| Broglie | 08 Jul 2015 3:55 p.m. PST |
The sterling exchange rate against the Euro is now at 1.40%. The effect of this is that I have not bought anything from the UK for the last 6 months or more. Does anybody else have this experience or is it just me. I cannot imagine that UK suppliers are happy with this. In addition the Royal Mail seems determined to clamp down on the mail order business as well. I have not bought anything on EBay UK for well over a year as the postage rates to mainland Europe are prohibitive. It is a great shame but at least I am making inroads into my painting backlog. |
 20thmaine  | 08 Jul 2015 4:03 p.m. PST |
On the other hand…it's great for UK gamers buying things in Euros ! That doesn't help UK sellers of course. |
| McWong73 | 08 Jul 2015 4:21 p.m. PST |
Royal Mail has been the biggest factor in my not buying British, not the exchange rate. |
| emckinney | 08 Jul 2015 4:51 p.m. PST |
Wow! 1.40%? That's, ummm, impossible? Either that or the UK economy collapsed. |
| Knob | 08 Jul 2015 5:10 p.m. PST |
How do you think we feel in the US? lol |
| nvdoyle | 08 Jul 2015 6:28 p.m. PST |
At this point, it's more the shipping costs than the exchange rate that prevents me from buying from overseas (USA here). That, and the requirements that the package be tracked – $44 USD to ship a blister of minis from Germany to the US! |
| Broglie | 09 Jul 2015 1:44 a.m. PST |
20th Maine In most cases though it is Eurozone buyers shopping in the UK where most figures and books (in English) come from in Europe. I know it is nothing to do with the UK traders but I am sure they are losing business as a result. Royal Mail postage charges are ludicrous sometimes. I look at EBay UK and see a bargain book, maybe a small paperback, for £1.00 GBP but then they want £12.00 GBP or £14.00 GBP postage. Again this is not the seller but the postage charges. In many cases it is cheaper for me to get the book new from Amazon and pay a fixed postage charge. Bad news for EBay UK sellers. Have any UK traders noticed any drop off in Eurozone sales? |
| IUsedToBeSomeone | 09 Jul 2015 2:07 a.m. PST |
I have to say that I haven't noticed a drop in sales from Europe at all – in fact most of my sales recently for figures have been Germany and France…. Mike |
| Chokidar | 09 Jul 2015 2:21 a.m. PST |
What's the exchange rate against the drachma? |
| shaun from s and s models | 09 Jul 2015 2:55 a.m. PST |
the size and weight classes are a real pain, it can cost £3.50 GBP to post 1 model if it goes over the 90gram (I think) limit and the jump is from 90p to £3.50 GBP! |
| GonerGonerGoner | 09 Jul 2015 5:10 a.m. PST |
Ebay charging fees (10%) on the postage and packing charges is another factor on ebay auctions. |
| boy wundyr x | 09 Jul 2015 8:32 a.m. PST |
The Canadian dollar stinks against both the pound and US dollar at the moment, so I've been limiting myself to purchases for my bigger projects only. That may wind down soon if things stay the way they are though, to just what I desperately need, like the bad old days of the 1990s and early 2000s. Probably a good time for Canadian exporters though. |
| Tyler326 | 09 Jul 2015 9:19 a.m. PST |
US POSTAL prices have increased since June , This will no doubt impact sales as I now am going to start charging to ship on ebay sales. I just cannot eat the US postal fees any longer. |
| Inkpaduta | 09 Jul 2015 10:53 a.m. PST |
In the US it has been even more than that plus usually between 30-50% for shipping. Does make it harder to buy. |
| Jemima Fawr | 12 Jul 2015 3:03 a.m. PST |
"Royal Mail postage charges are ludicrous sometimes. I look at EBay UK and see a bargain book, maybe a small paperback, for £1.00 GBP GBP but then they want £12.00 GBP GBP or £14.00 GBP GBP postage. Again this is not the seller but the postage charges." No, it's the seller – nothing to do with postal charges and everything to do with the seller trying to con you by offering a great (loss-leading) bargain at £1.00 GBP, but then making a massive profit on the 'postal charges'. |
| Long Valley Gamer | 12 Jul 2015 9:44 a.m. PST |
The value of the pound against the dollar plus shipping costs have greatly reduced sales to the US…The euro is a value I can presently live with…. |
| Broglie | 12 Jul 2015 11:47 p.m. PST |
Jemima That is interesting. I thought the postal charges were calculated automatically. Regards |
| Lord Elpass | 13 Jul 2015 2:13 a.m. PST |
I believe this is why some companies have distinct £:E:USD prices so their direct sales aren't effected by currency fluctuations. But then being wargamers many moan on about these prices as well. Royal Mail are expected to make a profit, a significant one, to satisfy their shareholders. |
| Weasel | 13 Jul 2015 9:48 a.m. PST |
I'll be honest, I don't really pay too much attention to the exchange rates when I order stuff.
I suppose I should. |
