Korg Forums

Hedegaard wrote:

peter m. mahr wrote:Yes, they do and they do it very well.

What about the German tax of 7% import?
How do you "bypass" that?
Surely your Oasys or whatever you bought from them, would be noticed by the customs?

I hope you can answer me on this one.....thanks

Shipping is about $200 (Sweetwater online shop).
Toll is 3,2% for musical instruments
19% tax (EUST)

So it should be:

$2999 = EUR 2250 (xe.com) + shipping EUR 150 = EUR 2400
+ 3,2% toll (TARIC 92071050) = EUR 77
+ 19% german tax (EUST) = EUR 471

so it should be EUR 2948.

Could this be correct? Any additional fees?

TheCube wrote:Could this be correct? Any additional fees?

careful.

the 200 us$ shipping fee sounds TGTBT (too good to be true).

I paid 90$ on sweetwater shippings of far lighter and smaller tools,

and for an expensive, heavy, big and fragile keyboard you need top-quality shipping and insurance.

[size, weight, fragility and value all determine shipping fees and/or custom duties]

Finally: when the value of the shipping is relevant, UPS and DHL may charge you additional fees at arrival even if the shipping is pre-paid by sweetwater.

I often buy sport implements in the USA,

and once imported a big and heavy tool.

The shipping fee was 300 us$ and pre-paid, but in the end I paid 250 euros more to UPS, in the form of "custom duties management", "local post fees",

because the shipping is meant "to Customs". What happens in Customs is not considered sweetwater business. If a document is less than perfect (or, in Italy, if they can't find it... ) they can hold the parcel for a week, and you end paying for storage (I did ) and for processing.

I live a few kilometers from the largest freight airport in Italy, and from the Customs transit warehouses (so, what the heck is "local postage fees" for 50 euros?).

I don't say "don't". I say "careful with calculations".

When buying a synth I always calculate usd/eur at 1:1, and unfortunately there's no way out if the synth is heavy.

On light packages (DSI tetr4, the likes) I managed to spare money.

This is not meant as a negative comment on sweetwater (they are very good),

but rather as a negative comments on UPS, DHL [NEVER use USPS for expensive things] and European Customs,

which dissipate sweetwater's good work for European customers.

TheCube, many thanks for the TARIC code.

My comments: you should add another 2% currency exchange fee + estimate another few % for the risk that the EUR may be devalued.
And take Ozy's warnings seriously!

As said before, I recommend to wait for the official quotes in Europe. What's the hurry? You will not get the Kronos before April anyway.

orpheus2006 wrote:TheCube, many thanks for the TARIC code.

My comments: you should add another 2% currency exchange fee + estimate another few % for the risk that the EUR may be devalued.
And take Ozy's warnings seriously!

As said before, I recommend to wait for the official quotes in Europe. What's the hurry? You will not get the Kronos before April anyway.

Your Welcome. And yes, you're both right.
There are for sure some things i forgot.

There are maybe also some warranty issues if you buy it in the US. Maybe local stores would not be so happy

But, if they gonna try to sell it for EUR 4000, i maybe will give it a try

For me, either way, it will not happen before sommer. It's still not a "no brainer" for my wallet

Regards, Dieter.

What Korg don't like are parallel importers, that import instruments from other countries at discounted prices.
Korg try to defer this by saying such things as "the voltage dosen't match" e.t.c.
But in reality, they just don't like losing money on the local market and to me, finding excuses about warranty et al, is just to deter potential buyers from purchasing outside of their local market.

So for best prices on the EU continent, is to be "friends" with an importer of electronic goods, and get him/her to import it for you.
You can't really get around the local customs&tax in this way, but you CAN beat Korgs local countries earnings (which is quite significant).

Otherwise, you should get the 61key version, get a round trip airplane ticket, go see New York or Miami for a few days (probably best in Miami, because in movies people always get robbed in alleys in NY)
and take the 61key under your arms through the airport on the way back.
Then you just paid local USD currency BUT you must pay for the flight ticket of course.

