Irish Royalty - Park Royal Coach Next For IRM

[Mayner]

1 hour ago, Flying Snail said:

Similar taxes on low value items from outside the EU are being implemented in Ireland (and across the EU) too. From next July theres a €3 plus VAT charge on each individual item in parcels worth below €150 coming from outside the EU to Ireland (and that includes from the UK  ) https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2026/0609/1576806-online-shopping-customs-duties-ireland-eu-regulations/

I remember a local importer/former major Auckland model shop owner complaining about 15-20 years ago that modellers importing models (locos & stock) direct from the UK and States without paying duty and customs charges were undermining his business and charging duty/customs charges on each individual item was the only item. 

He had seen the writing on the wall in terms of modellers importing model from overseas retailers or direct from the manufatures and sold the business. The new owner focusing more on diecast, RC aircraft and cars, effectively running down the model railway side of the business only now stocking Hornby, rather than the once large range of British, American outline by several major manufacturers. Now apart from Hornby and a handful of retailers that stock Bachmann or Atlas model railway items (in an area the size of the UK has to be imported.

The delay in eliminating the De-Minimus exemption was that until recently it cost more to collect the duty/customs charges than it generated in revenue, the almost world-wide change to electronic/automated customs clearance systems around 2021 has changed all that, and the Irish Government have been pretty efficient that Customs and An Post extract every cent.

[jhb171achill]

2 hours ago, Mayner said:

I remember a local importer/former major Auckland model shop owner complaining about 15-20 years ago that modellers importing models (locos & stock) direct from the UK and States without paying duty and customs charges were undermining his business and charging duty/customs charges on each individual item was the only item. 

He had seen the writing on the wall in terms of modellers importing model from overseas retailers or direct from the manufacturers and sold the business. The new owner focusing more on diecast, RC aircraft and cars, effectively running down the model railway side of the business only now stocking Hornby, rather than the once large range of British, American outline by several major manufacturers. Now apart from Hornby and a handful of retailers that stock Bachmann or Atlas model railway items (in an area the size of the UK has to be imported.

The delay in eliminating the De-Minimus exemption was that until recently it cost more to collect the duty/customs charges than it generated in revenue, the almost world-wide change to electronic/automated customs clearance systems around 2021 has changed all that, and the Irish Government have been pretty efficient that Customs and An Post extract every cent.

During the covid lockdown, with tourism at a standstill, I started selling off crateloads of all sorts of old paperwork, historic banknotes and railway tickets, books, surplus model railway stuff and practically kitchen sinks via fleabay. I shifted loads and loads of items. Ebay was very busy then, and if you did a search for just about anything under the sun, you'd get loads of options.

Often, I just advertised things "postage included" because I knew it would be a negligible cost no matter where in the world, with very few exceptions. If I did have to charge postage, it might have been €5 on an item(s) worth €60. 

VERY different now. I'd end up having to charge maybe €15 on that same item. It's not just brexit/trump tarriff type charges, or EU customs - it's a combinaton of that, plus a move away from nationalised postal services to private, profit-driven distribution and courier firms. A massive, massive disincentive to businesses, ironically derived by and 100% the fault of supposedly "pro-capitalism" countries.

In my case, I neither buy nor sell internationally much now. Between here and Britain, I use the address of a northern-based relative and I either travel north with my free pass to retrieve it, or my relative delivers it on their frequent-enough forays to Dublin Airport.

Defrauding Irish or UK customs? Sure, bring it on. I'm proud to do so. Since I started working and paying taxes sixty years ago this year, they've got enough out of me. And I refuse to send a solitary cent anywhere near Bezos, Suckerberg or Musk, or their ilk, unless I really have absolutely zero choice.

Edited 4 hours ago by jhb171achill

[Broithe]

A while back, I bought a CD in Japan, priced in Yen - on the day the conversion was under £15, which was what I paid for the whole thing. When it arrived in the UK, they converted the Yen value and came up with £15:10.

This was over the £15 threshold, which resulted in a £3 VAT charge. Almost fair enough, but, there was then an additional £8 charge to facilitate the payment of the £3.

It was held hostage until I paid this, taking a £15 purchase to £26.

I complained to the Financial Ombudsman that the £8 charge for processing an electronic payment without even a man-second of cost was ridiculously over-the-top - but they never even replied.

[Crossley]

Mine arrived on Sunday,  here are some pics , the other is awaiting couplings as I prefer to use Kadee couplings. 

Tried the Park Royals with size #19 but due to my track radius they require #20 when shunting back . 

Note the fitted Bulleid van deputising for a tin van needed somewhere to put the prams cycles and parcels.  The guard now travelling in the coach. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Crossley

[Mol_PMB]

Nice! I'm looking forward to getting my green ones in due course.

I've fitted #19 to my first one regauged, but I've now run out of them and I don't have any #20 so I need to get some more Kadees ordered.

I'm hoping #19 will do on my more gentle curves as it will minimise the gap between the gangways, but I will need to experiment.