Manufacturers restraints

[neilsby]

Due to the current exchange rate £-$ i looked into importing some stuff. For instance:

Ampeg SVT-4Pro head is about £1300 to buy here. In America about £700 + import tax etc. still cheaper.

But i found that american companies such as musicians friend and sweetwater aren't willing to send to the UK due to manufacturers restraints.

Is this price-fixing, does anybody know any american retailers who do import?

It's pretty crap living on this island when you're trying to buy stuff. Not only to we get poor choice, normally one or two companies stock what i want, but it's so damn expensive.

Neil.

[natpub]

just get a friend in the US to buy it for you and mail it to you :-)


oh, and make sure he scratches it up a bunch and etches your name on it somewhere, so it doesnt look new---then just say you forgot it last time you visited :-))

[Bob Olhsson]

Foreign distributors generally make export restrictions a condition of stocking, providing warranty service, promoting and advertising a manufacturer's line.

[Jay Kahrs]

It's not price fixing unless they deal the UK dealer to sell it for X amount and no less. The UK versions of most gear needs a different power supply which might cost more or less, but there are also import taxes and stuff to deal with. Plus, if you buy and import a US version of the gear chances are damn good that the warrenty will be null & void since you didn't buy it through proper channels.

[Tousana]

Originally posted by natpub
just get a friend in the US to buy it for you and mail it to you :-)


oh, and make sure he scratches it up a bunch and etches your name on it somewhere, so it doesnt look new---then just say you forgot it last time you visited :-))

This does work,I have done it in the past.Although you don't have to go to that extream. Just ship it in another box other than the original and leave out the manual and maybe just package it up in bubble wrap,do make it look a little used finger prints and the like. Then whatever you leave out ship it seperatly.