Import from MusiciansFriend : Delivery Address

Beeg

Hi

I'm hoping that a fellow GFSA'er with some experience with importing from MusiciansFriend could clarify something for me.

I am looking to import a Zvex Fat Fuzz Factory from MusiciansFriend, the local distributors has not yet replied to my desperate emails and locally I am only able to get the regular vanilla fuzz factory.

Musicians friend uses DHL express for their delivery, my question is, should I use my physical home/work address or my P.O box for the delivery address?

I've mailed MusiciansFriend with the same issue and they replied:

Dear Eddie,
Thank you for your recent inquiry.

I am not quite sure how DHL Express works and if they have any exclusions as to where it should be delivered, but from our side, I can tell you that whatever address you provide is where it will be delivered to. You may want to double check with DHL and see if they have an exclusion where they have to hold it as the post office for you or not. Sorry for the uncertainty

Thanks for clarifying this guys. ?

Tokai-SA

DHL Express will deliver to your door, it's a courier company, so give your home or work address.

Using a Po Box address means the package gets sent to your local post office, then the PO sends you a little slip telling you it's at your local PO ready for collection...that can add two weeks to you finally getting the package.

Lfan

Hey

When I bought from them in the past they used UPS. UPS in SA called me once the parcel was at their "HUB" in SA to confirm delivery address and to pay (if any) TAX. You can give them your work address or home address, whichever works for you

Beeg

Thank you for clarifying guys, hoped this was the case. Our postal service is not the best ?

Lfan

You dont have to wait as well. I also shipped a guitar to SA last year using DHL and fetched it once it was at the SAPO HUB in JHB. It goes there straight from the airport, but stays there for a while until someone picks it up and "processes" it, then it gets delivered to DHL or wherever If you have a tracking number, it will tell you once the parcel lands, once you see it has landed you can all the SAPO HUB in JHB to check if its there, tell them you will fetch it from there yourself. Faster IMO.

Big-G

Just to warn you. Add two weeks to any delivery time that you are told, as SA Customs tends to be pretty slow at clearing items through customs. Generally, two weeks is how long they take, but I had one item delivered here that came with Fedex, and they cleared it through customs before they even sent it from the US. They held it in their sorting office in Salt Lake city and pre cleared it through customs, where I had to pay the TAX for Mr. Sars, then they sent it. It was the fastest import I've ever experienced, but the norm is at least two weeks longer than the estimated delivery!

Regards
G!

AlanRatcliffe

Most of the big international couriers do their own SARS clearing. Adds a day or two to the delivery time (unlike a week or two with SAPO) at most but nothing slips through without duties, clearance fees and VAT (while small parcels can sometimes slip through the PO). Also less chance of stuff going missing...

Beeg

Okay I've placed my order.. MusiciansFriend charged me for Duties, Taxes, Shipping and Handling upfront. They guarantee that my order total is 100% complete and that I don't have to pay anything else for my order.

International shoppers get the benefit of:
Prices shown in local currency
Guaranteed exchange rate at checkout
Guaranteed order totals (including shipping fees, duty and taxes)
Cost-effective international shipping
100% Satisfaction Guarantee and No-Hassle Return Policy

I hope this equates to a quicker delivery time 8)

Scorched

I ordered a Tremol-no from Guitar Center (I believe however it is still Musician's Friend that processes the internet orders, it says Musician's Friend on the box) about 3 weeks ago. They also used DHL as the courier. It took them 5 days to process the item at their international center, but once they processed it, it took 3 days for the item to be delivered to my doorstep. I took a chance and decided not to prepay the duties, lo and behold, was cleared at no charge!?

The only hiccup was that I received some dodgy sms and a few seconds later some bloke calling me, claiming to be from DHL. He claimed that he needed my ID no and email address in order to clear the parcel at customs. I refused and promptly emailed Guitar Center for clarification. They stated that they are unsure of the local policies and suggested that I contact DHL myself. I was on my way to Oppikoppi and wasn't able to deal with this situation and decided I would leave it until I got back. However, when I got home, my parcel had arrived without a hitch. I'm still trying to figure out if it was some scam where an employee at DHL forwards the manifest to some scamster and they sign for your package...

epictring

I remember the days MF offered free shipping on International orders, now that was a deal!

Beeg

The transfer duties / tax does make it rather expensive to import. I understand the expensive delivery fees however, I prefer it coming straight to my door and skipping the PO.

I received a reply from Tuerk, the local local distributors, the current Zvex stock will be the last stock:

Thanks for the interest in ZVEX. Apologies for the reply taking a little time. I was in discussion with ZVEX yesterday as to whether we will continue with the brand in SA, which in turn delayed my reply to you. The verdict is that we will not, as there isn't a big enough market for the brand here.

Sad that I could not support them rather than importing, the reply I got from them was detailed and informative. Much better than the usual, "no".

Scorched

epictring wrote: I remember the days MF offered free shipping on International orders, now that was a deal!

It stings a lot! Had to pay $50 shipping on a $55 item. Came in a huge box, could've easily fit 4 pedals in it.

Mr-M

Beeg wrote: Sad that I could not support them rather than importing, the reply I got from them was detailed and informative. Much better than the usual, "no".

You're welcome! ? Hope you enjoy the Fat Fuzz Factory. Such an awesome pedal.