Brexit Deal

[Corranga]

There wasn’t a note inside was there, saying please help me I’m a prisoner in a Chinese back street factory, being paid two dollars a week to make sunglasses for sale in Europe to people who preach about inequality ( income gap, gender, health care, freedom of speech, sexual orientation, religion, and race) and then still go on to buy my sunglasses.

No, but I do try to buy responsibly where I can. I found nothing negative about Sennheiser products, and I will look after them and use them to destruction to a I do with most things, to avoid unnecessary waste, at which point the balance of quality to price is also important.

I think sunglasses (since you mentioned them) are a slightly different thing as they are relatively easy to make, and also notorious for price gouging based on a name, especially with 1 brand making most of the designer ones,
Luxottica are Rayban, person, Oakley and make sunglasses and prescription frames for designer brands such as Chanel, Prada, Burberry, Versace, Giorgio Armani, d&g, even Ferrari.
Doesn’t say anything to their manufacturing ethics, but I presume most buying a name, in part think they are getting something special and not just another model off the production line with artificially increased prices due to perception of quality..

 

[CatmanV2]

No, but I do try to buy responsibly where I can. I found nothing negative about Sennheiser products, and I will look after them and use them to destruction to a I do with most things, to avoid unnecessary waste, at which point the balance of quality to price is also important.

I think sunglasses (since you mentioned them) are a slightly different thing as they are relatively easy to make, and also notorious for price gouging based on a name, especially with 1 brand making most of the designer ones,
Luxottica are Rayban, person, Oakley and make sunglasses and prescription frames for designer brands such as Chanel, Prada, Burberry, Versace, Giorgio Armani, d&g, even Ferrari.
Doesn’t say anything to their manufacturing ethics, but I presume most buying a name, in part think they are getting something special and not just another model off the production line with artificially increased prices due to perception of quality..

Yes this is interesting. I tend to buy sunglasses from manufacturers with reputed optical ability (so yes, Oakley mostly, Rayban in the past and Maui Jim on the recommendations of my opticians). Can't recall if the lenses in my varifocals are Nikon or Kodak.

Many years ago I took a pair of 'Oakleys' in which I had bought cheap on ebay and was looking to replace. Immediately pronounced to be fakes, but they stuck them on one of their machines and professed the lenses were spot on both for clarity (?) and UV protection.

C

 

[Wattie]

20 Jahre Euro: Verlierer und Gewinner

Das cep (Centrum für Europäische Politik) ist der europapolitische Think-Tank der Stiftung Ordnungspolitik. Es analysiert die volkswirtschaftlich relevanten Vorhaben der EU und entwickelt Strategien für die europäische Politik.

www.cep.eu

L'étude allemande bidon sur les perdants de l'euro

VIDÉO. Selon le cercle de réflexion CEP, les Français et les Italiens seraient les plus affectés par l'existence de la monnaie unique européenne.

www.lepoint.fr

Centre for European Policy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

@philw696 can you translate the second one for me please?
Mange tout.

 

[doodlebug]

I really don't understand why expats, or even emigrants to any of the other colonies are now so bothered about the EU.

 

[philw696]

I really don't understand why expats, or even emigrants to any of the other colonies are now so bothered about the EU.

For me hopefully it will keep peace here .

 

[doodlebug]

For me hopefully it will keep peace here .

Sorry Phil, I meant those living outside the EU.

 

[philw696]

 

[Corranga]

Yes this is interesting. I tend to buy sunglasses from manufacturers with reputed optical ability (so yes, Oakley mostly, Rayban in the past and Maui Jim on the recommendations of my opticians). Can't recall if the lenses in my varifocals are Nikon or Kodak.

Many years ago I took a pair of 'Oakleys' in which I had bought cheap on ebay and was looking to replace. Immediately pronounced to be fakes, but they stuck them on one of their machines and professed the lenses were spot on both for clarity (?) and UV protection.

C

That’s the thing though, you can spend a fiver on a pair in Boots it probably less elsewhere and they’ll have UV protection stickers on them and be as good.

I remember debating with a friend about Ray Ban, they only ever wore them as they had “proper quality optics” in them. I tried to explain that they were buying a name on the frame, especially as they write prescription glasses and therefore the Ray Ban lenses, even if they were somehow better, weren’t actually in front of their eyes, and that the lenses in my cheap replica aviator frames were probably identical in all but shape and prescription since they were also prescription sun glasses

 

[CatmanV2]

That’s the thing though, you can spend a fiver on a pair in Boots it probably less elsewhere and they’ll have UV protection stickers on them and be as good.

I remember debating with a friend about Ray Ban, they only ever wore them as they had “proper quality optics” in them. I tried to explain that they were buying a name on the frame, especially as they write prescription glasses and therefore the Ray Ban lenses, even if they were somehow better, weren’t actually in front of their eyes, and that the lenses in my cheap replica aviator frames were probably identical in all but shape and prescription since they were also prescription sun glasses

As long as the lenses are 'flat' (neutral? Distortion free? No idea!) I'd agree. I have my doubts from some of the cheapos I've worn years back but.....

