HELP!-S-100 refused shipping due to "Mother of Pearl" Inlays

[southernGuild]

Not much to add here Zelko, But VERY happy to see it working its way towards some sort of positive resolution. I read this last night and was very worried for you. Thing can indeed look better in the morning. :wink: You're onto it.....and she will likely 'get by'....With a little help from your friends. 8)

 

[Zelja]

Indeed John, my call for help from my Guild friends has been answered & hopefully this will be resolved without any additional costs etc. Thanks to everyone who has chipped in. I will keep you all up to date.

 

[Zelja]

Zelja: PM sent

Thanks & understood.

 

[SouthernSounds]

Hey Z!

Sad news, my friend! I can't help you, but I'm glad because things are looking better!

All the best,

B.

 

[Zelja]

Well, it looks like things have been resolved. They have come to the conclusion that it is indeed Pearloid (the info given here & the catalogue helped I'm sure, thanks guys) & they have cleared it for shipping.

They still say that Mother of Pearl is on the restricted list of the US Fisheries & Wildlife Department and that it would cots $180 to get a permit to export any item (instrument, watches, jewelry etc) which has some MoP. Strange, as I 'm pretty sure it's not restricted under CITES.

This is a concern if I eventually want to ship something like an F50R or maybe a 60s SFV. I need to investigate this further!

Thanks again for everyone's help & support through this scary period. Now just need it to get here safe.

 

[Russian Guy]

I hope it comes safe and sound to you, mate. Keep us posted and post the photos once you get some free time to do that after all the S-100 lovin' :lol:

 

[southernGuild]

Great news!!!
But... Whew! too close for comfort!

 

[taabru45]

Be thankful you don't get as much government as you pay for.........reportedly seen on a washroom wall..... :shock:
I shipped my F50R to Ian in NZ...sure glad it went well....crazy stuff...yet the drug dealers seem to get their 'product' to every corner..... :twisted: :roll: Steffan

 

[DasBeef]

Awesome! Glad it's working out!

 

[Geo]

I can’t say what I really think about the crap you had to go through because we’re not supposed to get political and I’m afraid if I put my thoughts in writing it might lead to my arrest. :lol:

I’m glad you got it settled and she’s on her way to you Zelja. :wink:

George

 

[fronobulax]

FWIW, there are several interesting resources on the web, that I will not link to, (except for this) but I will mention that mother of pearl (nacre) is subject to different rules depending upon who is doing the import and export and whether they are commercial or private. So if your shipping company can convince the Government that you are the exporter and they are just a facilitator then there should not be an issue with nacre. However if the Government ever decides that the shipping company is the exporter then they would have to do something about the nacre. Given all the finger pointing in the Gibson case if I were in the shipping business, I'd assume that sooner or later the finger would be pointed at me and be prepared by that eventuality either by not accepting certain materials or by filing probably unnecessary paperwork.

 

[adorshki]

I shipped my F50R to Ian in NZ...sure glad it went well....crazy stuff...yet the drug dealers seem to get their 'product' to every corner..... :twisted: :roll: Steffan

Customs declarations? WE don't got to show you no stinking' customs declarations!! :shock: :evil:

 

[Zelja]

FWIW, there are several interesting resources on the web, that I will not link to, (except for this) but I will mention that mother of pearl (nacre) is subject to different rules depending upon who is doing the import and export and whether they are commercial or private. So if your shipping company can convince the Government that you are the exporter and they are just a facilitator then there should not be an issue with nacre. However if the Government ever decides that the shipping company is the exporter then they would have to do something about the nacre. Given all the finger pointing in the Gibson case if I were in the shipping business, I'd assume that sooner or later the finger would be pointed at me and be prepared by that eventuality either by not accepting certain materials or by filing probably unnecessary paperwork.

