There is a lot of giveaways recently that are open to USA and Canada residents. I remember not so long ago that it was not possible for canadians to enter giveways and many of them would voice their concern about that. Sadly now I see posts and replies from people who are not allowed to enter, with the same concerns, same opinions, same restrictions because of the country they live in. I don't know what to say and how to say it, I guess I just felt the need to say a big thank you to whoever is responsible at Fender to open the giveaways to canadians. Nice work so far. But I understand the same frustration coming from other musicians from abroad and I wanted to ask for more international giveaways. Once in a while, a cool international giveway would be something good to happen. I don't post this and expect an answer from someone at Fender, I was just concerned about giveaways in general and wanted to say something positive about it. Giveaways are cool, don't stop. Thanks.
Claude.

Glad that Canada is included more too Claude. Hope you win one Bro!

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Hi Claude,I was wondering if maybe Canadians are eligible to win Fender contests because the products they "usually" give away are U.S. made and because of the North American Free Trade Agreement Canadians can join in.It would be nice if it could be international but with trade and tarriff laws so different from one country to another,it would be a nightmare of a legal tangle to straighten out.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Before posting my "rant", I used the search function and I went across one of the posts that said so, I was surprized to see that at least one state couldn't enter the giveaway.
Claude.

FMIC is the distributor of Fender products in the US and Canada. Independent distributors handle Fender products in the rest of the world -- companies like RBX Iinternational Co LTD, M. Casale Bauer s.p.a., Todomusica S.A., etc, etc.

Distributors try not to step on each other's toes. If Fender USA gives a guitar to a guy in Italy, M. Casale Bauer s.p.a. has probably lost a sale (the customer is less likely to buy one of the Fenders that Bauer paid to have imported).

And part of the reason that Fender uses distributors is because those companies are familiar with the laws of their countries. They handle the local taxes, Customs, transportation from the boatyards to their warehouses, etc. It would be a PITA for Fender USA to deal with all that stuff on individual single-guitar shipments, especially when they're losing money by giving away a guitar in the first place.

So the reality is that people who live on the wrong side of the ocean should pressure their local distributors to start giving away Fender products.

Point out to your local distributor why Fender USA gives away guitars: It's not just because they're nice guys -- there are cold calculating advertising benefits to giveaways. Giveaways make people dream about owning a Fender, and sometimes dreaming about winning one makes them realize how much they really want one (or really want another one), so they go out and buy one.

I wonder if there may be more to this issue than simple proximity. Clearly there are legal matters if certain US States are exempt. NAFTA may well be the vehicle and reason Cannucks are now in the inner circle. Is it not also possible that some consideration is given to market share? As I understand it many countries see Fender instruments being sold at much higher prices than they go for here in North America. A friend from New Zealand once complained to me a few years ago that the prices are sometime as much as 75% higher than here in Canada depending on MIM, MIA, CIJ, etc. and this sends him looking at other brand options. Is it possible Canada buys more Fenders? Could it be that shipping costs are also considered. What does it cost to ship a guitar overseas?

I don't know, I'm just asking.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

When I want or need something, I buy it, and I'm pretty reasonable with the hole process. When I find a giveaway I enter, just for the sake of winning a free guitar. It's like the icing on the cake. I'm just glad that Canadian residents can enter now. And because I remember the time of restriction, I wanted to suggest to anyone at Fender to do an international giveaway from time to time because it is so cool. Remember the Dick Dale acoustic guitar international giveaway? Nickininja from England won. So if it is possible to do it, why then not doing it more often? Just needed to say that. All positive stuff. Peace.
Claude.

Glad your now included...but Im winning the next one!

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

I always think of entering one, but then I think about the probability of winning it.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Then enter and forget about it. That's what giveaways are for. If you win but you don't like the guitar you can always give it to some kid who needs one.
Claude.

When my next upgrade comes, I've already got someone in line for my Telecaster. Sort of like what I did with my Stratocaster. I had a kid who needed a neck and a kid who needed a body they both got what they needed.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Very cool of you Buxom.
Claude.

Only problem, he lives 1,000 miles away.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic