Beware, EU purchases. Tax and handling fees

[Horse]

Absolutely this.... I could have potentially saved £45 buying the new exhaust from Italy (assuming i didn't get hit for charges) but instead i bought from the UK distributor.

Good for you, it was a bit more expensive but you've helped keep someone in a UK job.

That's a bloke with a UK business that has benefited from Brexit, in this instance anyway.
I'm sure the moaners will be along soon to tell us all how terrible it is.

People had these choices before (IIRC a common recommendation was for buying Rukka or Daytona from a place in Germany).

[weeksy]

Absolutely this.... I could have potentially saved £45 buying the new exhaust from Italy (assuming i didn't get hit for charges) but instead i bought from the UK distributor.

Good for you, it was a bit more expensive but you've helped keep someone in a UK job.

That's a bloke with a UK business that has benefited from Brexit, in this instance anyway.
I'm sure the moaners will be along soon to tell us all how terrible it is.

People had these choices before (IIRC a common recommendation was for buying Rukka or Daytona from a place in Germany).

Indeed they did and 99% of the time i chose that option then too. I have never been into the plan of trying it on in a shop and then going home to buy from Germany cheaper. I could have done that with my Richa 1 piece i bought in Sept for trackdays, but i'd spent an hour in the store trying suits on and must have tried 30 suits on, the least i could do was buy it in there.

[Horse]

T4 cameras in Newbury had dual pricing. If you wanted advice and service in the shop (and, of course, instant 'walk out the door with product' gratification) then prices were slightly higher than those on their web site.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I've never done the "try it on in the shop and buy it online" thing for far more British reasons. I find it too awkward.

[Taipan]

I've always shopped around for the best prices, be that from the UK or Europe. So now the market place has changed, i'll just have to support UK businesses only. No biggie really and further down the line I suspect it'll be a very good for thing for UK PLC? Who knows, we may even start manufacturing stuff again!

[slowsider]

However:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-proof-o ... your-goods

So we're doing the same, it seems. I have no idea of the costs involved but presumably all the stuff we flog to the EU will have to increase in price to cover the increase.

Don't know where the Euro 75 cost comes in, although the Continentals, with their Roman Law, do rather rely on Notary Publics, and I can see them charging Euro 75 for a signature.

With our lovely UK Common Law we can usually, and I think also in this instance, get away with just our own signatures to the docs, or even no signature if you're a regular.

British jobs created:

the number of vets or food-competent certifying officers now trained to issue the European health certificates had risen “from 600 to 1,500 and this number continues to grow”.

British jobs lost:

A commercial cheesemaker in Cheshire has been left with a £250,000 Brexit hole in his business as a direct result of the UK’s departure from the EU on 1 January.

Simon Spurrell said he has lost 20% of his sales overnight after discovering he needed to provide a £180 health certificate on retail orders to consumers in the EU, including those buying personal gift packs of his award-winning wax-wrapped cheese worth £25 or £30.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... rexit-hole

[weeksy]

There'll always be winners and losers, I'm sure we could find 100/100 of each without too much effort.

It was never going to be seamless for everyone, especially with Covid too

[Horse]

I would like to hear of the 'wins' but, so far, they each seem to be accompanied by 'lose'.

[weeksy]

I think the wins will take longer to see as it will be increased turnover etc which may take a year

[Horse]

I would like to hear of the 'wins' but, so far, they each seem to be accompanied by 'lose'.

There are those that think that if someone wins then someone else must lose.
And there are those that think that your financial situation is created purely by human endeavour and then it's all up to you.

It's up to you to choose to win or lose.

So how might I influence the outcomes of Brexit? What wins have I overlooked and should endevour to have a creatively positive view of?


However, WRT to mental outlook, you're in a relatively unusual financial position of being not just comfortable but also have investments and disposable income. With that in mind, you might have slightly rosy view on how the wins and losses might affect many people. Yes, they could work harder, have paid attention at school, yada yada, but it's never going to be possible for everyone to be 'successful'. Most people will be 'average'. Not everyone will be a millionaire, Rodney, until a million is worth relatively nothing.

Average is not to be rubbished, because that's what most people are.

[Horse]

Why on Earth do you say I think life is shit?

What do you think you know to make a statement like that?

Edit some background:
- I have a family that I'm proud of
- I have a job that I enjoy, that pays reasonably, that makes a difference to people
- I have an employer and colleagues who supported me through my recent health issues
- I have a home (a fairly 'average' house) that is comfortable for us
- I can't think of any 'stuff' that I particularly need or want - again, I'm comfortable

If I was to want for anything, it would be for a garage / workshop (a bigger shed was planned for 2020, but obviously wasn't a priority and, actually, the ground space ended up being otherwise used) and another couple of spare rooms in the house, so Filly could have an office and we would also have a guest bedroom (I'm using the existing room as my office) - but under current circumstances it wouldn't be used anyway.

So there you are, tell me why I think it's shit.


However, some people are struggling, for a variety of reasons.

[Horse]

It sounds like you're generally happy and have a comfortable life, but let me ask you, did those things on your list give you the right attitude, or did having the right attitude get you the things on your list?

Blimey. You want self-psychoanalysis first thing on a Monday morning?

