Easttop harp reviews ? Anyone

I joined this site to give you guys some warning if you purchase EastTop harmonicas on the well known listing site. I ended up posting my experience on another Trusty Piloty review site because of limited space on the listing site. As they say ‘Caveat Emptor’!

"The ‘Ol Does It Include VAT? Trick’ Beware

This is for the harmonica manufacturing company in China. Be very careful on eBay - if you make a purchase, say, for several harmonicas in different keys above a value of £135 - you’ll incur custom’s duties (2.5%) and VAT (20%) as they come from China - Plus Courier’s fee plus yet more VAT! Even if below the threshold - you still have to pay VAT - and EastTop know this!

Most Chinese companies on eBay now include VAT in their prices (or at least advise you so you can see) - But sometimes EastTop do - and sometimes they don’t!

I had to pay the courier £64.45 import fees or they wouldn’t deliver the parcel! Sting!

Yes EastTop know this - and they use the old trick of sometimes quoting - and sometimes not - VAT in their ‘negotiations’. Be very careful when attempting to bid - because they invite you to. Be warned.

This VAT trick was outlawed in retail early on in the UK by insisting the public clearly know the full VAT price because the public can’t reclaim VAT. (However trade sites don’t quote it because Tradesmen can reclaim it.)

EastTop know this - and they also know if you are going to get a big custom’s bill.

Customs and VAT are a mystery - because if you purchase, say an expensive musical instrument from Germany - even if it’s valued at £2,500 - for an Alto Saxophone - you don’t pay duty or VAT in the UK. Saxophones are cheaper to order from Germany than to purchase in the UK. And so are harmonicas!

Unfortunately EastTop don’t warn you - so you’d be forgiven for thinking that the arrangements are the same - whatever they are. Sometimes eBay listings included VAT - sometimes not. But you still have to pay it.

EastTop allow ‘making an offer’ on their products - and if you think you have negotiated a good price - you’ll get caught for custom’s duties AND VAT - at the highest rate.

Their prices fluctuate wildly - sometimes with VAT sometimes not. If you buy on eBay the price should include VAT - like TEMU. Sometimes it does with EastTop - sometimes it doesn’t. If you know the price of anything you’ve purchased on eBay in the past - and you try and find it in your history later, you have to know the ‘without’ VAT price! You’ll never find it in your Banking account!

And then EastTop reduced their price by £45! - think of the reduced import fees? So my ‘bid’ was way overpriced.

So warning!

Purchase any musical instruments from Germany (see later ) - and don’t engage in the charade of bidding.

Remember - EastTop’s prices are way way inflated in the first place - to price in your deal. So don’t be hoodwinked. You’ll be fleeced - and you’ll pay heavy custom’s duties and max VAT - plus the Courier’s hefty fee for collecting it - incurring yet more VAT! (When it’s all done electronically and they are delivering anyway - it’s called ‘sweating the service’. If you thought Bank Charges were a con - you ain’t seen nothing yet!)

So the courier will typically add on a further £12 - £25 ‘admin’ charge! And you will not be surprised that this too attracts yet more VAT!

Big fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em; Little fleas have littler fleas - and so add infinite-em!

When buying harmonicas, or blues Harps - buy Hohners, Seydel Söhnes or Lee Oscar’s (and you can get Lee Oscar spares too) - from Germany (do a ‘Thomann’ search!) Where VAT is quoted and collected at source and no custom’s duties either. Very good (unmanipulated) prices! And fair.

Remember - Caveat Emptor"

End of review.

I hope you publish me!

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They never used to do that, even in Amazon, but the British government are following America (as we always seem to do) and are adding Taxes on to anything Chinese. It’s the end of good cheap Harmonicas I’m afraid and back to being ripped off by the government. Meet the New boss same as the old boss

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I now play East:Top chromatics exclusively and buy them from East:Top’s own site on Ebay. I have never experienced any of the issues that @CharlieCharlieSucker appears to have experienced and have always found East:Top very easy and straightforward to deal with. Perhaps going to other Ebay sellers who allow making offers on East:Top products may be different, I wouldn’t know because I’ve never been that route. Jay1

Jay? My bad experience WAS on the eBay site! The OFFICIAL EastTop eBay site!

Negotiated WITH EastTop personnel - and paid with PayPal.

I’m curious as to how you read my ‘review’ - and could conclude that it was anything otherwise.

I tried to buy an East Top Lucky 13 in D on Monday as I went to pay they tried to charge me an extra £8 in taxes on Amazon? I cancelled the order. If this is their policy or Amazons or whoever they will definitely lose a customer of me

Thank you Andy! You’re the first responder to my very first post on here! I will put a drink behind the bar!

