Notice: Due to issues with the processing of VAT on deliveries to the EU a limit has been put in place, restricting orders to a maximum of £135. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

Update post - goes on for a bit, but please read.

18th Jun 2021

This is a post with Good News and Bad News…

First, the Good News.    Thanks to the sterling efforts of the casting team and the magnificent packing squad, we have reached order number #16853.   This isn’t just an abstract number, it means that we are making real inroads into our backorders and making progress towards ‘normality’, (whatever that means).   As a result, following last week’s raising of the order limit, we are once again raising the bar.  With immediate effect you can order up to £150 from us.   Thanks to all of you for your patience and following our rules  - we are only able to progress as we have because of your co-operation.

One thing we have maintained during the past 18 months has been a schedule of new releases.   We are now looking ahead to the launch of the first codes on our resculpted Great Northern War range.   As part of this process, the old range has now been withdrawn from sale and is no longer available.   The new codes will be on sale in early July, but for the moment, here is another preview of what to expect in the form of some Swedish infantry.

‘But what of the Bad News?’, you say?   Well, we are going to have to increase our postage prices to overseas customers.    Our current rates have been in place for the best part of two decades, but, sadly, events have overtaken us.   All of our overseas postal costs have increased steadily, but these have accelerated rapidly over the Covid months.   In particular, the somewhat eccentric decision that the US Postal Service should leave the International Small Packet agreement has meant that we have been subsidising every one of the majority of orders to the USA by around £5.00.   This really is no longer sustainable.

With regards to our EU customers, there have been increased postal costs, but we are now having to face up to big changes in how we handle the combination of Brexit and EU VAT charges.    From July 1st we will be joining the EU VAT one stop shop (OSS) system.   This means that we will once again be charging VAT at source, which will now be based upon the rate charged in the country of destination.   The plus side of this is that it will cut out the customs delays that have been a symptom of Brexit, but, importantly, it will sidestep those irritating, arbitrary and stupidly expensive ‘handling fees’ that have caused so much hassle.

The downside to this is that we have to pay for this service, and pay for it handsomely.  We will absorb most of these costs, but once again, we cannot subsidise them entirely.   As a result, we will have to reflect this with increased postage charges. In our time-honoured very British tradition of ‘being fair’, we are giving advance warning of these increases, which will kick in from July.  

More details on the Joy of Virtual Six and new releases to come, so stay posted!