I find it rather unlikely any EU based business would refuse to sell to the UK purely out of spite. The reality is going to be much more likely down to the added paperwork (and costs of such paperwork) required to sell to the UK. Large organisations can absorb that overhead relatively easily, but it's much more onerous for smaller sellers; to the point where it just doesn't make financial sense to supply the UK market.
I find it very unlikely, but I've been told that I should get out more..
Maybe you should believe in Britain a bit harder. I've tried, but apparently that's not a substitute for the required paperwork
As an EU seller to the UK, since brexit I now have to fill out an online Customs form CN23 which adds an extra 12-15 minutes to each small order (average value before UK VAT about £35) assuming the An Post website doesn't glitch, which it often does and then it is much longer and then I must take it to the post office to be scanned. Pre brexit it was a matter of copy and paste the address, stick that to the package, add a stamp and put it in the postbox. This is for a business that I thought would be handy income once I'm unable to work as a carpenter builder. That time has come but I'm also closing the online business because all the extra (unpaid) hassle has made it unviable. It is not anti UK feeling that causes many small businesses in the EU to stop supplying UK customers but the extra time and hassle involved. Also regarding sellers using ebay, which I also do, ebay is registered and set up to collect UK VAT when an order is placed and this cuts down some of the hassle involved, but they take 15% of the total which includes postage AND the UK VAT. which I consider to be plain greed. My opinion is that brexit was a con and the worst thing that ever happened to the UK in my lifetime (68yrs this August)
Colis Expat is your friend. I use them when I want to purchase items not available in the UK from companies that won’t ship here. You set up an account, no need to subscribe just pay as you go. You then order for delivery to you but at one of their addresses (they have one in Germany) and they then ship it to you.I really want the new Alpina root MIPs helmet but it's made in Germany and they won't sell to the UK anymore
Thanks a lot for that JAW911. Another example of how useful this Forum is - at least sometimes!
I shall definitely be giving then a try soon and will report the results.
I do NOT want to sound like a grumpy old man (well not really!) but find it odd to say the least that this thread spent quite a few pages banging on about what did/did not happen re Brexit in the past but it wasn't until several pages later and your post about ColisExpat that something really helpful and useful cropped up.
I hear what you are saying AES...
I will try and curtail my anger & frustration moving forward.
I was recently on the train from Dublin to Portadown and got chatting to a man of my own vintage (67) who was also making use of his free travel. He had an online business of some sort and coming north to post to UK clients.
I have just had the aforementioned parts hand-delivered from Spain via France. Here's a photo to show how pathetic the system can be. It's a 2mm ply fret with laser cut parts to build scale gun carriages.
