TomCat wrote
??? ??? ??? ???..........Do we need need to send you some Prozac..... :-\
Actually to all concerned, you owe me a Keg of beer, I'd prefer to drown my sorrows :goodtimes:
Matt. thanks for updating all the progress, I am learning alot here about shipping.
Maby you can put a tutorial together on the do's and dont's about shipping stuff?
Manny, in a word, don't, don't put yourself through this, it ain't worth it :'( On a slightly more serious note, smaller/lighter items may well work out, but heavy stuff is going to cost you... period, it only gets cheaper when you do BULK, bring in 20 amps at a time, bring em in my sea if you can, heck a 1/4 container load from China is only R10,000, that is ALOT of stuff to fill... but it doesn't help the guy on the street like you and me.
As you will see on Karel's workshop site, he charges R10,000 for the tweed champ kit. NOW I see why, the kit is costing me just shy of R7,000 (Shipping, Duties, VAT etc), even though the US price is only $500 (R3800.00). I'm sure he also bought when the rand was way worse than it is now, and he runs a business, like I do, so would want to make SOME money for all his efforts... in this case I've opted not to, but if I put a value on my time this has cost me alot to facilitate.
If anything this has shown me, as Karel has learned, we need to look local. Tom's DIY amp is living proof we have the skills here to make quality chassis. I'm darn sure we have good cabinet makers and we can be inventive RE coverings. A good friend of mine in the UK who builds custom amps buys off cut/old soft top covering from Jaguar for his amps! Karel is starting to experiment with winding transformers, I'm very happy with the one he made for my Bandmaster etc... so I think if we want to see affordable, locally made goods we need to start here at home.
Look, all that said I still feel I got a deal, in comparison to the local Fender prices, the custom shop '57 Champ, which is pretty much the kit I'm building retails here in SA for over R20,000, but we could bring the costs down further if we bought local and supported our local builders like Karel.
No way!!!!!.I was going to say cancel as well.I cant believe that you've been stuffed around like this.Goodbye mojo! Thanks again Matt for all your effort.You have gone way beyond the call of duty.OOps don't mention DUTY (shipping) Sore point.
Thanks Andy, I know you appreciate it. Actually your duty comment was just what I needed, laughing is good ?
Cheers
Matt
