"A tale of things to come" Topic

I have solved it.

It occurred to me that even with an EU valid passport I cannot currently import metal figures from Germany.

But if I was in 26 counties of the Republic, I could freely do so. Then strangely there seems to be no trade restriction across the Irish Sea.

So I get all my cousins to order stuff and repost on to me. But that is too simple surely……..

"Brexit will be hard to find in future economic charts with the dates removed, just like WW1 is (counterintuitively) hard to find in mortality charts with their dates removed."

WWI is very easy to spot in NZ population data . . .

Cheers,
John

Brexit will be hard to find in future economic charts with the dates removed, just like WW1 is (counterintuitively) hard to find in mortality charts with their dates removed

It's very easy to see it the in French population of 1950.
link

You have the missing cohort that would have been born between 1914-18/19 had the war not happened, but you also have the massive disparity in the Sex ratio in the population that's 50 to 70 that can't be explained away by differing life expectancy between male identified and female identified populations.

I got some scenery from More Terrain in Germany with no problems whatsoever last week.

Still waiting for my Perrys.

If you allow me let me tell you what is happening in Belgium, the Netherlands and probably also any other EU country.
First I'm going to give you a rundown on the parcels received since January first. Most but not all were ordered long before that date, but it doesn't really matter much.
It's all about the costs.

Parcel from the UK £91.50 GBP surcharge 39€ (me)
Parcel from the UK £90.00 GBP surcharge 45,5 € (Vincent) that's nearly 50%
Parcel from the UK £100.00 GBP surcharge 52 € (Marcel) again 50%!
Parcel from the UK £200.00 GBP surcharge 61€ (Peter)
Parcel from the UK £90.00 GBP surcharge 33€ (Peter- again)
Parcel from the UK £32.00 GBP surcharge 37€ well over 100%!
Parcel from the UK £42.00 GBP surcharge 38,5€ (Johan) 90%!

Parcel from Germany Monday (225€) free p&p, no surcharge.
Parcel from Spain ( 989€) no p&p. still underway but should be here in a few days. No surcharge.

I'll tell you what is going to happen or it fact already has happened. All orders from the UK are put on hold and will simply dry up.Surcharges of anything between 39 and a whopping 102% are just too ridiculous to even contemplate.
The opposite is also true with hefty surcharges on EU products in the UK

We're sourcing EU retailers now – alas, they can't get everything- and will see if they can get restocked.
So UK manufacturers will still be able to sell their stuff in the EU through intermediaries but obviously not without a retail discount. Any which way you look at it it's a lose- lose situation.

No idea where all these surcharges are coming from. 2 orders from UK to Germany received in January – one for 129 pounds with 26 pounds postage, ordered in December – one for 21 pounds with 5 pounds postage, ordered and delivered in January. Neither incurred a surcharge. December order delayed until first week in January. January order shipped and received within 2 weeks. No problem!

Just sending big boxes of lead/metal minis in the USA from OH to CA … costs a fortune !

If you do it on eBay, add their cut, PayPal's cut and post … it's not worth it.

Note now eBay has their own version of PayPal, so that at least might cutdown on the cost ?

Just sending big boxes of lead/metal minis in the USA from OH to CA … costs a fortune !

If you do it on eBay, add their cut, PayPal's cut, now Sales Tax + Post … it's not worth it.

Note now eBay has their own version of PayPal, so that at least might cutdown on the cost ?

I must be cautious in responding to Willie B's marvellous posting, lest I find myself back in the Dawghouse again. I totally admit that I could not resist the urge to express what is a political opinion and I confessed my iniquities to the editor. Peccavi.

But WillieB has taken us back to my opening point on the topic. Many a leading EU based model maker will currently not ship to the UK, or those that will do so might yet carry a nasty surprise for the recipient. Trade in perishables? I will leave it to the newspapers to cover!

If you allow me let me tell you what is happening in Belgium, the Netherlands and probably also any other EU country.
First I'm going to give you a rundown on the parcels received since January first. Most but not all were ordered long before that date, but it doesn't really matter much.
It's all about the costs.

