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After meeting a local budding "audiophile" while visiting my daughter there last month, I've taken to wondering if there any local "fellow travelers" willing to offer him a taste of what we had a chance to speak about over dinner.
I lived in Bermuda for 4yrs in the mid '90s. I know of at least one ham radio operator who definitely knows his way around a circuit and has absolutely built tube based amplifiers.
Also, a colleague of mine managed to stay on the bleeding edge of home theater electronics while living in Bermuda. He once took apart a sofa so he could install bass thumpers in the seat cushions, so I would suspect there are a handful of DIY types in Bermuda. He's totally a solid state guy, though, despite my efforts over the years to convert him to tubes.
One issue in Bermuda is that import duties are very expensive, probably around 50% of the retail value of whatever you bring into the country, so that tends to make a relatively inexpensive item turn into less than a casual purchase for a lot of people. Another issue is that having a drop mail box in the US affiliated with a courier service to bring catalog items into the country is hugely expensive.
Everything all of the time
It is expensive to ship to Bermuda. I only use the postal service, it is cheaper coming from the States. I believe the duty is 30%. However, If it's Bottlehead stuff, it's still worth it. If the chap is visiting the States, He can pick the item up there, and take it back to Bermuda, declare it, and it may cost him nothing for duty charges.
Bernie.
Actually, a recent communication with a Bermuda Customs tariff officer quoted import duties on audio amplifiers and loudspeakers at 22.5%, which I guess is not particularly usurious in itself - but in combination with shipping charges and brokerage fees assessed by certain brown companies if a shipper was to forget the first S in USPS, the landing costs could easily double the expense of a small price tag order. I've had that happen to me on orders from less than 200 miles distant - on my island, "overnight air" via UPS has definitely meant "see you next week"
The real intent was to locate / recruit any active DIYers for get together listening/ beverage, BBQ and BS sessions. As I've said elsewhere, the volume and veracity of information available via the internet for a newbie in any hobby can be overwhelming - and for someone being gently guided to the paradigm shift of roll yer own / less is more way, the proof would be in the hearing.
I'm not sure what that all entails,but I have lived in Canada for over 40 years, and am from Bermuda. I return there very often, and in fact, will be going there in a month's time. There are very few people there that are into high-end audio,realatively speaking, that is, but I do know a few people there, that could build anything that is tubed,while riding a moped.If you have been there, you know what I mean.
Kindest regards.
Bernie.
Bernie - thanks; a perfunctory Google search returns not much in the way of audio retailing in the area.
yup, the locals can certainly do anything on those little bikes.
My daughter has only been working there for a couple of years, and since the Drivers' licensing requirements are more stringent than some jurisdictions have for firearms (without a resident's license, she can't even borrow her boyfriend's car), she gets by on a scooter. We spent the best part of our 3 days there exploring with me on the back seat. After "enjoying" the sights from the wrong side of the narrowest roads I've ever experienced, it's understandable why tourists aren't allowed to rent or borrow cars.
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