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Cross Country Wireless to stop selling outside the UK

 

We have reluctantly taken the decision to stop selling our products outside the UK.
?
This is due to several reasons:
?
1) We use eBay for our sales marketplace. They have recently changed to a different supplier UPS for international shipping.
?
The service from UPS here is awful. All parcels have to be dropped off at an automatic drop off box which is only emptied once a week.
?
As a result the delay on international shipping is too high.
?
2) A few years ago if a customer had a problem with one of our products they could ship it back to us putting "Returned for repair" on the customs document.
?
This would then be shipped back to us with no delay or customs charge.
?
Due to probable abuse of the system it appears that all parcels marked "Returned for repair" are now charged VAT again on the original purchase price.
?
I've just had one parcel returning via UPS where they want to charge ?15 per day storage fees plus VAT.? I've had to pay ?65.24 just to get the parcel sent to me after two weeks of email debate with UPS.
?
The failure rate on our products where return for repair is required is only 0.5% but it's taking a lot of extra effort just to get the parcels through Customs.
?
3) The future of trading with customers in the USA is uncertain. Tariffs either way could change at a moment's notice.
?
I would like to thank all our existing customers outside the UK for their custom over the years.
?
We have a distributor in the UK SDR-Kits who are still selling worldwide so that could be an option.
?
Regards,
?
Chris
 

This is sad news - but totally understandable - the tariff nuttiness is absolutely crazy.
?
Best wishes to you,
?
73 KD9ZHF Jason
 

Hi Chris,
I am so sorry to hear this news.
First Wellbrook's withdrawal from business, now your company no longer
ships abroad.
I realize that between Brexit and courier politics, things are getting worse for business and for
us? consequently too.
Maybe could you consider leaving eBay?
?
Good luck
?
73
Francesco, IN3XZP
 

Indeed sad news Many other businesses in The UK are doing the same because of the high courier prices. Good Luck in the future.
?
R.Peeters
 

Sorry to hear this Chris. I have to deal with the similar issues in my day job and sending items to/from EU and US involve a lot of time-consuming paperwork, value of items, EORI numbers etc.

73
Nick

----- Original message -----
From: "Chris Moulding via groups.io" <chrism=[email protected]>
Subject: [Special] [CrossCountryWireless] Cross Country Wireless to stop selling outside the UK
Date: Tuesday, 29 April 2025 1:31 PM

We have reluctantly taken the decision to stop selling our products outside the UK.
?
This is due to several reasons:
?
1) We use eBay for our sales marketplace. They have recently changed to a different supplier UPS for international shipping.
?
The service from UPS here is awful. All parcels have to be dropped off at an automatic drop off box which is only emptied once a week.
?
As a result the delay on international shipping is too high.
?
2) A few years ago if a customer had a problem with one of our products they could ship it back to us putting "Returned for repair" on the customs document.
?
This would then be shipped back to us with no delay or customs charge.
?
Due to probable abuse of the system it appears that all parcels marked "Returned for repair" are now charged VAT again on the original purchase price.
?
I've just had one parcel returning via UPS where they want to charge ?15 per day storage fees plus VAT.? I've had to pay ?65.24 just to get the parcel sent to me after two weeks of email debate with UPS.
?
The failure rate on our products where return for repair is required is only 0.5% but it's taking a lot of extra effort just to get the parcels through Customs.
?
3) The future of trading with customers in the USA is uncertain. Tariffs either way could change at a moment's notice.
?
I would like to thank all our existing customers outside the UK for their custom over the years.
?
We have a distributor in the UK SDR-Kits who are still selling worldwide so that could be an option.
?
Regards,
?
Chris
 


Chris, maybe the possibility of licensing your designs to independent producers in Europe and USA (etc) to produce locally with no shipping of parts and lots less soldering for you? Just trying to keep it positive!
On Tue, 29 Apr 2025 at 13:31, Chris Moulding via <chrism=[email protected]> wrote:

We have reluctantly taken the decision to stop selling our products outside the UK.
?
This is due to several reasons:
?
1) We use eBay for our sales marketplace. They have recently changed to a different supplier UPS for international shipping.
?
The service from UPS here is awful. All parcels have to be dropped off at an automatic drop off box which is only emptied once a week.
?
As a result the delay on international shipping is too high.
?
2) A few years ago if a customer had a problem with one of our products they could ship it back to us putting "Returned for repair" on the customs document.
?
This would then be shipped back to us with no delay or customs charge.
?
Due to probable abuse of the system it appears that all parcels marked "Returned for repair" are now charged VAT again on the original purchase price.
?
I've just had one parcel returning via UPS where they want to charge ?15 per day storage fees plus VAT.? I've had to pay ?65.24 just to get the parcel sent to me after two weeks of email debate with UPS.
?
The failure rate on our products where return for repair is required is only 0.5% but it's taking a lot of extra effort just to get the parcels through Customs.
?
3) The future of trading with customers in the USA is uncertain. Tariffs either way could change at a moment's notice.
?
I would like to thank all our existing customers outside the UK for their custom over the years.
?
We have a distributor in the UK SDR-Kits who are still selling worldwide so that could be an option.
?
Regards,
?
Chris
 

An active dipole has been of my interest just recently.

Leo Bodnar Electronics (manufacturing in UK) ships to EU through a partner company in France. I bought a month ago or so a thing without any issues, prompt delivery, VAT and duty within the end price. Could be one of the options, but you certainly know what's best for you.
?
Radek
 

Sorry, not active dipole, it should have read active loop antenna v4, which is sold by CCW.
?
Radek
 

Sorry to see CCW drop the US market but understandable given the current situation.
?
For those of us in North America, I can heartily recommend Thomas Seeger¡¯s multi coupler project. Finished units are available with 4 or 8 outputs and built in switchable bias-tee.
?
?
?
 

Thanks for the info Chris.
Why can't we have Free Trade and NO VAT tax.
N3FLR Frank


On Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 8:31?AM Chris Moulding via <chrism=[email protected]> wrote:

We have reluctantly taken the decision to stop selling our products outside the UK.
?
This is due to several reasons:
?
1) We use eBay for our sales marketplace. They have recently changed to a different supplier UPS for international shipping.
?
The service from UPS here is awful. All parcels have to be dropped off at an automatic drop off box which is only emptied once a week.
?
As a result the delay on international shipping is too high.
?
2) A few years ago if a customer had a problem with one of our products they could ship it back to us putting "Returned for repair" on the customs document.
?
This would then be shipped back to us with no delay or customs charge.
?
Due to probable abuse of the system it appears that all parcels marked "Returned for repair" are now charged VAT again on the original purchase price.
?
I've just had one parcel returning via UPS where they want to charge ?15 per day storage fees plus VAT.? I've had to pay ?65.24 just to get the parcel sent to me after two weeks of email debate with UPS.
?
The failure rate on our products where return for repair is required is only 0.5% but it's taking a lot of extra effort just to get the parcels through Customs.
?
3) The future of trading with customers in the USA is uncertain. Tariffs either way could change at a moment's notice.
?
I would like to thank all our existing customers outside the UK for their custom over the years.
?
We have a distributor in the UK SDR-Kits who are still selling worldwide so that could be an option.
?
Regards,
?
Chris
 

You should realise that VAT is a sales tax which we all pay, just like your states sales tax, a flat rate. It¡¯s not a tax on imports from the US alone.
73 Tim M0AFJ
 

Sad News but small business and the middle class continue to get squeezed and now we have tariff?issues
?
Some have aligned themselves with front of the house being handled by one person and the guy in the back makes the stuff and drops off inventory. The guy in the back does what he enjoys and let the guy up front figure out shipping and all that stuff
?
Etsy is seeing more ham vendors join?their platform and I have bought two things from them and it was seamless. Maybe its better than EBay...it is to me
?
Well I may never?see the experimental antenna amplifier with the various front end impedances to allow experimentation
?
Maybe I just put a switched balun in front of a preamp but thats too big and heavy to do that and your solution was smaller and lighter
?
I need a reason to come to the UK and Germany for hamfests but right now travel costs have skyrocketed as the canadian?dollar takes a beating
?
We love our hobby so I may need to eat butter and ketchup sandwiches?instead of steaks on a bun hihi and leave fish n chips to twice monthly
John ve3ips
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

From an Australian hobbyist point of view, this is disappointing, however, I do understand what has lead to your decision.

