WEIGH THE REAL COST
The ‘bargain’ guitar-buy you’ve found on eBay is only a bargain if you have accounted for all the costs and it still stacks up. Before you even do that, you should doublecheck the description and all photos published by the seller to ensure there are no issues with the product that might explain an unusually low price. It’s amazing how easy it is to miss things such as a major repair or damaged parts when gripped by the conviction you have found a bargain – even when the seller has described these in the fine print. Likewise, if you are after a vintage valve amp, check specs carefully to ensure you haven’t bid on a solid-state model. Many famous amps, such as the AC30, went through a solid-state phase when it was trendy in the early 70s. If everything still checks out, add on the postage costs and, if buying from abroad, be aware that additional import VAT charges will be incurred on items over £15 from outside the EU, as well as customs duty on items of over £135.