stringbymail

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aleksi

Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland

stringbymail

Does anyone have experience how much are the shipping costs to Europe?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 18:12:21

gounaro

Posts: 875
Joined: Sep. 28 2008
From: Athens, Hellas

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

When you make an order there is a link below "Estimated Shipping". It depends on your order.

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Spyros

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 18:20:51

aleksi

Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

ok, Ill try to check it. I was just too lazy to try fake order there because some sites require so much info that it takes ages to fill them.
I mean something that can fit in to a letter, like four/five pack of strings.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 18:55:05

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

different shipping options. and they also vary from country to country.
But i paid 14$ in my last order.

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Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 18:56:07

frhout

Posts: 453
Joined: Apr. 28 2005
From: France

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

If you are in Europe, why not try www.lordofthestrings.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 19:06:14

aleksi

Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

thanks Deniz.
I checked and it was very fast, no info to fill just what I would like to order. So for 5 sets+ 5 basses would have been 14.95 and 10 sets+10 basses would have been 19.92 dollars.
Do they sent them always in a letter so that it comes strait home or is there a danger if I order this set of 10 that it comes in a box and goes to the post office?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 19:12:31

gounaro

Posts: 875
Joined: Sep. 28 2008
From: Athens, Hellas

RE: stringbymail (in reply to frhout)

I think its more expensive than Strings by mail. Even as the shipping cost is 1 euro for Europe countries. Strings by mail i think its cheaper. And i dont think that you can buy single strings. Maybe i'm wrong because i have not buying anything from this site.

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Spyros

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 19:13:56

aleksi

Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

thanks for the link frhout, Ill check that out.
edit.
yeah, i would like to get only basses, and for the first look they didnt have that option.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 19:17:44

frhout

Posts: 453
Joined: Apr. 28 2005
From: France

RE: stringbymail (in reply to gounaro)

I just had a go at www.stringsbymail.com. It would cost $10.48 to send 4 sets of Luthier Supreme 20 to France. I can't remember how much it had cost me with Lord of the strings, I did order some sets with extra fourths, the price was reasonable compared to those in France and I can't get them from where I am. I suppose in the end, they are similar.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 19:25:42

gounaro

Posts: 875
Joined: Sep. 28 2008
From: Athens, Hellas

RE: stringbymail (in reply to frhout)

I think you're right. They're the same...

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Spyros

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 19:30:58

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: stringbymail (in reply to frhout)

quote:

ORIGINAL: frhout
I suppose in the end, they are similar.

I like to buy Augustine bass sets. So ive compared the prices for it.
It is 4.25$ vs 6.30€ which is about 8$.
Thats almost double price.
I really stopped buying strings from Europe since i found out stringsbymail.

More calc: 10 sets basses.
10 * 4.25$ + 14$ for shipping = 56.5$
vs.
10 * 8$ + lets assume 0$ shipping (im too lazy to look up shipping costs) = 80$

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Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 19:47:31

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

quote:

Does anyone have experience how much are the shipping costs to Europe?

That was the least of my worries when I ordered from them.

My order was despatched and the next I heard was a letter from DHL at the airport saying that they would need payment for UK Duty, DHL Import Handling Charge and VAT on top of that before they could release the consignment.

I might as well just have bought them here at full UK price.

That was a few years ago. Don't know if the system has changed since.

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 19:55:39

frhout

Posts: 453
Joined: Apr. 28 2005
From: France

RE: stringbymail (in reply to XXX)

Hi Deniz

Yes, they are cheaper in the US. The problem for us it that if I order a lot, anything with a value of over €38 risks a 34% import duties. From where I live, they want to charge me €12 for a set of Luthier, and they won't order unless I agree to buy a box of ten. But if you live near the US, there is probably no reason at all to buy from Europe.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 19:58:24

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: stringbymail (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ron.M
That was a few years ago. Don't know if the system has changed since.

Ah yes, that happened to me last time when i ordered. In my previous orders it never happened.
But anyway the tax and all was just 5 Euros, or 6$.
Never heard of a DHL Import charge though? I think that usually been done on very expensive goods(?).

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Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:00:11

frhout

Posts: 453
Joined: Apr. 28 2005
From: France

RE: stringbymail (in reply to Ron.M)

I have ordered other things from the US before because I couldn't find them in Europe. But unless the merchant agrees to send by USPS, it is unlikely that I will buy from them. DHL, FedEx etc declare values (there is nothing wrong with that) and our local import customs charge us regardless of local prices. DHL is near enough from me but not the other courrier services. They tend to arrive when I'm not in, and they don't deliver on Saturdays. So for me, it's almost always a pain.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:07:28

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: stringbymail (in reply to XXX)

quote:

I think that usually been done on very expensive goods(?).

Well not very expensive, Deniz.....I ordered 10 packs to make it worthwhile, so the total order was about $70 or so.

Maybe I just tipped over into the Duty limit or something?

Maybe I should just have ordered a couple of sets at at time?

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:09:32

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: stringbymail (in reply to frhout)

quote:

ORIGINAL: frhout
Yes, they are cheaper in the US. The problem for us it that if I order a lot, anything with a value of over €38 risks a 34% import duties.

Yeah that happened to me. When i ordered I was under the impression that the limit for tax is somewhere at 150€ because they raised it one or two years ago. They showed it in the news everywhere. But maybe this is not true if you get things shipped, only if you import it via airport?

