What's in the mailbox? 📬 📦

[szukalski]

Can you go into more detail about avoiding the DHL leeches? We have 23% VAT in Poland and I think ordering from Tayda costs something crazy like 50 Euros.

Well, they're not leeching. They're doing work on your behalf and charging you for it..

I can talk about Germany, but I assume Poland is similar because.. TARIC defines the goods categories for the EU. When you import into EU, you need to declare your line items against these categories, to let customs know what tariffs to apply (ie. all resistors fall into a single category, so you may have 50 line items of different resistors aggregated to one category in the customs declaration). You can do this on your own, in Germany this is with the ATLAS system.

DHL will do this on your behalf if you authorise them, they do the first 3 (I think) for free and then it is a cost per category (IIRC €4) plus a handling fee. I haven't done the self-declaration yet, but what I have read is you do it, then customs process it, and pass back to DHL who deliver.

After looking at the ATLAS system, I am not sure it's worth my time to do it. Instead, it becomes more cost/time effective to do a massive order of a core set of components (resistors, pots, caps, toggle switches) and get other things from other or local sources. I get ICs from local electronics stores, footswitches/enclosures/pots from Daier via AliExpress. Daier needs scale, but you can get 6 white or black 125Bs for €7 each delivered..

AliExpress is interesting, because it includes the tax when you pay, and it doesn't have extra handling fees (a la DHL) because, I believe, they bundle customer orders together and declare customs themselves. JLCPCB does similar with their EuroPacket option.

You need to really buy in bulk, set yourself up for a long time, and do incremental purchases locally when you run out of certain values.
I wish I knew a better way, Tayda UV is awesome but it's more cost effective to do PCB faceplates, or vinyl stickers..

 

[KR Sound]

I love reading build reports, especially when they have demos. I have a few that I want to do, but I’m not the best player out there. Rhythm and cool chords is my jam.

 

[mybud]

Can you go into more detail about avoiding the DHL leeches? We have 23% VAT in Poland and I think ordering from Tayda costs something crazy like 50 Euros.

Hi @andare: It seems that @szukalski (post #2720 above) has a very good handle on this.

But I should point out how inconsistent DHL are when it comes to customs charges. On a couple of occasions, they've charged nearly the equivalent amount in duty to the components plus shipping and handling. On others, 20%. So it varies widely depending on unknown factors.

The person I spoke to suggested that I register as a vendor and get familiar with the customs codes used here and communicate these to customs, implication being not to leave them (I mean the supply chain participants) to decide. I'm inclined to agree with @szukalski that this may not be worth the effort and his way of doing things (order regular items in large batches and specialist items locally) makes sense.

 

[MichaelW]

I love reading build reports, especially when they have demos. I have a few that I want to do, but I’m not the best player out there. Rhythm and cool chords is my jam.

None of us are the "best player" out there. I'd go for it, everyone loves demo's. Guitar skills aren't important. You just be you and play what you play and everyone will love it!

 

[MichaelW]

None of us are the "best player" out there. I'd go for it, everyone loves demo's. Guitar skills aren't important. You just be you and play what you play and everyone will love it!

On that note, I've started to just do all my pedal demo's in "one take" and leave all the clams, mistakes, etc in there. Cuz you, know it's just how I play and noodle. If I'm not doing a SUAPYG "song" then I'm not going to labor to get it perfect. My "everyday playing" comes with lots of clams and mistakes heh......

 

[KR Sound]

Ya, you’re right. I’m going to have a few coming up that I’m really proud of and definitely want to show off. A lot of other times it’s just the same old Muff or OD that everyone knows.

 

[Harry Klippton]

Rhythm and cool chords is my jam.

This is where it's at

 

[jhaneyzz]

I love reading build reports, especially when they have demos. I have a few that I want to do, but I’m not the best player out there. Rhythm and cool chords is my jam.

I merely aspire to rhythm and cool cords... you're miles ahead...

 

[steviejr92]

Dude have you seen my demos? You should play whatever the heck you want!

 

[Guardians of the analog]

Hey I don't always get a chance to comment but I love seeing your builds (and everyone else's as well).

 

[DGWVI]

I love reading build reports, especially when they have demos. I have a few that I want to do, but I’m not the best player out there. Rhythm and cool chords is my jam.

The world needs more demos focused on that role. I hate looking up demos and being met with blues scales, shreddy arpeggios, elevator music and someone's audition tape for the local talent show

On that note, I've started to just do all my pedal demo's in "one take" and leave all the clams, mistakes, etc in there. Cuz you, know it's just how I play and noodle. If I'm not doing a SUAPYG "song" then I'm not going to labor to get it perfect. My "everyday playing" comes with lots of clams and mistakes heh......