Things change!

C

 

[MarkMas]

View attachment 84417

I don't think many commentators seriously expected (or wished for) Brexit to result in further departures from the EU. It's mostly yet another Remainer myth about Leavers. For one thing, the EU demonstrated pretty clearly that people trying to leave would be treated about the same way as people trying to escape East Germany or any other totalitarian empire were treated. If a superstate is prepared to risk a war in Ireland in order to punish the UK for Brexit, think what they would do to a small country like Greece if they tried to get away.

But the populations that remain in the EU are not universally delighted with their situation.

that

 

[Wack61]

Looks like an unexpected concequence of Brexit is about to shaft many international van drivers

News Updates

 

[2b1ask1]

Hardly shafting them is it?

No mention of the ending of the Kent ticket or removal of the M20 Brok barrier removal or might that be a positive story?

 

[Wack61]

Hardly shafting them is it?

No mention of the ending of the Kent ticket or removal of the M20 Brok barrier removal or might that be a positive story?

It is if they haven't got a CPC so either have to employ a transport manager or take the exams and hand over £800

When I applied for my O licence I was 'invited' by vosa to attend a new operators meeting

Some chose not to bother which meant their first few jobs wouldn't be straightforward

 

[Wanderer]

It’s no fun, my lad clicked through to buy some guitar LogicX interface from thomann.de, as he’s done before for stuff from there, bang, 6% duty, 20% VAT. Not worth it. No sale, no tax. I’ll smuggle it in from Belgium like we used to do with tellies from NI to the South back in the day, no packaging, few dings etc….

 

[MarkMas]

It’s no fun, my lad clicked through to buy some guitar LogicX interface from thomann.de, as he’s done before for stuff from there, bang, 6% duty, 20% VAT. Not worth it. No sale, no tax. I’ll smuggle it in from Belgium like we used to do with tellies from NI to the South back in the day, no packaging, few dings etc….

So 20% VAT would be normal for a purchase like this, right? Their website says "As of January 1st 2021, all prices shown on our UK website no longer include 20% VAT." So basically while before they added VAT to their UK retail prices, they now add the VAT at checkout. No difference.

Why would there be any duty? My understanding is that there are very few things with tariffs between UK and EU.

They do mention a handling charge by UPS for the extra paperwork that is now required They say this is typically 2.5%

GOOD NEWS FOR OUR AWESOME UK CUSTOMERS: FINAL PRICING IS COMING HOME! – t.blog

Final prices for you online with no additional charges on delivery

www.thomann.de

 

[allandwf]

Just go back to the old days, and ask for a deal, "I have duty and VAT to pay", used to work if they wanted the sale. No different from buying from the US, where the majority of stuff is anyway and waiting for the exchange rate to be favourable.

 

[Wanderer]

So 20% VAT would be normal for a purchase like this, right? Their website says "As of January 1st 2021, all prices shown on our UK website no longer include 20% VAT." So basically while before they added VAT to their UK retail prices, they now add the VAT at checkout. No difference.

Why would there be any duty? My understanding is that there are very few things with tariffs between UK and EU.

They do mention a handling charge by UPS for the extra paperwork that is now required They say this is typically 2.5%

GOOD NEWS FOR OUR AWESOME UK CUSTOMERS: FINAL PRICING IS COMING HOME! – t.blog

Final prices for you online with no additional charges on delivery

www.thomann.de

So why is it that when I clicked through with me Belgian address the whole thing comes out 25% or so cheaper from same site, same thing? Not exchange rate…

I don’t get it…

I’ll click through again tmrw and post here tmrw if I remember, had a couple….

 

[Rwc13]

Well it’s not the VAT, wherever you buy something in Europe, you will only end up paying one amount of VAT, either in the sender’s country or in the receiver’s country depending on the exact scenario. VAT in Germany 19%, UK 20%, Belgium 21%. So it’s not the VAT. Either there is something wrong or the vendor is taking the **** with their UK pricing. And there cannot be any duty either - that was one of the fundamental points of the UK/EU deal.

 

[2b1ask1]

I’ve bought a lot from Poland lately. No VAT in the exporting country, no duty just VAT to HMG after it arrives. Couriers seem to be doubling their prices on the continent though. Blatant profiteering I suspect.

 

[Wanderer]

Well it’s not the VAT, wherever you buy something in Europe, you will only end up paying one amount of VAT, either in the sender’s country or in the receiver’s country depending on the exact scenario. VAT in Germany 19%, UK 20%, Belgium 21%. So it’s not the VAT. Either there is something wrong or the vendor is taking the **** with their UK pricing. And there cannot be any duty either - that was one of the fundamental points of the UK/EU deal.

I'll climb down and apologise, I was wrong. Tried it and what has been said is true, however it's out of stock now anyway!

I think what has confused me is I was VAT registered and previously I've entered my GB VAT number when it asked and got VAT-free. Well, VAT accountable in my Ltd's VAT return. Small amounts so I think I got away with it.