tubas 1-at-a-time, straight from China

[The Big Ben]

I just did a quick Google search on:

import duty from china to us

and the answer seems quite complex. There is more than one middleman involved, both governmental and private, on both sides of the Pacific.

[Michael Bush]

Just think people,
In a few years some chineese toy maker may offer plastic CSO York tubas for under $1000.00.

That's not the way prices are going. I fully expect Jinbao to produce a CSO York at some point, but it won't cost $1000. It will cost much more than anything they've got now. Much more. Even now the Schillbrunner costs only a little less straight from Jinbao than Laabs was getting for it a few months ago.

[Homerun]

Just think people,
In a few years some chineese toy maker may offer plastic CSO York tubas for under $1000.00.

That's not the way prices are going. I fully expect Jinbao to produce a CSO York at some point, but it won't cost $1000. It will cost much more than anything they've got now. Much more. Even now the Schillbrunner costs only a little less straight from Jinbao than Laabs was getting for it a few months ago.

Allow me to help clarify,

Just think people,
In a few years some chineese toy maker may offer PLASTIC CSO York tubas for under $1000.00.

[Michael Bush]

Yep, I missed that.

[Homerun]

Yep, I missed that.

Just re-read my post. I sounded like an @$$hole. Sorry- didn't mean to.

[imperialbari]

What I'm trying to determine is whether a tuba offered "retail" at $1500 with "free shipping" from Peking is actually any cheaper than the same exact model bought from a U.S. retailer for c. $1750.

When I want to check the real cost of a web deal out of another country, I sometimes take the online check-out process to the step immediately before doing the deal, as that will bring forward the sometimes hidden fees. The entry costs into my country are calculable.

Another matter maybe worth considering is about the instrument being in so bad a state at the arrival (by sloppy manufacturing or by transport damage) that you want to return it. Don’t the US laws call for less paperwork, if the transaction is done fully within the borders of the US?

If the instrument is new, the US seller hardly can put up a disclaimer about no returns accepted. At least that is the difference according to EU laws between professional stores and private occasional sellers.

Klaus

[Michael Bush]

...