Yes, it seems a vexing issue. Thanks for the link. I will look into all of this a bit more, especially If I'm looking to bring in a guitar with MoP. The shipping company mentioned a $180 fee for the associated paperwork - that's a big extra hit of moolah which would make any transaction far less attractive.

 

[adorshki]

Yes, it seems a vexing issue. Thanks for the link. I will look into all of this a bit more, especially If I'm looking to bring in a guitar with MoP. The shipping company mentioned a $180 fee for the associated paperwork - that's a big extra hit of moolah which would make any transaction far less attractive.

What I find encouraging is that this seems to indicate that at least there is a legitimate avenue for things like instruments to be handled through. :wink:

 

[hagmeat]

Glad you got it sorted mate. I was suprised that you went for this one because I thought you were
after a reissue with the thicker neck. Maybe it was the 3 line chester that got you?
Great colour anyway, let us know how you like the neck. :wink:

 

[Zelja]

Glad you got it sorted mate. I was suprised that you went for this one because I thought you were
after a reissue with the thicker neck. Maybe it was the 3 line chester that got you?
Great colour anyway, let us know how you like the neck. :wink:

Well I was not interested initially then I had the idea that maybe I could get her cheap & do a white refinish on her. I asked a few questions & got the following answers:
Neck Width - measured at 1 11/16" (most 70's ones seem to be 1 5/8", some a tad mor
Neck Profile - "wide & chunky"
Bridge - original roller bridge.

The apparently big neck (for a 70s Guild) sold me. We will see how she turns out. In transit now!

Cheers,
Z

 

[fearless]

Hi mate. Sheez, I'm glad it worked out. Nice to see the LTG family rally around too.

Maybe there has there been a surge in the popularity of Oysters Kilpatrick and it is hard to find nacre/MoP that isn't stained by Worcestershire sauce.

I'm glad I don't have to regret recommending a re-shipper too much. I'd never thought about it but now I realise that the re-shipper makes the customs declaration, I understand why they might inspect items first. But it does seem a bit nutty for them to have a problem with nacre/MoP if it is not listed on CITES. I'd be hesitant to use them for an older guitar with MoP or similar. No Guild would actually be banned from international sale and the lesson here is to ship directly where is there is less chance of a misunderstanding.

 

[fronobulax]

But it does seem a bit nutty for them to have a problem with nacre/MoP if it is not listed on CITES.

Minor nit to be picked but CITES is not the only U.S. law and treaty that applies to import and export and I'm pretty sure the links I researched cited some endangered species or environmental regulations rather than CITES as being the reason nacre could be a problem.

 

[adorshki]

No Guild would actually be banned from international sale and the lesson here is to ship directly where is there is less chance of a misunderstanding.

Last I heard Brazilian Rosewood is DEFINITELY "problematic", unless a loophole's been created for instruments or something similar.
Heck even East Indian rosewood might be problematic now. That's what was seized from gibson, on the premsie that Indian law prohibited its export in the form in which it was shipped.
CITES is kind of a mutual co-operation organ in which signatory countries promise to enforce each other's regulations. That's why Gibson's rosewood was subject to seizure, in the eyes of the US Gov't. And why some stuff may not be on the "list" but may be disallowed in certain countries.

 

[Zelja]

No Guild would actually be banned from international sale and the lesson here is to ship directly where is there is less chance of a misunderstanding.

Last I heard Brazilian Rosewood is DEFINITELY "problematic", unless a loophole's been created for instruments or something similar.

Brazilian Rosewood is restricted under CITES as is White Abalone & Elephant Ivory. I posted a link earlier in the thread.

Mother of Pearl has isn't on the CITES list but has export restrictions placed on it by US Fisheries & Wildlife. No issues on it's import to Australia, AFAIK. From the Stewmac website:Shipping Restrictions

The guitar is now languishing in Customs waiting for the attendant processes. I used the shipping company because I wanted to avoid hassling my brother. That worked as he wasn't hassled but as fearless said, it's better to ship direct if you can.