Parcel from the UK £91.50 GBP GBP surcharge 39€ (me)
Parcel from the UK £90.00 GBP GBP surcharge 45,5 € (Vincent) that's nearly 50%
Parcel from the UK £100.00 GBP GBP surcharge 52 € (Marcel) again 50%!
Parcel from the UK £200.00 GBP GBP surcharge 61€ (Peter)
Parcel from the UK £90.00 GBP GBP surcharge 33€ (Peter- again)
Parcel from the UK £32.00 GBP GBP surcharge 37€ well over 100%!
Parcel from the UK £42.00 GBP GBP surcharge 38,5€ (Johan) 90%!

What sort of surcharges are you paying on goods from the USA or China?
Could be price gouging from the delivery companies.

@ Raimondo

that's what I was wondering.

There's a joker on the 'bay who's selling the Micro Ace 1/600 Yamato model kit for £46.00 GBP From Hobbylink Japan, it's less than £11.00 GBP Nothing to do with imposts, much to do with middleman greed and lazy buyers.

One does have to wonder if there might not be at least a small silver lining. For many years vendors at shows have, quite correctly, pointed out many folks will browse their wares, getting to see items up close. They will then proceed to go home and order them online from someone else saving a few bucks. Perhaps these outrageous fees might restore something of a balance.

When life gives you lemons……….

One does have to wonder if there might not be at least a small silver lining. For many years vendors at shows have, quite correctly, pointed out many folks will browse their wares, getting to see items up close. They will then proceed to go home and order them online from someone else saving a few bucks. Perhaps these outrageous fees might restore something of a balance.

When life gives you lemons………

Alas, even that won't work. UK traders won't come to the continent any more and going to a British show is futile with a maximum export of 390€.
No, we're very busy sourcing EU retailers but as always some of the smaller brands won't be available any more.

For many years vendors at shows have, quite correctly, pointed out many folks will browse their wares, getting to see items up close. They will then proceed to go home and order them online from someone else saving a few bucks.

That runs directly counter to my experience. I went (note the past tense) to shows specifically to buy product. I might buy from 10 or more vendors at any one show. Consider what the sum of the postage would be from that number of separate sellers. The online discount would have to be enormous to leave me better off by going down that route.

FWIW, Brexit will not make any significant difference to this British wargamer's hobby, though it may well affect other – possibly more important – areas of my life.

I shall continue to buy figures from my favourite British manufacturer – Pendraken – and use the British painting service – Marching in Colour – which did such an excellent job on my ImagiNations armies. I shall continue to use Bob Cordery's Portable Wargame rules, try out free rules published in people's blogs and write my own. I shall continue to buy military history books from Pen & Sword and Helion. I shall continue to make terrain and scenery using 'junk modelling' techniques, cardboard cereal packets &c.

I haven't ordered anything from abroad for a long time, partly because of postage costs, but mainly because there's nothing I desperately want. I live on my modest work and old age pensions, don't spend a great deal on wargaming and am perfectly content.

Yes, I'm concerned about the effects of Brexit, but not so far as my wargaming is concerned.

Postage costs to UK from the USA exploded a few years ago and completely wrecked my other hobby of collecting a specific pattern of Royal Doulton crockery. A large amount of the production seems to have gone to the USA and for a short period it was possible to bring it back again for reasonable money.

I don't know what triggered that, but it may have been to do with a switch to pricing the size as much as the weight of parcels. Individual pieces of tableware don't weigh that much, but the packing makes them bulky.

If you think you're suffering from not being able to get hold of figures from the EU, consider me and my inability to get hold of a full set of bone china rice bowls for less than $$stupid.

Willi's examples do include a 24 euro handling fee fromBelgium post (which is the highest in europe) and then Belgium VAT.

Assuming the orders were from VAT registered UK companies, they would have deducted 20% VAT, so the surcharges are not as high as they first appear.

The VAT is being charged in Belgium instead of the UK but would normally have been paid anyway.

The 24 euro handling fee is the killer!

