Hey guys,
Haven't posted here in ages! I need to please get some feedback on this - I have a friend coming down to SA for a holiday from the UK in the next 3 weeks and there's a guitar that's caught my eye on Ebay.
The seller does not ship internationally so my plan is to have the guitar sent to my friend and then have her fly it here as part of her luggage.
Has anyone done this and are you able to clue me in on the ins and outs (customs, various other pitfalls) related to this?
Clint-Green I don't trust the airlines. Even in full-on flight cases things get damaged - even if checked into the hold as carry on luggage. So packing as well as possible is key - I've pulled the neck off my guitar and re-assembled - pita, but it survived a bunch of flights!
Technically you are liable for vat + processing charge (14% plus +/-1%) when importing musical instruments. I'd just walk confidently through customs...if stopped, I'd say it's my instrument for a 50th birthday party gig I'm playing at for a friend. And yes sir, I keep all my instruments in showroom, as new condition. Nudge-nudge, wink-wink.
You are allowed a certain amount of personal import goods when you come through customs, not sure what the threshold is or if that includes instruments.
tl:dr : Declare it as a import and pay +/- 15% or stroll through and, if stopped, claim it's your personal instrument that you travel with.
Thanks man! I ended up ordering a Jackson DK2M from the States via FedEx instead. Just seems like less hassle...
Waiting with baited breath for NGD, now.