THIS. I have nerve issues which come with spasms and locking joints, it'd take me weeks to record a 3 minute video with no quirks .
And, perfectly polished music is just boring anyway. It needs nuance, even if unintended

As for my demos, the playing takes a backseat. I like to show off the range and interactivity of the controls, which is why I typically default to a handful of various riffs for any given demo

 

[benny_profane]

The world needs more demos focused on that role. I hate looking up demos and being met with blues scales, shreddy arpeggios, elevator music and someone's audition tape for the local talent show

My favorite is when demoing a drive pedal, the guitarist slowly strums a first position Cmaj chord for the ‘clean’, engages the pedal, then shreds for five minutes.

Thanks guy. That’s really helpful.

 

[jhaneyzz]

I have all the shit to record, just not hooked up...

I have no actually valid excuse though...

I'll commit to demoing my builds by the end of March... who's with me?

 

[steviejr92]

My favorite is when demoing a drive pedal, the guitarist slowly strums a first position Cmaj chord for the ‘clean’, engages the pedal, then shreds for five minutes.

Thanks guy. That’s really helpful.

My approach is to turn knobs during the demo. Im more worried about the viewer seeing what the pedal is doing more than my actual playing. On a different note i dont have the talent to play anything "cool" for 5 min straight anyway.

 

[DGWVI]

My favorite is when demoing a drive pedal, the guitarist slowly strums a first position Cmaj chord for the ‘clean’, engages the pedal, then shreds for five minutes.

Thanks guy. That’s really helpful.

Or when the clean tone is a cranked Blues Junior

 

[steviejr92]

Or when the clean tone is a cranked Blues Junior

Im guilty
Maybe not cranked...but definitely a blues jr

 

[Harry Klippton]

I used to always want demos where they just cranked every knob. Maybe I should include that in demos cuz that's what I'm gonna try anyway

 

[andare]

Well, they're not leeching. They're doing work on your behalf and charging you for it..

I can talk about Germany, but I assume Poland is similar because.. TARIC defines the goods categories for the EU. When you import into EU, you need to declare your line items against these categories, to let customs know what tariffs to apply (ie. all resistors fall into a single category, so you may have 50 line items of different resistors aggregated to one category in the customs declaration). You can do this on your own, in Germany this is with the ATLAS system.

DHL will do this on your behalf if you authorise them, they do the first 3 (I think) for free and then it is a cost per category (IIRC €4) plus a handling fee. I haven't done the self-declaration yet, but what I have read is you do it, then customs process it, and pass back to DHL who deliver.

After looking at the ATLAS system, I am not sure it's worth my time to do it. Instead, it becomes more cost/time effective to do a massive order of a core set of components (resistors, pots, caps, toggle switches) and get other things from other or local sources. I get ICs from local electronics stores, footswitches/enclosures/pots from Daier via AliExpress. Daier needs scale, but you can get 6 white or black 125Bs for €7 each delivered..

AliExpress is interesting, because it includes the tax when you pay, and it doesn't have extra handling fees (a la DHL) because, I believe, they bundle customer orders together and declare customs themselves. JLCPCB does similar with their EuroPacket option.

You need to really buy in bulk, set yourself up for a long time, and do incremental purchases locally when you run out of certain values.
I wish I knew a better way, Tayda UV is awesome but it's more cost effective to do PCB faceplates, or vinyl stickers..

You're right, I shouldn't have called them leeches. That's was just communist 15 year old me rearing his ugly head of long black hair.

I buy everything locally or in Europe. There are some things i just can't get like enclosures as every shop seems to be out. Even then, orders need to be big enough to justify 10-20 euros of shipping.
I will definitely look at that Daier shop.
It's frustrating when one part has been keeping a build on hold for months and there's no sign of it ever being available locally, like the dual gang C100k pots for the Electrovibe.

Tayda seems to be the only option for UV printing however. There's nothing like it in Europe for enclosures.

 

[DGWVI]

I used to always want demos where they just cranked every knob. Maybe I should include that in demos cuz that's what I'm gonna try anyway

It should be mandatory, really. Like, start reporting videos on YouTube if they don't max every pot for at least 20 seconds

 

[benny_profane]

I used to always want demos where they just cranked every knob. Maybe I should include that in demos cuz that's what I'm gonna try anyway

Sounds like you really just wanted some HM-2 demos.