I have not been able to respond in full to you yet - because there have been some developments! Yes - if they are in good faith I will share with you if/when they are certain.

In due course.

I had written a draft response to you but it has had to be revised - in the light of the above.

Apologies for being so annoyingly mysterious - but I don’t want to run the risk of jeopardising anything.

However your quote from ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ was just so perfect! And funny - it immediately registered because I have the original vinyl of the ‘Who’s Next’ album - but I had a little trouble trying to get the song into my consciousness. - which made it all the more powerful!

Your quote prompted me to look it up on eBay - and the original vinyl - with the precious insert sleeve - which is apparently treasured by collectors - goes for over 200 quid!

Quite an antidote to my aforementioned dealings here!

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Oh, that’s very simple to answer, your experience doesn’t match with mine so there has to be some difference. It could be that I purchased my East:Tops at a different time or it could be they were purchased through a different supplier, I didn’t ‘conclude’ I deliberately used the word ‘perhaps’ to express it as a possibility. For whatever reason experiences do not match. @Andy2 Andy appears to have had a similar experience to yours with a Lucky 13 but I’d be interested if any others have seen a change in East:Top’s otherwise excellent sales procedures. As a lawyer I deal with people having different experiences, it happens every day but it’s seeking out the possible reasons for those differences. At the moment (as we might say) the jury is out, if the evidence from several sources indicates that East:Top has changed its policy that needs to be made known.

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I’m now currently skint as I had to give my wife my saved up Harmonica money, as she was decorating our bedroom she has done a brilliant job we now have a very Gothic bedroom it looks amazing. But with Christmas coming etc ( we call it Yule, but that’s another post!) so basically no harp money til after Yule.

Andy2 as promised I’m here to update you on mysterious things! Which I’ve titled ‘Would You Adam and Eve It?’ - because I didn’t!

But first I want to express my thanks to Luke for just being! Luke, I discovered your site through troubled times - and it’s a great site - and has forced me to rejig my priorities.

"Troubled times come again no more!’

Whilst I have to devote a lot at the moment to the Sax - I am rehearsing like billio to be performance ready for a concert in our ‘Concert Band’ - I’m going to devote more time to the Harp & Chromatic. Thank you.

So ‘Would You Adam and Eve It?’ - Here goes.

Having been stung by EastTop’s trading methods - on their official website presence on eBay (Please note Jay1!), I fully expected my relationship to end on delivery after payment of the various unexpected and substantial fees - never to be repeated. But not before I left a vituperative email on eBay detailing my extreme disappointment - and advising them that I had dumped their product in the back of some cupboard - to just try and forget about things. This email had followed a request that was ignored asking them if my transaction was typical of their style of trading - and I specifically observed that I believed “they had overcharged me by at least £100”.

I then decided to leave an appropriate review - wherever I could. A fair review - but excoriating nevertheless.

EastTop don’t have an online presence in the UK - except on eBay. If you are unhappy with transactions you have just 500 characters to express your possible dissatisfaction!

I have to say that apart from this - eBay are renowned in the UK by organisations like Which? - the premier consumer-protection site in the UK. I have been impressed by eBay’s summary conclusions of disputes on the rare cases you need them. As I am too with PayPal (except for the Elon Musk connection) - which I believe was co-owned by eBay. PayPal are also held in high regard by Which? - as do I. Especially with any transactions conducted with China.

So as there were limited ‘review’ possibilities on eBay - I discovered EastTop.com which is their online presence in the US. It has a very Blingy Bling website - and is clearly where they focus attention on retail - the US must be their prime market for their products - in the sort of David and Goliath ratio compared with their eBay presence in the UK.

So I left a review on TrustPilot for the US site - and ticked the box which asks if you want a copy to be sent to ‘this organisation’. This is just a software exit which sends an auto-generated email to the "info@’ tail end of the organisation’s website address.

However it either worked - or was coincidence (I believe the former) - co-terminal with my posting on here - my emails received a belated response - recognising and apologising for the delay!

(I believe that EastTop need their UK presence more than ever because Trump has promised to impose 25% import tariffs plus 10% more especially for China! When he gains the White House in January (6th!))

So what was their response CharlieCharlieSucker?

They said they were very sorry; had made very little profit on my transaction (Oh yea! Tell that to the Marines!): and offered £100 compensation payment.

Would you Adam and Eve It? I was sceptical until it arrived via Paypal - hence my hesitation with my Andy2 post on here.

