I've been working through my stash of kits for last couple of years. I need to re-stock though!

I was in the habit of bulk buying kits from the far east but all my links to the best shops were lost when my old PC crashed.

Has anyone got any recommendations for online retailers or is buying from the far east just not worth it any more?

Hi

As the pound is quite week ar the moment I have found Far East pricing to be not a much lower than buying on line from a UK internet provider.

You would have to buy a lot of kits to make the savings worth the wait for delivery and even then you may get stung, not only for postage but import duties as well.

Paul

there are some sellers on ebay that offer free postage with good prices will have a look there in hongkong with free UK postage

tonys_model_hobbies

ebay shop

That`s just happened to me,i managed to get hold of Bandai`s Type 61 "Semovente" tank from HLJ in Japan,and got stung with £29 worth of bloody import charge !!.
As if it`s not dear enough to get the kit here you get stitched up by Customs And Excise,so i`d have to say no,unless it`s your only way to get a particular kit you`re after.

I'd say it depends where you buy from, I'm looking a shop on Ebay at the moment called dawngrocerystore that are based in China.

For the Dragon 1/35 King Tiger Henschel turret with Zimmermit it costs £32.80 that includes shipping.

Whereas if you bought it from a UK online shop it would cost the best part of £50!

I would say no as Customs and Excise are very hot on imports from outside of the EU and it will cost you a fair amount to get your order. Customs will charge you VAT on both the model and postage that has been paid to send it to you and you will have to pay a new amount of postage to the Royal Mail and a charge from them for picking it up.

I dont know about anyone else but I go out a lot here and there mainly along the south coast and part of my day out is to visit the local hobby shop.However this has been in decline for a number of years now .For example in Weymouth there used to be 5 model shops of differing discipline now there is only one ,which has crammed 3 shops worth into one ,overheads I suspect and only this week we see another well known model shop closing down .
Admittedly its a sign of the times.But somehow there just isnt the atmosphere of trawling the net against rummaging around a shop and actually feeling the boxes etc etc .
I wonder who will be the last model shop in the UK, hang on in there buddy Ill come to you ....one day

Hi guys
I've ordered tons of kits from the far east with no problem at all
The other week I placed an order with HLJ for the 1/6 SAS jeep worked out at £60 bargin,then when the invoice arrived £70 shipping £130 total.
can get one in the UK £100 all in,with NO risk of getting done by Lizzies customs.
UK dealer for me on this deal,but shop around,there are still some results to be had from Hong Kong and China
HTH
Andy

Hi All
a P.S. to the above post
I pre ordered the 1/6 panzer 2 from HLJ at £125,the invoice came the other day,with shipping....... £253 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
U.K. price £239,, no brainer really
HTH
Andy