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Farewell to favorite brands

anchie

Veteran

With Brexit approaching I am very upset and sad that I will no longer be able to shop from my 3 favorite brands - Banana Republic, Boden and Marks and Spencer because they all ship from UK. Many people here are putting in their last orders from UK and I was wondering if I should do the same as a farewell. I am done with shopping for this year, number and budget wise, but maybe I can put it towards the next year? There are few things from Boden that I was planning to order in January.

Shopping

32 replies

Latest reply was from anchie

Minaminu

Veteran

Anchie, I am the complete opposite! I live in the UK and all my favourite brands are European! I hope that a deal can be reached and I am trying to stay positive but I am dreading January.

Have you asked your favourite brands how they are planning to distribute their orders after Brexit (by now, all companies should have a plan if a Brexit agreement fails).

Adela

There is a site Boden.eu and they will continue distributing across EU, but they are more expensive, which puts me off considerably.

anchie

Veteran

Minaminu - I am losing hope that agreement will be reached. I did not ask companies directly but was trying to find info on the internet. I don’t think they have a plan and are still hoping for a deal.

kkards

Veteran

If it were me and i was planning to make a purchase in Jan, i would pull it forward. If this year has shown anything, its that the best laid plans are tentative at best, and who knows what will happen in January

anchie

Veteran

Adela - I am still not sure how it will all work. For example BananaRepublic.eu is EU store, but shipping from UK, how it will ship in the future?

Adela

I understand that they founded a branch company in the EU which will 'import' from the UK and distribute. Hence higher prices. But I'm also not sure how it all that work. For instance, I love Next for my daughter's clothes and also have no idea what will happen.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Banana Republic is a US company in the first place, right? Maybe they have a different plan than UK firms like Marks & Spencer and Boden.

Minaminu

Veteran

I think those brands will still be able to ship even after Brexit. My understanding is that if sold goods are shipped from the UK to Europe, their price would be without UK VAT but then the consumer will have to pay the VAT of their country.

I worry that some companies will keep the VAT in the sales price (for a quick increased profit) to Europe and therefore the final pricing will go up, this could have a negative impact to the economy.

Surely, this will add extra workload to Customs as they will have to check all parcels. I expect the deliveries will take longer, at least for the initial part.

anchie

Veteran

Minaminu - when I was looking at ordering from US, which will be similar to ordering from UK, I haven’t notice any decrease in US taxes, just additional duties applied, which makes ordering too expensive. But will see. What are your favorite EU brands?

anchie

Veteran

Fashintern - just found article that BR and GAP are planning to shutdown their EU operation completely next year, including online shop.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

US taxes are sales taxes, not VAT, so I wouldn’t expect them to be reimbursed/reduced.
The info about Gap & BR not being available in Europe makes me wonder if production will become more local in general.

Minaminu

Veteran

you should be able to receive back the US taxes, I am not sure how it works but I know that it is feasible.
I only buy when they have their sales or online outlets as their full price is above my budget.

A friend told me that I have champagne taste on a beer budget! I am a big fan of Eric Bompard, Hircus, Gerard Darel, Vanessa Bruno, Sandro, Maje, Weekend Max Mara, Sessun, Ikks... I haven't been able to find any UK equivalent to those brands and I am not planning to leave them just because of Brexit, so I will need to find a solution and will also need to wait until the pound has regained some strength.
I am hoping the possible price increases due to Brexit will push the consumer buy more quality items and less quantity, but I doubt that this will refrain all consumerism.

lyn67

Veteran

Very sad, indeed...:-(

bella

(website)

Veteran

To answer your question, if you were planning to put an order in January, yes, go ahead and do it right now and count it towards the next year.

JamC

Veteran

I would buy now based on the uncertainty of future purchases.

Liesbeth

Veteran

It sucks doesn't it. On the other hand maybe you can justify an annual shopping trip to London??

Jane

Veteran

Buy now on the basis that it might be good to ‘plan for the worst and hope for the best’.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Minaminu, you can do Liesbeth’s suggestion in reverse. Maybe in the Covid-carefree future, we can meet up with her for a little shopping trip, at retailers & secondhand stores.

Windchime

Veteran

I would be very bummed to lose access to those three brands! Just one of numerous aspects to Brexit which I’m sure no one thought through when it was proposed. I like the suggestion of an annual shopping trip to London.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree with the advice to put in an order now and count it towards next year’s budget, since you would have ordered in January.

I didn’t realize all of the Brexit implications, it’s sad. Shopping is changing everywhere it seems. I ordered some things to try from Nordstrom, and I’ve been spoiled all these years with in-store returns — I could pop in to the B&M store ten minutes away while running errands. Now I have to box things back up and ship them to return them. It will put a crimp in my shopping habits for sure, and that may not be such a bad thing. I have doubts that many of the local stores here will survive another lengthy period of closures as Covid cases continue to climb. It will be months before people will be able to shop leisurely in a safe way.

anchie

Veteran

I like annual shopping trip suggestion. Hope things go back to normal soon so that we are able to do that.
Janet - I am the opposite- I never returned anything in store. Most of the brands I like don’t have physical presence here. I will have to research new brands it seems.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Anchie, I think you will be able to buy it all, but with higher taxes, lead times, and shipping costs as Minaminu mentions. Time will tell.

Here in the US, there are US depots (not stores) for Boden, Hobbs, Whistles and G-Star so shipping is from within the US most of the time. I think things will sort themselves out post COVID too. Patience!

And to answer your question - what Jane said.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

This is too depressing ,after such a jolly year as well.

Sal

Veteran

Goodness - the Brexit situation has been so messy and complex and drawn out.

I am sure British retailers will want access to EU customers and vice versa - but yes there could be additional taxes.

One of the impacts on Covid here is the shipping. We import components and export some finished products - getting space is a challenge. Air freight is not as bad as sea freight - huge delays on some containers so there are big gaps on the shelves in some areas ( furniture, bikes being two I know about) and cars of course.

anchie

Veteran

I did not express myself very well, I will still be able to shop from UK sites, but probably not willing depending how more expensive and complicated it will get. Hope it doesn’t get similar to shopping from US which is very expensive and I never do. For example, I was looking at some J. Crew pants recently that were on sale and I also had 30% off coupon on top of sale price. But when I added shipping and taxes it became more expensive than original full price. But I have to be patient, we will probably know soon.

Cardiff girl - I was thinking of giving you comedy appreciation, but not sure is it appropriate

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I get you Anchie,it’s hard to know whether to laugh or cry a lot of the time these days isn’t it.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hmmm. It does sound like you might have to research some new brands! Never easy in a busy life. I find certain brands that work for my body do make me happy, it is much less work especially for pants. So I understand your sadness and maybe in this case will encourage you to spend the January budget early- so unlike me, tight-wad that I am!

cat2

Veteran

Maybe post on another site for suggestions? There are a lot of smaller UK brands not in ready distribution in the US that might be fun. I keep a list of London retailers going for my London trips, but I am focused on business attire so it would not be much help.

anchie

Veteran

Jenni - you get my concern. I am mostly online shopper, have been for many years, with full time job and two kids, going shopping was luxury that I was rarely able to afford. Shops are closed here on Sunday and are open shorter hours on Saturday, and on work days they close maybe one hour after I am home from work. I still remember when I first moved here it took some getting used to it. There were few nights of skipped dinners because grocery shops closed at the same time as I finished working and I was not prepared for that.

Because online shopping is risky I found few brands that I relied on, and I was always hesitant trying out new brands because of sizing, fit and quality concerns but also shipping and return policies. I am not looking forward to that.

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