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I'm planning on building up my old 26" Rocket over the next couple of months, and I need a new set of brakes. One of the German shops has a set of Formula Cura in stock which I quite fancy, at a decent price.
Given the impending Brexit snafu, is ordering from them at the moment a terrible idea? I'm not in a massive rush if they get held up, but could I end up getting stung for tax? Any other pitfalls, like potential warranty claims?
Who knows? Does anybody know? What's the worst that could happen? How on earth did we end up here? Isn't this game fun!
In seriousness there's always the chance that your stuff will get lost in a pile on the side of a quay in Hull or transferred to a facility for customs processing there and being held up or lost.
So if you're keen, get them ordered ASAP.
I've just taken delivery of a decent sized box of stuff from Germany (mostly because I couldn't get the bits in the UK). IIRC as long as it is ordered before the end of the year you should be fine regarding taxes.
Bad idea? I would say good. They will probably arrive promptly, even now. Had some cranks from Mantel (Holland) delivered. Took 5 days overall.
On the other hand Missus sent some stuff from South Yorks to Cov and slightly up North Monday the 7th. Still haven't arrived at destination...
Cheers!
I.
I went to buy something for Christmas yesterday and found this:
Important Information for Our Customers
Dear Manufactum Customer,we regret to inform you that, due to Brexit, we are unable to accept orders from our UK customers as of Friday, 11 December and until further notice.
Please be assured that we are making every possible effort to be up and running again as soon as possible and look forward to receiving your valued custom again.Your Manufactum Team
https://www.manufactum.co.uk/important-information-customers-c199316/
Get them ordered.
My stuff came fast from Bike 24 yesterday. The box they came in was a bit large but packed out very well.
IIRC as long as it is ordered before the end of the year you should be fine regarding taxes.
Have you got a source for that please? I was told it would be based upon import date, so have held off ordering a bike from Germany.
I don't think the British systems will be any where near in place to deal with the changes (whatever they turn out to be), most likely outcome is that they will just let everything through rather than blockading imports at the ports with ineptitude.
tariff's are based on import date not purchase date.
If you buy now from the EU, be prepared for a long wait and possible additional taxes on arrival. It might not happen but it's a gamble.
I had a German bike shop package arrive in about 3 days the other day, I'd buy now but perhaps not first couple of weeks Jan...
most likely outcome is that they will just let everything through rather than blockading imports at the ports with ineptitude.
YT told me that they have had shipments to the UK returned to them already. Not sure how much I believe them at the moment...
Ordered. Fingers crossed...
I ordered from ROSE bikes and Tredz on the same day a couple of weeks ago, the ROSE parcel arrived first!
On a related note, what's the deal with Propain bikes' UK shipping costs being EUR189?
Canyon charges under £40 to ship a bike to the UK. YT charges about £50.
Have Propain always charged that much to ship a bike here, or is this also a Brexit thing?
Anyone know?
IIRC as long as it is ordered before the end of the year you should be fine regarding taxes.
I was told it would be based upon import date, so have held off ordering a bike from Germany.
It's purchase/invoice date, not date of entry into the UK, for VAT, from any non-UK country. Import tax for EU orders is different... that'll be in limbo for six months... it won't be in place come Jan. So... order now and the VAT should all be sorted under current arrangements, and there should be no further tax to pay on arrival. There are extra costs for the seller as regards delivery... but that's for them to worry about.
Anyway... TLDR... if the shiny toy you want is in stock anywhere right now... UK, EU, or elsewhere... hit that buy button now.
I'm looking to order a bike from one of the German sites and they advised me to wait until late January to order as they will then know prices, tariff/tax levels and whether they're even selling to the UK by then. I don't really need the bike until the spring anyway so happy to wait things out.
Order now and benefit from the 'cheaper' Euro...after 31st December it is going to be total carnage (and likely to remain like that for some time but those who did vote for this will tells us that this is going according to plan and will be 'soon' improved upon - and it will remain like this for quite some time!).
I'm thinking of ordering up some replacement Eagle bits as they will be cheaper than buying in the UK - still not going to be cheap though, but it kind of makes sense in my head...will be ordering in the next day or so and hope that they arrive before 31st December.
beware, Germany is going back under a strict lock-down from tomorrow including the shutting of non-essential shops, whether that includes bike shops I don't know
On a related note, what’s the deal with Propain bikes’ UK shipping costs being EUR189?
Your bike is going arrive after 1 January is what that says to me and they have included increased freight costs (as of now think 400% increase) and possibly duty/taxes.
Freight in containers is currently looking at a minimum 2 week delay in some places as drivers are not prepared to attempt a pre-Christmas delivery from EU. Irish drivers are going to be using the new Ro-Ro service from France that goes direct and allows them to ignore back-loads in UK on their return.
I have had a christmas present stuck in a container in a port somewhere for 3 weeks so far. This is according to the retailer, but no reason to doubt them. They are hopeful that it will be released in time for Christmas...
I ordered a set of DT gravel wheels from bike-discount the day before Scotroutes (me telling him I had prompted him into remembering he needed to pace an order...).
They arrived yesterday (several days after Scotroutes the queue jumping scum!).
Wheels, in boxes. Purity big box...
