Importing to the UK

[the boxman]

Has anyone bought an accordion straight from the manufacturer since Brexit. Is it a straight forward process or do you need to jump through hoops then get buried in a mountain of paperwork . I take it there’s also import duty and vat to be added onto the manufactures price as well as courier costs. It would be good to hear what experiences other members have had. Prior to Brexit I know buying from Europe was a relatively straight forward process.

 

[vivdunstan]

I didn’t buy direct from the manufacturer but recently bought a Weltmeister from Thomann in Germany. Thomann handled all the VAT/duty, giving me an inclusive price, and then shipping it to me in Scotland by courier with nothing extra for me to pay after. They are very geared up to UK sales even in the post Brexit era. But manufacturers direct may be less ready. Good luck!

 

[saundersbp]

Prior to Brexit I know buying from Europe was a relatively straight forward process.

Yes it was!
Now we've 'taken back control' (which to me means exactly the opposite of what it says on the tin) the process is more involved. I am trying not to think about Brexit but I can feel my blood pressure rising as I type!

I imported an accordion a few months ago. First thing I needed was an EORI number. This made no sense as at https://www.gov.uk/eori it says you 'You do not need an EORI number if you’re moving goods for personal use only.'
Anyway I needed one and my accordion was stranded until I got one. I eventually got one via my employer which was crazy to have to do for personal goods. Then the accordion was stuck at Stansted for a week or so until my employer got an import bill around 20%. I of course paid them and apologised to my employer! Once paid plus some miscellaneous on-costs - I forget what for, the accordion arrived. What used to take 48 hours took over two weeks. I paid for express air courier as the manufacturer advised that tended to get less problems coming into the UK.

In terms of cost it was still cheaper than using a distributor to import it as they will have to pay all the taxes, do the paperwork and then take their cut. If it hadn't been covid times I would have probably popped over myself to get it from Italy to cut through the cr*p.....

Perhaps others have had better accordion import experiences in brave new post-brexit Britain! My friends in import businesses in other fields have had nothing but problems and delays.

 

[saundersbp]

PS Also covered here

Brexit and vat.

Does anyone know for certain the rules regarding vat on second hand accordions bought from europe by uk citizens and imported.

www.accordionists.info

 

[the boxman]

Thanks for the reply. So the import bill is just equivalent to vat Currently 20%. So whatever price including postage is agreed with the manufacturer I add on 20%. That side of things looks straightforward enough, it just the issue with requests for an EORI code that might be the hurdle

 

[Walker]

I'm sorry to hear your troubles Saundersbp.

I bought an accordion from a music store near Venice not long ago. The process was simple and straight forward. The company sending the instrument obtains a commodity code (via their Italian version of the HMRC) and this is added to the paperwork that the carrier has. The carrier takes care of everything and you get a text telling you how much duty and VAT you need to pay. They do all the paperwork, collect the tax and duty etc on behalf of the HMRC and deliver the instrument. No problem, no delays, no EORI required.

​

The key is: all the seller needs is the commodity code - it's the same basic code with HMRC and in Italy. You can even find it yourself and check the company got it right. I made sure I understood the process inside-out before I went ahead with my purchase, including discussing the process with the HMRC help desk. In the end I realised it was a fuss over nothing.

The seller needs to understand the process though. My experience has been that in past conversations, some manufacturers did not really understand the changes in exporting rules.​

 

[saundersbp]

Hi Boxman, Perhaps Walkers advice is better. I am not an international tax expert (!), this is just my experience with a two major manufacturers rather than a third party dealer set up. I'd assume a manufacturer those main business is export knows what they are doing, but on Walkers expertise clearly not.

 

[the boxman]

Hi
As time goes by I’d expect a manufacturer to know the inns and outs of exporting. I’d imagine possibly in the transition period it would have been new to them and us but now that things are settled you’d think they would know exactly what to do and how best to go about it.
I do like your idea about jumping in a plane, could maybe snuggle it back and avoid vat ?

 

[Markordion]

My Grandmother bought our son a Startone 72 Bass Accordion as a surprise gift

in January just gone 2022 from Thomann in Germany.

I was a little concerned, and it being on the way, but I was reassured the day before it was delivered by great online Chat staff contact at Thoman that we would not need to pay any fees or taxes when it was delivered.

I`m not sure how they pulled it off , but, sure enough we did`nt have to. But if we had, needed to pay some extra ourselves, it would of been OK on balance.

And regarding the Accordion, we are very surprised for £439 delivered all in, just how nice it is. ( £435 currently ). ( Sorry just looked they are back up to £439 )

It took about a week to arrive.

While I am on if you want a good cheap practice new one you don`t do much better for that. I have no idea how they do it all in for that price.

They also said they made some spec changes themselves to up the quality, Not sure in what ways though.

I did notice MyTyres from Germany ( Mytyres UK) claim you don`t pay duty or fees on thier tyres coming in, anyone bought any in the last year or so out of interest ?

So Thomann seem to be on top of it at least.

But why oh why did we have to bend ourselves over like this anyway ????

 

[Walker]

Thomann handled all the VAT/duty, giving me an inclusive price

Thomann appears to be making the process simple and deal with the taxes/duty themselves. That's good.

Sadly, accordion manufacturers and other small shops are not quite as advanced as Thomann.

By the way, vivdunstan what accordion did you get?

 

[vivdunstan]

By the way, vivdunstan what accordion did you get?

A blue Weltmeister Perle. A 48 bass to be easier to manage as an alternative to my 72 bass Paolo Soprani that I’ve had for 40+ years since very young but struggle with now due to my progressive neurological disease.

Here‘s a pic of my German bought one. I ordered it just after Christmas and got it early in the New Year. It is significantly easier for me to manage in terms of compactness and reduced weight. Albeit at a compromise with fewer notes. I considered a Rubin but didn’t think I would like the smaller right side keys. The Perle has the same size keys as my long term one and I took to it immediately.

 

[Markordion]

We were looking at a 72 Blue Weltmeister or Hohner Bravo III we almost bought hitting an overdraught running.

Before we got the good news re the free Blue Pearl Startone.

That 48 looks fantastic, and sounds like you are very pleased.

Anyway chance of a clip of the sound ( if you do that sort of thing ).

Are these fully German made now or some parts sourced elsewhere etc.

Anyone know ? Please.

 

[vivdunstan]

That 48 looks fantastic, and sounds like you are very pleased.

Anyway chance of a clip of the sound ( if you do that sort of thing ).

Are these fully German made now or some parts sourced elsewhere etc.

Anyone know ? Please.

I think they may be fully German made now, but might be wrong there!

I think I've managed to share a MP3 recording via Dropbox. Click on this link. Playing well known Scottish tune Dark Island on my new Weltmeister Perle 48 bass blue.