It's interesting that you ask about my attitude because it wasn't long ago that, when I mentioned being pessimistic, you said "I bet you're fun" or something similar

I think that I've changed a bit over the years.

You see, I'm not ok because of the things I have. If I'm ok it's because of my attitude towards life and the things I have just appeared.

I'm trying to think of examples of how what I have done has affected me later. One striking example was that my time spent as a hobby (albeit seriously, such as 2 weeks leave to attend a training course) contributed to getting the job that I have now. But the intention during that time (almost 30 years) was constantly and consistently better at it.

I wasn't born rich, in fact I was homeless as a young man, so it's not fair to say that because I now have some money (and probably less than you seem to think that I have)

You've done well. The thought of that horrifies me.

I can only go by what you post. Although I appreciate that your yacht doesn't have a helipad or two, you post above buying watches practically on a whim. That's, it's fair to say, putting you towards the higher end of the curve.

As I said, I'm comfortable and content. But many are not.

For sure Brexit appears to be a mix of wins and losses, I'd suggest more of the latter in the short term as things adjust because it takes time for people to adapt and align themselves towards wins

Given the thread title, perhaps worth noting that Mastercard are increasing fees for EU purchases. (See there for details)

When you say align with wins, that won't make the losses go away.

I'm interested in absolute and comparative advantage, mercantilism, etc, which is why I originally posted about whether you believe that the wealth of the world is fixed (and therefore one individual may win at the expense of another losing) or whether wealth is solely created by human endevour and therefore a win-win is possible.

I have more, but perhaps transient, pet hates as I get older. One is 'improving social mobility'. Not that it shouldn't happen (you've done ok , my background wasn't silver spoon or even middle class), but doesn't acknowledge that there will always be an average. Because Cameron also wanted 'aspiration'. Fine: aspire, set a target, work for it. But there are limits. If everyone who currently is below the target sets the aspiration of, picking a random but achievable target, a 6 bed detached house with massive garage housing a Bentley, 4x4 and a string of collectable bikes - that's all possible. But ... if all of those people want that house, up goes the price, so bye bye aspiration.

But, I'm going to argue against myself Average changes. An average house 'now' will be more gadget-filled and comfortable than one when I was a kid. But there will always be an average.

[Noggin]

When you say align with wins, that won't make the losses go away.

But surely you give the wins a higher value in life??

I've had some massive losses (mentally, physically and financially) in the last 3-4 years. But the little wins mean far far more to me and keep me going


TBF, I've not read all of either of your posts!! But that phrase caught my eye - not wanting to get in the middle of a 'discussion' just wondering how people value wins vs losses

[weeksy]

TBF, I've not read all of either of your posts!! But that phrase caught my eye - not wanting to get in the middle of a 'discussion' just wondering how people value wins vs losses

Every day i wake up is a win, if my items go up in price from the EU i couldn't give a fuck

[Noggin]

TBF, I've not read all of either of your posts!! But that phrase caught my eye - not wanting to get in the middle of a 'discussion' just wondering how people value wins vs losses

Every day i wake up is a win, if my items go up in price from the EU i couldn't give a fuck

I'm a bit like that - I don't really count waking up as a win, but maybe I do without thinking of it!!! The little wins have meant a lot to me recently and I've had to change to higher prices by living here, so I can deal with that!! LOL

[Horse]

When you say align with wins, that won't make the losses go away.

But surely you give the wins a higher value in life??

I've had some massive losses (mentally, physically and financially) in the last 3-4 years. But the little wins mean far far more to me and keep me going


TBF, I've not read all of either of your posts!! But that phrase caught my eye - not wanting to get in the middle of a 'discussion' just wondering how people value wins vs losses

Well, I try to look forward and deal with what is ahead, planning to deal with what might happen. But it's impossible to ignore the other stuff

By and large, I am a positive person. If things don't work out then I try to accept it, reset, move on.

Like you, I've had an interesting year physically. That's been the end (well, not quite. Like you, physio is ongoing) driving again is the target.

I'm resigned to what's gone, but accept it. I'm not bitter about it.

Oddly - and this really puts me in a minority- I have benefited from lockdown and how it has made working at home completely normal. Without it, post-op, I would have been unusual, with the suspicion that goes with it.

[Taipan]

It's the same going the other by by the looks of it. I have to send some fork springs back to Germany and even though the supplier is paying the P&P, I have to fill out customs declarations.

[Horse]

Be aware that, if you're waiting for a delivery of vaccine from the EU, there might be a delay.

[weeksy]

Be aware that, if you're waiting for a delivery of vaccine from the EU, there might be a delay.

Helpful dear really helpful.

[Bigyin]

Every day i wake up is a win, if my items go up in price from the EU i couldn't give a fuck

In all honesty all the stuff i have bought from EU sites over the years that have been cheaper than the same product from the UK i am well in the plus column so if things change so i dont save anymore over UK prices then i still win

I bought my son a couple of clothing items from a drift website in Florida and was expecting a hit from customs as with most US purchases around 100 GBP ...... the company packaged the items and the label on the outside valued the goods at less than 15 dollars so customs didnt even look at them

I am sure we will get used to the pricing and procedure with a bit of time