Anyone bought an amp yet from ProGuitarShop?

DrGonzo

Anyone purchased a tube amp from ProGuitarShop yet?

they claim free shipping on orders over $900 and it is about $179 for a $500 Fender blues Jr. which is not that bad

Im wondering if anyone has pulled the trigger on this and if so, how much they got charged or should we say burned at customs?

still wondering if there is heavy duties on guitar amp importing!?!
:-\

MikeM

A full amp will have a 10% surcharge on top of the 14% tax I believe.

You'll also have to either buy a transformer or have a tech fit one properly locally - that'll cost another R500 for the hardware and as much to install it.

I'd rather buy second hand.

DrGonzo

Ok cool thanks Mike

MikeM wrote: A full amp will have a 10% surcharge on top of the 14% tax I believe.

So lets say a Fender Blues Junior $499 which is about R3493 (@R7 to the $) so rough cost would be + 10% of that (R350) + another 14% (R490)

So my calculations R3493 (online retail price)
R840 (VAT and surcharge)
R1253 (shipping - $179)

giving a total of about R5586

are these calcutlaions roughly accurate? Would that be the final price to my doorstep or would the be other costs sneaked into that unexpectdly?

Whats the current retail on the Blues Junior III in local stores (after discount)??

hmmm late night schemings and calculations!?! Off to bed methinks! ?

MikeM

Don't forget about the transformer ?

DrGonzo

MikeM wrote: Don't forget about the transformer ?

Oh yes but of course! So R6000 +- then! ?

Stoner-Riff

MikeM wrote: A full amp will have a 10% surcharge on top of the 14% tax I believe.

You'll also have to either buy a transformer or have a tech fit one properly locally - that'll cost another R500 for the hardware and as much to install it.

I'd rather buy second hand.

In that case, anyone selling an Orange Retro 50 here in SA ?

MikeM

Try the classifieds, or Gumtree.

Bob-Dubery

DrGonzo wrote: Ok cool thanks Mike

MikeM wrote: A full amp will have a 10% surcharge on top of the 14% tax I believe.
So lets say a Fender Blues Junior $499 which is about R3493 (@R7 to the $) so rough cost would be + 10% of that (R350) + another 14% (R490)

So my calculations R3493 (online retail price)
R840 (VAT and surcharge)
R1253 (shipping - $179)

giving a total of about R5586

are these calcutlaions roughly accurate? Would that be the final price to my doorstep or would the be other costs sneaked into that unexpectdly?

THere would be various charges imposed by the bank for forex purchasing, and by the couriers at this end.

This has been worked out in detail before. A more expensive amp, but the method of calculating should stay the same
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/amps-speakers-and-valves/whats-with-fender-amp-pricing-in-this-country-are-we-being-ripped-off/msg131572/#msg131572

And note the remarks after the calculation: You still have to convert to 220 V, and whilst you have a warranty it's via the guys you bought it from in the USA, and if you wanted to claim you'd have to ship it back to them at your expense.

And note that most stores won't ship Fender to SA. That's because there's an existing distributor here, and one distributor does not encroach on another's territory.

Stoner-Riff

MikeM wrote: Try the classifieds, or Gumtree.

Hahahahaha, P H A T T chance of someone owning a Retro 50 in SA, let alone selling one ?

MikeM

Point is you're posting in the wrong place. This thread is about importing a Blues Jr which is a pretty common amp - easy to find second hand.

Keira-WitherKay

DrGonzo wrote:
MikeM wrote: Don't forget about the transformer ?
Oh yes but of course! So R6000 +- then! ?

and the reality is . i was offered a quote on a brand new blues junior fender amp a while back and the quotes ranged between R6800 at most stores and R6400 at one who prob was trying to undercut the standard "nice persons" discount .... .....so if you going to all that shlep for saving 400 - 800 maybe just buy local.......... but if you can get it cheap enough to save a few grand i would say go for it ....cos do the math the blues junior is around 10K retail here give or take ..and less the ussual 35-40% discount for nice people.....and you between 6 and 7 K

but yes and i said this before re the princeton thread almost about a similar issue ....... i would ask myself if that fender amp is selling for R3493 in the states it's basically an amp that is worth that much in build quality and components ect ....... but is it worth double that? rather pick up one 2nd hand cheap or even have someone build you a custom amp....... it's better value for money

Stoner-Riff

Keira WitherKay wrote:
DrGonzo wrote:
MikeM wrote: Don't forget about the transformer ?
Oh yes but of course! So R6000 +- then! ?

and the reality is . i was offered a quote on a brand new blues junior fender amp a while back and the quotes ranged between R6800 at most stores and R6400 at one who prob was trying to undercut the standard "nice persons" discount .... .....so if you going to all that shlep for saving 400 - 800 maybe just buy local.......... but if you can get it cheap enough to save a few grand i would say go for it ....cos do the math the blues junior is around 10K retail here give or take ..and less the ussual 35-40% discount for nice people.....and you between 6 and 7 K

but yes and i said this before re the princeton thread almost about a similar issue ....... i would ask myself if that fender amp is selling for R3493 in the states it's basically an amp that is worth that much in build quality and components ect ....... but is it worth double that? rather pick up one 2nd hand cheap or even have someone build you a custom amp....... it's better value for money

Are there many amp-gurus that build custom jobs in SA ?
How is the qaulity then ?
And are there these then more affordable than a brand new amp in the stores ?
Any info and directions and names would be great !

Thanx to all

MikeM

Bottledtone, Matta, Karel, Neon Gecko (in terms of likeliness to accept a custom job) - all from this forum.

Otherwise J. C le Roux? Although I have heard stories there.

DrGonzo

Cool guys thanks for your replies!
In no way trying to start a USA price vs SA price war - I just thought it might be possible to ship one and save a bit of cash!

I dont really have the cash at the moment anyway, it was just research, in trying to understand how it all works...

Lets hope i can find a second hand one when im ready to buy or maybe i will just ship one from proguitarshop and prove you all wrong ? 8)