Importing Turntables from the UK

[mstillalive]

Dear Members,

Has anyone tried importing turntables from the UK or got it delivered to India after having bought it from a UK seller? Specifically, how much is the duty that one has to pay ? Also, how does one pay the duty ? Is it paid to the delivering agency or is does one have to go to the Custom's office and pay instead ?

Cheers
~m

 

[Record Player]

UK is an excellent market for Turntables but sadly bringing them down via shipping is extremely dangerous and very expensive. I had got a 1200 from the UK which arrived with a damaged tonearm and a shattered dust cover. Spend additional amounts to get the arm replaced. Customs was about 3500 and which was managed by the courier company from UK.

Best if a friend can hand carry it for you. Good opportunity to get a 1200 in the range of abt 300-400pounds and also get a flight case for it which is another 50 quid.

Cheers

 

[reubensm]

Importing from UK is great. I got my Garrard 401 from there but it was hand carried. From my experience, importing from ebay.de is better. Firstly they use DHL which is very convenient and fast. DHL takes care of the foreign post office and customs formalities hence its completely hassle free. My Lenco L75 came by this route.

 

[sann]

I imported couple of TT's one from UK and the other from Germany.

The one from UK came through DHL courier, was delivered in 5 days, but had to pay duty and hire a cha to get it cleared.
The other one from Germany came through DHL (not the courier, DHL handles German official postal services) was delivered in 2-3 weeks had to pay custom duty.

You will have to communicate with the seller about packing the TT, as some of them do not have much experience of shipping TT's
Both of the players were Lenco (built like a tank - no worries)

Though importing a TT has its anxious moments, but at the same time its exciting also to track a parcel of around 12 KG's, containing your dream machine making to your door steps.
Have fun importing, enjoy.
-sann'

 

[reubensm]

With tracking, the journey usually ends when the package enters India. After that the tracking page is generally not updated. One fine day, the postman may end up at your step with the parcel or you may get a call from the foreign post office.

Customs duty is charged on the final amount inclusive of shipping. Also tell your seller not to mention the words "Old", "Vintage", "Used" etc on the parcel or on any documentation accompanying the parce. If these words are picked you'll be charged upto 33% customs duty (and in some cases, a processing fee of Rs.1000 additionally). The import of old electronics is not encouraged in India.

Also when you buy stuff, ensure that it is in great cosmetic condition, in order to get it to pass off as new. Tell your seller to clean and brush it up properly before packing. If something looks old or broken, during customs inspection, you'll be liable to pay upto 33% customs duty.

 

[sann]

With tracking, the journey usually ends when the package enters India. After that the tracking page is generally not updated. One fine day, the postman may end up at your step with the parcel or you may get a call from the foreign post office.

My experience differs, all the items I have imported which are sent through EMS or registered post, I have seen the status updated till 'Send to domestic location' which means the parcel is forwarded to the local post office of the destination address, after all the custom clearance steps are cleared.

Parcel coming through EMS can be tracked even further (after 'send to domestic location') if the tracking ID is entered in the domestic tracking option in indiapost website.
-sann'

 

[sachu888]

You can always track a package if it is sent by EMS or Registered Post. I import regularly, and never had any problem tracking my package.

Regards,
Sachin

 

[analogadikt]

Hallo mstillalive,

What sort of a turntable you want to import? If you want a middle of the line direct drive or belt drive,you shall find plenty of them in chor bazzar here or on the domestic market sites such as olx. IMO it is not worth the hassle of importing if you want one of these. You should consider importing if it is a Garrard 301/401, Lenco heavy platter or EMT that you have in mind.

Regards,

 

[mavi]

Hallo mstillalive,

What sort of a turntable you want to import? If you want a middle of the line direct drive or belt drive,you shall find plenty of them in chor bazzar here or on the domestic market sites such as olx. IMO it is not worth the hassle of importing if you want one of these. You should consider importing if it is a Garrard 301/401, Lenco heavy platter or EMT that you have in mind.

Regards,

:clapping:right suggestion for first timer:clapping:

 

[mstillalive]

Than you all for the inputs.
@Alanogadikt: all solid points. I am definitely looking for a starter TurnTable for now.
My options are
1. Ask a colleague traveling from London to get me a Rega RP1
2. Look for a decent Direct Drive Turntable locally
3. Wait until december , when i plan to go to the US and get a Audio Techinca LP-120 ( seems like a good bang for buck option)
Unfortunately I dont have any plans to visit Mumbai any time in near future, even if I did I would have to request one of Mumbai based FM's to chaperon me with a used TT purchase . I dont think i can really look at a TT and figure out useful informtation about the condition :/
Cheers,
~m

 

[tintin2k2]

Than you all for the inputs.
@Alanogadikt: all solid points. I am definitely looking for a starter TurnTable for now.
My options are
1. Ask a colleague traveling from London to get me a Rega RP1
2. Look for a decent Direct Drive Turntable locally
3. Wait until december , when i plan to go to the US and get a Audio Techinca LP-120 ( seems like a good bang for buck option)
Unfortunately I dont have any plans to visit Mumbai any time in near future, even if I did I would have to request one of Mumbai based FM's to chaperon me with a used TT purchase . I dont think i can really look at a TT and figure out useful informtation about the condition :/
Cheers,
~m

Check with FMs shafic and kuruvilajacob sir... Both of them are veteran FMs here and absolute gentlemen to deal with. If you get a vintage TT from them... nothing can beat that.. and you can be assured of a superb service support from all FMs here... :clapping:

 

[bhaskarcan]

Pls check there's a Rega RP1 for sale in the "for sale" threads.
Regards

 

[mstillalive]

Pls check there's a Rega RP1 for sale in the "for sale" threads.
Regards

Thanks Bhaskar,

I did speak with Sandeep about his Rega RP1. Unfortunately, I am in Delhi and Sandeep is not very keen on shipping it across( and rightly so).

Cheers
~m