SaxPlus.com - has anyone used them?

[gordonc]

I've been thinking of upgrading my alto mouthpiece - possibly to a metal berg larsen.

Saxplus.com in the US seem to be offering amazingly low prices - particularly with the current exchange rate.

149 USD for a new stainless steel berg larsen model.
115 USD for a metal meyer jazz.

They have a large range of other mouthpieces at similar low prices. Even with postage charges and possible customs charge - it would still be a worthwhile purchase.

Does anyone have experience of the kind of service that Saxplus offer? Any good or bad feedback?

 

[jambo]

www.music123.com

Amazing Site

 

[chris_j]

[No message]

 

[gordonc]

Thanks Chris
That's really useful advice

Chris J wrote:

By the way, use www.sax-plus.com (rather than saxplus) as the one with the hyphen is for their overseas customers.

Another tip - check with Customs and Excise what their cut off value is for slapping on import duty. Under a certain value, they ignore.

If you are buying a few things, it is sometimes much cheaper to put in multiple orders and increase the shipping costs if each get under the C+E value radar rather than one large single order that gets an inspection fee AND 17.5% VAT on top.

 

[jambo]

Remember, you might have to pay a service charge to get it (once it has come over into this country).

Its strange.... one time I got a mp form the US and has no service charge, the next time I got another form the US I had a 12quid one!

 

[Linky Lee]

How would you go about checking that cut off value?

Or does someone know it by heart?

Sounds like one of the things you ordered Jambo was over that limit.

 

[suethesax]

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/

Shopping on the Internet


If you purchase goods through the Internet you should be aware that Customs duty and VAT will be payable, as follows:

Please see Notice 143, paragraph 3.3 for more details.

 

[Linky Lee]

Cheers Sue.

I'll read up a bit more as I'll probably get a mouthpiece shipped over when the funds are there.

 

[gordonc]

Watch this space

I've made an order for a total value of about 260 usd
I'll let you all know what happens with regard to delivery time - customs - VAT etc

Ordered:

Meyer Richie Cole HR for alto

Otto Link Metal 6 for tenor

Postage by express Global Courier = $35

 

[Simon]

Hey Gordon, sounds like some good savings there...

the only thing I'd point out in local retailer defence is that -

1. being local (well, in the UK) you've got more of a chance of trying out this gear before settling on it and in the case of sax.co.uk, they know their gear (most of them are sax players), there's a huge range of mpcs and instruments to try in their rooms and service / delivery is fast...

2. you're supporting a local firm, although I guess in this country (unlike the small one I'm from, where the government encouraged everyone to buy all their stuff online from overseas at the expense of local business), that mightn't mean much 🙁

Small point, s'all

Simon

 

[chris_j]

GordonC


I sympathise with the thoughts about supporting local shops. It does seem unfair cherry-picking what you buy locally, and what you buy from abroad. If the differential was up to 10% then I would go with a more expensive local shop because of the personal contact, probably good past service, and ease of comeback if goods are wrong. But when the differences are of the magnitude above, well you just can't walk away from the savings that are there.

And I have had some fantastic service from USA outlets. Sax-plus being one of them, also MusicMedic and Junkdude. They have become one of my local shops, just a week by post away. They have earned the return custom by plain good service.

And so to comment on buying mouthpieces. It is a gamble. Some makes (eg Link) have a reputation for variable finish. Some (eg Yanagisawa) have a good reputation for reliable and consistently good finish of stock pieces.

I have mainly gone for pieces by Ralph Morgan (through Junkdude) and Phil Barone (through Phil) because they are hand finished and test played before they leave the hands of the maker. It cuts the risk. And incidentally, the HR mouthpieces from those to are not only stunningly good, but really well priced (particularly with the current exchange rates.

 

[gordonc]

Final Update

MP's arrived - one week exactly from day of order.

VAT and customs charges = 35 pounds total

Total cost to me was about 170 pounds (including shipping, customs and VAT)

Estimated saving of about 120 pounds

I'm happy with that !!

 

[chris_j]

Gordon

I hope they are good players. But you know, you read alot about some stock mouthpieces having to be refaced to really make them fantastic. I have no idea what perfecting a mouthpiece costs, but I am guessing you would still have something left over in your savings.

Let us know how your purchases are

Chris

 

[Linky Lee]

[No message]

 

[berniesax]

hi there
got my otto link from them.saved a lot of money !and there
reeds are are a good deal cheaper then the u.k
would recommend
bernie