Buying Speakers from abroad : Good idea or Not

[binaya.kumar]

Hello,

I was wondering if buying speakers from US is really a good idea. I can see for all acoustic products the price difference of items in India and US are substantial. Probably because they are not manufactured in China yet :lol:. But, even if we buy speakers from US ... getting it shipped to India almost costs the same price as those of the speakers.

So, what should be an ideal and wise way to purchasing speakers .....

CHEERS,
Binaya

 

[suri]

not a good idea

 

[venkatcr]

Depends upon what you are picking up. If you buy a pair of bookshelves or a 5.1 satellite speakers and a sub, you may be able to bring them with you. Floor standers are difficult as they are heavy and tend to get damaged.

I have bought two pairs of bookshelves from abroad and carried them with me.

Cheers

 

[kvandhi]

Venkat,
Did you find any customs issue in chennai ,when u bring ur BS. Bcoz i am also planning for the same.

 

[deba]

Buying from abroad is good but packaging and delivery is dangerous - your speaker may end up in pieces......it happened to me once..........

 

[InderbirSingh]

Bookshelves r the only options, a friend of mine bought Bose 301 for $325 from US & got made custom stands for them in Delhi.

 

[venkatcr]

Venkat,
Did you find any customs issue in chennai ,when u bring ur BS. Bcoz i am also planning for the same.

No, I had no issue. The customs officer just chided me and asked me to purchase a more 'valuable' speaker next time - meaning Sony's.

Cheers

 

[binaya.kumar]

hmmmm so all suggestions going negative ... I can think how grand would have been the frustration for Deba receiving the speakes in pieces after waiting for decades ..... Wish we could get the deals in India at the same price as in US ..... I think we will have to wait till the Chinese start manufacturing Acoustics also (like they did for computer parts) and I wish we had something like Amazon

BTW venkat ... which ones u got and for how much .... I hope you could make that Custom officer join our community ...

 

[kvandhi]

venkat,

I heared that we get speakers from singapore, customs demanding more bribe based on speaker price/brand

 

[panditji]

Bookshelves r the only options, a friend of mine bought Bose 301 for $325 from US & got made custom stands for them in Delhi.

I did the same 7 years back with the 301s and again with Quad's 11Ls 5 years ago ....would heartily recommend picking up bookshelves and carrying it with you as the price difference is substantial....if you pack them properly by including the original packing in your suitcases, the chances of damaging them is almost nil.....

 

[panditji]

venkat,

I heared that we get speakers from singapore, customs demanding more bribe based on speaker price/brand

I wore a suit both times while coming out of the green channel and no custom officer stopped me even though I had 2 big suitcases...it is a matter of chance but even if you are caught $20 or $30 is enough for the custom officials..

 

[venkatcr]

I purchased a pair of bookshelves from Aperion Audio, and just walked through customs. The cost in the US was 400US for both. The second time I picked up my Hsu VTF Mk3 from Singapore and went straight to the red channel. The officer looked curiously at the 'large' speaker, shook his head, chided me, and charged me all of Rs.2000/-. He actually asked me how much he should charge.

As long as you don't look like a dealer or a smuggler, Chennai customs is really good and they don't harass you at all. If I am right, MadbullRam brought in a pair of bookshelves last week without any issue. Always carry your original invoice with you and be ready to show it to the officer. And do not have any intention to cheat. They will gauge you as genuine and let you go.

Cheers

 

[GeorgeO]

+ Venkat.If you have the appetite to build your own, then bring drivers, no hassle with customs ever. Enclosures are easy to build here.

 

[square_wave]

Buying from US is okay as long as you follow some basic guidelines.

Buy from direct to customer brands or brands which are not yet represented in India. Most Chinese assembled US/European brands are available at very competitive prices in India. Look for something which you do not get out here.

Look at brands like the ones below:
Salk sound, Selah, Vandersteen, ACI, Audio kinesis, Omega, Vmps, Von Schweikert, Hyperion, Merlin, zucable, WLM, Coincident etc..... There are lots more. Since these brands do not have representation in India, most give very competitive pricing. And most of them sound very nice.

 

[binaya.kumar]

Hi Squarewave ... u know I was wondering what brands you meant by "Most Chinese assembled US/European brands are available at very competitive prices in India" ....

CHEERS

 

[kvandhi]

I purchased a pair of bookshelves from Aperion Audio, and just walked through customs. The cost in the US was 400US for both. The second time I picked up my Hsu VTF Mk3 from Singapore and went straight to the red channel. The officer looked curiously at the 'large' speaker, shook his head, chided me, and charged me all of Rs.2000/-. He actually asked me how much he should charge.

Its good to hear that we dont have any big issue with customs., it was very long back in the year of 1997, when i took my pioneer from singapore ,they charged me around 5000rs ( the cost of spk is around 18k)

Well i think now its better to get speaker from outside india. thanks for all your experience sharing.

 

[naren2512]

Guys I think if you carry electronices worth not more than 35,000 INR ( on the prevailing US exchange rate ) then there is not custom duty etc. Is this correct?

 

[madbullram]

Yeap, I brought a pair of new axioms in my checkin suitcase and had no issues at all. Have been getting loads of electronics from US, Amps, Receiver, Radio etc...I always ensure I just carry only one with me and have never had any problems with Chennai customs for last 7 yrs.

 

[binaya.kumar]

I did check it before I got my receiver .... Detailed description is in this link -
Customs Tariff 2009-10 - CBEC

Related to the forum... like Audio Video equipments -
http://www.cbec.gov.in/customs/cst-0910/chap-85.pdf

Technically as per Section 85, for speakers it should be 10%. But as if the customs officer will give you a receipt for this. They will charge u something depending on their mood and your attire I think ... Its all upto your LUCK

Like kvandhi had to almost lose something around 25% of the price ...

CHEERS

 

[NetFreak]

Guys I think if you carry electronices worth not more than 35,000 INR ( on the prevailing US exchange rate ) then there is not custom duty etc. Is this correct?

This limit is 25,000 if :

1. You have stayed abroad for 90 days or more
2. It was brought in as part of baggage with passenger

Technically as per Section 85, for speakers it should be 10%. But as if the customs officer will give you a receipt for this.

This does not apply to items brought in as part of baggage. Rate of duty is flat, it is approx 37%. Duty is 35%, rest is surcharge, cess etc.

Always carry your original invoice with you and be ready to show it to the officer. And do not have any intention to cheat. They will gauge you as genuine and let you go.

+1. I always carry original receipt and declare things at Red channel.

Items up to 25k can be imported free as part of baggage. And they always "value" in such a way that you pay 2 - 300 Rs duty.

I cam back in Sept with:

1. Yamaha 665 AVR
2. Hypex Power Supply Kit
3. Hypex Class D Amplifier Kit

Total value in INR was 22k. They valued it at 26k and I paid just 300 as duty.