Has anyone done this??
I have a grand piano in western Canada in central British Columbia .. I've been trying to get moving quotes, but haven't been too successfull for some reason. Maybe the moving companies just aren't interested?? Does anyone know of a good moving company specifiacally for moving piano's?
Last year I had a quote of $3000 cdn to move it door to door from my old hometown in BC to Asikkala Finland. I wonder how this might compare to someone who has moved something of similar proportions?
I also wonder if I would have to pay customs on something like that. It was my own personal piano.. I owned it a year and a half before I left. I know it would make sense to sell it and buy something here, but piano's here seem expensive...
Any replies would be appreciated.. Thanks.
Has anyone moved a piano to Finland??
If you plan on staying here indefinitely and you are sentimentally attached and you have 3000 $ to spare then why not? But if you are only here temporarily then it sounds like madness.
Another point.... British Columbia has a very wet climate. Here the climate is dry and homes are generally overheated in winter. Your piano may not adapt too well to its new surroundings (same things happen to furniture imported from the Far East, they warp and crack after a couple of years).
Another point.... the moving "window" is quite short since you do not want to move a piano in the middle of winter when it is -20 and below. You would have to get it here before mid December.
Another point.... if your piano is US made then its resale value might not be terrific in Finland. We have an upright which we bought "cheap" second hand from a piano store in Helsinki because it is American and Finns only want Fazers. We have been unable to resell it (not one offer on Huuto.net when we posted it a year ago). Nobody seems to be bidding for pianos these days: http://www.huuto.net/fi/cats/musisoitkosk-100.php3
Alternatively, you might be able to find a cheaper piano on ebay in Germany and get it shipped here for a reasonable price. No customs duty in that case.
Another point.... British Columbia has a very wet climate. Here the climate is dry and homes are generally overheated in winter. Your piano may not adapt too well to its new surroundings (same things happen to furniture imported from the Far East, they warp and crack after a couple of years).
Another point.... the moving "window" is quite short since you do not want to move a piano in the middle of winter when it is -20 and below. You would have to get it here before mid December.
Another point.... if your piano is US made then its resale value might not be terrific in Finland. We have an upright which we bought "cheap" second hand from a piano store in Helsinki because it is American and Finns only want Fazers. We have been unable to resell it (not one offer on Huuto.net when we posted it a year ago). Nobody seems to be bidding for pianos these days: http://www.huuto.net/fi/cats/musisoitkosk-100.php3
Alternatively, you might be able to find a cheaper piano on ebay in Germany and get it shipped here for a reasonable price. No customs duty in that case.
Hey thanks for the replies,
Actually to help make this make more sense.. I can explain what was my original plan..
I was going to move the piano along with other personal things.. These would have included:
The piano, 3 Snowmobiles, and an ATV..
The snowmobiles I would have normally sold, but two of them are one of a kind machines including one I built entirely myself and they would be more of a value to me than anyone else just because of the way they are built.. Maybe if I include a picture it would be easier to understand. And the other snowmobile needs engine repairs, of which I can do here in Finland and then decide to sell it or not to sell, which to me is better than selling it as is right now in Canada as it would be practically worthless in it's current state. Judging by the prices of snowmobiles here, it seems I would be better of bringing my old machines over rather than buying one, as they seem ridiculously expensive here if someday I would purchase one here. Sure it would cost money to ship, but on average snowmobiles cost at least 50 percent more here so....
The ATV, I would be bringing just because I plan to sell, again because of the fact that ATV's also happen to cost on average 50 percent more to buy whether used or new just as snowmobiles.
Then there's the piano. Of course it seems almost insane to bring something of that size but I'm just thinking of what it would cost to replace with something that compares after I would sell? .. in Canada.. after factoring what I'd lose in selling, after what I paid before.. as opposed to shipping it here and not having to flog it off.. I don't know..
But if I bring everything at once, at least I have the option of selling an ATV or snowmobile or two at the higher prices they seem to go for here.. and that would recoup some or most of the shipping expenses I'd imagine.
The only problem now is , that I sold my house last week in Canada, and I need to have the piano out by the end of the month ( the snowmachines and ATV can stay if needed, but something has to be done with the piano now)
Time is running out and I need some answers..
Has anyone moved items like snowmobiles or ATV's before? Will I be hit by some surprise import tax or customs duties if I bring them??
Actually to help make this make more sense.. I can explain what was my original plan..
I was going to move the piano along with other personal things.. These would have included:
The piano, 3 Snowmobiles, and an ATV..
The snowmobiles I would have normally sold, but two of them are one of a kind machines including one I built entirely myself and they would be more of a value to me than anyone else just because of the way they are built.. Maybe if I include a picture it would be easier to understand. And the other snowmobile needs engine repairs, of which I can do here in Finland and then decide to sell it or not to sell, which to me is better than selling it as is right now in Canada as it would be practically worthless in it's current state. Judging by the prices of snowmobiles here, it seems I would be better of bringing my old machines over rather than buying one, as they seem ridiculously expensive here if someday I would purchase one here. Sure it would cost money to ship, but on average snowmobiles cost at least 50 percent more here so....
The ATV, I would be bringing just because I plan to sell, again because of the fact that ATV's also happen to cost on average 50 percent more to buy whether used or new just as snowmobiles.
Then there's the piano. Of course it seems almost insane to bring something of that size but I'm just thinking of what it would cost to replace with something that compares after I would sell? .. in Canada.. after factoring what I'd lose in selling, after what I paid before.. as opposed to shipping it here and not having to flog it off.. I don't know..
But if I bring everything at once, at least I have the option of selling an ATV or snowmobile or two at the higher prices they seem to go for here.. and that would recoup some or most of the shipping expenses I'd imagine.
The only problem now is , that I sold my house last week in Canada, and I need to have the piano out by the end of the month ( the snowmachines and ATV can stay if needed, but something has to be done with the piano now)
Time is running out and I need some answers..
Has anyone moved items like snowmobiles or ATV's before? Will I be hit by some surprise import tax or customs duties if I bring them??
That is true for the west coast of Canada, but where I lived was on the east side of the coastal mountains and as a result the air is a lot drier, especially in the winter..... British Columbia has a very wet climate. Here the climate is dry and homes are generally overheated in winter. Your piano may not adapt too well to its new surroundings
I would say to me Finland generally is seems more humid than where I came from just from being closer to the sea and with numerous lakes etc..
In any case a humidifier is always a good idea..
I would contact http://www.tulli.fi/ and ask for clarification.crazy680 wrote:Has anyone moved items like snowmobiles or ATV's before? Will I be hit by some surprise import tax or customs duties if I bring them??
Cars & motor bikes are both subject to import taxes (unless imported as removals vehicles). In which case you can only have 1 per person and the total tax which can be avoided is something like €13k.
I've never heard of people importing snow mobiles (which is not to say it doesn't happen) but I would be surprised if they are not taxed.
Taxation of cars for example is based on a %age of the Finnish market value, and then VAT is added on top. So if bringing in a car which did not qualify as a removals vehicle... if the car is worth €30k in Finland, then the taxman will want his €10k cut before you are allowed to use it here.
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Hank W.
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The price difference for ATV is also "non-street-usage" and "licence plated". Something you can't get plated or insured of course you can get cheaper.... so if your ATV can't be registered, look for the off-road prices and not the on-road prices 
Cheers, Hank W.
sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.
sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.