Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Thread Like Summary - INFO: Advice needed - Shipping from UK to Germany with Cash on Delivery

Does anyone have experience or knowledge of shipping Meridian gear using Cash on Delivery into Germany from UK?

I am exploring a potential sale of my London based DSP8K to a buyer based in Germany. He would like cash on delivery (COD) but most logistics companies we looked at do not do more than a few thousand in COD.

Thanks in advance.
M

There is no way I would accept cash on delivery for something so high end?, if they wanted such expensive items why not pay for them up front?, doesn’t work for me personally and wouldn’t ever!. For sure I wouldn’t touch such a transaction. Very risky, what if your speakers got there and arrived damaged?, the buyer would say not having them sorry, and you then stuck with expensive damaged speakers. Sure it’s your money and your transaction. But no don’t even consider it.

If they can afford to pay they can afford to pay in advance of receipt!, after all it’s them who want them at the end of the day.

The only way I would remotely contemplate entertaining such a deal is a minimum of 50% up front and even then I would have to get a courier who is a friend to deliver them!, how many couriers would accept payment of that type of money in cash?. No for me it’s not ever going to work!. And how many people are going to count £25,000 in cash and then check all the € or £ to make sure they are legit.

They are your speakers at the end of the day but I would only accept payment up front via bank transfer, there are lots of couriers who do fully insured runs which the buyer would have to pay for.

With the current coronavirus issues logistically it’s going to be difficult as well?, UK sale only or payment in full ( bank transfer not PayPal ) before sending them to many crooks and scammers about who pinpoint items such as this. There are also scammers who send third parties to collect the items from your house after financing the deal on PayPal only for months later chargebacks happening and the sellers left with nothing at all. Be very careful indeed.

If money isn’t an issue I have £5000 that you can gladly have cash on collection , at least you would be left with some cash in your hands!!!. I know it isn’t great but they would be going to a good home!!.

Some random observations:

1. Withdrawing in excess of £20,000 in cash from a euro bank account will require the seller to jump through a number of hoops under the money laundering regulations before it is released by the bank; the exchange rate given will be criminal

2. Carrying £20,000 in cash across Europe will require customs declarations to be made

3. Trying to make a £20,000 bank transfer from a euro account to a sterling account will likely not be instant – from memory next day is the best possible. So, anyone collecting the speakers is likely to be involved in an overnight stay before the speakers can be released.

4. Shipping costs for DSP8000s are likely to be a minimum of £500 even if you know what you are doing, and likely will be much more

5. Insurance on top of shipping is unlikely to be available at less than 3% on a one-off transaction such as this

6. Trying to enforce a “contract” across country borders if anything goes wrong will not be easy and is best avoided.

Thank you all for your insights and advice. Agree that this is quite complex and risky (for both parties). In the US, I have used services like escrow.com but the buyer was not comfortable in this case.

As such, I have decided to ship these DSP8k babies back home to Austin --- one can never have enough rooms with Meridian 8Ks in them.. especially the white color which I have fallen in love with

Here's a short clip of the speakers in action:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Sr1CcH9Uggi3x8516

And if I have not said this before.. this forum rocks! I don't think I would have stayed a Meridian customer for 20+ years if not for this group guiding me through what is a brilliant but fairly complex product we all geek out on. Thanks also to some great dealers/reps like Bruce Sinclair of CMB integrations, Ryan Donaher/Meridian America, and Rick Weldon at Audio Images across the pond.. all top shelf individuals!

Gracias!
Max