That Ain't Workin' - My New Book

[ds1984]

Hi Chris,

Are you aware of these two methods offered by the Royal Mail to include duty fees when sending your book ?

https://www.royalmail.com/business/international/guide/delivered-duties-paid-ioss

[Kris-b]

No, because I have no idea what they would be.
I will value the book at £10 most times.
I have priced the packaging at various local post offices and they all came up with a different amount, so I've chosen the lower estimate and will probably end up paying more myself.
Chris

Thanks Chris

[Chris W]

Hi Chris,

Are you aware of these two methods offered by the Royal Mail to include duty fees when sending your book ?

Like I said, I'm likely eating some of the postage myself to keep the postage fees down.
Several of my books already sent cost £25 and £26 to ship to America, but I'm charging £20.
And does anyone pay import taxes on a £10 book? I don't think so.

[Jules]

Hi Chris,

Are you aware of these two methods offered by the Royal Mail to include duty fees when sending your book ?

Like I said, I'm likely eating some of the postage myself to keep the postage fees down.
Several of my books already sent cost £25 and £26 to ship to America, but I'm charging £20.
And does anyone pay import taxes on a £10 book? I don't think so.

I would recommend anyone to be gentle and if shipping costs are higher than you pay, when receive the book send an additional payment, I think that's fair. I know Chris is going to say NO to this, but please consider to be gentle.

[Pottel]

More details:
Payments to PayPal:
thataintworkin@icloud.com

£55 plus add your postage. Do message me or email to: thataintworkin@icloud.com
I'm doing this on my own, signing, packing and shipping, so I may miss a payment unless you notify me.

is it time restricted? or do you pla to kkep signing and posting for a while?

[Pottel]

oh and before i forget, MUST HAVE THIS....

[Chris W]

Thanks Jules.
I'm ok with the postage quoted. I was shocked how much it was, although the package with the book inside weighs 700g.
I'll probably be contributing £3 to £6 for each postage, but that's OK.
No need for anyone to offer extra, unless it's for multiple books.

[Chris W]

is it time restricted? or do you pla to kkep signing and posting for a while?

I have a few hundred books printed. I don't think they will all sell in the next few weeks. In any case, it takes me a long time to package them and post, so I can't process dozens of books per day.
If this print run sells out I may print more, but that depends if it takes months to sell what I already have or if demand is higher.
It isn't a limited edition.
I haven't really told everyone about the book yet, AMIT was first.

[Jules]

is it time restricted? or do you pla to kkep signing and posting for a while?

I have a few hundred books printed. I don't think they will all sell in the next few weeks. In any case, it takes me a long time to package them and post, so I can't process dozens of books per day.
If this print run sells out I may print more, but that depends if it takes months to sell what I already have or if demand is higher.
It isn't a limited edition.
I haven't really told everyone about the book yet, AMIT was first.

Well, we all amiters spread the word around the internet!

[ds1984]

Hi Chris,

Are you aware of these two methods offered by the Royal Mail to include duty fees when sending your book ?

Like I said, I'm likely eating some of the postage myself to keep the postage fees down.
Several of my books already sent cost £25 and £26 to ship to America, but I'm charging £20.
And does anyone pay import taxes on a £10 book? I don't think so.

French VAT is applicable from the first euro
Problem for buyer  : the third party that collect VAT will charges additional fees for collecting with of course a fixed minimum fee.

I give you a practical exemple :

Book custom value (corrected) :  £55
VAT on book - RATE 5.5% (corrected) : £3.06
Shipping £10
VAT on shipping - RATE 20% : £2
Custom : £0 (european exemption for value under 150€)
Third party fee for collecting VAT and Custom :
Using "LA POSTE"
 When paying online, the handling fee is €2 (£1.70)  or €5 (£4.30) depending on the type of shipment. (which is probably the cheaper third party method)
 When paying with the postman or at your collection point, the handling fee is €8 (£6.90).

So depending of the method the extra third party fees are between £1.70 and £6.90 using La Poste . It can be even more using other shipping company.

That is just a crazy system  and a hassle for everybody (buyer and seller) doing business.

[Chris W]

The price is £55.
Postage in Europe is £10, which so far has often been less than the actual postage.

[vape68]

The book is interesting but £55 + £10 postage + possible custom fees is very expensive (if it's so heavy they won't necessarily believe it's worth only £10)

Isn't the cost of producing it just about £5-8 ? I think you should have kept the profit margin much much lower

[dustyvalentino]

The book is interesting but £55 + £10 postage + possible custom fees is very expensive (if it's so heavy they won't necessarily believe it's worth only £10)

Isn't the cost of producing it just about £5-8 ? I think you should have kept the profit margin much much lower

Chris will speak for himself but the idea of publishing a (presumably, I don't own it yet) high quality, glossy photo book for £5-8 is way off.

As for "profit margin", what cost are you allocating to the amount of time spent by Chris tidying up the photos, or taking them in the first place? Then the hassle of taking them to the post office etc.

Having been involved in the production of small run creative products myself, I find it very unlikely that Chris is getting rich off this.

[ds1984]

I second dustyvalentino

If something is to blame this is brexshit...

[wayaman]

The book is interesting but £55 + £10 postage + possible custom fees is very expensive (if it's so heavy they won't necessarily believe it's worth only £10)

Isn't the cost of producing it just about £5-8 ? I think you should have kept the profit margin much much lower

That's so rude.

You don't have the faintest idea of how much work a book like that costs, not only to publish but to made.

It's so rude that you say something like that...