Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
#55883 01/14/10 11:01 AM
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 29
P
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
P
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 29
Just wanted to mention that delivery of my new hard drive with BIAB arrived to me in UK within 2 days of order, which is excellent service. However, I was disappointed to find there was additional charges over and above the £25 dollars postage I had already paid. These included £10.10 (GBP) import VAT and £11.00 brokerage surcharges? This totals approx $35 extra ($60 in total)

I must say that so far I am really happy with the product and the real tracks sound are excellent but feel that it could be made clearer to overseas customers of these additional costs. There may be some mention of it somewhere during the ordering process but I did not see it.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
But how would someone in another country understand the extra charges other governments impose on whatever? I had a hard enough time when I used to go to the US to understand my own countries regulations on what they would impose duties and taxes on despite 'free trade'. So if I bought a pair of shoes made in Korea I had to pay taxes and stuff and that depended on the other country. IE Korea. If I bought a pair of shoes made in the USA I paid nada in taxes or duties due to free trade. But if I bought too much tobacco (those were the days) or booze (those we the old days too) then I got dinged even if it was made here and sent there and I was bringing it back home. (geez). I don't think they make shoes in the US anymore, but I might be wrong. I think they get their wellies from China too, unlike the UK ones that say BF Goodrich.

Honestly the only way around that issue is for the UK market to get large enough to justify setting up shop where someone puts the software on the hard drive in the UK, or if you can ship to Austria and France and wherever without taxes and duties then maybe it might happen sooner.

It also seems hit and miss in the UK depending on the area the thing is shipped into. Maybe you get a better Deal near Sandwich, in the "mean time it's different in Greenwich", where the Zulus live. Now finger that out.

My alleged future son in law is flying back to Heathrow tonight, and headed to Deal, which is a big deal, because I'm tired of the pussyfooting around due to he, the almost 20 yr old daughter, and my wanting to sing Great Pretender at 80 decibels. I'm switching to England swings like a pendulum do, as soon as he's on the airbus to Toronto, and heads back to Kent U....


John Conley
Musica est vita
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,840
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,840
Hi Paul,

I'd imagine that it'd be very difficult for a company to keep up-to-date with all the changes that different countries undergo regarding taxes. Living in Australia, I always make it a point to check out the Govt's custom and duties web pages before I purchase anything overseas. From what you've written, it sounds like our Govt is a little more generous than the British Govt in that we don't have to pay any fees if the item is under AU$1,000 (last I heard, at least).

I might be wrong, but I thought I'd read somewhere on the PGMusic website a reference to the possibility that some overseas countries may have taxes and levies on goods purchased from PGMusic. I know it's been discussed a number of times in the forums and with particular reference to the British Isles.

Hope you continue to enjoy version 2010. I think it's brilliant!

All the best,
Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2025
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
On the other hand, I'd find it very easy to imagine that if I felt I was being heavily taxed, I would find this an issue to take up with my own country's lawmakers and though such things do indeed take time, they are worth the effort in the long run.


--Mac

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 29
P
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
P
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 29
Thanks for the replies guys.

As I haven't imported anything before it was just a bit of a surprise (ignorance isn't always bliss!). Considering the quality of the product I certainly don't begrudge the extra cost but would have preferred to have expected it.

I have been playing in bands for over 30 years and have always wanted to write my own stuff but have never got around to it. The playing and singing was always natural to me but the technology used to get in the way, I could never get results I was happy with. Using this software for a short time, I know I am going to be able to produce some decent material as it is so intuitive.

Regards,

Paul

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 14
B
Newbie
Offline
Newbie
B
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 14
Paul, you can't really blame PG Music for UK import tax and VAT. I suppose if it didn't exist we would all be buying loads of stuff from abroad which wouldn't help our economy.
I've found in the past that if goods are shipped with the likes of Fedex they are very keen on collecting the duty but if shipped through the regular mail so that Royal Mail make the delivery they often don't bother to collect it. Not only that but they are just as quick.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 207
M
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
M
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 207
I live in South Africa; I've just bought BIB 2010 and had the same problem for the first time...got hit for import duty. But as the saying goes, it's only money. The upgrade is worth every cent.
Mike Laatz
mikelaatz@telkomsa.net
www.capetownjazz.com


Mike Laatz
Cape Town
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 707
F
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
F
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 707
In my experience of these things, a lot depends on the courier. Royal Mail never seem to bother, while some couriers see it as a chance to charge a £10 (or £11 in your case) fee to collect and pay the import duty. For them, it's just income maximisation. At least with something as expensive as BAIB, you probably don't mind paying it that much - in the early days of Amazon.com, I "imported" a couple of CDs with a total value of pennies over the £18 limit in force - the import duty and VAT was about 90p, while the courier charged £10 for collecting it. At least the guy who came to the door had the good grace to be embarrassed ...

Brian

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,809
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,809
this seems to be completely random in UK, I paid £19 for BIAB hard drive, nothing for omnisphere, or an 18 CD piece of software. Its a question of what 'they' THink its worth as poosed to real value, and if and when the freight company feel like charging you extra. If customs does not stop it you might get lucky sometimes.


Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!

It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!

We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!

Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:

Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!

Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!

New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!

We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!

Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!

Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.

Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles

Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)

And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.

You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.

Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!

The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!

Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!

With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!

These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!

This Free Bonus PAK includes:

  • The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK: -For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles. -For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles. -For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
  • Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
  • Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
  • Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
  • Playable RealTracks Set 4
  • RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
  • SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
  • 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.

Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:

  • 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
  • FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
  • Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
  • Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
  • Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
  • RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!

New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!

Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!

We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!

If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!

Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!

Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!

We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!

If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!

Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics84,417
Posts778,987
Members39,652
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
Knee Wobbler, BBBoy, Leviatin, RattyCathy, Parsinux
39,652 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 133
WaoBand 114
DC Ron 105
dcuny 78
rsdean 77
Today's Birthdays
Grahammk1
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5