Allen Amps reseller that will ship to Europe?

[boneshaker335]

Hi,

I would like to buy an Allen kit (the Hot Fudge), but this company currently does not ship to Europe where I am located.

That's why I would like to know if there are any resellers/dealers that you would recommend, that may ship to Europe.

(I know that shipping won't be cheap (but shipping won't be cheaper when buying an old 6G2 off US ebay) and that the transformer is 120V, which is no problem, I have a good 120V -> 230V step up transformer.)

Many thanks, Peter

[Big Cookie]

David Allen usually only sells direct to the end user. I can't think of any dealers that handle Allen Amps. The crux of your problem is the electrical standards that the EU adopted, they are stringent to the point of being silly, which is why I won't send any of my amps to Europe.

[boneshaker335]

Hi,

thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by Big Cookie

The crux of your problem is the electrical standards that the EU adopted, they are stringent to the point of being silly, which is why I won't send any of my amps to Europe.

I disagree, especially since I don't want to get a rumour / myth started that there are problems sending kits to the EU for end-users:

There are no electrical standards for kits, that are _not_ met by the usual US kits in their default configuration. Customs will not seize such a parcel, in case you wanted to suggest that. I know, because I bought kits and told customs what it is. Tube Amp
Doctor, etc. sells the usual Tweed kits here in Germany, as well as the usual transformers, etc. They have been in business for 10 years. There are no problems at all with kits and private builders.

There are also no problems for end-users importing Weber / Mission kits or PTP wired amps from the US. It's also legal to run them.

_If_ you have a German distributor, however, that sells the stuff within Germany, the equipment has to pass several tests.

Allen doesn't export at all (not just not to Europe), because he feels that cannot give his usual standard of support and because he cannot provide 230/240 transformers. At least that's what he said.

[Jef]

I bought a 5e3 kit from mission amps. Bruce shipped it to Belgium without any problems. The "Euro" kit came without a power transformer so I bought one in Holland.

Jef

[Jef]

double post

[boneshaker335]

Originally Posted by boneshaker335

_If_ you have a German distributor, however, that sells the stuff within Germany, the equipment has to pass several tests.

Just realized this statement could be misunderstood: I am talking _only_ about a completed / finished amp here, not about a kit.

So if there is a German company making or distributing a completed amp, this product must pass some tests. But if you sell a kit, you don't have to pass these tests.

All this is irrelevant when I as a private person / end user import something from the US. I can import whatever I want, as long as it is not a nuclear weapon ;-)

[mark norwine]

for a manufacturer {allen} to sell a finished product {guitar amp}to a European destination, it must bear the CE mark.

To legally bear that mark, the manufacturer {Allen} must certify that the unit meets all criteria for the EMC directives apropriate for such a device.

Unlike a UL sticker, wherein 3rd party testing is required, the CE mark can be put on by the manufacturer, however the manufacturer MUST furnish supporting test documentaion. HE can do the tests himself {though David Allen most certainly does not own such equipment} or he can hire the services of a "competent body" {test firm} which will consume all of his annual profits and then some.

~~~~~BUT~~~~~

if I buy an allen amp, open the box, re-seal the box and re-sell it to someone in Europe, that's ok......because it's used. In such cases you stand a 50/50 chance of Euro customs grabbing it {compared to 100% for a direct-from-manufacturer sale}

Makes sense?

In a previous job I did al this crap for a large manufacturer.

mn

[Steven]

Are you shure? I bought a Winfield amp last spring and that doesnt have a CE marking either. It went throu the customs here in Sweden without any problems. I know a lot of folks here who have bought amps from the states and I have never heard that an amp should have been stoped by the customs. Isnt is so that if you´re going to sell a pruduct inside the EU you need the CE marking, but an amp you buy in the states is not sold in the EU and therefore the abcense of a CE marking is no problem?

[Roel from Holland]

Originally Posted by Steven

Are you shure? I bought a Winfield amp last spring and that doesnt have a CE marking either. It went throu the customs here in Sweden without any problems. I know a lot of folks here who have bought amps from the states and I have never heard that an amp should have been stoped by the customs. Isnt is so that if you´re going to sell a pruduct inside the EU you need the CE marking, but an amp you buy in the states is not sold in the EU and therefore the abcense of a CE marking is no problem?

Yes you are right. EU-citizens can order an amp from the US without any problems. No CE-mark required. The CE-mark is only required when the amp will be sold by a dealer in the EU.

[boneshaker335]

Hi,

luckily I found someone who I made business with in the past, that will buy & send me the kit :-)

CE marks: interesting information; but anyway I know for sure that all this is not relevant for do-it-yourself _KITS_, which is what I am going to order.

Best wishes
Peter

[mark norwine]

The CE-mark is only required when the amp will be sold by a dealer in the EU.

absolutely, positively not true.....

Ignore that I did regulatory compliance for 8 years; I think the EMC directive speaks for itself.

but anyway...

[Roel from Holland]

Originally Posted by mark norwine

absolutely, positively not true.....

Ignore that I did regulatory compliance for 8 years; I think the EMC directive speaks for itself.

but anyway...

I checked the site with Dutch (EU) regulatiuons. No problem to import non-CE-marked goods as long as you're not a dealer or importcompany. (They say that goods that are being traded ON the EU market should have this mark) I've ordered quite some pedals and amps outside the EU and it has never been a problem. Customs here ALWAYS check parcels. All they did was billing me for importduties and our beloved VAT.