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Kind of a crazy idea, but by my calculations, a set of TI Swing Flat JS112 (a popular brand on this site) goes for about $24 a set shipped here in the US. You can buy them much cheaper at Thomann in Europe, but shipping is 30 euros, which pushes the cost to $25+ if you buy one set.
But the shipping is a flat 30 euros no matter how many sets you buy, so 50 sets comes in at about 614 euros shipped, or about $13.50 a set.
I couldn't possibly be talked into buying 50 sets, but if someone offered me 5 sets for under $70, I would probably go for that. So if you could find 10 takers on this site for five sets each, it could be a go.
Even if someone reneged, it probably would not be hard selling any extra sets on the buy/sell section of this site.
One problem, of course, would be that everyone has a favorite guage, and some would want wound strings, Bensons, or whatever. I don't know if you could place an order for a mixed lot.
Maybe a crazy idea ...
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10-29-2015 03:07 PM
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Not a crazy idea at all. I do it from the UK, with other players in London. It works with a mixed lot.
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Don't forget that you may need to add customs. Don't know if it's still worth it then.
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The site says nothing about any customs charge.
If I can mix and match, that removes some of my "buyers club" incentive. I could, for example, buy two sets of JS112s, two sets of AC111s, and a set of JF344 bass strings for $122 shipped, $40+ less than the best online price here in the states.
Anybody else confirm that that there would be extra to pay for customs?
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out of sheer curiosity and after-dinner lassitude:
HS tariff codes, import duty & taxes and restrictions for Guitar strings
Seems to me it might well still be worth doing. One practical point is that I only do it with people I know, and so don't mind fronting the full amount and collecting the others' ££ afterwards. Not sure I'd fancy collecting all the money in advance...
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Thomann have free shipping in Europe for purchases over £100/$153/€140.
That's a few sets of strings!
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GREAT IDEA!!
I would be interested for 1/5th of the order.
For even $15 per set, I wouldn't mind changing them once every 2 months when they get thumpy..
If you are looking for a group buy, Please count me in. And I would gladly take 12's to keep it simple.
Joe D
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That link went to a general duty calculator, nothing about guitar strings. I would steer clear if there was some possibility of getting an odd mailing from a government entity later, or if there was anything about it that was not completely above board. But if this is totally legit (and I do mean *completely* legit), I would be inclined to go ahead even on my own just to save $40, but would be happy to partner up with others.
Originally Posted by Franz 1997
For example, if five of us partnered up, the euro shipping would be $6 each, plus US postage and the 3% for paypal for the four non-addressees. So if you are ordering five sets of strings, you are getting them for about half price.
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I'm interested.
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Subway guitars is offering Tomastik strings at 10-15 per set according to their webpage: SUBWAY GUITARS: Cool Links to Save You $$$$
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They don't mention it because they have nothing to do with it. You will be charged duties when the goods arrive. Just sayin' Originally Posted by nopedals
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Originally Posted by fws6
It sounds like Subway is the path of least resistance.
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good luck with that Originally Posted by GNAPPI
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Isn't Subway pretty much a zombie site. Some of those pics have been there since at least 2006 (trust me on that). If that's your intention I'd highly recommend e-mailing the fatdawg to verify that offer, good luck.
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I would probably call rather than e-mail.
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fatdawg and subway are alive and well...thank the gods...still packed into his cedar st berkeley california digs...he's of the best intentions, but may take awhile..haha....one of a kind..i've known him for 35 years!...
little trivia..mesa boogie subway amp was named after his shop
actually i think the better idea is to contact the thomastik usa distributor...
Connolly Music Company | String Family: Violins, Violas, Cellos
they were a super nice bunch..based on long island ny...that's how i was initially brought into the fold many years ago..they were extremely cool
cheersLast edited by neatomic; 10-29-2015 at 08:05 PM.
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I'm in.
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A caveat: Occasionally, one gets bum sets. What is the organiser of the group buy going to do when one or more members of the group receives what he deems are bum strings and agitates to have them returned and replaced or obtaining a refund? Even if Thomann allows the return and replacement of bum sets, who is going to pay for the postage all ways? Obviously, the organiser of the group buy will have to handle this.
It may sound like a small issue for the small amount of dollars to you and me but there is no telling how people are going to react if and when they get a bum set.
Just trying to save you a lot of headaches and all sorts of accusations. It ain't easy being a nice guy. I had thought about this group buy thing but quelled the idea.
If you're going to do it, do it with people you know very well.
You can imagine the, uh, conversations: "There is a speck of rust on the e string,""The g string snapped while I was tuning it,""I can hear that the bass E string is 1 cent flat/sharp. Won't intonate at all,"...Last edited by Jabberwocky; 10-29-2015 at 11:35 PM.
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non-issue. I have had a problem several times with thomastik strings in the recent past where I had to swap something out. Never once did they ask for my receipt or even where I bought them.
And i've been through 10 sets in the past year with no issues.
Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
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I had an entertaining telephone conversation with Fat Dawg once. I think it had to do with a vintage gibson at a stupidly low price that was pictured on the site but sold decades ago. No hard feelings, nice fellow, and the site is pretty funny (eg, "Dunkmore Semen" pickups).
The Thomann price does not include US duties.
Am I Liable for Import Tax? - Thomann UK
It looks like duties, if collected, are something like 3-6%, so no big deal.
I think I am going to do this next week. Anybody who is interested can PM me, and I'll give you a price. Not doing this for profit, just the experience, so it will be as close to my actual cost as I can come (I am going to figure the duty at 3%). You tell me exactly what you want, I'll tell you the cost, and if you want it, we'll do a handshake deal. Just strings, nothing bulky. USA only. I won't need money up front to place the order, but will need you to paypal the dough before I ship it to you. Obviously, I am not going to be doing returns for string rust or any other issue. This probably only makes sense if you are interested in multiple sets.
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Good on ya, nopedals. The experience will be interesting. I hope it works out well for you and everybody else.
Remember to factor in paypal's 5% markup on the spot USD-EUR rate. 0% to 6% USA import duty. Domestic postage. Cost of envelopes. I worked this awhile ago and it came up to about $18.50 per packet of TI JS or BB, all in. Edit : I forgot to factor in paypal's 3% hit on the recipient. Make that $19.05 per packet, delivered.
Trying to head off guys who go, "But you told me it was going to be $13.50 each!"Last edited by Jabberwocky; 10-30-2015 at 10:19 AM.
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Thanks for the tip on the euro paypal hit; I'll use my credit card instead.
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Last call on this. I have only one PM so far.
To simplify, your cost would be 7% to cover my paypal/customs/credit card costs (it will probably cost me more, but I'll absorb it), plus your share of the flat rate $30.
So, hypothetically, lets say you are one of five buyers (so everyone's share of the shipping from Europe would be $30/5, or $6), and you want five sets of JS112s, your total cost would be about $90, or $18 a set. For ten sets it would be more like $16-17. For less than five sets, it is probably not worth your time.
ou can mix string sets, and even order bass strings. PM me with what you want, and I will give you a price quote. There would be no returns or exchanges, at least through me (so don't even ask; that's the down side of getting 7 bucks off on each set).
Give me a handshake commitment after I give you a quote, and pay me after I receive the strings, but before I ship.
I am placing the order tomorrow.
Hope this does not sound confusing.
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Great idea! I'm down for 15 sets.
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Figuring out my needs and will send you a PM within 1/2 hour.
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