Ordering a guitar from overseas...

Lethe

I'm looking to order an Ibanez (yes, it's an ibanez... why would anyone want to ORDER an ibanez? Because I like the colour ? seriously...) model from the USA since they don't make that specific model over here. RGR 420 EX...
Do you guys have any experience with ordering stuff from overseas??
I've heard there have been problems importing ibanez since some company have the rights here already, so they can't sell them here.
Also what online store would you recommend?
Furthermore, especially with the postal service in this country, would it get stolen or damaged before it get it?
I guess it would be a dumb idea to buy a guitar without playing it first, wouldn't it? But the thought is crossing my mind, so feedback would be nice.

Here's a link to the guitar

http://www.ibanez.com/eg/guitar.aspx?m=RGR420EX

dyllels

Nice guitar.. ?

I don't have any experience with ordering stuff overseas but my suggestion would be to contact a music shop in your area or maybe finding who has the rights to sell Ibanez in SA and getting them to order it for you. Saves you having to worry about all the import duties and insurance an so on. I'm sure they wont have a problem adding it to their imports if they know they have a guaranteed buyer.

Bob-Dubery

I've not imported a guitar myself. Clearly it is far from impossible. But some observations I have heard from my local guitar shop...

1) It might not be as cheap as you think. They have had guys road test a guitar, then claim that they can get it from e-bay or some dealer at a much better price. Then it lands, has to clear customs etc and the duties and the courier fees pile up and the saving turns out to not be so great.

2) Then since they didn't buy it from the dealer they have to pay for the setup - whereas it would have been included in the price.

3) Occasionally people find they have bought a cheap imitation, or the guitar is not packed with sufficient care and gets damaged en route.

So you need to way up the pros and cons. The Ibanez agents for SA are TOMS (www.toms.co.za). If you don't live in Jo'burg then is there an Ibanez dealer where you live? TOMS, or a dealer operating with TOMS, should be able to source that guitar for you and should be able to give you a ballpark price. I'd get that ballpark price first. They may give you a consideration if you are able to pay up front.

My own personal take on the on-line buying thing is that it the good thing and the bad thing is that it cuts out the high street shop. This can cut prices and give you a wider choice. But it can also mean that you don't have a resource where you can go and get advice, the guys behind the counter get to know you, you can plug instruments into an amp and roadtest them etc. It might go against the 21st century cyber-trade grain, but actual shops with actual counters and actual people behind the counters have a value proposition too ?

Martyr

don't bother ordering anything from the USA now,dollar is at R11,77