This is isn't an update that brings me any pleasure in making, but one must go on. In light of the detailed complexity of the new European Union's GPSR regulations, which came into play on 13th December 2024, it sadly means I will temporarily (I hope) stop all sales and shipments into the EU, which unfortunately also includes Northern Ireland.
For my small business in a post-Brexit UK, handling orders to Europe has been significantly harder, and also, sales to Europe have dramatically reduced when compared to a pre-Brexit business here. So, that mixture was already far from ideal. But nonetheless, I have still been able to supply amazing customer base in the EU that have kindly continued to support the Home of Tone since Brexit which was really appreciated and without a doubt a big part in my business month to month. But this change in regulation is complex, and potentially very expensive to manage too, so at the very least in the short term, I will be stopping all sales to EU and NI I'm very sorry to say.
I am doing a lot of work to learn more about this change, but it is a lot to take in, a significant amount of work to implement, and the potential costs appear high but if I do manage to resolve it I will of course announce and update acceptance of EU & NI orders once again. But for the time being, I'm sorry to say that I won't be able to accept orders from customers based in the EU and NI at least for the short term. I'm sorry for this, another case of governments doing everything they can to make it too hard for small businesses to survive, let alone grow.
Also, I wanted to take a moment to reassure that this has absolutely nothing to do with a lack of due diligence, or safety of the products I stock and/or make here. I am not temporarily stopping EU/NI sales because I cannot conform to regulation. I know I can, and I know the products I offer can conform to regulation, as they do. I am temporarily stopping because of the workload and costs to present the information they(EU) require of us all. All products here are responsibly sourced from trusted, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors throughout. I take great pride in what I do, what I offer, and what I make and under no circumstances are short cuts made. Take a pre-wired harness for example; I don't just select a component because it sounds or functions the best, I select it because it is compliant AND sounds best and functions the best. But, compiling absolutely every single thing the EU are requesting of us to display in listings, display on labels on the products in shipping, have the information available in multiple languages, (this is just a small example of the requirements) will take a great deal of time and that is one of the hurdles to try and get over. I am confident in what I do, and what I offer, but updating absolutely every single product, and every element of every single product site wide, is a big undertaking for a one man company right now. So it will take time...a lot of time. But perhaps more importantly, it will cost a lot of money too and I'm not about to rush into trusting my livlihood with an EU representative that won't look after my company sufficiently or effectively. So finding the right rep, will take time too I'm afraid. But I'm making steps to find them, believe me.
James
For my small business in a post-Brexit UK, handling orders to Europe has been significantly harder, and also, sales to Europe have dramatically reduced when compared to a pre-Brexit business here. So, that mixture was already far from ideal. But nonetheless, I have still been able to supply amazing customer base in the EU that have kindly continued to support the Home of Tone since Brexit which was really appreciated and without a doubt a big part in my business month to month. But this change in regulation is complex, and potentially very expensive to manage too, so at the very least in the short term, I will be stopping all sales to EU and NI I'm very sorry to say.
I am doing a lot of work to learn more about this change, but it is a lot to take in, a significant amount of work to implement, and the potential costs appear high but if I do manage to resolve it I will of course announce and update acceptance of EU & NI orders once again. But for the time being, I'm sorry to say that I won't be able to accept orders from customers based in the EU and NI at least for the short term. I'm sorry for this, another case of governments doing everything they can to make it too hard for small businesses to survive, let alone grow.
Also, I wanted to take a moment to reassure that this has absolutely nothing to do with a lack of due diligence, or safety of the products I stock and/or make here. I am not temporarily stopping EU/NI sales because I cannot conform to regulation. I know I can, and I know the products I offer can conform to regulation, as they do. I am temporarily stopping because of the workload and costs to present the information they(EU) require of us all. All products here are responsibly sourced from trusted, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors throughout. I take great pride in what I do, what I offer, and what I make and under no circumstances are short cuts made. Take a pre-wired harness for example; I don't just select a component because it sounds or functions the best, I select it because it is compliant AND sounds best and functions the best. But, compiling absolutely every single thing the EU are requesting of us to display in listings, display on labels on the products in shipping, have the information available in multiple languages, (this is just a small example of the requirements) will take a great deal of time and that is one of the hurdles to try and get over. I am confident in what I do, and what I offer, but updating absolutely every single product, and every element of every single product site wide, is a big undertaking for a one man company right now. So it will take time...a lot of time. But perhaps more importantly, it will cost a lot of money too and I'm not about to rush into trusting my livlihood with an EU representative that won't look after my company sufficiently or effectively. So finding the right rep, will take time too I'm afraid. But I'm making steps to find them, believe me.
James
Comments
Hi Luke,
I am able to ship to the US. The GPSR changes and my temporary stoppage to EU and Northern Ireland are a result of a European Union specific regulation change. So no effect on shipments from UK to the USA.
Many thanks,
James
Are you still able to ship stuff to the US.