Hi just asking of opinion of a nice flute for this price range in the US. My younger brother Declan has been playing a bit on the flute of late and he now wants his own flute.
The Euro being so high now, the USD may get him more for his money?
Thanks,
Orlagh
Whilst the current exchange rate is very good it’s important to factor in the possibility of being charged import duty, this can easily negate any savings made by buying from the USA.
I recently bought a small flute from a fellow board member and was caught by customs, they charged £18, this on a flute costing £43 , in this case it was still a bargain as the asking price was so good and sometimes packages will pass with no charge, apparently the system is pretty random.
Given that the Euro pound rate is reasonable, in your favour, you might want to check out some UK sellers, that having been said there are some very highly regarded makers in Ireland and there must be something to be said for buying local.
If the flute were made by an Irish maker you’d have no import duty even if it were shipped from the US.
Doc
That’s a good point from Doc. If I understand you correctly Orlagh, you are currently in Belfast so Gostrangely may have got confused over the fact that you are actually living in the Sterling zone and so buying in Euro is very expensive given the current Pound/Euro exchange rate. 
So you are trying to avoid buying in Euro? That makes sense.
I wonder what persuading customs of this would involve?
I once received a defective flute from a British maker.
I sent it back. Customs got it and demanded he pay
a vast fee to receive it–his own flute. He therefore refused it.
It was sent back to me and got lost for several
months. The maker and I were filing for insurance
when if finally turned up, still defective, of course.
Once again I mailed it to him…
As there are perfectly fine makers of flutes
in the UK and thereabouts, selling in the selected
price range or LESS, I don’t see any reason not to
buy from them, anyhow.
Martin Doyle is one.
I’d noticed the Belfast location but Orla mentioned Euro’s, so yes, a bit confused.
I have to agree with Jim and if you check out the makers sticky at the top of the forum you’ll get links to many very highly regarded Irish and UK makers.
Double Post.
Martin Doyle is a very good one in fact, and Glenn Watson, Sam Murray and Hammy Hamilton are no slouches either. Plenty of local resources there.
When I send Irish-made flutes to Ireland I write “Irish flute made in Ireland returning to Ireland” on the customs form and mark it as a return in the little corresponding check box.
None of my customers have ever had to pay customs on such packages (knock on wood).
Doc
Thanks for the help Edwin, David, Jim and Doc. It is easy to get confused with two different currencies on such a small island.
Orlagh
Orlagh, dunno if you’re checking eBay, but you could hardly go wrong with this - a little above your mentioned budget, but not massively so, and not IMO overpriced for a top level maker’s keyless flute - assuming that’s what you want. If you want keyed, of course, you are not going to get a good new one withtin your budget from anywhwere, though you might well hit on a good antique for that with patience and good advice.
Sam Murray keyless (in Derry) on eBay for £710 buy it now!
If keyless is what you want and you can scrape up the cash, and your lad is serious enough about the whole matter to justify it (though it won’t devalue), I’d say jump in quick.
Thanks jemtheflute the Murray flute looks great. My granda has just ordered a flute from Sam for him and he has an M&E flute coming to do him until the Murray flute is ready.
Thanks