Mr-M
Riaan wrote:
I just noticed Cubase 4 Full Retail Version for over R11.5 K on a local music shop's website, compared to about $550 USD including shipping on EBay.
Unless there are massive import duties on audio software, I don't understand the local dealer's price.
I thought Cubase 4 goes for R9000?
http://www.soundz.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=STSTE105
As for software or musical instrument prices in SA being higher, I'd have to guess it's got to do with sales volumes. Overseas online retailers like Musiciansfriend or Sweetwater probably order more of a particular item from the manufacturer for their own sales than the local SA importer would order for the whole country here because our market is so tiny in comparison to the US or EU. Compare how many hugely expensive musical items (like a Marshall JVM for instance) on Musciansfriend have loads of reviews from buyers vs how many of that product you've ever seen in SA in total at all the music stores you've been to and all the bands you've seen. Basically you'd see that they sell way more than SA has ever even seen of a given product IMO. The more you buy, the bigger the discount in most industries, so I don't see why it would be any different for the music industry. It's probably not just that simple but I'd guess that's most of the reason why.
AlanRatcliffe
The retail on Cubase is about R10K. Compared to the US Retail of about $1000, it's in line if you take shipping, VAT, etc into account. Where the difference comes in is with the discount structure - and that's as Mr M has explained.
Attila
Gents,
The biggest killer when importing instruments is shipping cost +- 120 -150 USD, door-to-door, for a guitar and case, from the USA. There are no duties payable on musical instruments and parts. and of course everything is VATable.
Beware if declaring a lower value on the item, should it go missing the insurance will only pay out the declared value...
JoeyBones
Attila wrote:
The biggest killer when importing instruments is shipping cost +- 120 -150 USD, door-to-door, for a guitar and case, from the USA.
This is true, but I've bought 6 guitars and parts for 2 more and it still worked out way cheaper than buying stuff here.
Attila wrote:
There are no duties payable on musical instruments and parts. and of course everything is VATable.
I've had to pay duties on every item I bought ☹ Is there some sort of import duty clause I can quote to get my money back ?
AlanRatcliffe
I've had to pay duties on every item I bought
You will only have paid VAT. If you use the bigger courier companies, they will often charge a "clearance fee" on top, but that isn't duties
per se, that's just them gouging you for more money.
Riaan
One thing to be careful of though, is a deal that seems too good to be true. It usually is...as I found out with a DVR card which never materialised. Best to stick to established sellers with lots of good feedback, and who are authorised resellers, even if they charge more than others on EBay. Even then it often works out cheaper. Of course there's the ever present risk of theft once the parcel hits our borders... ☹
Attila
JoeyBones wrote:
Is there some sort of import duty clause I can quote to get my money back ?
I am no expert on this but if you have the paper work, theoretically it could be reversed...... give it to a friendly shipping agent and see. It may well be worth your while.
Riaan - seems its the smaller parcels that get "lost"
AlanRatcliffe
If you are buying for resale at a profit and are a VAT registered vendor, then you can claim back the VAT. Then you pay the VAT when you sell it again. If you are the end user, then even if you are VAT registered, you are not eligible to get the VAT back.
Garth-S
I bought a SanDisk compact flash card off ebay for my BR600, and a week after i received it it started playing up.. then I stumbled upon an article on ebay published just after I received the card saying look out for fakes, and how to spot one. Turns out mine was a fake, and when I searched for the seller, he had disappeared. The seller had a 99.5% rating too. So be very careful.
JoeyBones
There was a scam like that for Gibson and Fender guitars as well. No doubt that you gotta do your homework before buying online.
Martyr
if you want to get cubase and reason and so on check online trade website(www.gumtree.co.za or www.bidorbuy.co.za) it's worth getting it 2nd hand over new
Malkav
My two cents, you can't get dimarzio in this country unless you go through Ebay...
And for Ibanez enthusiasts www.ishibashi-music.com it's funny when you read the translations and it's all priced in yen but they have an extensive line of Japanese made guitars (only place to get J-Custom models) and they also have an extensive and weekly updated second hand section and apparently ship quickly and have very good customer care.
Reinhard
After seeing what ES 335's are going for locally, I'll probably be buying one or a 339 off ebay.
Mutt
I imported my BC Rich Beast from Ebay and Music farm... Worked out cheaper than if SA did have the guitar and it gt het safe with not even a scratch
Martyr
at the moment the exchange rate is pretty screwed up it's sitting at R9,30 or so...gear i was gonna order at the end of the month would have cost me R3400 3 weeks ago and now will cost about R4100... so now i gotta wait a long time for the exchange rate to drop...
Martyr
try AU(Australian) sellers on ebay,usually works out a lot cheaper than from US...a guitar,from the same guy,works out about R200 cheaper if you pay him in Australian Dollars than in US dollars(also helps having friends in Australia ?)
JoeyBones
I have to say shipping from the US has gone badly with my last couple of purchases. Still waiting for my Nova modulator and Wah Probe that I bought about 3 months ago. I guess I'm just gonna have to hold thumbs ☹
Mr-M
Joey, I know how you feel. I finally got my Catalinbread Ottava Magus I ordered in May. It got lost by Canada Post and it took them until the end of last month to pay out on the insurance after lots of fighting with them by Scott, the guy I bought from. Got sent again on the 26th of last month and I got it last Friday.
Just to mention, if you ever want to buy boutique pedals check out www.axeandyoushallreceive.com
Scott was fantastic to deal with and although we had the shipping issues, it wasn't his fault and he went the extra mile to get it to me once the situation was finally resolved. Plus they have an enormous selection of pedals - things you've never heard of or even conceived existed - and Scott is just a really nice guy.
Big thumbs up for www.axeandyoushallreceive.com
JoeyBones
Mr M wrote:
Just to mention, if you ever want to buy boutique pedals check out www.axeandyoushallreceive.com
I was gonna buy the Catalinbread Hyperpak from them, but decided against it because of the shipping costs. It was cheaper shipping from the US, that is if you could get someone to ship what you want.
Mr-M
I bought from them via their eBay page. I only paid $20, which is very reasonable IMO. I have normally paid between $15 and $35 for pedals from the States, so I thought $20 wasn't too bad for further north (Canada).
