Parts from the UK

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
pq
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by pq »

That Guardian letter chimes exactly with our experiences in France. We ALWAYS get stung, no matter what's on the customs form. we can contest it, and if we do we win, but doing so is time consuming and expensive, and weirdly we never get all of it back. Result: we don't have anything sent from the UK. The only exception was when my other half's mum forgot to do the customs form...

The French PO claims it's teething trouble with Brexit, but that doesn't stack up. They've been dealing with parcels from outside the EU for a very long time with no problems beyond the usual ones with the French post.
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PH
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by PH »

pq wrote: 31 Jan 2022, 5:02pm The French PO claims it's teething trouble with Brexit, but that doesn't stack up. They've been dealing with parcels from outside the EU for a very long time with no problems beyond the usual ones with the French post.
Yes it does seem an odd one and not just France, I've heard the same thing from someone in Spain, though they got it back and an apology. It's not like the CN22 declaration is difficult to fill in or understand, I've done a few in the last year.
The only recent change is the ending of the small import VAT exemption , this is an EU decision rather than anything to do with Brexit, though the UK has copied it.
UpWrong
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by UpWrong »

Jdsk wrote: 31 Jan 2022, 8:39am Guardian article on problems with parcels and stating that Royal Mail form CN22 is to be "redesigned":
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/ ... a-big-bill

Jonathan
But no explanation of the misinterpretation and proposed redesign.
Jdsk
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by Jdsk »

Jdsk wrote: 11 Feb 2021, 12:40pm
PH wrote:If it's worth it for UK retailers, they'll do the same.
Yes, the point is that many exporters are saying that it won't be "worth it". So they'll lose business. People will lose jobs. The take from taxes will drop. There'll be less money for public services.
"Brexit onslaught deepens as a third of all UK exporters to EU simply vanish due to red tape knockout: ‘Really worrying numbers’":
https://www.cityam.com/brexit-onslaught ... -knockout/

"The number of UK businesses exporting goods to the EU fell 33 per cent to 18,357 in 2021, from 27,321 in 2020, according to new data from HMRC."

Jonathan
Jdsk
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by Jdsk »

francovendee wrote: 13 Jan 2022, 8:01am Until the world shortage of bike parts is a thing of the past then there isn't a clear idea of how exports from the UK will be effected.
I waited nearly 3 months for a set of tyres. Bought in Germany to ship to France.
How much Brexit will be the cause isn't yet clear.
Perhaps a better indicator would be products that have no supply problems and produced in the UK.
Jdsk wrote: 11 Apr 2022, 2:20pm
Jdsk wrote: 11 Feb 2021, 12:40pm
PH wrote:If it's worth it for UK retailers, they'll do the same.
Yes, the point is that many exporters are saying that it won't be "worth it". So they'll lose business. People will lose jobs. The take from taxes will drop. There'll be less money for public services.
"Brexit onslaught deepens as a third of all UK exporters to EU simply vanish due to red tape knockout: ‘Really worrying numbers’":
https://www.cityam.com/brexit-onslaught ... -knockout/

"The number of UK businesses exporting goods to the EU fell 33 per cent to 18,357 in 2021, from 27,321 in 2020, according to new data from HMRC."
The numbers (and the likely causes) are coming in. For example:

Image

In the LH panel that's varieties not volume.

As The Economist puts it: "That looks suspiciously like smaller exporters giving up."

Jonathan

The original paper (long, complex, but free to access):
"Unravelling deep integration: UK trade in the wake of Brexit"
https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/dp1847.pdf

The Economist coverage (short, simple, but probably paywalled):
"Brexit has clobbered smaller businesses"
https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/ ... businesses
Dingdong
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by Dingdong »

My brother in law is an avid collector and reseller of rare collectables and especially watches. He used to do half his business with European clients. Now he says no one will buy from him, and the business has all but dried up from Europe on account of the hideous complexity of paperwork and the hit and miss tax situation (22% straight off the bat for most buyers). He's tried to diversify the market but it's not really working, and he's in a situation now where his income is down by 60%. Factor in inflation and the huge hike in international shipping and he's just about ready to pack it all in.

I can't see any clear way forward for British exporters, other markets are difficult to develop and just as complex vis a vis export licences and taxes.
What a disaster Brexit really is. And the consequences are far from over, in fact we're only just seeing the tip of a very large iceberg rolling towards us.
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mjr
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by mjr »

Dingdong wrote: 6 May 2022, 9:13am I can't see any clear way forward for British exporters, other markets are difficult to develop and just as complex vis a vis export licences and taxes.
What a disaster Brexit really is. And the consequences are far from over, in fact we're only just seeing the tip of a very large iceberg rolling towards us.
The main exporters with a way forwards are those big enough to have dedicated specialist export staff, ideally exporting products zero rated by the EUUK TCA, which is mainly those who export outside the EU too. Not small collectibles businesses.

It's not clear to me how Britain will grow more big enough exporters without investors basically gambling on going from zero to setting up an export department. That is another Brexit gift that will keep on giving us <i>[inappropriate word removed]</i>.
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Jdsk
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by Jdsk »

mjr wrote: 6 May 2022, 9:29amIt's not clear to me how Britain will grow more big enough exporters without investors basically gambling on going from zero to setting up an export department.
Nor to me.

