On Thursday, 11 February 2021 at 13:20:53 UTC, tim... wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
"We currently have no available shipping methods" With a bloc we havce a
free trade deal with.
as I have explained elsewhere

An FTA only affects commercial wholesale importation

it has no effect on domestic retail importation

domestic retail importation is still subject to the rules that local (UK)
VAT should be paid on the item, and where appropriate, import duty
Ordered them from Hong Kong instead. No problem although we don't have a
free trade deal with China...
because the HK company is "winging it" hoping that the package wont be
intercepted and duty applied.
The EU are behaving like sulky teenagers aren't they?
No, the rules are at our end

We are being treated worse than any other independent country.
you mean - our domestic shippers apply the rules more thoroughly that other
countries

probably because it gives them an opportunity to whack on a extortionate
handling fee

The issue that I am seeing is companies being unwilling to register with the UK's HMRC for VAT.

Thus, they have problems sending lower value goods to the UK. If they operate any sort of online portal, there is no choice, they must register. I suspect many carriers will refuse to accept unless the VAT has been sorted.

Over GBP 135, it appears that they can get the carrier to collect the VAT (and duty, if applicable). But at extra cost (likely to the recipient on or before delivery).

It appears some major portals, like Aliexpress and iHerb, are adding the VAT and it is no practical issue. But for smaller companies, it could be quite an overhead.

Hitting this change to rules - related to but not expressly brexit - alongside loss of low value consignment relief, has resulted in an unpleasant mess.