Garry



On 29/04/2025 10:31 pm, Chris Moulding via groups.io wrote:
We have reluctantly taken the decision to stop selling our products outside the UK.
?
This is due to several reasons:
?
1) We use eBay for our sales marketplace. They have recently changed to a different supplier UPS for international shipping.
?
The service from UPS here is awful. All parcels have to be dropped off at an automatic drop off box which is only emptied once a week.
?
As a result the delay on international shipping is too high.
?
2) A few years ago if a customer had a problem with one of our products they could ship it back to us putting "Returned for repair" on the customs document.
?
This would then be shipped back to us with no delay or customs charge.
?
Due to probable abuse of the system it appears that all parcels marked "Returned for repair" are now charged VAT again on the original purchase price.
?
I've just had one parcel returning via UPS where they want to charge ?15 per day storage fees plus VAT.? I've had to pay ?65.24 just to get the parcel sent to me after two weeks of email debate with UPS.
?
The failure rate on our products where return for repair is required is only 0.5% but it's taking a lot of extra effort just to get the parcels through Customs.
?
3) The future of trading with customers in the USA is uncertain. Tariffs either way could change at a moment's notice.
?
I would like to thank all our existing customers outside the UK for their custom over the years.
?
We have a distributor in the UK SDR-Kits who are still selling worldwide so that could be an option.
?
Regards,
?
Chris

Virus-free.
scanmil
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

As another Aussie customer who has purchased a few CCW products over the years, this is indeed very sad news, especially considering I was just about to purchase a V4 loop too!

However, I completely understand your position Chris, and you need to do what is best for yourself and your business. I wish you all the best for the future and thank you for all your advice over the years, and your amazing products as well, both will certainly be missed.

73,
Adam / VK7AJP.


On 29/04/2025 10:31 pm, Chris Moulding via groups.io wrote:

We have reluctantly taken the decision to stop selling our products outside the UK.
?
This is due to several reasons:
?
1) We use eBay for our sales marketplace. They have recently changed to a different supplier UPS for international shipping.
?
The service from UPS here is awful. All parcels have to be dropped off at an automatic drop off box which is only emptied once a week.
?
As a result the delay on international shipping is too high.
?
2) A few years ago if a customer had a problem with one of our products they could ship it back to us putting "Returned for repair" on the customs document.
?
This would then be shipped back to us with no delay or customs charge.
?
Due to probable abuse of the system it appears that all parcels marked "Returned for repair" are now charged VAT again on the original purchase price.
?
I've just had one parcel returning via UPS where they want to charge ?15 per day storage fees plus VAT.? I've had to pay ?65.24 just to get the parcel sent to me after two weeks of email debate with UPS.
?
The failure rate on our products where return for repair is required is only 0.5% but it's taking a lot of extra effort just to get the parcels through Customs.
?
3) The future of trading with customers in the USA is uncertain. Tariffs either way could change at a moment's notice.
?
I would like to thank all our existing customers outside the UK for their custom over the years.
?
We have a distributor in the UK SDR-Kits who are still selling worldwide so that could be an option.
?
Regards,
?
Chris
 

I have bought many items from SDR Kits so dealing with them is just like dealing with Chris
John ve3ips
 

I don't know if this helps or not (as it probably is only cost effective with massive businesses), but for example when tinkering with cars as a hobby, American cars etc, I order a lot of parts from America. That certain parts shop has also VAT registered themselves here and use FedEx, which is registered here and in America - as a result, no customs on anything I send back and forth or receive.....

Anthony
 

For those who are not aware of it, you can mail forwarding / freight forwarder service whereby you order the goods from the supplier (in this case in the UK), they are sent to an address in the UK and then forwarded on to your international address when you complete the forwarding payment.? I'm a bit hesitant at listing some of them here due to poor ratings and those whose ratings are ok, I've not used them so please google this for your location.? The one I used for delivery to NZ was good 10 or so years ago but looking at their ratings today, it is very poor so please do your homework.? The downside is you pay UK VAT on the order as well.

As others have said SDR Kits are an option and I've used them and their delivery rates are good by comparison.

Dave, ZL3DAB

On Thu, 1 May 2025 at 08:27, John via <ve3ips=[email protected]> wrote:
I have bought many items from SDR Kits so dealing with them is just like dealing with Chris
John ve3ips

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