Amazon and Brexit

[Rat Catcher]

I've had a couple of deliveries from Amazon UK recently. The first was my well discussed water filters ordered 2nd Feb, delivered 7th Feb (on a Sunday), the second was a digital CO alarm (Fireangel CO-9D) ordered 7th Feb, delivered yesterday (10th Feb). In both cases I selected free delivery which had significantly longer estimated delivery dates. Obviously any teething problems with Brexit have been resolved. Equally obvious is the fact that the premium (charged) delivery options are a con.

[Taxi driver42]

Filters and a alarm
Very exciting

[Rat Catcher]

Product of too much time on my hands.

The CO-9D is a great bit of kit. I already had the CO-9B which was an impulse purchase in B&Q a year or two back but it has no digital display so I relocated that to the first floor and mounted the CO=9D in the kitchen. So far, in normal use it's only displayed 0ppm which is good, I guess... but you can put it in spanner mode and blow cigarette smoke in it and watch the numbers go up to c. 30-35 ppm which at least shows that it's doing what it's supposed to do.

The Jury's still out on the water filter. Well, the electrolytic one is what it is, just a case of trusting that it does what it's supposed to do. I'll be able to test the other one to some degree when I get the test kit I ordered. Shoulda got that from Amazon... I daresay I could be analysing water right now if I did!

[john m]

I must put you in touch with my Accountant he is fucking around with his plumbing as well.Did Amazon charge you any extras like VAT or Customs charges for neglecting Irish industries and buying from the auld enemy in the UK .

[Rat Catcher]

They add "Import Fees Deposit" which, at first glance, seems quite substantial but the product price is reduced from the initial price (UK VAT inclusive) displayed. To illustrate, for the CO-9D the price displayed on the product page is £18.59 and invoice/receipt shows Items priced at £15.82 and Import Fees Deposit at £4.58 giving a total of £20.40.

If you take the UK VAT (17.5%) off the £18.59 you get £15.82 so that's correct. However, adding Irish VAT @ 21% would be £3.32. As far as I can ascertain they are trousering the remaining £1.26. Default (priority or whatever it's called) P&P is priced at £6.00 so it seems that they add Irish VAT to that (21% of £6.00 is precisely £1.26) but don't take it back off when you select non-priority Free delivery. Notably it's described as a deposit so I guess one is entitled to reclaim any inapplicable portion?

That was a very good question 'erm, without doubt the best question you have ever asked since you first got connected to the world wide web. I wouldn't have done the mathematics and hence wouldn't have noticed the VAT on non-existent delivery fees had you not asked.

However, the bottom line is still a bit less than Screwfix charge for the same item in the Republic of Ireland. Paying in Sterling - never accept Amazon's automatic exchange rate, always select Her Majesty's Shilling at checkout or your being robbed - via Revolut worked out at €23.50 whereas it would have cost €26.95 in Screwfix ROI or £22.99 (€26.24 @ current Revolut exchange rate) in Screwfix UK.

[silverbullet]

They add "Import Fees Deposit" which, at first glance, seems quite substantial but the product price is reduced from the initial price (UK VAT inclusive) displayed. To illustrate, for the CO-9D the price displayed on the product page is £18.59 and invoice/receipt shows Items priced at £15.82 and Import Fees Deposit at £4.58 giving a total of £20.40.

If you take the UK VAT (17.5%) off the £18.59 you get £15.82 so that's correct. However, adding Irish VAT @ 21% would be £3.32. As far as I can ascertain they are trousering the remaining £1.26. Default (priority or whatever it's called) P&P is priced at £6.00 so it seems that they add Irish VAT to that (21% of £6.00 is precisely £1.26) but don't take it back off when you select non-priority Free delivery. Notably it's described as a deposit so I guess one is entitled to reclaim any inapplicable portion?

That was a very good question 'erm, without doubt the best question you have ever asked since you first got connected to the world wide web. I wouldn't have done the mathematics and hence wouldn't have noticed the VAT on non-existent delivery fees had you not asked.

However, the bottom line is still a bit less than Screwfix charge for the same item in the Republic of Ireland. Paying in Sterling - never accept Amazon's automatic exchange rate, always select Her Majesty's Shilling at checkout or your being robbed - via Revolut worked out at €23.50 whereas it would have cost €26.95 in Screwfix ROI or £22.99 (€26.24 @ current Revolut exchange rate) in Screwfix UK.

What's the name of the quality paint we talked about last year?

[Rat Catcher]

Zinsser - bullseye 1-2-3 is the water based which I find best.

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/zinsser-bulls-eye-1-2-3-primer-sealer-2-5ltr/10136

Zinsser BIN is the shellac based (like nail varnish) one, arguably better for unsealed timber but very thin to paint with and you need acetone to clean the brush, if using a roller it'll be foam - probably 4" - so just fuck the head in the green bin, not worth the effort to clean.

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/zinsser-b-i-n-shellac-based-primer-sealer-2-5ltr/10130

[silverbullet]

Zinsser - bullseye 1-2-3 is the water based which I find best.

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/zinsser-bulls-eye-1-2-3-primer-sealer-2-5ltr/10136

Zinsser BIN is the shellac based (like nail varnish) one, arguably better for unsealed timber but very thin to paint with and you need acetone to clean the brush, if using a roller it'll be foam - probably 4" - so just fuck the head in the green bin, not worth the effort to clean.

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/zinsser-b-i-n-shellac-based-primer-sealer-2-5ltr/10130

Cheers for all that. Did you finally get a supply?  Also, any word back from Michael the brickie?

[Rat Catcher]

I should have mentioned, erm... I did support local business as a result of buying the filters. I opted to fit a new internal stopcock and replaced all the pipework under the sink as it was pex and for some reason I figured copper would be better for drinking water - I think I read somewhere that pex piping is banned in California or somewhere in the USA for drinking water. Anywaysanall I bought the pipe, stopcock and a few fittings including two male couplers (required for the cartridge filter) locally.

[Rat Catcher]

Cheers for all that. Did you finally get a supply?  Also, any word back from Michael the brickie?

I bought a small tin of the Bullseye 1-2-3 Plus in the end in B&Q as the normal 1-2-3 was out of stock everywhere back then. I wouldn't recommend the "plus" version. I didn't find it any better than the non plus and, although it's water based, it's like the BIN i.e. extremely thin to paint with. I see the normal stuff is back in Screwfix now that I don't need it!

I never got through to Michael, he's either never off the phone or I wrote the number down wrong... but they got another lad at a reasonable rate. In fact he's working on it today.

[silverbullet]

Cheers for all that. Did you finally get a supply?  Also, any word back from Michael the brickie?

I bought a small tin of the Bullseye 1-2-3 Plus in the end in B&Q as the normal 1-2-3 was out of stock everywhere back then. I wouldn't recommend the "plus" version. I didn't find it any better than the non plus and, although it's water based, it's like the BIN i.e. extremely thin to paint with. I see the normal stuff is back in Screwfix now that I don't need it!

I never got through to Michael, he's either never off the phone or I wrote the number down wrong... but they got another lad at a reasonable rate. In fact he's working on it today.

0868627121

[Rat Catcher]

That's the number I have alright, couldn't get through... sorted now anyway, thanks.