Ozy, I didn't know you lived in Italy? How does that explain your eloquence in English?

I did not write that I will purchase a KRONOS, nor did I write that in the case I decide for one I would order it from Sweetwater. When I was a Kurzweil K2500 user I bought several things from them and they always provided a great service. Even after years they contacted me and frankly, I would like to see half of that professionalism at our local stores.

Maybe I get forced to buy one from them, one never knows .....

Peter

Over 2800 pounds for 61 key is bloody ridiculous. That's well above the price of Kurzweil PC3K8 (an 88 note board!) over here!


I hope Korg and its european importers come to senses.

tritonlover2000 wrote:Price-matching is unethical IMO. Its a matter of principle.

What is unethical about price matching?

I would agree that special consideration should be given to the retailer that provides the first lowest price, but customers should be free to buy from the retailer they choose.

There is nothing wrong with a retailer agreeing to match (or beat) a price to win your business. If the second retailer is only willing to match, it is the customer's choice as to what they want to do.

Just to compare the Kurzweil PC3K8 is $3,495 at sweetwater.
At Absolute Music in the UK it is £2,499

Just to give an idea on price difference.
By the way the Sweetwater price is the sale price not the listing price!

List price is $4,189

So hopefully Kronos will br around the £2,500 mark or less for 61 key when it is actualy released.

MartinHines wrote:

tritonlover2000 wrote:Price-matching is unethical IMO. Its a matter of principle.

What is unethical about price matching?

I would agree that special consideration should be given to the retailer that provides the first lowest price, but customers should be free to buy from the retailer they choose.

There is nothing wrong with a retailer agreeing to match (or beat) a price to win your business. If the second retailer is only willing to match, it is the customer's choice as to what they want to do.

If you go to the first and get support, ask questions, get answers and finally ask for the price and then go afterwards to another one to just match the price then it is.... times have obviously changed if it is necessary to explain.

if anyone is really interested in purchasing one of these keyboards... please send me a pm. I have a guy at sweetwater that always takes GREAT care of me. You should give him a call. I am almost sure he can beat any of those prices that you see anywhere. (even the "call in special" prices that NOVA music is giving you.)

I guarantee it... this guy is great. I've been using him for about a year now.

I want to stress these features....

FREE SHIPPING AND FREE 2 YEAR WARRANTY... plus he will beat those prices...

no brainer if you ask me. LOL

I mean if you want the KRONOS. You won't find a better place to get it than sweetwater. Hit me up. I'll put you on to him too.

This is not an advertisement either... just trying to help the Korg community get the best deal possible.

Hedegaard wrote:(probably best in Miami, because in movies people always get robbed in alleys in NY)

The per capita crime rate in Miami is much higher than in New York City. The movies are not real life. </Lifelong Native New Yorker's rant>

apex wrote:if anyone is really interested in purchasing one of these keyboards... please send me a pm. I have a guy at sweetwater that always takes GREAT care of me.

Call him and ask what price he can give on the KRONOS 88. I already placed my order with Sweetwater and I'm curious if I need a new rep. Since I already have a salesman, they force me on to him when I call.

-Mc

McHale wrote:

apex wrote:if anyone is really interested in purchasing one of these keyboards... please send me a pm. I have a guy at sweetwater that always takes GREAT care of me.

Call him and ask what price he can give on the KRONOS 88. I already placed my order with Sweetwater and I'm curious if I need a new rep. Since I already have a salesman, they force me on to him when I call.

-Mc

if you've already ordered it from sweetwater, he can't do anything any different for you Mc. sorry.

I am not sure why you guys got to pre order this thing??? The economy is in the crapper, we are all the early birds and they make enough for us. Patience.... I am going to get this thing 15% off of MAP easy for sure. Flash the cash and they will take your order. I can understand the concern overseas buyers have. Any day of the week call up MF and make an reasonable offer (much better than the $200 off going around right now). 15% is where I start.