Assuming no sort of meaningful trade deal, from 1 Jan EU suppliers should ship to us exc. VAT. Expect stuff to take FOREVER being delayed in import then processed for VAT, import duty and handling charges, same as what we get when ordering from China or US at the mo.
It's going to be a frickin nightmare.
Personally I got my last Bike Discount order in earlier this month, and a log cabin just arrived this morning direct on a Dutch artic. So I'm done with EU stuff for now sadly until/unless this ever shakes out.
Glad I got my new Canyon mountain bike last week. I am now waiting on a pair of pedals from Mantel to get out on it. Hopefully we will end up with a free trade deal as I like having the choice of buying bike stuff from the continent with no hassle.
One of the lucky ones too, ordered a new Helmet from Mantel 7/12 arrived on 11/12 😁
My lad's Christmas present is currently sat on the docks in Rotterdam due to no space to dock in the U.K. It's carnage out there and this is just the beginning.
But still... British fish eh?
Just order a Vyron post from Bike-discount, not too bothered about delivery time but they are cheap currently.
Just ordered a few things from Mantel (the only XT shifter left in Europe it seems) - fingers crossed...
Bought some custom wheels from Actionsports a few weeks ago, arrived a week or so later - even though I emailed them asking to make a change to the specification after I'd placed the original order.
Superb service.
So if I ordered something back in March, and the order is dated as such, with German VAT added, that was due to be delivered around now but has been delayed to later next year now (May at the earliest), what will change? I haven’t paid for it yet, but could do if there were a reason to (more than just a collapsing £)
Suspect if you have to pay after we leave EU, you'll have a larger bill to pay. If you can, pay now and get them to ship now so it is in-transit when we do leave and you'll hopefully avoid the price hike (just a guess though).
It’s trickstuff brakes so no chance of them shipping now even if I pay for them now. I’ll ask, but not hopeful...
Just order a Vyron post from Bike-discount, not too bothered about delivery time but they are cheap currently.
Just received a picked & packed email....
Assuming no sort of meaningful trade deal, from 1 Jan EU suppliers should ship to us exc. VAT. Expect stuff to take FOREVER being delayed in import then processed for VAT, import duty and handling charges, same as what we get when ordering from China or US at the mo.
Some suppliers will use DDP shipping providers. This is relatively common for stuff coming from the Far East now.
It'll still cost you but it should be a bit quicker after the initial bit of a mess in January -> June.
Hopefully we will end up with a free trade deal as I like having the choice of buying bike stuff from the continent with no hassle.
Which bit of us leaving the Customs Union & Single Market did you miss?
I predict that 'NTB's' will be in the News rather often in the future...
I ordered some parts from Maciag OffRoad on Sunday morning and they arrived at lunchtime today. Very good service.
I haven’t paid for it yet
Then you haven’t bought it. Remember if it’s shipping next year, it is only the VAT changes that you can avoid by buying before Jan though. If it’s not coming ‘till second half of next year, you are likely to end up running into import tariffs anyway, if they are coming. Better to pay then, when the Germans can knock of the VAT, and then pay all the taxes in one go when it arrives.
My “buy it now” advice was only for in stock items, and was as much about supply problems in the trade as it was about simplifying the VAT process (and avoiding processing charges or having to reclaim VAT).
Personally I got my last Bike Discount order in earlier this month, and a log cabin just arrived this morning direct on a Dutch artic.
Bike Discount do log cabins? Who knew ...
Just realised I've bought 4 wall lights, in two separate orders, from Lithuania - the first set i ordered are 'somewhere' according to my pidgin lithuanian and the 2nd set aren't despatched, yet... god knows when i'll get them, they're the last part of my extension project 😬
I’m really tempted to order one of the AXS XX1 upgrade kits from Mantel in the hope it’ll arrive before the end of the year.
I’ve still not managed to get the frame for it to hang on so it may be a bit premature...
Yeah did Bike Discount last week came in four days ;0)
Not sure about buying from Germany but I've accelerated some spares and upgrade purchases for 2021 for biking and sailing.
Nothing like the loo roll shenanigans but I will be holding a spare all round tyre for each bike (which I probably should have had already) and I bought a sail and some rigging I wasn't planning on buying until the Spring.
I've got three thoughts on it really - one is Brexit impact (tariffs, currency, VAT + delays as UK won't be ready for the volumes), second is ongoing/future Covid related disruption to supply chain and the third is trying to throw some money at businesses that have been knocked about by Covid. Balancing that with not taking the mick and needing my own warehousing!
Irish drivers are going to be using the new Ro-Ro service from France that goes direct and allows them to ignore back-loads in UK on their return.
Article on local radio this morning about a new lorry park at Cairnryan, expecting a huge volume increase through Ireland and into Scotland post Brexit.
The Radon Bikes facebook page has a post this morning where all pre-orders through bike-discount (where they are sold) that were due post 1st January have been refunded, with no option to buy anymore.
I used to import bike products from the USA when I ran Rapid Descent; it's a customs nightmare and bikes and parts have one of the highest non-foodstuff WTO import duties; even more than fur coats, luxury watches etc... Also, importers have to pay the duties on entry; which can be damaging for cashflow for businesses.
Got that email this morning with the bad news. Was looking to buy a Skeen CF 9.0 with delivery in January. To find anything comparable elsewhere is a few hundred more at least (if there's any stock) so that's one direct cost of Brexit to my wallet I can quote to anyone that asks.