Hey guys,

I was looking for a specific guitar for some time and finally found one on eBay. I also checked with the local distributor and they wont be bringing that specific model over it appears.

So, my question: would you buy a guitar on eBay and have it shipped here?

Also, who's done it and did it arrive in good nic?

I'm actually busy doing at the moment, with my in-laws being on holiday there I can cut out the shipping charges to ZA and have them bring it over with them, and there are real bargians to be had sometimes. as for buying a guitar (used) that I havent actually held and tested myself, well thats a risk I can take up untill a certain point, depends on how high the auction goes.

I have bought and buy all sorts of stuff on ebay, never had a bad deal but do your research on the seller ,check ratings etc, also insist on it being sent with a reputable service and tracking number etc...

I try and buy most things on ebay these days ,where possible and where the price is right

Have and will again in the future, never had any problems.

I've had to return stuff once and it was no problem either so even if there's a hassle it's no big deal.

Check with the seller if he'll ship to SA.
Be careful, shipping costs to SA using USPS have gone up, and the exchange rate makes it even worse.

I bit the bullet...lets hope for the best!!!!!

I made an offer last night for a Fender Deluxe Tele and was notified this morning that mine was the winning bid ?

Will let you know how it goes.

I made 3 offers on the bay last night. One was over budget. I'm glad I lost all 3 ?

symbolofmylife wrote: I bit the bullet...lets hope for the best!!!!!

Whatcha buy!?!?!?

I did ity a few times. works fine and you pay around 10% import tax

21Fretter wrote:

symbolofmylife wrote: I bit the bullet...lets hope for the best!!!!!

Whatcha buy!?!?!?

A relative cheappie but I dig the way it looks!!!!

One thing I have seen is that some sellers offer your the cost of the guitar, shipping and import duty all in one. So there are no additional costs when it gets here.

kevjones wrote:

RoyC wrote: I made an offer last night for a Fender Deluxe Tele and was notified this morning that mine was the winning bid ?

Will let you know how it goes.

I have one of those Teles, really cool. You should have no problem getting your stuff.

Damn, now the seller is requesting a cancelled sale as no longer wants to ship to SA - says it will cost $700 when the listing stated $146. I have reluctantly agreed ...

I've been buying on eBay for 14 years, never a problem, never a bad deal.

Until...I registered as a 'Seller' a few months ago.
I shipped 19 Strats and Teles direct from Japan to the US.
I thought after registering as a seller I'd be able to list them all at once and go from there.
No ways, my selling limit only allowed me to list one at a time...useless. :?

The problem is when you need to contact eBay...if you live in the US then no problem, phone them, if you live here then phoning them is a problem.
It's complicated, I used my buddies US bank account to register as a 'Seller'...trust me, phoning them from South Africa under those circumstances is very complicated...you will not get very far.

Anyway, I list the one guitar, a moron from Australia with zero feedback presses "Buy it Now", but never pays.
I message him over and over but he doesn't reply, and never pays...zero feedback and disappeared.
eBay charges me $75 for the sale.
Next step, log a dispute.
Here's where the frustration begins.
I log the dispute, reason, "Customer didn't pay", but the dispute never seems to get resolved...it's not like you're dealing with Edgars or Woolworths where on phone call sorts out the problem.

As far as eBay is concerned I owe them $75, but I don't.
Ended up selling the guitars on a few of the big forums and didn't have to pay any commission.

RoyC wrote: Damn, now the seller is requesting a cancelled sale as no longer wants to ship to SA - says it will cost $700 when the listing stated $146. I have reluctantly agreed ...

Hell Roy, $700 is R7000 !!!!! That's way too hectic. Personally, I would drop it. Do you really need this Tele?

Aubs1 wrote:

RoyC wrote: Damn, now the seller is requesting a cancelled sale as no longer wants to ship to SA - says it will cost $700 when the listing stated $146. I have reluctantly agreed ...

Hell Roy, $700 is R7000 !!!!! That's way too hectic. Personally, I would drop it. Do you really need this Tele?

I agree and have agreed to the cancellation but gave negative feedback rating as the listing stated $146 and once I won the auction it suddenly was $700. I refused to pay of course so no loss there.

RoyC wrote:

Aubs1 wrote:

RoyC wrote: Damn, now the seller is requesting a cancelled sale as no longer wants to ship to SA - says it will cost $700 when the listing stated $146. I have reluctantly agreed ...

Hell Roy, $700 is R7000 !!!!! That's way too hectic. Personally, I would drop it. Do you really need this Tele?

I agree and have agreed to the cancellation but gave negative feedback rating as the listing stated $146 and once I won the auction it suddenly was $700. I refused to pay of course so no loss there.

Obscene shipping quote. I was just quoted $250, which is what Musician's friend also charges to ship a guitar here.

Shipping is largely dependent on the case. I had one electric shipped in a flight case type (rectangular case) and it cost $250 while another was shipped in a Fender moulded case (the small one) which was then able to be sent via USPS for around $150.

This sounds like a job for.....myUS.com

Your order goes from a USA street address....they bulk-ship to SA...and I believe the freight charges are way lower than if you shipped it yourself.

Just Google "MyUSA....MyUS ?