Uk Toy Soldier Prices (1 Viewer)

[Thin Red Line]

Just wondering if anyone knows why the prices for W Britains , First Legion e.t.c are so much more expensive in the U.K compared to the States?
With both W Britains and First Legion your paying the dollar amount in pounds i.e a Nassau foot soldier 38 dollars US , Uk equivalent 54 dollars!
Its a hell of a mark would be interesting to know the reasons why, importing from the states isn't the answer once postage and customs tax are added.

The standard must be overdue now.

 

[BLReed]

J importing from the states isn't the answer once postage and customs tax are added.

Probably because your dealer already paid the shipping and customs. Then add VAT.

 

[Grognard]

Probably because your dealer already paid the shipping and customs. Then add VAT.

In addition, it's likely more expensive to run a business in the UK (and in Western Europe in general) than in the US since the local business laws (e.g. pensions, medical benefits, etc.) are completely different so this may add up to the based price. So it cannot be a 1 to 1 comparison.

 

[Horus]

As well as the 20% VAT raising prices a big difference has been exchange rates. Just as ten years ago we were getting $1.90 to the pound, now it's something like $1.38 and that accounts for much of the price differences as I'm pretty sure WB, FL, etc pay the manufacturers in China in US Dollars.

Also I see here in UK, fewer and fewer dealers are stocking FL presumably because of the price issue. Even Magpie looks like they are running their stocks down and not stocking newer issues, which leaves Maison Militaire.

Steve

 

[Terp152]

Just wondering if anyone knows why the prices for W Britains , First Legion e.t.c are so much more expensive in the U.K compared to the States?
With both W Britains and First Legion your paying the dollar amount in pounds i.e a Nassau foot soldier 38 dollars US , Uk equivalent 54 dollars!
Its a hell of a mark would be interesting to know the reasons why, importing from the states isn't the answer once postage and customs tax are added.

The standard must be overdue now.

Socialist gov't. :wink2: Chris

 

[Thin Red Line]

As well as the 20% VAT raising prices a big difference has been exchange rates. Just as ten years ago we were getting $1.90 to the pound, now it's something like $1.38 and that accounts for much of the price differences as I'm pretty sure WB, FL, etc pay the manufacturers in China in US Dollars.

Also I see here in UK, fewer and fewer dealers are stocking FL presumably because of the price issue. Even Magpie looks like they are running their stocks down and not stocking newer issues, which leaves Maison Militaire.

Steve

Thanks for the info , unfortunately with inevitable price increases it won't be to many years until FL single lot soldiers break through the £100 mark!

WB are more affordable but your losing the quality a bit , I'm hopeful new napoleonic developements annouced by them arrive quicker than recent figures.

I presumed Maison Militare had sole rights on distribution on new figures , I have to say there service is very good.

James

 

[Thin Red Line]

Socialist gov't. :wink2: Chris

You'll have to go across the Channel for one of those .

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the info , unfortunately with inevitable price increases it won't be to many years until FL single lot soldiers break through the £100 mark!

WB are more affordable but your losing the quality a bit , I'm hopeful new napoleonic developements annouced by them arrive quicker than recent figures.

I presumed Maison Militare had sole rights on distribution on new figures , I have to say there service is very good.

James

The new Retreat from Moscow, some figures are £99 already.

 

[jazzeum]

Socialist gov't. :wink2: Chris

Since 1979, the Tories have been in charge of the government, except for 13 years between 1997 and 2010. :wink2: right back.

 

[Guest]

In addition, it's likely more expensive to run a business in the UK (and in Western Europe in general) than in the US since the local business laws (e.g. pensions, medical benefits, etc.) are completely different so this may add up to the based price. So it cannot be a 1 to 1 comparison.

I have to disagree with you on some elements of your argument, it is not more expensive to run a business in the UK than the US, as firstly the US is not a single entity when it comes to taxes etc, with different states offering better deals than others. secondly if there is any higher business expenses they can be balanced out as there is a 'direct' cost for medical and pensions it means that individuals do not have to pay it for themselves and therefore will have more of their income as disposable income....... import taxes for the UK i[set at EU level] are no bigger in real terms than the US. TS are not imported by dealers direct from the US, mostly they are shipped direct from China.

I do agree it cannot be a 1 to 1 comparison with the US, what is more interesting is a comparison within Europe, most Toy Soldiers are cheaper outside the UK. Where ever I go in Europe on business or holiday I always check out the TS shops, Spain is good [especially Barcelona], Paris has declined and only 1 or possibly 2 shops, Belgium is good with a few shops, but opening times there seem to be a work of fiction and guesswork.

The other factor is outlets, there has been a decline in outlets selling toy soldiers in the UK, whereas in the US there still a number of shops selling toy soldiers [I know some have closed]. Having a shop, I agree this is more expensive in the UK than the US, as most of the UK shops are in city/town centres which are way more expensive locations than the US. Plus people are willing to travel further for things in the US than the UK, I remember talking to a dealer in the US who had a shop and people would drive a couple of hundred miles to his shop for their toy soldiers. Travel costs are cheaper in the US.

I have a simple answer, prices in the UK are higher as they know the market will take it.

 

[Guest]

Since 1979, the Tories have been in charge of the government, except for 13 years between 1997 and 2010. :wink2: right back.

You write as if a Socialist government is a bad thing? I would not have called the 'NEW' labour government of 1997 to 2010 as a Socialist one........

 

[Guest]

You'll have to go across the Channel for one of those .

No Socialist government here, just one that less people are laughing at.............

