Another Brexit 'bonus'

Like I said on another thread...

Its online sales. It includes poppy-themed products - mugs, umbrellas and so on.

For everybody saying they haven't heard of the change, that its fake news? Its only just come in and it was in a letter from the Legion to its members.

As for the idea that they don't make much money from it anyway; I think you're missing the point.

Is it that much of a disaster? You can still be patriotic and mark occasions when living abroad even though you don't necessarily wear a poppy or wave a union Jack flag. Make your own red poppy ... crochet, paper or just pick one.
If you want to embrace French culture for example, buy a bleuet de France badge to remember. I never saw any British Legion poppies when I lived there.

Times changeEllianne - last time we went to the cenotaph there were both poppies and blue totes.

Its not about being patriotic or any such thing.

Its about the fact that an organisation has had to withdraw its European sales because of Brexit. The fact that the organisation represents people who took part in a conflict representing the unity of the European continent against fascism is just adding to the irony.

And yes, I know that not everybody in the Legion fought in WW2.

Welshwife

Times changeEllianne - last time we went to the cenotaph there were both poppies and blue totes.

Yes, Welshwife, that would be the right place to see them, especially in Normandy.

I didn't even know they were sold anywhere but the UK. Are poppy wreaths just a UK thing? I thought other countries laid poppy wreaths too. Maybe they use other flowers. Forget-me-nots maybe.

I always donate to the poppy appeal but I don't often actually wear a poppy. It is bound to become less relevant to younger people once the WW2 generation have gone. That is sad.

I remember having to buy and wear a poppy at secondary school. The headmaster always said it was the only time the school would ever ask for money from parents. He expected every pupil to put at least 6d in the box.

Is it possible that the very small sale of poppies in the EU countries just didn't warrant it? The British Legion is itself a business after all and presumably their advisors had been considering this option anyway, Brexit being the nail in the coffin. As Marmadoit states, the relevance of certain traditions might change and dwindle over time as WW2 becomes less personal and relegated to the history books.

Ellianne

Is it possible that the very small sale of poppies in the EU countries just didn't warrant it? The British Legion is itself a business after all and presumably their advisors had been considering this option anyway, Brexit being the nail in the coffin. As Marmadoit states, the relevance of certain traditions might change and dwindle over time as WW2 becomes less personal and relegated to the history books.

No Ellianne, that's not the reason. They sold all kinds of things, not just poppies.

When it was a free market, they could ship things to EU countries just as though they were shipping them down the road to the next town. Now they have all kinds of rules and regulations to abide by that were just not a concern before.

Their ability to service the EU market has been taken away.

I found this interesting comment on a dress that I have recently bought from Hobbs from an EU customer

“I am not happy with my purchase because I had to pay ? import customs of 128,-€ without any prior notice. In other cases it is included in the final price ( Net-a-porter). So this will be my last order with HOBBS, very much to my regret. I would be more than happy to hear your opinion about this new way of handling your European customers. With kind regards , Ingeborg Princesse Schleswig-Holstein”

I understand that Alegrias, but is it out of financial necessity or because of too much red tape that this will be stopped?

Like in WWM2's example, the costs have to be swallowed by someone.

Both Ellianne.

I expect their margins are small but while there was a free market they could probably still make a profit in sales to the EU. But now, the export regulations and extra tax requirements have probably made each sale unprofitable. So they have stopped servicing that market.

Thanks Alegrias

Always one for thinking outside the box, I wonder what would happen if I drove over to France with boxes of poppies to distribute. Not to sell, obviously, as that would be contravening import laws, but as a benevolent gesture of giving them away?
I guess it rather depends how French customs would regard it.

I can't see any problem with that Ellianne. Not much use to somebody who wanted to buy an umbrella and a mug though.

I see the government is advertising for a “Director of Brexit Opportunities” - implying they either have to find some opportunities - or make some up - or maybe just try to gloss over the fact that there aren’t any and be good at PR spin. Must have zero knowledge of economics, own a load of flags, have a degree in straw clutching.

LauraNorder

Lived in France for three years. Bought my poppy from U.K. website. The French wear the blue cornflower to remember.
More fake scaremongering Brexit news

It's the website that the British Legion are talking about.

Check the facts before you accuse me of scaremongering.

"Changes in delivery to the EU from 23rd June

Unfortunately, we are no longer able to sell to consumers living within the European Union (EU), with last orders taken on the 23rd June 2021, due to a change in VAT regulations as a result of Brexit.

A spokesperson for The Royal British Legion said:

‘The RBL’s distribution of paper poppies to the EU is not affected as a result of the UK leaving the European Union. Goods sold by our online Poppy Shop to customers in the EU will be subject to the local rate of VAT and customs fees from 1st July. These costs are often higher than the value of the goods themselves and to pass them on to customers is not reasonable, therefore regrettably we are ceasing sales to customers in countries in the EU until such time as that legislation is reviewed.’ "

www.poppyshop.org.uk/pages/faqs

So are we all aware that this isn't to do with paper poppies? It's, as many have said, items from the online shop. The online shop has never sold the paper poppies. They sell poppy broaches and pins, along with books and brollies.

This quote taken from the link above

The RBL’s distribution of paper poppies to the EU is not affected as a result of the UK leaving the European Union.