Ever tried buying a guitar in Japan and bringing it home as a hand carry luggage

[40seconds]

Hi guys, as the title implies. Pupunta kasi ako ng Japan e baka maka score ako ng magandang strat dun, pwede kaya ihand carry yun pauwi ng pinas?

[chazkidlat]

Hi guys, as the title implies. Pupunta kasi ako ng Japan e baka maka score ako ng magandang strat dun, pwede kaya ihand carry yun pauwi ng pinas?

since nag work ako dati sa ticketing. ang alam ko lang ang pwede mo handcarry eh yung kasya sa dimensions nung lagayan ng bag dun sa taas.

otherwise, yung cellos etc. binabayaran yung upuan nun. so dalawang ticket lang. ang ginawa ko dati binalot ko ng cloth+ bubble wrap sa loob tpos nilagay ko sa hardshell case at binalot ulit ng bubble wrap. tpos pina check in ko

[jm the mute]

if strat iuuwi mo, try mo idisassemble yung neck and body. kasya na yun sa luggage siguro.

[chazkidlat]

if strat iuuwi mo, try mo idisassemble yung neck and body. kasya na yun sa luggage siguro.

oo nga no...
pwede rin to kung ok sayo na disassemble kahit brand new.

[jm the mute]

oo nga no...
pwede rin to kung ok sayo na disassemble kahit brand new.

you'll have it setup by a guitar tech when you come home anyway

[40seconds]

Thanks sa insight guys. Kaso medyo di ako comfortable sa disassembly, baka mag go ako sa hardcase route. Pero wala namang tax na sisingilin sakin pag lapag at pag sampa sa pinas ano?

[jm the mute]

Thanks sa insight guys. Kaso medyo di ako comfortable sa disassembly, baka mag go ako sa hardcase route. Pero wala namang tax na sisingilin sakin pag lapag at pag sampa sa pinas ano?

pwede mo atang sabihin na hindi mo binili sa japan...dala mo na pagpunta pa lang.

[jm the mute]

btw, if you choose the hardcase route just make sure na maayos ang handling nung mga tao sa airport. pero, IMHO, mas exciting yung disassembly route

[randymarsh]

Thanks sa insight guys. Kaso medyo di ako comfortable sa disassembly, baka mag go ako sa hardcase route. Pero wala namang tax na sisingilin sakin pag lapag at pag sampa sa pinas ano?

if you were overseas for over six months pwede mo i-claim na tax free. kung less than one month ka lang abroad, you'll have to make a good excuse kung bakit meron kang dalang gitara. or just stay cool sa immigration, nothing to declare, swerte mo kung hindi ma-inspection yung guitar mo ng customs officer. worst case is bayad ka ng 30 percent of appraised value ng item. dati i used the palusot na pinabitbit lang ng kasama pero hindi umubra, i paid the fine and moved on.

[jepbueno]

if you were overseas for over six months pwede mo i-claim na tax free. kung less than one month ka lang abroad, you'll have to make a good excuse kung bakit meron kang dalang gitara. or just stay cool sa immigration, nothing to declare, swerte mo kung hindi ma-inspection yung guitar mo ng customs officer. worst case is bayad ka ng 30 percent of appraised value ng item. dati i used the palusot na pinabitbit lang ng kasama pero hindi umubra, i paid the fine and moved on.

bit OT pero tanong lang sir. Kung ganyan din lang kamahal, mas makakamura ba kung pagkabili sa Japan eh ipaship na lang to Pinas?

And naisip ko lang. Kung mga foreigners kaya halimbawa may binili dito, paglabas nila ng Pinas malamang hindi na sila magbabayad ng tax no kasi may VAT na?

[40seconds]

if you were overseas for over six months pwede mo i-claim na tax free. kung less than one month ka lang abroad, you'll have to make a good excuse kung bakit meron kang dalang gitara. or just stay cool sa immigration, nothing to declare, swerte mo kung hindi ma-inspection yung guitar mo ng customs officer. worst case is bayad ka ng 30 percent of appraised value ng item. dati i used the palusot na pinabitbit lang ng kasama pero hindi umubra, i paid the fine and moved on.

hand carry ginawa niyo nun ano sir? hindi check in?

btw, if you choose the hardcase route just make sure na maayos ang handling nung mga tao sa airport. pero, IMHO, mas exciting yung disassembly route

okay sir noted, depende nalang siguro kung okay lang mag pa disassemble dun sa shop.