Mike

A package arrived here(Belgium) from Baccus 6mm today for which I paid 66,64 euro on 19/02.The friendly postman invited me to pay 40,68 euro on top of it.Like Black Hat Miniatures said this is due to a 24 euro handling cost for customs and post.Anyone interested to open shop this side of the North Sea?Lots of European customers are waiting for you….

"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

Revelation 13:17

Not had any reports of surcharges from EU customers…….as yet. Ive heard Italian and Belgian authorities are enjoying the potential to get a little extra tax income.

Think if I was living in Belgium I might consider getting stuff sent to a friend in France/Netherlands lol

Still very uncertain what the situation is regarding going as trader to shows in the EU, hoping things will become clearer over the summer, plans are at the moment to get to as many European shows as possible.

And yes Brexit is a nightmare, lol

Adler Miniatures

@Fall Rot:in pounds it was 55,the devil fooled me…..

My prize goes to Fall Rot, as above. To find that, from St John's view on Brexit, is brilliant. Next thing is the original author of The Book will find himself in the Dawghouse.

Opinions expressed above upset those that favoured Brexit. They report this as being political, even though we are really only talking about the problems posed in shipping wargaming/modelling products across a 28 mile wide gap. Then we all end up in the Dawghouse. Because over the Pond they do not understand any of this (and who can blame them?)

The USA shipping TO the UK has pretty much stopped me buying either from US vendors or on ebay… for some time, now.

In UK, overseas purchases over £15.00 GBP GBP incur charges… which are wouldn't be so bad…BUT, there is an £8.00 GBP 'collection Fee' to Royal Mail…(if the value has been 'picked up').

So, I have been restricting MY overseas ebay buying to under £15.00 GBP GBP… and the with the USA shipping charges DOUBLING the cost.. forget it. I used to buy a lot of 1/144 items from Japan… MUCH cheaper shipping… and FAST!)!… but their 'inflation' means item prices have risen to the point that it will rarely be worth it.

Maybe Business Vendors will factor in the TOTAL shipping cost? I can't see how that would work… would be far too time consuming unless for a very large value order.

As to the UK/EU post Brexit costs… VERY confusing… and 'Brexit' gets blamed… BUT, from what I have read from retailers, the EU will be bringing in THEIR OWN changes this year… so Brexit has just advanced things for the UK. Just, MAYBE (?) things will get sorted out, eventually, (but with the EU???)!.

The 'Covid19' issue is ON TOP OF THIS! I have rather 'given up' on a couple of purchases from Europe where the seller has stated that THE SHIPPING COMPANY will not ship to the UK due to Covid19 issues… (WTF?)!

Buy LOCAL! They are YOUR OWN businesses/sellers!

Its all very strange. I ordered an item (approx £300.00 GBP) in the USD from the US. Weirdly it was dispatched from Israel. I cost £86.00 GBP in import, thats close to what you would expect, being about 20% which is what you would have payed in UK Vat anyway, so not excessive.

Well, I went back to Art Miniaturen many times, but suddenly they do seem to be shipping once more. So an order has gone in for many a Prussian Hussar for the Waterloo project.

I am beginning to agree that this may all be sorting itself out and, having been Dawhoused before, I will not comment any further on UK international relations. I am even beginning to wonder if I might have been wrong all along….

Trade between countries that aren't all in the EU? Who'd have thought it?

Trade between countries that aren't all in the EU? Who'd have thought it?

It's not about that though, is it? It's about what we had, and what we threw away.

"It's about what we had, and what we threw away."
Democracy is hugely over-rated.

got another parcel from the Perrys, it took ages also I had to pay 5,46€ duty and then because it was collected by the post another 6 € – I have to qualms to admit that I hate to pay duty much more than paying taxes.

The big question here, stripping away all the VAT/Bexit/covid malarkey, is why has small scale international shipping seemingly become so much more expensive and complicated in recent years?

And it seems to be happening everywhere!

Have governments realised that the Internet has enabled individuals to easily buy stuff from foreign sellers, and that it is a right royal pain in the arse to collect any revenue? Got to put a stop to that, eh! Make 'em buy all their stuff from 'Megacorp' who will ship everything in from China and collect all your tax for you, paid in one convenient lump sum…

You know Putin has to be smiling.

