IT'S ALL GONE BONKERS.....

[legrandefromage]

Trying rebuild a very basic 3 speed for the neighbour, I could only sort it by leaving it in the most reasonable gear for pootling as the whole bike was fooped. The shifter for the SA hub was broken and about £28 from Germany for the correct one (and now out of stock). I could have cobbled something together but the neighbour isnt technical and one gear is enough for their riding with the kids.

It would have cost around £50 in parts alone which I just could justify for a £239 3spd Probike

Think rusty hubs and PLASTIC brake levers you get the picture :facepalm:

 

[brocklanders023]

Re: Re:

Lead times of six months...? I've seen lead times of over 2 years from some manufacturers.

New parts availability is bad and won't be getting better at any point soon.

I keep telling all my customers that if they have it don't break it.

It's going to be a real slog this year and I can't put myself on furlough.
Maybe I'll get time to work on a few of my own projects when the inevitable gridlock hits.

I hope you, jonnyboy666 and all the other members in the bike trade come out the other end okay mate.

 

[jimo746]

It would have cost around £50 in parts alone which I just could justify for a £239 3spd Probike

Could? Or couldn't? I've know people spend more than their bike is worth on a service and new parts as a result. Now that's Bonkers :shock:

Difficulty locating a few parts on the UK led me to sites in Germany, in stock, but not shipping to the UK :facepalm:

Its not going to get any easier on the short term...

 

[Spudly]

Re: Re:

Lead times of six months...? I've seen lead times of over 2 years from some manufacturers.

New parts availability is bad and won't be getting better at any point soon.

I keep telling all my customers that if they have it don't break it.

It's going to be a real slog this year and I can't put myself on furlough.
Maybe I'll get time to work on a few of my own projects when the inevitable gridlock hits.

I feel that pain, I had to source a sram eagle rear mech after I trashed my second one (flimsy overpriced tat lol) from The Netherlands, because nowhere in the uk or even sram themselves, had any stock!

Also ordered a new bike last year at the beginning of October, it's still not here yet either

 

[Mikey08]

I needed a left XT M8000 brake lever and a couple of months ago loads of sites had them. But when the time came to make a purchase last week I found the only site that had one was Bikeinn over in Spain (or Evans, more on that later) When clicking on the page of said item a notice came up about EU not being able to ship Shimano parts to the UK. The German sites now have a minimum order of £170 too (thanks BRexit). I ended up getting one from a US bike shop on eBay with shipping and tax added its costing me £60. Evans had one that was ex-display priced at £76. These normally go for around £40. I spoke to them about it and they insisted the price was correct, even after I pointed out that they have the XTR version on their site for less at £69.

 

[MartinYorkshire]

I have enormous sympathy for those in the trade running LBS's. Having business problems because of supply is something I've experienced myself and it's no fun at all. It's completely out of your hands and you have customers lining up, but not a pot for them to piss in.

The requirement for foreign companies to register for VAT and make VAT returns will be dropped in time, almost certainly, because it is utterly ridiculous. What foreign company is going to bother to do this and why should they? HMRC have their head up their ass except when it comes to sending out spurious bills for tax dating back 4 years (ask me how i know..!).

For now, based on my latest experiences, I'd buy from the US and bet that UK customs is too busy to intercept a package. Even if they do, the charges are more reasonable than double VAT from Europe.

It's a total shit show and not only caused by the UK and/or Brexit.

On top of this, you have bigger retailers literally doubling the price of stock items. Giro Fixture (bottom of range). Price a few months ago, £35. Price now? £66 or so, if you can find one. So profiteering is also a factor. As if doubling the price of specific items is going to save a business.

It's all very frustrating, but it will sort itself out. For now, I'm going to take advantage of the half decent dollar/pound exchange rate. Most of the best stuff can be sourced from the US anyway.

 

[mdvineng]

I can almost guarantee that uk customs are much more diligent on parcel checking not only from the EU but from everywhere else. As to dropping the onus on outside shippers from collecting taxes, could be a very long wait as it would require a massive recruitment drive here in the UK to deal with the incoming items. Brexit isn't good for any of us.

 

[MartinYorkshire]

I can almost guarantee that uk customs are much more diligent on parcel checking not only from the EU but from everywhere else. As to dropping the onus on outside shippers from collecting taxes, could be a very long wait as it would require a massive recruitment drive here in the UK to deal with the incoming items. Brexit isn't good for any of us.

It will take a while, but they will eventually come around and realise that dropping VAT entirely is the correct thing to do. It's an adjustment phase for everyone.

Not sure on parcel checking, I don't think I've ever had a single parcel from the US checked, in my entire life and I used to live there, sending packages home. Over my lifetime, we're talking hundreds. YMMV of course.

HMRC just don't have the staff I don't believe. I spoke to a lady at HMRC just this morning who was incredibly friendly. I soon found out why. She was an ex customs officer, drafted into a tiny specialist team within the bowels of it all. She was used to a customer facing role and you could tell a mile off, even over then phone. A good thing I say. That said, I've always got relatively good service from HMRC.

Anyway yeah, the other point about Brexit. I disagree, but I dont think any of us are here for that debate although I agree its buggered up the trade in retro parts in the short term.

 

[marshalllucky]

Re:

On the topic of importing from the EU and the current Customs fiasco, I bought a complete bike from France early Feb, it was sent with chronopost and was scanned at DPD Oldbury UK on 23rd Feb. Tracking showed clearing Customs and I was awaiting a bill for the duty. Waited and waited, rang DPD several times to be told they had no record of it despite it showing in their warehouse. Many phone calls and cut offs later I then get put through to their International dept only to be told it has been returned to sender as duty not paid. Never had a letter, phonecall, email , nothing , really wanted the bike so its possible the paperwork went `missing` but since been told Customs are inundated and just returning parcels en masse so beware if you buy from France!.

 

[Rampage]

Re:

I bought parts from an automation company in Germany, didn’t pay VAT.
The courier (can’t remember who) sent an invoice for VAT and a small charge for doing so.
It arrived in two working days and cost only a few pounds more than it would have before Brexit.
Any reason other companies can’t do this too?