"For those in the EU, where do you buy from, post-Brexit?" Topic

Sorry for the wall of text, TL;DR at the bottom.

Hi everyone,

I'm starting a WWII collection in 20mm, probably with the North African front for starters. I've bought a Sd.kfz 251 and a Willys Jeep in 1/72, and I want to get some crew figures for those kits, as well as some infantry (not too many, a section per side or so, it's for a skirmish game, at least for now).

There's tons of manufacturers making stuff in 20mm, but most, if not all of them are based in the UK, which means import duties and I just don't feel like paying €15.00 EUR extra on a <€50 purchase, plus shipping. Elhiem, Adler, Britannica, CP/TQD…

I know Eureka is a retailer for AB Figures in the UK, and they have IOSS so no import duties, but AB Figures are quite expensive (not overpriced, I'm sure they're worth it, just straight up pricy) and shipping can get quite high, even when buying not a whole lot of stuff (a section on both sides, as well as crews for these two vehicles with a few figures leftover comes out to about €75.00 EUR, with €15.00 EUR for shipping!).

I've also come across an Italian retailer for the Simon's Soldiers range, asymmetricwargames.it – I like their style from what I've seen, it's the same sculptor who did the Battlefield/Blitz ranges), but there are some things that are not in the range (such as a DAK vehicle crew, for example). Other than that, there's Xan Miniatures in Spain with a really quite limited range, and I haven't found anything else.

To be clear, I would rather get metals, so I'd rather not go with Plastic Soldier Company (widely available from multiple stores, I've found) unless for vehicles (but I have a scale modelling store near me so I'm covered on that front anyway). Preferably no soft plastic 1/72 figures either.

TL;DR Who makes or sells 20mm metal WWII miniatures within the EU/with IOSS in the UK?

Thanks in advance!

15EUR import duties on a small order? The EU really doesn't like free trade does it? Hopefully UK is doing the same thing to imports from the EU.

As a UK resident I'm sad to say that I've made no overseas purchases from the EU or USA since Brexit, due to the high import/customs charges.

Shardik to be fair, I don't think it's like that for all EU countries, each postal service charges their own rates, it's just the Belgian one (Bpost) that sucks in this regard. I'm pretty sure we have the highest import duties in all of Europe :D

At those prices, It might be cheaper to book a trip to England

Its not actually import duties its VAT plus 'handling charges' and yes Belgium deos seem to be the most expensive from what my customers have told me.
As an 'industry' the calculation is that we have lost something like 75% of our EU trade for the smaller companies like us, personally its closer to 80%.
Its not a question of Free trade its just if you leave a system that makes trade/customs/VAT seamless you can expect costs to rise.
There are ways to reduce the possible liabilities and we do our best to do so.
But the type of Brexit we have is the worst of all the options exchanging remaining in the customs union for the ability to make our own trade rules which in effect we cant anyway because we need to remain in conformity with EU rules to keep exporting to it.
Look on the upside though your 'toys' may cost more but at least we can import cheap/dubiously reared Australian beef…………..
L

Afaik there are three methods used for buying figures from UK, first of course the IOSS method, secondly there are firms who deduct the British VAT and thirdly there are firms who simply count British VAT.
The first two methods mean that the real extra costs are postage handling cost which is different for each country.
The third metod is the real expensive one as you pay thefull British price plus import duty+handling cost.
So as european (mainland) customer look for the possibilities or try to find an european outlet.
This extra cost rise is simply the result of the British wish to leave the EC.

Hmm. So how is Australian beef "dubiously reared"? Most of our cattle are reared on grass, not in feedlots and it wasn't Australia that had Mad Cow Disease, etc

I buy mostly from a. Tabletopper (https://www.tabletopper.nl/nl/) (a Dutch shop), b. Miniaturicum (https://www.miniaturicum.de/ and c. North Star (https://www.northstarfigures.com/). I ordered recently 15mm Wiglaf and the VAT was deducted from my invoice.
BTW, AussieAndy: what about Australian wines ? (https://montycasinos.com/montypython/scripts/austwine.php.html) ;-))))

Mostly from the UK, though some retailers in teh EU start to have some good products. Of course, you have the import fees, but not every time. Just as bad as from the US…

Seems that I'm just gonna have to stomach the handling charges (and not import duties!) then… or buy from AB Figures. Oh well, not that much of a problem, they look amazing.

Terribly sorry!

Quatermass,you only have to say sorry when you vofe " yes" to Brexit. 😁

Whenever I hear the "B"word I feel the need!
Coming from a country where we apologize when someone bumps in to us it seems kinda appropriate!
Most of all its just embarrassing,we must look like a right bunch of ding'a'lings.

Oh and AB miniature's are the best in 20mm IMHO.

"Most of all its just embarrassing,we must look like a right bunch of ding'a'lings."

Absolutely. You'd almost think a hostile foreign power might have nudged things along with targetted disinformation and covert funding. Not that getting Britain to leave the EU has ever been a Russian foreign policy objective. Oh no.

There was a very popular line over here amongst those of a certain persuasion about Brexit and the resulting barriers to trade. "It will hurt them as much as it hurts us"

The obvious riposte was "Why hurt anyone at all?"

All we had to do was copy the French. Follow EU law when it suits and totally ignore it when it does not. Bless them, we had much to learn, but too late now.

You can't beat AB miniatures I would agree.

Yup, I ended up ordering AB. Can't wait for em to get here :D

3 weeks later, my parcel's apparently left the UK 3 times and it's still not here. ing Royal Mail…

Sorry to hear that.

@Leon from Adler

Intrigued as to why you think Australian beef is dubiously reared? Have you ever visited an Australian cattle ranch?

And unlike UK beef there's never been any Foot in Mouth or Mad Cow Disease in Australian Beef

Blacky750,
Its was something of a throw away line, the farming lobby ( who have their own agenda) over here will give you a long list including unsustainable water use missuse of anti biotics, transit costs etc.Its a plorised debate over here.
Its all tied up with the supposed 'advantages' of Brexit and rather tied into the political debate, ability to import cheap beef lamb etc versus easy trading with close neiboughs in Europe.It wasnt intended to be an insult to Aussie cattle farmers.
As for Mad Cow disease well the people who run our factory farms thought it would be a great idea to feed culled due to scrappey sheep to herbivores…………… Aussie farmers are obviously a lot smarter than that.
L

Last orders from england have gone so hight, shipments and taxes, there and here in Spain, its a pity, cause there is the most I ordered.
Simon has a stock at Italy, in asymmetric where you can buy his figures, Wartime…, I use to buy Xan figures cause he is from Spain and have no problems and also is a very good friend of mine.
Last order I made from AB (Australia) was with "painting Panzers" from FaceBook and was free shipping and are cheaper than Eureka in England, also the taxes form Australia are cheaper than from England.
Id like to order SHQ before its closed, or Leo Adler, or so, but Brexit has been a problem for all of us in the rest of Europe, all, Shippments, time to arrive, taxes…, and its no good for no one of us, british or europeans :(

@Leon

Ok thanks for the clarification