I’m not expecting you to believe it either so I’ve posted (tried if unsuccessful!) a screenshot of the transaction.

So it arrived just before this post!

So I have to conclude that EastTop are contrite; that they have redeemed their ‘fairness’ quotient with me; that I should now retrieve their product from the back of the cupboard and try and grow up and not have hissy fits!

This has to be one of my most successful ‘retrieved’ situations of a lifetime - which is reflected in my regard (now!) for EastTop!

EastTop make the greatest and best Harmonicas! They are very fair!

Have I been bought? I’d be very interested in your observations. I will only really know my true views of Easttop through the passage of time. But I’ve retrieved their harmonica case from the back of that cupboard!

The green 10-hole blues harps look impressive in their box but are not stamped with the ‘EastTop PRO20’ imprimatur of some of their graphics. But they definitely ooze engineering quality.

But I have actually yet to play them (honest!) and I haven’t cleaned my teeth - so don’t want to blow them yet. I will let you know, just in case you’re interested in a later post.

I’ll just end with my conclusions and advice (which I give only when unwanted!)

Yes engage in bidding if that’s your thing (which it is with me!) but be ruthless in knowing - and confirming, where the UK VAT is along the way; ascertain what the custom’s position is (they definitely know because they get some right ribald feedback if it’s unexpected!); always re-check online listings again to confirm your position; always pay by PayPal for Chinese transactions - if your vendor just walks away PayPal will retrieve your situation very quickly in your favour - regardless of what the vendor does or doesn’t do; and this is true of eBay also who adopt (in my experience) the same philosophy; and always give fair feedback - you never know! And it warns others for fairness - and holds vendors’ feet to the fire.

So tell me, what are your conclusions and advice? Apologies for the long read.

‘Etymology note for those not accustomed with London’s Cockney Rhyming slang: "Would you Adam and Eve It?’ means “Would you believe it?” in translation - just in case you didn’t know. Apologies if you did, but it’s clear that Luke’s amazing website has an international presence - thanks again Luke! And Andy2.

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[quote=“CharlieCharlieSucker, post:49, topic:6214”]
EastTop make the greatest and best Harmonicas! They are very fair!
[/quote] That is how I’ve found dealing with East:Top. Jay1

You can buy easttop from UK sellers on ebay, or at least see if the stock is UK stock which should’ve already had the import duties paid.

or there’s Easttop Harmonicas – Sonnyboy's Music Store

I have 1 too8K in A and it’s pretty good.

In the grand sceme of things, unbelivably cheap goods from are set to be tax and tarriffed into still cheap but not as good a deal as you remember.

… .said with mischievous irony…

Dear Piglet

Thanks for the information - I always check all the prices available not just on EastTop - but everywhere - as was part of my unrequested advice!

My advice was directed at those people who are prepared to haggle - after all one of the - admitted early - features of the market place that is eBay, is the facility to ‘bargain’ - or ‘haggle’.

It is said of the English that they hate bargaining - but not this Englishman. Sometimes they are too embarrassed to haggle - to ask “is that your best price?” as a starting point.

In some cultures haggling is an everyday skill - and the prices are bumped up as a starting point. Many Moroccans, for example, laugh at the gullible English because they just pay the displayed/first price or walk away.

I purchased some Chinese carpets costing thousands quite some years ago - and got the price reduced considerably (by hundreds on two fabulous Chinese carpets!)

But But But…

Alan Turing was an expert on game theory - and market-place activity was one of his starting points for development of his theories - not just black and white patches on cows or breaking codes!

It’s a game and it’s what humans do!

But But But …

It must be a fair playing field above all.

What EastTop were engaged in was unfair hidden manipulation - as tacitly admitted with their very quick redress. Yes they had won! But in a very unfair circumstances. And they were good enough to redress the ‘dishonour’. And it’s a credit to them. They know that I will probably be an exceptionally loyal customer from now on - and so do I. Because they play ‘long term’ and somewhere confusious says something about it. It may be ‘even stevens’ as far as they are concerned but they know what the outturn will eventually be.

I’m a very good loser - I am happy to acknowledge when I’ve been outplayed and congratulate the opponent when they’ve bested me.

As an identical twin - every day was game theory day for me!

You will see on eBay that every item EastTop list has a bid option. (But in case any lawyers take this as an absolute statement - I mean my experience is that everything I’ve looked at of theirs has the bid option - as the man on the Clapham Omnibus would understand my meaning!)

The Chinese are masters of game theory or ‘haggling’! And it’s there to invite you to participate in the process.