As an aside, I have basically stopped ordering gaming supplies to Canada from the US because of postage costs. The USPS has simply made ordering from the US impossible.

Yes, it is very expensive in many cases. Post is almost as much as the item you want to buy in some cases.

Democracy is hugely over-rated.

It is, when people vote based on little more than their emotions. Certain sectors of our economy appear to have shot themselves in the foot. Actually, both feet.

As an aside, I have basically stopped ordering gaming supplies to Canada from the US because of postage costs. The USPS has simply made ordering from the US impossible.

It isn't just USPS. For some reason I have acquired several outside the U.S. clients in the last two years. USPS and FedEx have both been a nightmare. UPS doesn't deliver where they are, and I cannot locate a DHL drop off near me. I am just sending papers. I'd hate to imagine the difficulties if it was product.

It is, when people vote based on little more than their emotions. Certain sectors of our economy appear to have shot themselves in the foot. Actually, both feet.

Pretty much the same on this side of the pond …

Regarding purchasing from the UK in France, if buying from a professional for less than 150 € you "only " pay 20% VAT if the goods originate (have been produced in )from the UK (reimports are another matter altogether and it can get awfully pricey). Better asking for an indication of origin on your invoice.
I have made small purchases from S&S models and Armourfast, both located in the UK, and only paid the VAT. But the shipping was not cheap (no less than 6£ both times, for some 20£ of goods). I have renounced purchasing from the US altogether.

"..when people vote based on little more than their emotions."
Much better if we allowed only the "right" people to vote.

no, better are the "left" people

Funny, I thought we Brits were all going to be so much better off after Brexit? Well, that's what the ever so clever leave voters kept trying to push down everyone's throats! Surely, after all that crying about taking back control of our country and saving money, they weren't wrong, were they? LOL

Anyway, warmers are a sturdy lot. They will always find a way to carry on wargaming.

I used to be (many years ago) in the international freight forwarding business. Tariffs are often used as political weapons. And, as the saying goes – "when the elephants fight, the grass suffers".

B

Much better if we allowed only the "right" people to vote.

You misrepresent my argument, but I have learned to expect that from the side that has no evidence to support their view that the "sunlit uplands" were just over the post-Brexit horizon.

Deephorse….surely it's going to be a 'titanic' success?

I received some books directly from Helion, and yes they had to go via customs – they parcel had to be opened, and all delayed the delivery.

No – I did not have to pay duty on that, still a nuisance.

Would I have ordered via Amazon, no delay, faster deliverance, also no postage.

That all strikes me odd – it will strengthen the biggies and the others will die sooner or later.

"…from the side that has no evidence to support their view…."
You're being remarkably (and insultingly) presumptuous about allocating people to sides. I happen to be from the "side" that believes there was a vote and a result – and that should be respected no matter how one voted. It's called democracy. Unfortunately, for far too many people, democracy is only a good thing when it produces the "correct" result.

I recently received a package from the USA to UK. had to pay VAT on this plus Royal Mail handling charge of £12.00 GBP

VAT (20%) is charged on the value of the goods PLUS the postage!!

Just wondering, if I buy something from France for example can I ask the supplier to sell me the product at a price that excludes the local VAT?

Incredibly, I have had no issues with the mail and shipping during the past year. I am in the US and ordered from H&R, Irregular, Tinywargames in the UK a few months ago. Everything came within two weeks. Shipping has always been a high percentage of the cost from the UK to here, but I have been okay with it up to now. In the US, I ordered from Pico and Raiden and those were much lower shipping prices, came in 10 days.

But it sounds like I just haven't caught up to reality yet!

Yes, yes, but can you set foot outside your door? And if so, with or without a face mask and/or vaccine passport?

You're being remarkably (and insultingly) presumptuous about allocating people to sides

And yet more misrepresentation. And some faux outrage too. Classic deflection tactics. I accept the democratic result. I have no option to do otherwise. Doesn't mean that I have to accept that they were right. It's called having an opinion. The evidence so far would suggest that my 2016 view of the issue was correct.