And the restrictions on movement of labour make it much harder to bring in the experts who could help.

Jonathan
Dingdong
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by Dingdong »

With a projected 10-15% interest rate, huge problems in securing and retaining qualified staff, it's difficult to imagine anyone investing in an export business from here on in. My small company deals in specialist parts for the motor sport industry, I reckon (from last year's accounts) we have lost 35-40% of our sales to Europe, which to be honest has hurt us a lot more than we are willing to state publicly. Literally all of our European clients are having huge problems sourcing anything from the UK. Which is a real tragedy, as this country has been traditionally the hub of Motorsport development and engineering in Europe for the past 75 years.

If things carry on like this (and we really don't have the funds or expertise to develop exotic, untested and unknown markets) I can't see me getting any reasonable income from the business in the near future. Which means I will probably pack up my spurs shortly, resulting in the redundancy of 4 full time staff. If you'd asked me 5 years ago about the potential and future prospects of our business model I'd have said 'excellent', but not now though.

Brexit has absolutely flattened us, and though I'm nearing retirement age, I do feel very sorry for the young people we have carried forward these past 10 years on the promise of a sustainable and profitable future, only to let them down, absolutely through no fault of my own, at the last. It's very, very sad
Jdsk
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by Jdsk »

That's very sad to hear.

My sympathy to you and the staff and those who would have been the future staff.

Jonathan
Jdsk
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by Jdsk »

Dingdong wrote: 6 May 2022, 6:57pm With a projected 10-15% interest rate, huge problems in securing and retaining qualified staff, it's difficult to imagine anyone investing in an export business from here on in. My small company deals in specialist parts for the motor sport industry, I reckon (from last year's accounts) we have lost 35-40% of our sales to Europe, which to be honest has hurt us a lot more than we are willing to state publicly. Literally all of our European clients are having huge problems sourcing anything from the UK. Which is a real tragedy, as this country has been traditionally the hub of Motorsport development and engineering in Europe for the past 75 years.

If things carry on like this (and we really don't have the funds or expertise to develop exotic, untested and unknown markets) I can't see me getting any reasonable income from the business in the near future. Which means I will probably pack up my spurs shortly, resulting in the redundancy of 4 full time staff. If you'd asked me 5 years ago about the potential and future prospects of our business model I'd have said 'excellent', but not now though.

Brexit has absolutely flattened us, and though I'm nearing retirement age, I do feel very sorry for the young people we have carried forward these past 10 years on the promise of a sustainable and profitable future, only to let them down, absolutely through no fault of my own, at the last. It's very, very sad
New survey from the British Chambers of Commerce: "Trade Confidence Outlook for Q2 2022":
https://www.britishchambers.org.uk/news ... n-in-limbo

"“The combination of supply chain disruption, soaring prices, and the impact of Brexit red tape and compliance costs has had chilling effects on exports, especially for smaller firms already scarred by the pandemic."

Jonathan
Albrecht
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by Albrecht »

Dingdong wrote: 6 May 2022, 6:57pmWhich is a real tragedy, as this country has been traditionally the hub of Motorsport development and engineering in Europe for the past 75 years.
Having worked in that trade, I am very sorry to hear this. And sorry in advance for the loss of yet another specialist engineering service.

I can also report the exact same has happened in motorsport safetywear. EU has market dried up completely. I don't think it's all to do with the costs and inconveniences. I think big part of it is a simple FU back from European consumers. Nigel and Banks have lost a large part of our cache, for what in return? We'll be back to wooden hoes, linen smocks and thatched cottages soon.

Having my own problems with importing, reading over the tail end of this thread is heartbreaking.

But if the original poster wants anything sending over from the UK, just ask. I've had similar casual arrangements with acquaintances in the USA (I'll send him his stuff, and he'll send me mine back from there). There are commercial mail forwarding services but I've found them to be mind bendingly disastrous for specialist items.
Jdsk
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by Jdsk »

NB date.

"‘Brexit has lost us 25% of sales’: British bike storage firm buckles under red tape":
https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... r-red-tape

(It's Cycloc.)

Jonathan
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simonineaston
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by simonineaston »

In the on-going debacle that's the post Brexit "debate", we've all seen the growing number of articles that make the case for leaving being ruinous for so many UK businesses, inc obs farmers and fisherman. I've also seen the emergence of articles that have begun to refer to the taboo topic of rejoining... interesting stuff.
I'm not mentioning this because I think it's possible, but because for years, it's been unmentionable. Now, apparantly, it is.
S
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PH
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Re: Parts from the UK

Post by PH »

Jdsk wrote: 23 Jan 2023, 10:39am NB date.

"‘Brexit has lost us 25% of sales’: British bike storage firm buckles under red tape":
https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... r-red-tape

(It's Cycloc.)

Jonathan
Had a read through that, it's a bit different to the usual tale of woe, where retailers have expected it to be pretty much business as usual and have been caught out. They've done all the things advised, supplying from an EU warehouse, joining the One Stop Shop for VAT. These things should make it seamless for a consumer. So why the drop in sales? Have the prices increased to cover the costs? Is there a general lack of confidence in buying UK products? Is it unrelated and a sign in the downturn in cycle sales? Without those answers the headline isn't substantiated by the article.
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