Which soprano for my daughter

[Pjonah]

Greg Strange wrote:
Anybody had any experience purchasing saxes/instruments from abroad/overseas?
Regards,
Greg Strange.

I think its largely the luck of the draw, I have bought numerous things on ebay from sellers in the far east and have gotten away without paying duty/tax on all of them!

But you hear many sob stories about folk who get hit big time, I would check with the seller what their experience is with this subject. I beleive they can influence import officials as to what value is shown on the bill of lading, I think?

But looking at the costs of the "established" brands and their relative costs in NZ, I'd take the chance, the duty and import tax will not be massive anyway.

Good luck what ever you do.

Simon

 

[Pete Thomas]

Pjonah wrote:

Greg Strange wrote:
Anybody had any experience purchasing saxes/instruments from abroad/overseas?
Regards,
Greg Strange.

I would check with the seller what their experience is with this subject. I beleive they can influence import officials as to what value is shown on the bill of lading, I think?

Definitely do this, although you shouldn't expect anyoone to put a lower value on the paperwork - it would undoubtedly affect the insurance. However an experienced importer/exporter may well know of any legal loopholes etc. Check with your customs so you can know what to expect if you do have to pay duty or tax.

Of course as an export from the UK, the seller will not need to charge UK VAT, so there's 17.5% off the list price for a start.

 

[peter_fitton]

Of course as an export from the UK, the seller will not need to charge UK VAT, so there's 17.5% off the list price for a start.

Pete, that's not ALWAYS the case. Until less than a year ago I worked in VAT and can advise that there is no legal obligation, as such, to zero rate goods that are to be exported out of the EU.

The "proof of export" evidence that is needed to justify the zero-rating of such goods requires a great deal of admin and paperwork/record-keeping. This is a considerable burden to many small businesses and consequently many decide not to bother with it, and are therefore obliged to charge VAT, at the appropriate rate, when selling goods for export. This particularly true of businesses for whom export sales represent only a small part of their turnover - the record-keeping etc simply isn't worth the bother so they have to charge VAT.

So if you live overseas and are considering buying some obscure bit of equipment from, say, a small UK based specialist sax dealer, you might have to pay UK VAT!

And on that cheery note...

Peter

 

[greg_strange]

Thanks to Simon, Pete T. and Peter F. for their feedback/advice.
On Woodwind and Brass web-site as soon as you select a country outside the UK the retail price has the VAT subtracted. I would assume with purchasing their stock on-line and attracting overseas punters like myself Woodwind and Brass have done their homework and paper work in regard to VAT. I had a look at NZ Customs web-site and it looks like musical instruments do not attract any duty, but may attract GST (Goods and Services Tax NZ equivalent of the UK's VAT - or as my father calls it Gross Stupidity Tax) of 12.5% of the total cost. So I am budgeting for a maximum of NZD$125.00 (approx. GBP40.00) on today's currency conversion.
Once again thanks for your help/advice and maybe in a week or so I will be playing on a new soprano sax from the UK.
Regards,
Greg Strange.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Peter Fitton wrote:

Of course as an export from the UK, the seller will not need to charge UK VAT, so there's 17.5% off the list price for a start.

Pete, that's not ALWAYS the case. Until less than a year ago I worked in VAT and can advise that there is no legal obligation, as such, to zero rate goods that are to be exported out of the EU.

I'd better check this out, I don't charge VAT on MR Lucky exports and my only proof of export is the address on the email order. I have had VAT audits in the past and they were OK about this, maybe I was Mr lucky.

Still, if there is no obligation to not charge VAT on exports, it would put any retailer who does charge VAT at a disadvantage as far as competition is concerned.

 

[davison100]

Hi

This thread seems to have a life of its own.

Back to the original question.


Thanks for all your help.

Steve

 

[Linky Lee]

That sounds like a great school! a band that tours and a big band!
We had to create our own school band and it's still full of darn guitarists!

I hope the soprano goes well for your daughter, I really enjoy my tenor and if I could justify another sax I'd look straight at the Walstein again.

 

[peter_fitton]

[/quote]

I'd better check this out, I don't charge VAT on MR Lucky exports and my only proof of export is the address on the email order. I have had VAT audits in the past and they were OK about this, maybe I was Mr lucky.

Still, if there is no obligation to not charge VAT on exports, it would put any retailer who does charge VAT at a disadvantage as far as competition is concerned.
[/quote]

If you're making Postal Exports it's more simple than if things are going by freight.

You might want to have a look at
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000130&propertyType=document#P93_6284

(paragraph 7.5 especially)

But if you've had VATman round and he/she was happy enough then there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

 

[davison100]

Hi

We know have the Walstein sop. My daughter is on the band tour now so we have not played it yet, but I have had a good look at it. The finish on the body is very good, the finish on the key work is not so good with the odd mark, but it is not too bad. The tone holes are all square and the pads well fitted with the exception of one. My only concern is the action of the octave key. When pressed there is 2-3mm of play before the things start to move correctly. The play comes from the fork on the key being loose on the rod, which could be fixed with a larger sleeve on the rod, but also from the pivot which has play in it. The attached picture shows this. Is this play a problem or only to be expected on a cheaper instrument? Do I need to go back to Woodwind and Brass on this, or is this something that could be fixed by a local repair man as part of a check over.

Steve

 

[davison100]

Not sure what happened to the picture I will try again

[Attachment: sop3.jpg (90.88kb)]

 

[Pete Thomas]

There should be some play, otherwise the key may have a leak, but 2-3 mm is probably more than necessary.

Does the instrument play OK?, that's the main thing.

It's always worth taking any saxophone for a quick setup though. I would ring up Woodwind & Brass if in doubt.

I would not expect the finish on the keywork to be bad, so definbitely speak to them.

 

[davison100]

Pete


Steve

 

[Pjonah]

I wouldn't worry too much about the free play in the octave mechanism, my old Selmer (tenor) has about 6mm of play before the fun starts, you just adapt. But still get it checked by a tech for peace of mind.

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding, allow your daughter or her teacher to play the instrument. I suspect when they play it, they will conclude all is hunky dory.

The tuning issue with your wife is typical of clarinet players trying a saxophone (especially a soprano) clarinets in comparison are a doddle to keep in tune, sops can be tricky for a novice!

Simon

 

[davison100]

Hi

Probably my last post on this topic. First thanks for all your help. If you have read this thread you will know that I had (as a non-sax player) some concerns over play in the octave key, and that the finish again on the octave key mechanism was not as good as the rest of the instrument.
All in all at present I am happy with the instrument and the customer service provided by Martin. I will keep an eye on the spot where the finish is poor to make sure it does not get any worst, The bottom line is that this instrument does appear to offers very good value for money.

Steve

 

[rhysonsax]

I'm getting very interested in these Walsteins as a horn to take on gigs and not having to worry too much about some clumsy oaf kicking them off the stand. I use my MkVI alto and tenor on gigs and they are not actually insured.

One thing worries me about the Walstein's though:

davison100 wrote:
The tone holes are all square

:S :laugh:

Rhys