 

[Guest]

This is a question that comes round on the forum time and time again, there is no clear answer, I think a simple answer, prices in the UK are higher as they know the market will take it. If it was higher taxes etc , which I disagree with, then all TS companies would be the same

On First Legion, it has just got too expensive and from my conversations with dealers and collectors it is First Legion Ltd [FL], many people have stopped stocking because of the price and the lack of flexibility at FL, with import taxes etc there is no profit margin for people, I have even requested from dealers and to pay for on ordering and I have got a no as there is no profit! I really like the Retreat from Moscow range, but the new prices make it hard to buy when there are other more cost effective sets I want.

As above can also be said about K & C. I have moved over to T Gunn and J Jenkins, with some from Eagle and War Park direct from China. Do not bother with Britains, poor ranges and nothing to buy anyway.

Finally on price, I buy if I like and the price is right, for example I really liked the K & C Battle of the Bulge BBG111 SKODA Radschlepper Ost, but at £275 I did not think it was worth it, but when I saw it at the London show for £195 I really like it again and bought it. In some ways prices in other countries are not relevant, there will not be a significant reduction in the UK prices.

 

[Thin Red Line]

The new Retreat from Moscow, some figures are £99 already.

Your right , lovely but a lot of money .Id love the sledge but not sure my marriage would take it !

 

[Warrior]

A lot of great points about the costs of running a business, all are spot on.

As a business owner in the US, I get hammered on two types of taxes; Social Security and Unemployment.

I am a sole proprietor, no "staff", I'm the staff, no "shipper", I'm the shipper, no one in "accounts receivable and payable", I pay all the bills and chase down all the people who owe me money, no "show staff or show agent", it's mostly just me, Larry Allen chips in at the "Big three" shows.

I still have to pay into the unemployment pool, even though there is no one here who will ever collect unemployment; I own a business, I have to pay in to the general pool.

And I fund my own Social Security so that when I turn 65, I get to collect, the caveat there is will there by Social Security by then?

The exchange rate plummeting has hurt UK toy soldier dealers, that is for sure and yes, everyone pays in US dollars to the suppliers.

My hat is off to anyone in the UK who sells toy soldiers full time AND owns a shop; I remember as a young child buying Military Modelling magazine and seeing ad after ad for the raftload of toy soldier shops in the UK and someday hoping to travel to the UK and visit them in person.

That was in the early to mid 1970's,my assumption is all of them are now out of business.

To me, the UK was the hub of the toy soldier world, Britains was based there as was Airfix and Timpo among others, truly THE place to go to for toy soldiers, England was the king of the toy soldier world in my eyes.

A sad state of affairs as to how things are today, good luck to my brothers in arms so to speak on that side of the pond.

 

[Guest]

Your right , lovely but a lot of money .Id love the sledge but not sure my marriage would take it !

With you on that one, great range, think the Russians are a bit poor but would not collect them anyway, as I think the Napoleonic figures make a great diorama on their own. The prices of FL are just beyond what I am willing to pay when compared with what you can get from other manufacturers for the same price. We are talking 13 to 15 Thomas Gunn romans [with multiple purchase discount some dealers give] for the same price, I also like the FL Romans, but once again TG are better value.

If you want a couple to add to your FL Napoleonic winter range, look at buying the 2 Eagle figures from China, good value and I have them at the back of my display and they look good and they are cheap.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/60mm-Napol...809773?hash=item4b057fd0ad:g:YXkAAOSwzJ5XUPQe
https://www.ebay.com/itm/60mm-Napol...809776?hash=item4b057fd0b0:g:5bgAAOSwepJXUPMZ

 

[Thin Red Line]

With you on that one, great range, think the Russians are a bit poor but would not collect them anyway, as I think the Napoleonic figures make a great diorama on their own. The prices of FL are just beyond what I am willing to pay when compared with what you can get from other manufacturers for the same price. We are talking 13 to 15 Thomas Gunn romans [with multiple purchase discount some dealers give] for the same price, I also like the FL Romans, but once again TG are better value.

If you want a couple to add to your FL Napoleonic winter range, look at buying the 2 Eagle figures from China, good value and I have them at the back of my display and they look good and they are cheap.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/60mm-Napol...809773?hash=item4b057fd0ad:g:YXkAAOSwzJ5XUPQe
https://www.ebay.com/itm/60mm-Napol...809776?hash=item4b057fd0b0:g:5bgAAOSwepJXUPMZ

Thanks for the tip

 

[Terp152]

Since 1979, the Tories have been in charge of the government, except for 13 years between 1997 and 2010. :wink2: right back.

Coservatives probably raised the VAT rate since its 1973 inception more than Labour. However, it's not which party was in power so much as the resulting "be all to everyone all the time" system that has evolved. Much as you are trying to do here.

And that is why it costs so much more to purchase TS in the UK than the US when the producct originates in China. Chris

 

[Smendy]

Gentleman,

On further point contributing to the lack of UK TS shops is that in the last 10 years shop rentals, Local Authority rates and other property based expenses have risen disproportionately to the price of the items being sold. This has driven out, Under Two Flags, Tradition, Modelzone and other retailers making the High Street a very boring experience.

I remember as a young boy (not so many years ago - by the way!) going to my fathers office around the corner from Shepherds Market in Mayfair where Tradition had 3 shops at one time. You could walk to Hamleys and Under two flags all in one day. Particularly remember a large display of the retreat from Moscow in Traditions window, plus the rows and rows of Chas Stadden 54mm figures waiting to be purchased and painted.

The youth of today are not interested in anything other than computers so the market has also diminished.

Food for Thought.

 

[Charlie Brown]

importing from the states isn't the answer once postage and customs tax are added.

Likewise often gets forgotten that VAT is levied on the shipping cost.

Shipping costs have increased sizably over the past decade. Unless one is shipping containers. Air is the only option these days. Days are gone of shipping smaller consignments by sea. Which in it's day was very economical to use. Even cost of sending larges items to the USA from the UK is prohibitive.