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Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:10:23

aleksi

Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

I want to avoid the taxing, it really sucks! Thats why I asked about the letter vs. box thing. If its just a letter that comes straight home, no problems with taxes, ist just a letter, but anything bigger than that...TAXES+CUSTOM 25%.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:12:10

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

Well,.. I buy my strings on amazon... They have a nice collection available.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:13:20

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

aleksi, my last order came in a thin letter - and was taken out by the tax office.
Maybe you could do it like Ron says, order something below 38€ or whatever the tax limit is...
i didnt do the math but i think it might be still cheaper with only one order (only one shipping costs) and pay taxes vs. multiple orders and not pay taxes (but shipping costs).

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Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:14:53

frhout

Posts: 453
Joined: Apr. 28 2005
From: France

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

The only advice I can give if you decide to buy from the US is to avoid ordering a whole box so that the shop can stick them in a padded envelope. Depending on how you pay, by credit card for example, your bank may charge you extra in the Euro zone. PayPal is better.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:17:23

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: stringbymail (in reply to XXX)

quote:

But maybe this is not true if you get things shipped, only if you import it via airport?

Deniz,

The only stuff that ever gets "shipped" (ie por barco) is stuff like heavy machinery and root vegetables, rice and corned beef.

Nearly everything else goes by air, otherwise you would be waiting 2 weeks to a month for your parcel.

Maybe the Mexican entrepreneurs can dig a tunnel between Mexico and the UK and we can get stuff in cheaper that way.

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:19:28

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: stringbymail (in reply to Ron.M)

ROFL Ron

i should have said "delivered" instead of shipped.
Shipping costs, delivery costs...

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Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:21:30

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: stringbymail (in reply to XXX)

I bought a cejilla from Tony Arnold and he just popped it into a jiffy bag and posted it in a US mailbox.

Got it through the letterbox a few days later.

Weird system?

Is it just luck or what? Totally unclear IMO.

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:32:18

aleksi

Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

under 150€ shipments are custom free, but under 22€ shipments are taxfree.
I could order 2 sets of strings and 1 set of basses without + shipping without taxes.
But if I pay taxes and order say 14 fullsets and basses, it would cost the same as only the fullsets here, so I would get the bass sets for free.
4 sets of basses+shipping would be 22€.
If only the eurosite would have bass sets also I would order from there.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:44:59

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

Aleksi,

I just order bass sets from here now.

http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/single_strings/classical/3?&

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 20:51:50

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: stringbymail (in reply to Ron.M)

also in UK, i use this site

http://www.stringbusters.com/index.htm

they are reasonable price, and quick delivery

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2010 22:16:35

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: stringbymail (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ron.M

I bought a cejilla from Tony Arnold and he just popped it into a jiffy bag and posted it in a US mailbox.

Got it through the letterbox a few days later.

Weird system?

Is it just luck or what? Totally unclear IMO.

cheers,

Ron

It depends on the receiving country.
None seems as anal like German customs.

They will hardly ever let a single private shipment get through. Yet, there seem ways for the shipping companies to get around customs. ( Which I would be surprised of if big companies weren´t to be taking advantage of on a regular basis.)
Once years ago, with one of diverse purchases of recording gear from USA I didn´t react to the DHL request of paying import duities / tax to them, which I however did not react to after them not replying to my inquiry to whereabouts of their bill.

They refrained from requesting again, which they would had probably not done had they actually shelled out on behalf of me.

Seeing the painstaking way of German customs it hence was just consequent to recently turn out otherwise after first official claims of all imports allegedly unable to be controlled for detonation parcels. In the end it had to be admitted that customs frisks each and every private sending anyway, only that they won´t consider signs for bombs like wires, clocks etc.

Despite customs keeness I managed to import an expensive instrument from US lately, declared far below value.
However the consequent risk with minor shipping insurance was on my side, naturally. Luckily everything went well, with tax & customs fee under 100 bucks.

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2010 16:00:52

aleksi

Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

Thanks Ron and mark indigo for the links.
Funny that both of them dont have luthier basses and they are just what Im looking for. Same thing with lordofthestrings. I gues thats irony of life: one doesnt get what he wants, and doesnt want what he can get.
But with strings its just that after some time I get bored of the sound I get from the strings and want to change. I've been going around with d'addarios, savarez and luthier and like all of them, but only like the four seasons, they must change.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2010 16:59:24

El Kiko

Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland

RE: stringbymail (in reply to aleksi)

Thanks for the ..Lordofthestrings.link I never knew about them , and they seem to have a lot of choice...I dont think that you have to go to USA for strings that are already here in europe, Some places may not have what you want but will get them for you if you need and give them advance warning ,,,,,even my local music shop can do that, up to a certain point ,,,,,
At the moment I use Strings.ie as I am in Ireland, they have D'addario EJ45's (normal) but often dont have the EJ43's light tension that I prefer ,, I see that Lordofthestrings have them,,
I use D'addario cos they sound good and they last so much longer than anything else I have had.
Obviously shipping is less the closer it is, but I would talk to your local shop and ask if when they put there next string order in they could add on a few of what you want ,,,, and don't forget to flutter you eyelashes when ordering ........

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 6 2010 9:48:43