[randymarsh]

bit OT pero tanong lang sir. Kung ganyan din lang kamahal, mas makakamura ba kung pagkabili sa Japan eh ipaship na lang to Pinas?

And naisip ko lang. Kung mga foreigners kaya halimbawa may binili dito, paglabas nila ng Pinas malamang hindi na sila magbabayad ng tax no kasi may VAT na?

Kung foreigners walang babayarang tax. I use my Australian passport kapag umuuwi ako ng Pinas. Eversince hindi na ako pinagbabayad ng tax pag maydala akong taxable items.

Kung bibili ka sa Japan at ipapaship sa Pinas, magbabayad ka parin ng duties bago mo makuha item mo sa post office.

hand carry ginawa niyo nun ano sir? hindi check in?

hand carry or check-in it does not matter kasi sa immigration inspector ka rin dadaan after mo makuha yung check-in luggage mo (mapalit sa exit ng airport). personally, palagi ko pinapacheck-in luggage yung gitara ko. hassle magbitbit ng gitara sa loob ng cabin ng eroplano lalo na sa economy.

[Jaco D]

Thanks sa insight guys. Kaso medyo di ako comfortable sa disassembly, baka mag go ako sa hardcase route. Pero wala namang tax na sisingilin sakin pag lapag at pag sampa sa pinas ano?

Strats are easy to dismantle.  Just cut the strings, unscrew the four wood screws and put them and the neck plate in a safe place para hindi mawala.  When you get home, don't bother to assemble the components kung di ka comportable.  Bring the screws, neck plate, neck and body to a tech and let him/her assemble and set it up for you.

[randymarsh]

some useful information/ sample tax calculation here - http://sweethingsonearth.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/how-to-compute-customs-duties-and.html

Actual Sample:
I bought make-up products amounting to USD101.36 via online shopping.

Customs Duty:
Dutiable Value (amount of purchase)            USD101.36
* Php exchange rate                                                 40.840
Dutiable amount in Php                                      4,139.54
*duty rate on article (beauty product)                         7%
Customs duty tax                                          Php289.77
                                                                       ========                                   
-bear in mind that duty rate may vary on the type of articles, you may use 10% as max

Other Charges and Fees:
Customs Documentary Stamp            Php250  (fixed)
Import Processing Fee                        Php250 (fixed)
BIR Dicumentary Stamp                    Php  15 (fixed)
Other Fees and Charges                 Php515.00
                                                          ========
-bear in mind that you will pay total fixed charges of Php515 regardless of amount of dutiable value (for imported items totaling Php250,000.00 and below)

Expanded Value-Added Tax (EVAT):
Dutiable Value in Php                           4,139.54
Customs Duty                                           289.77
Other Charges and Fees                           515.00
                                                              4,944.31
*EVAT Rate                                               12%
EVAT                                             Php   593.32
                                                        =========
- bear in mind that the EVAT shall depend on the total dutiable value

SUMMARY:
Customs Duty                                                          Php289.77 (Variable)
EVAT                                                                            593.32  (Variable)
Other Fees and Charges                                                515.00  (fixed)
Total Customs Duties and Import Taxes          Php1,398.09
                                                                                   =======

Therefore, for the USD101.32 purchase, a total of Php1,398.09 customs duty/import taxes plus Php50.00 for post office handling, is paid.

Additional reminders:
1.  Dutiable value of Php2,000 and below is not subject to customs duty/import taxes.  Only Php50.00 for post office handling should be paid.  In some instances, EVAT is still collected.

2.  Total customs duties/import taxes on any imported items, should not exceed Php5,000.

The customs should give you a breakdown sheet of the charges/taxes they are collecting on your purchase.

Know the law and proper taxes, read R.A,. 9135 Section 1 as amended, R.A. 9135 Section 5, and TCCP Section 330.

