Brexit realities in the hobby Industry!

[bvandewalkerParticipant 2078xp 1]

Well, I figure the pound will drop hard, which would be a godsend to the American war gaming community.

 

[ced1106Participant 6224xp 0]

Looks like it’s time for OTT to have some videos about 3D printers, then!

As much as threads discuss 3D printers as a technology, I think increasing shipping costs will be the real push. Even if you don’t buy one, the domestic business that ships you a low-print run / customized widget may. Just imagine if a company that already has a widespread logistics to ship product to your home yet has warehouses everywhere in the world — such as Amazon — enters the 3D printing business so you and companies can purchase custom-made or otherwise unavailable 3D printed parts from them, or purchase .stl files, much like how you can purchase electronic reading material from them. (Hmm… an Alexa home 3D printer… 😛

[pagan8thParticipant 10874xp 0]

Pound might drop, but that’s nothing compared to the drop in dollar if trump gets the civil war he’s trying to start 🙂

[osbad 4279xp 4]

If poop is being handed out, can I suggest liberal dollops are also passed to David Cameron, the Hon Theresa May MP, Monsieur Barnier, President Macron, Chancellor Merkel and former Taoiseach Varadkar all of whom conspired to be complete twats about the whole thing?

In fact lets include the whole political class who turned what *could* have been a straight forward request by the 52% of the British public into an unnecessary poopfest and unedifying dick-measuring contest of the highest order which dragged on for 3 and a half years longer than it needed to and has left us all still hugely confused!

[shingen 13941xp 3]

The topic turned a bit political, but I’d rather want to address OP.

The simplest option seems to be dropping British retailers altogether and turning towards continental Europe. Prices in Germany or Poland (or any other EU country for that matter) aren’t much different from British (and given lack of exchange rates may even be lower), consumer rights are the same and customer service also tends to be good if not excellent.

 

If any of you want any hints/recommendations (especially in Infinity department) drop me a PM.

[ced1106Participant 6224xp 1]

Well, here’s a non-political data point from US-based CMON:

Orlando: “It looks like Massive Darkness 2 (PM invites just going out) is going to have an extra 20% slapped on top of it for VAT for both UK and eU backers, despite deliveries going out from hubs in their respective territories

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/1620/756746.page

Gavin: “@Pac. They probably paid for it on manufacturing price rather than the price we paid. That’s why if you often receive a Kickstarter pledge with an invoice it will show a value of $15 for a $100 game as that’s the cost of making your copy (excluding the design, miniature moulds, etc). I suspect now they are having to pay the VAT on the full product so VAT on $100 rather than $15 so they are no longer willing to pay for it

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cmon/massive-darkness-2-hellscape/posts/3070443

That 3D printer is getting more and more attractive. Although I did pick up three CMON base games at 1/2 the price of a KS plus shipping during the holiday sales…

[avernosKeymaster 33949xp 6]

that makes absolutely no sense from Cool Mini or Not, the tax laws haven’t changed in the EU and if it’s shipping from hubs there then I can only assume they’ve decided to line their own pockets while people are confused

[sundancer 43003xp 1]

So Tom did an update for the OTT Store:

Brexit – Dispatching Orders to the European Union

As you may know in December 2020 the United Kingdom government struck a trade deal with the European Union. Part of this Withdrawal Agreement is the Northern Ireland Protocol (where the OnTableTop store operates from). Northern Ireland will remain part of the UK’s customs territory and will benefit in full from any free trade agreements the UK signs with other countries outside of the EU.

For Northern Ireland shipments to and from the EU27 countries EU’s Union Customs Code will apply. This means there will be no clearance, tariffs or new restrictions and goods will still have unrestricted access to all EU countries. If this changes we will let you know.

Please be aware there may be delays to dispatching orders via certain couriers (particularly bulky/heavy orders) as they update their systems to take in account any new checks and procedures they have to employ.

Source: CLICK

[doomriderParticipant 1411xp 1]

Well, good news for us who live in the EU.

[avernosKeymaster 33949xp 2]

news from the front, this time from Plastic Solider Company

With all the “challenges” and uncertainties of Brexit and the end of the transition period 1 January 2021, we want to make sure our lovely customers in the EU continue to get their PSC goodness without having to pay any extra costs around VAT, handling charges etc.

From what we understand currently we have come up with a cunning plan! If EU customers keep their orders below £60 and below 2kg in weight , we will be sending the order as a smaller Royal Mail parcel and any unpleasantness should be avoided!
To make this doubly secure for our customers we will offer the guarantee that, in the unlikely event of the customer being charged anything extra on delivery for VAT, handling, customs etc, we will reimburse the additional costs. So, to be safely under 2 kg, EU customers should follow these guidelines when placing an order:

One hardback book and one plastic kit, or
Up to two softback books and one plastic kit, or
Up to three plastic kits, or
One boardgame

 

make of that what you will

[sundancer 43003xp 0]

a cunning plan

I see what they did there! XD

[danlee 22447xp 3]

So to keep their customers in the EU, PSC is having to limit single transactions by both weight and value in the hopes of exploiting what looks like a loophole. They have also had to offer that if it doesn’t work they’ll reimburse their customers their fees, likely wiping out their profits on that transaction.

 

What a great trade deal we negotiated.

[koelie1969 191xp 0]

You could do what some China based companies do and keep the price on the item low and charge with the shippingcost. Because the items that come from the UK and under 22 euro get no extra charge. So if a item cost 50 euro and shipping 10 euro reverse the price and say it cost 20 euro and shipping 40 euro.

[maxkee 1415xp 3]

 

Osbad, the whole problem from the start was that the request was easy enough site, but totally unrealistic. The UK wanted to be separate from the EU but keep all the benefits. That is just not how the world works.

It’s like divorcing from your wife so that you are master of your own life and sleep with as many woman as you would like. Like in the “the good old Times”. But still expect her to be faithfull to you, that you can make love with her whenever you feel like and stay under the same roof and sit at the same dinner table but not pay for anything. “Because you are your own man”. Good luck getting that deal in your divorce.

But do I understand correctly that Ontabletop had now UK prices with the usual discount except all the red tape and duties?

Sign me up! ?

 

[totsuzenheniParticipant 5651xp 1]

This cunning plan of PSC does not seem like a good idea to me. If PSC are going to do things by weight i would think it would save them time and money in the long run to actually weigh items, standardise packaging (and thereby packaging weights), and have that information add up on the website in the same way price does, and i think i would have a tick box stating that (the buyer understands that) there may be additional charges to import items to the EU (and elsewhere).

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