Is it me or has the price of Kato chassis gone up noticeably in the past few months?
I bought a 105 last summer n Amazon for just under £20, it is now £30. The last 109 I bought from there us £24, and now that's over £30 too, assuming that they have them in stock.
Could it be related to availability?
I go to TrainTrax for Kato stuff if he has it. https://www.traintrax.co.uk/ (https://www.traintrax.co.uk/)
He used to stock the chassis but I see none there now. There are a couple of Pocket Line models there that use the chassis, but not the whole range where I'm sure there used to be.
His prices are generally very good and ticking the box to receive emails doesn't result in a torrent of useless junk mail but are the ones that arrive are generally informative of prices rises and availability. He is a bit like Tootally Thomas in that respect.
Part of the price differences will be down to the relative value of the £ against the Japanese Yen, US Dollar, Flainian Pobble Beads, Triganic Pu or whatever other currency.
Hobbysearch are generally good in the way of price. They have the 11-109 for 2500 Yen which they say is a bit over £17.
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10646049
(https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10646049)
However once shipping, Royal Mail handling fee and VAT is added it is less attractive.
Quote from: GraemeD on February 12, 2021, 14:21
However once shipping, Royal Mail handling fee and VAT is added it is less attractive.
Thanks, that's a new one to me.
I agree about everybody else wanting a cut. I bought a 3D printer from China and got charged £40 import duty and VAT which I was sort of expecting but not the £12 handling fee from the Post Office and I had to go and collect it.
Fortunately it was still almost £100 cheaper than Amazon had t at the time, but even that has come right down now, so I hardly made any savings. :-(
Please note that the situation regarding import costs from China to the may well have changed since Jan 1st.
As far as I know the old under £15 no vat rule has gone now.
I have not tried to get anything my self this year so others may know more.
I think this is the relevant government information so it looks as if there is no getting low value items under a threshold unless it is a gift.
https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty (https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty)
Quote from: GraemeD on February 12, 2021, 19:25
I think this is the relevant government information so it looks as if there is no getting low value items under a threshold unless it is a gift.
https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty (https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty)
I have not tried this in practice. However I was told that there will be a value threshhold that will not attract any duty/vat etc when purchased for personal use, but I have not had this confirmed so it could be wrong.
Thanks. That and the conversion rate would account for most of that then, but I can't help but feel a bit cheated by the whole thing.
They say no VAT on Gifts under £35 so what would happen if two of us here bought them for each other as an early birthday present?
What if membership went up by the price of a Kato Chassis and we all got a annual "Gift"? Then sell the ones you don't want through member sales as second hand?
Hi all, just to add my threepennyworth, I have just been trawling the interweb for a KH 11-109 and best buy I have found is " top slots 'n' trains @ £24.79 + £3.99 p&p. About 27p cheaper than Tramfabriek. On its way today. Fitting it to an MDmodels
Sharp,Stewart / Clogher Valley tram kit, hopefully so it looks as good as their picture.