I don't mean to keep up with something that obviously no one is interested
in... but just FYI. If somebody in the US does have experience with GZG UK
mail order please email me. Thanks
Apparently EVERYTHING through GZG mail order is cheaper. Maybe I'm missing
something? Shipping is going to be a little stiff (not as stiff as you might
think, see below), but a group purchase really alleviates that.
Full Thrust FT108 Vandenburg
US/GeoHex $6.50 (maybe 2 or 3 come in a package..?)
Uk/GZG 2.75uk (exchange @ $1.63) $4.48 - 14.9%VAT (maybe I've got this
VAT thing wrong?) $3.81
SG2 Resin vehicles
SF25-58 M82 Slammer
US/GeoHex $24.00 (uhhmm... maybe better resin?)
Uk/GZG 9.95uk (exchange @ $1.63) $16.21 - 14.9%VAT $13.79
Rulebooks Dirtside II
US/GeoHex $20.00
Uk/GZG 8.95uk (exchange @ $1.63) $14.58 - 14.9%VAT $12.40 (<this does
sound awfully cheap... I MUST be doing something wrong!)
USPS shipping from the US to UK
2lb package Express mail (2-3 days) $22.50
10lb package Express mail (2-3 days) $52.75
These prices reflect the most expensive service they had.
> I don't mean to keep up with something that obviously no one is
Kevin - the main thing is that GeoHex has exclusive rights as sole US
licensee - KR is very understanding about the OCCASIONAL direct order to
us, especially if it is all or part for stuff that is not in US production
yet, but the general rule is that all US orders SHOULD go to GeoHex.
> Apparently EVERYTHING through GZG mail order is cheaper. Maybe I'm
Different markets, different techniques and prices. We sell most of our
stuff direct to customers, and don't blister-pack at all. US sales
demand the fancy packaging to make the stuff sell in stores.
> Full Thrust
Only1, but the US version includes a metal stand, which weighs almost as
much as the ship - the UK one has a plastic stand.
> Uk/GZG 2.75uk (exchange @ $1.63) $4.48 - 14.9%VAT (maybe I've got this
Different resin. Polyester for the UK, polyurethane for the US. The US resin
is lighter and stronger, but more expensive.
> Uk/GZG 9.95uk (exchange @ $1.63) $16.21 - 14.9%VAT $13.79
VAT doesn't apply to books, so don't subtract anything in this case.
> USPS shipping from the US to UK
Since this might be of interest to others in the group besides Kevin...
My experience with GZG UK, keeping in mind that I live here in the US, has
been outstanding. I ordered miniatures and rulebooks, and stipulated I would
like them to ship seperately. The rulebooks were here in a little over a week,
and Jon was kind enough not to debit my card until the
remainder of the order was shipped - which actually hasn't happened yet,
so I feel a bit guilty about having so much fun with my "free" Fleet Book
;-)
Jon's courteous, easy to deal with, and pretty quick as well (blushing yet
Jon?).
In short, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. If for no other reason than to show
direct support for the GZG line.
> On Thu, 14 May 1998, Kevin Shope wrote:
> USPS shipping from the US to UK
Please note that shipping prices depend on the direction. They also have
disturbingly little to do with actual distance traveled, it's more of a matter
of volume of traffic.
I happen to know that UPS, DHL and the like charge up to THREE TIMES as much
for the same package from Helsinki to Los Angeles than LA to Helsinki. It's
also cheaper to get air freight from LA than ground freight from London...
With the courier firms, *who* is paying is also a major factor. Big shippers
get 50% or more off, so when I import stuff from LA, the cheapest option is to
let my supplier pay DHL and add it to my bill.
> Since this might be of interest to others in the group besides Kevin...
Heh!
Thanks, Schoon. I would like, however, to point out that we are the first to
admit our mail order service is nowhere near as fast as we'd like it to be.
There are only
two of us at GZG - myself (who does all the writing, paperwork, admin,
email, much of the design work and runs the whole thing) and Dave (who does
the casting, plus sculpts a bit). When we can, we both muck in with
packing/despatch. At the moment, people are buying things faster than we
can make them! We keep hoping that the mailorder turnround will get faster,
but never seem to be able to get enough ahead of the backlog to organise it!!
Right now, we are so busy with mailorder and shows that we are getting
overloaded - we're already in the process of taking on another workshop
unit (the next-door one to our present unit) to move the resin casting
out into, and are starting to think about another member of staff if the
finances will permit it.
Another point, please, to all US/Canadian customers - PLEASE try GeoHex
first! While KR is very understanding about the occasional order direct to us
for things he doesn't stock or make, or that are not out yet for the US
market, he DOES have exclusive rights for the US/Can/S.America. Please
don't abuse his good nature!!
Thanks,
[snippage]
> Another point, please, to all US/Canadian customers - PLEASE try GeoHex
I suppose that it's only right to add that KR of GeoHex is also a very good
person to deal with in the mail order realm. I used to deal with him fairly
extensively on a business level, and he is definitely enthusiastic about
the product - in fact, it's often kinda fun just to listen to him talk
;-)
He's also very speedy about getting orders out (assuming he has it in stock
and doesn't have to make/cast the item, in which case it takes a bit
longer), and actually I would go with him first in the US (excepting items NYA
in the US or books that are still in transit on the "slow boat")
I think that generally, all the dealers of GZG stuff, US and UK, are pretty
decent sorts. Maybe it's that "play the game, not the rules" attitude...