Just to follow on from the importing drums discussion, does anybody here know anything about importing drums to Australia? Are there import duties, taxes etc on top of the $300+ US for shipping? If a 4 piece set was nested & packed in one box would it be cheaper? I?ve had the vintage drum bug for quite a while and feel I have to buy a set from the US. They very rarely show up here for sale and when they do, they are way overpriced, same goes for vintage cymbals. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ex-pat Aussie here.

Double check with the Customs department because, as I understand, Drouyn still actually exist and manufacture drums, so there is a probably both a tariff ('cause by importing a foreign drum you are potentially putting a local producer out of business) and also probably GST/value added tax. Size and weight usually have an effect on shipping prices so putting everything inside itself Russian doll stylee would probably be the way to go.

D

WOW! I went back and looked at the auctions...

The kit went for $2900.00!!! with 44 bids (It was a WAR!) ...and the matching (somewhat) snare drum went for $500.00!!

Now, granted, those were nice, nice examples of a matched Ludwig kit, and that finish is super-beautiful and un-like anything available today...but I wouldn't have predicted $3400.00 for that grouping of drums over two separate auctions. That said, I still think the winning bidder will be extremely happy about getting those drums. I mean...try going out and duplicating a kit like that, today, and you'll soon see how futile it is.

(I hope someone here won them!)electricit

EDIT: I guess there were two separate winners...I assumed that the same person won both auctions.