[guitaricci]

I had this weird experience sa Narita Airport last year. I bought a telecaster (with Fender Premium Gig Bag) sa US tapos nag stop-over sa Narita for 2 hours nung pauwi na ako. Pinayagan nilang ilagay ko yung gitara dun sa lalagyan ng mga suit (hindi sa overhead cabin). I was on Delta Airlines

Tapos i went to the US again pero i had to stay overnight sa Japan kasi na delay yung flight ko. Nung nasa final inspection na ako (right after immigration sa Narita), hindi pinayagan yung camera tripod ko. It was about 63 cm. or 25 inches long. Hindi daw swak sa size. Binalot naman nila ng makapal na foam wrap at sinama sa check in baggage ko free of charge. I was supposed to be on Delta pero dahil na delay, nag JAL ako.

Gitara pinayagan (106 cm or 42 inches long)  pero yung Tripod hindi (63 cm or 25 inches long). 

Check with the airline para sigurado 

[Tasty]

or just stay cool sa immigration, nothing to declare, swerte mo kung hindi ma-inspection yung guitar mo ng customs officer.

This is what I do. Pag may nagtanong, sinasabi ko lang na luma na yun and bitbit ko na when I left the country. Binalik ko lang sa kahon dahil walang case. Never pa naman nila akong siningil kahit na may isang trip na meron akong dalang brand new guitar at keytar. Sa isang trip naman, may dala akong brand new amp, gig bag at synth.

[Bobot Dean]

I experienced bringing a guitar from Japan,
nilagay ko lang sa ilalim ng upuan
wala namang; kapag softcase, pwede sa hand carry;
kapag hardcase, sa check-in luggage,

Ganun din sa US.

[Extremist777]

I went to Japan for a stopover to buy a guitar back in 2000. Hand carried the guitar to Manila. No issues/No taxes/No Questions.  Then Left pinas same thing hand carried it.... along with another hand carried RJ Gun Guitar. No hassle.  I was allowed to carry both guitars as hand carry.

2010 bought a PRS going to Pinas .. hand carried. no problem. Leaving Pinas with the PRS.. i was told to check in free of charge. Arrived at my destination... nagkabutas (sing laki ng 25 cents) yung PRS sa malapit sa may input jack. naipit yata. I tried asking for compensation..... was only given $100 credit for future flights. until now.. andun pa rin yung damage. It was in a padded PRS gigbag. I should have known not to check it in without the hardcase (kahit na may FRAGILE sticker pa). Di ko din kasi expected na ipapa check in sakin yun at the time. Was tired that time and thought travelling with no luggage will be a good idea.

[kawal]

here's an alternative: detach/unscrew the neck from the body. bubble-wrap both then secure them inside a box or your luggage. i've done this twice on a strat and a tele traveling at least 4 airports from the US.

[mysmileyface]

Thanks sa insight guys. Kaso medyo di ako comfortable sa disassembly, baka mag go ako sa hardcase route. Pero wala namang tax na sisingilin sakin pag lapag at pag sampa sa pinas ano?

Tanggalin mo yung tag kung brand new. Claim mo lang na dala mo na ito noon pa, kasama mo na papuntang Japan, gitara ay galing sa Pilipinas. No other questions pag ganoon statement.

[40seconds]

Sorry late reply guys, natry niyo na sa PAL?

[mysmileyface]

Sorry late reply guys, natry niyo na sa PAL?

Ako, di pa. EVA Airlines. Hand carry mo na lang ba?

Be cautious kung hardcase kasi majority ng airlines di maganda treatment sa luggage.

[40seconds]

Baka hand carry tapos soft case, pero di lang ako sure kung okay sa maarteng PAL yun

[Extremist777]

I tried it with PAL before. If the flights not too full they will allow it. I even had my guitar stored dun sa may vertical cabinet nila near the entrance/exit.

But that was years ago. Goodluck!

[starkiller]

back in 2011.  bought a Fender Mustang, soft case, Delta Airlines, hand carried it, and asked it to be stored on the upright closet where they put the passengers' coats and blazers. 

i actually researched the strategy above very well when planning my flight. the trick was that it had to be a large plane (747 etc) which had the vertical coat/blazer compartment.  these are usually connecting flights from the US.  it worked like a charm.