guitar in case), but have a maximum size limit that makes many guitars in cases too big to be shipped - then you get stuck using UPS, FedEx or other couriers, who will charge between $350 and $450 for the same item. If you are buying from a larger store, they can have a deal in place with one of the couriers that brings down the shipping price radically, so sometimes it's better to buy from an established big store than from an individual who is selling cheaper.
Quite honestly, you have to judge every case differently, taking all the factors into account. Sometimes it's worth it, but in my experience, usually it works out better to just wait and find the same item locally or beg a local distributor to import you one. That's why I have only ever bought one guitar from overseas.
Se7en
Thanks for the advice. I also think it would be best to wait and get it here or have someone import it. Going to phone around today and see what I can come up with.
deanBailey
I went to Music Mate in Brakenfell yesterday and they had some schecters in stock ?
Perhaps they obtained the license when they took over that store.
Malkav
I've only ever gotten to try out the absolute bottom of the line Schecters and I have to admit for their price I was impressed, however they have baseball bat sized necks in that price category so they were definitly a no go for my playing...?
As for the comment about sales people only selling the brand they love, it's only natural for someone to take a leaning towards the gear of their choice and because there are so many brands and little nit picky things about guitars that you have to learn it can be hard to really have a good overall knowledge and sometimes you're stuck doing many menial tasks such as setting up displays and therefore do not have the time to truly learn your product. There is a higher emphasis on selling your own brands owing to the commission you can receive on your own import as well and in an economy that is as bad as ours it's hard to see past the cost of living when trying to couple a customer with the guitar that would really suit them. However that is a mistake on their part and they should try to rectify it.
With things like restringing etc, I also believe that there should be some form of quality control when it comes to hiring staff but the bottom line is that most retail stores don't pay well and it's an occurence that isn't limited to the music industry so finding people who are willing to work for such low pay but still have the necessary skills and knowledge is somewhat tricky and therefore it has lowered the in-store knowledge in most places. There should be some form of staff training in these matters but unfortunately that is not the case and in alot of cases people who don't have these skills tend not to really want them either.
Me personally I don't earn commission but I am stuck with doing all the grunt work and only act as a sales person when it is required so yes I have the Ibanez catalogue memorised backwards but know almost nothing about Fender, which is something I'm not afraid to admit seeing as the brand does nothing for my playing style, tonal preference or pocket. However if someone asks me about a brand I don't personally know much about I refer them to a salesperson who is more knowledgable in that particular product and I think that that should be the mindset shared by all salespeople, however doing so would bring down the precious little commission you earn and therefore creates a question of ethics (Do I potentially sell this customer a guitar that I know wouldn't be the right choice so that I can make my monthly bond payment on my house or do I show them to someone who can really assist them and have the bank for close on me?)
aja
So, Tailon, did you ever get around to buying one?
mattyd
deanBailey wrote:
Rant:
Yeah they don't sell well because the store(s) I've been to that had them didn't know how to sell them. They basically just knew the names of the models and that's it. zero help.
They had most of the 2007-2008 lineup hanging on the wall and I tried to help them out by working out some sort of deal and I got ignored lol and I bet they're sitting with the same guitars in their store.
I only know of one guy that bought one (the exact one I wanted actually)
Where was this?
I would love to go check out what they have. I love Schecters ?
zw44
talking about schecters, i just ordered this. sorry if the pic is a bit big.
should be here in a couple of weeks, hopefully just is time for christmas.
Peter
aja
Nice! Are you getting it in the same colour?
zw44
yup, that exact one.
doc-phil
Ah that guitar is beautiful! Where did you order it from? I want to order the Schecter C-1 hellraiser for my 21st birthday... but I'm scared to order it without playing it. Take2 seems to be the best way to order them... Correct?
zw44
doc-phil wrote:
Ah that guitar is beautiful! Where did you order it from? I want to order the Schecter C-1 hellraiser for my 21st birthday... but I'm scared to order it without playing it. Take2 seems to be the best way to order them... Correct?
incorrect.
find a dealer in the US that ships to SA.
i ordered mine from
http://www.drumcityguitarland.com/
another site that i know ships here is gearhounds.com.
both have endless amounts of schecters
BMU
Beatiful, *nasty* beautiful. Didn't even realize they make a V-shaped 7 string. Model name?
Good tip about drumcityguitarland. Let us know how the shipping goes.
Which EMGs are those?
zw44
BMU wrote:
Beatiful, *nasty* beautiful. Didn't even realize they make a V-shaped 7 string. Model name?
Good tip about drumcityguitarland. Let us know how the shipping goes.
Which EMGs are those?
it the V-7 hellraiser. its a limited edition, i think only 55 were made.
the pickups are EMG 707's which are cool.
i cant wait for it.
