Minichamps has announced that all shipments to the United States are on hold until further notice. The pause stems from ongoing U.S. tariffs and the uncertainty carriers currently face – DHL, in this case – regarding how to properly handle these regulations. As a result, no deliveries will be made to the U.S. for the time being. Unfortunately, collectors eager to secure a “must-have” piece from Minichamps’ lineup may need to brace for higher costs once shipping resumes.
Minichamps Not Shipping States Side…
CK-Modelcars website is now charges per 1:18 model to ship, instead of the bulk rate of 49 Euros per package to USA. I believe the rate is 27 euros per model.
Honestly, when it comes to North America, CK is only worth considering if they’re offering a truly rare model or something that’s impossible to find locally. Otherwise, their pricing in euros combined with the steep shipping costs makes it a non-go. Even items listed with significant discounts still end up being impractical once you factor in the total expense.
Really? I find their prices much cheaper than in USA on identical models, especially when you get their 10% discount and 19% VAT off.
Well, I live in Canada, and fortunately, prices here are consistently better than those in the U.S., even with our weaker currency. I also have access to some excellent small sellers who always offer great deals. Because of that, CK ranks very low on my list.
I agree with both Ed and Alex! I’ve scored some truly great items from CK Modelcars. Once the vat is removed, and the high DHL shipping cost added, SOMETIMES the overall price is still lower than purchasing locally…IF the item is even available regionally at the time of purchase. Budget shopping in any hobbies is a gamble. You can purchase a unique item when it first comes available, or wait for it to MAYBE become available locally for a lower price overall. I’ve gambled on the former with great success, collecting things I really value and never see become available locally ever. I’ve gambled and failed too, passing on an international purchase and never seeing the item be sold regionally or for a reasonable price in the second hand market.
I ´m afraid, Americans get what they voted for. And tariffs on model cars is not the worst part of it. Their elected leader seems convinced that he has a mandate to erect a dictatorship. If America (and the world) is lucky, the freak show ends in 2029. If not, God have mercy on America and us all.
Umm, let’s not make it political, and while I’m not a big supporter of a lot of things our current leadership is doing, tariffs is one thing I support. Let’s see what all these model makes will say in a couple of years when they don’t have half of the market to sell these models (or, insert the product you want) to. USA is the largest consumer of, pretty much everything, and Europe/China, etc are only shooting themselves in the foot.
Hier geht es um Modellautos. Ich bitte auf den unreflektiertes Bashing eines ausländischen Staatschef aus der Mottenkiste des deutschen ÖRR zu verzichten. Danke.
As far as I understand, my fellow German friend and AfD voter, the above article is about the consequences of U.S. politics ON model cars, not one of our reviews focusing on a particular model, the kind of which YOU have never contributed.
Und unreflektiertes Bashing ausländischer Staatschefs stammt ja nun eher aus der Mottenkiste eben jener US-Staatschefs. Oval Office? Selensky? Germany allegedly having a human rights problem? Canada ´s PM the govenor of a future US state?
And finally, this is an English website, so if you could muster the decency to write in English, please.
Welcome to my world of post-Brexit UK!
I can only buy from European suppliers at sensible shipping prices by having models delivered to family members residing in Europe, then collecting the models when I go on a visit, or when they come to visit us – if they have room to bring them!
Avoiding politicising my thoughts too much, I’d say that the European suppliers just don’t know where they stand as the elected leader keeps changing his “mind” on tariff rates, and those businesses struggle to keep up.
Just how tariffs are supposed to help anybody is beyond my understanding, they put up prices to consumers and reduce trade volume.. The great success of world trade under GATT was driven by the reduction / removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Because of Brexit, the UK has suffered a big reduction in trade with the EU and it has really hurt our economy. Just saying …
Very true and I was deeply saddened to watch it all unfold . But British Brexit voters needed quite some time to fully grasp what they had done, too.
The saddest thing is that it leaves all of us more divided where we ought to unite behind our shared values.
If offering my condolences for the effects on fellow collectors rubs some people the wrong way, the hobby fails to unite us in the way I was always hoping for.