It is part of their psyche - and they are very clever business practitioners - everyone in China haggles with their fellow citizens. A very honourable and intelligent people. I just know Trump will be more than outplayed when he ‘reigns’ in January - as the least honourable felon - and thug - on the planet.

For example: Huawei were banned in America - and suddenly they were forbidden to use the android - or any - pc or mobile phone operating system developed by the US - by Trump. Temporary stasis in their IT trading. So what did they do?

They have developed their own operating system - which is very effective; and they have complete independence from US software technology - in time they will outplay Trump’s crude game theory moves and will be victors in the technology field. Not victims of Trump but victors of the long-term tariff game that Trump is shortsightedly playing. He thinks he is master of the ‘art of the deal’. But he really is the best illustration of the Dunning-Kruger effect. He doesn’t really know how ignorant he is! Bigly!

Only Dumbo’s like the English pay full price! And sometimes the Chinese are disappointed at the willingness of the English to be ‘walkovers’ - as in Morocco and the Middle East countries. Especially Arabia too.

Of course don’t haggle if you don’t want to.

But recognise when the odds are stacked against you - and know when to - and when not to - haggle. This was where I came a cropper! And why my handle is CharlieCharlieSucker!

Quad erat demonstrandum.

(But only to the level of understanding of the man on the Clapham Omnibus!)

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I stopped using eBay because everything is sent by Royal Mail, and at our local sorting office they have a thief, quite simply I am when I am not playing Harmonica or following my rigorous exercise plan, I am a movie buff I love old movies Silent movies, movies from the 30’s 40’s 50’s and 60’s some 70’s all in several genre. I ordered some movies on several different occasions and all of them went missing. I prefer Amazon, I will however try Sonny Boys music store, for the Lucky 13’s I did have a bit of luck on Amazon I ordered a Lucky 13 in C it arrived the next day about a week later another arrived. I waited to see if Amazon or Easter Top would contact me? No, hence I’ve got an extra one for free. I might pay the extra 8 quid taxes on one of these as they still work out cheaper than the usual equivalent

That’s fine and entirely your porogative.
I personally can’t be arsed if the advertised price is acceptable to me and I appreciate service and the services being provided have a cost.
I know I could in theory buy harmonicas slightly cheaper than https://www.eaglemusicshop.com/ sell them for, but I choose to because their serivce is very good and if folks don’t do business with businesses like theirs, they will close and that will be a loss (in my opinion).

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Harmonicas Direct are pretty good you do have to pay a bit more but they have a price list which is very fair. I’m thinking of buying an Amp off them. The only problem is I’ve found is there stock regularly needs topping as they sell stuff very quick.

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Thanks Piglet

Yes you are right - I just wanted to convey my experience to inform others.

And, as explained, it’s only for those potential hagglers - information that I’d appreciate if I needed harps.

The ‘Eagles’ won’t struggle for business I assure you, I have purchased much from them and often/always use them as a ‘reference’ site. However my keenness for their stuff was tempered somewhat when they sent an electronic item so badly packaged that the package split in the Royal Mail’s machinery. So I sent it back - and as you know me by now(!) - they got an appropriate review in the usual place!

Unfortunately they accused me of not including a vital XLR adapter which never ever arrived - and the split in the package was big enough for it to fall through - so it was probably floating around a Royal Mail van.

I felt I had to respond with a signed, dated and timed statement - and I still think that even then they didn’t believe me.

Their packing was so inept that the Royal Mail had an apology sticker on it.

This was long before I had access to a smart phone - and before it was practical to take photographic evidence with ease!

So although they lost my custom - I have since purchased stuff and not had problems with packaging since. Is that your experience?

Having said that - I once had a non-arrival of a musical instrument - a handmade finger piano which never arrived by Royal Mail and was uninsured by the sender. The sender stood the loss and sent another, which arrived safely.

All this suspicion and conjecture - simply because - in your terms! - they couldn’t be arsed to pack their goods properly.

So it’s horse for courses, Piglet!

“I’m just a little black rain cloud
Hovering under the honey tree
I’m only a little black rain cloud
Pay no attention to little me!”

Regards, Charlie

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Royal Mail are pretty awful to be honest since it was privatized I believe they hire on at the lowest wages, cutting wages doesn’t necessarily give you good or efficient service. Just a profitable one for the employer. I make sure I always pay via PayPal for everything that way I can be pretty certain if anything goes wrong I can get my money back. My Silverfish harp mic was an exception because it was tracked by the seller from begining to end. I was so pleased when I got it I also breathed a sigh of relief it actually arrived.