An update from Toob

[Gitterbug]

Hi ! A few points to munch, especially in the US.

- The new toob.fi website is up and running. It's finally up-to-date and features all 15 models.

- Year-to-date, I have sent a double-digit number of Metros over the pond. The new Metro 8GP is a big hit among NY jazz cats.

- Jensen discontinues the N10/100 TR speaker, the classic 10” Tornado. One Tornado-loaded Toob 10S on the shelf – your last chance! Going forward, the 10S default speaker is the 40W Jensen Blackbird AlNiCo. Same price.

On Trump’s Trade War: The plot seems to bring a new twist each passing day. It's understandable that our US reseller GnJ has preferred to wait and see - at the risk of missing the boat altogether.

The US de minimis rule, exempting parcels under 800$ from customs duties, ceases to apply to shipments from China and Hong Kong as of May 2. Once the systems to levy charges on millions of small parcels are in place, the rule is likely to be abolished altogether. This will alter the nature of web trading to USA completely.

As I see it, the role of a small-business US importer changes radically. Instead of buying bulk and paying the 20% duty on EU-made products, it makes sense to take in orders one by one and have the items sent direct to the end-customer. This as long as the de minimis rule is in place. After that – goodbye America?

If you're an American considering a TOOB or Metro, now's the time. The toob.fi site contains price information. A 15% discount for Forum Members applies, as before.

Cheers,

Markku

[Ukena]

Thanks, Markku.

I picked up a repaired guitar (crack from drying out – the heat in my apartment had been turned way up while I was out of the country) from Rudy's yesterday, and explained to them the whys and wherefores of the Toob speakers – the guys there immediately called up your website, and oohed and aahed over the offerings (especially the prices). Rudy's doesn't sell small amps like the SB or the Raw Dog, but they were very interested to hear about them. Then they started talking about how the future of amplification was in gear like this – smaller, lighter, easier to carry. Of course, this is a shop in New York City.

But I'm going to try to take my 8" metro with the Raw Dog 250 (and maybe the SBUS as well) if I can get Dave (the guy who approves purchasing) to give me some time.

[Gitterbug]

Paul, thank you very much! Alas, your illustrious leader does his best to complicate our lives.

Visiting Rudy's a dozen or so years ago and trying out real D'Angelicos was an unforgettable experience. I wasn't in the business then but tried to reach Rudy's (and quite a few other US vendors) 3-4 years ago. Not one cared to respond.

[Ukena]

I remember your reaching out. Perhaps if they can actually get their hands on one it may make a difference.

[Gitterbug]

It's my experience from eg Anderton's in UK and Truetone in Santa Monica that what excites the sales personnel doesn't necessarily appeal to the decision-making level. Early on, Thomann was interested on the basis of favorable reviews in the German Gitarre+Bass magazine, but we could not agree on pricing. Subsequently, Thomann must have sold scores of SuperBlocks and BAM200s to Toob and Metro users.

[Woody Sound]

Alas, your illustrious leader does his best to complicate our lives.

We vacillate between crying and laughing. But mostly worrying. My cousin spent his life in fed orgs generously helping others in far away 3rd world lands. Had every exotic disease you can name. Now "we"'re pulling the plug on them. It's a real shame.

[RJVB]

The US de minimis rule, exempting parcels under 800$ from customs duties, ceases to apply to shipments from China and Hong Kong as of May 2.

France tried this after Brexit (the limit was set at 150€). I've avoided ordering knowingly from outside the EU after I got slapped with an almost 50% extra cost at the door on a 15Ca$ shipment but none of the A'zon orders that turned out to ship from China got charged. Impossible to tell if they're being processed and China pays the bill, or if they just go through.

I did read about Dutch plans being discussed to do this too (possibly only for shipments from China). Not to make extra money, but to disrupt the delivery flow enough that vendors go back to bulk shipping with local distribution. So that plan would probably involve not setting up systems to process the current influx efficiently but rather to "tarpit" it. You'd still get the extra income but without the cost plus it should create some non-governmental jobs. Of course it's also better for the environment which may make it a no-go for the current US administration...