How will Brexit and the COVID-19 crisis affect my orders?

Cartoon of Mike Lane considering Brexit and Covid issues

With the UK having left the EU, and with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis affecting us all, there are understandably questions about how ordering from Mike Lane Mods might be affected.

I would like to reassure all my customers that it is currently business as usual and my ability to ship orders worldwide, including to countries within the EU, remains unaffected. However, some delays should be expected as postal networks adjust to the changes in procedures for the movement of goods to the EU and as they deal with special measures relating to COVID-19.

Cartoon of Mike Lane considering Brexit and Covid issues

With the UK having left the EU, and with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis affecting us all, there are understandably questions about how ordering from Mike Lane Mods might be affected.

I would like to reassure all my customers that it is currently business as usual and my ability to ship orders worldwide, including to countries within the EU, remains unaffected. However, some delays should be expected as postal networks adjust to the changes in procedures for the movement of goods to the EU and as they deal with special measures relating to COVID-19.

I’ve answered the most common queries below – but if you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t get hesitate to get in touch.

Brexit

Can I still order from within the EU?

Yes, of course!

If you’re a European Union customer, the only real change you’ll notice after 31 December 2020 is with taxes and duties.

Instead of paying the UK VAT @ 20% at checkout, you may have to pay VAT and/or import duties when your order arrives in your country, in the same way that trade with the USA and other non-EU countries works.

The cost of these fees will vary depending on the value of your order and the country it is being sent to.

The carrier will contact you directly to collect payment before the parcel is delivered. DPD for example will request payment by email or text and will detail the import duties and taxes as well as an administration fee for collecting the import charges. This is perfectly normal and is common practice for all non-EU countries.

Other than these changes to how tax is collected, it’s business as usual.

If you’re a UK or non-EU customer, nothing changes.

Will there be any impact on delivery times from 1 January 2021?

Small delays during January 2021 should be expected

I understand that delivery times are important and have made as many preparations as possible to help comply with the import and export procedures due to be introduced. However, some delays immediately after 1 January should be expected as postal networks adjust to the changes in procedures for the movement of goods to the EU.

Many countries have also implemented special measures to combat the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19, especially for signature service to maintain social distancing.

Will there be any changes to how you hold my personal data now that the UK has left the EU?

No, your data will still be secure

The UK’s rules around data protection will remain aligned with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), so there will be no change to your rights or the way your personal data is kept secure.

Will you still offer the same range of products?

Yes

Brexit changes nothing here. You will still have access to the same range of products and I’ll continue to enhance my range with the addition of new mods and models to work on into 2021 and beyond!

COVID-19

Is it safe to order?

Yes

I work on my own and everything I sell is made by me.

I am adhering to all government guidelines on staying at home, social distancing and travelling only when essential. I take this crisis very seriously and have taken my own precautions to ensure that I can safely continue to make and sell my products. Many of these decisions were made long before there was a lockdown here in the UK.

Parcels are safely collected from my premises, and both Royal Mail and DPD now adopt a ‘contactless delivery’ protocol for safely delivering your parcel to your door. Also, the World Health Organization have said that the risk of infection from packages sent through the post is very low. As an added precaution, you might wish to wipe the outer packaging on arrival, a practice that I routinely follow for any deliveries that I receive.

Will there be any delays in dispatching my order?

Small delays should be expected

I always aim to give honest, accurate estimates on all my made-to-order items; however, please understand that lockdowns can cause unexpected delays and added pressures that are often out of my control.

Rest assured that I am continuing to work hard to get through all orders and make everything as quickly as possible without compromising on my high standards of quality.

You will receive an e-mail as soon as your order is dispatched, and if you have any questions or concerns you are always welcome to contact me.

Will shipping times be affected?

Small delays should be expected

There may be some delays in arrivals because of disruption to postal services, especially overseas, but rest assured I am taking every precaution possible to ensure your parcel arrives safely.

All of my international parcels are now sent on a tracked service for peace-of-mind. It’s clear that given the current crisis the postal services are under additional strain due to increased demand and restrictions in some areas, so please don’t be concerned if you do experience any small delays. I have noticed that in some countries parcels are being held up at customs for longer than usual; however, generally the postal system appears to be working well given the circumstances and my orders are still reaching my customers safely and reliably, if only a little slower than usual at times.

DPD appear to be operating much faster than Royal Mail and the situation seems to have had less of an impact on their delivery times. If you want your orders quickly, I would personally recommend choosing DPD as an option at checkout if this method is available for your country. You will receive a dispatched e-mail as soon as your order leaves with a tracking link and you are of course always welcome to message me for a status update if you have any concerns whatsoever.

Can you hold on to my order for me?

Yes

Whilst the postal system is currently operating reliably, a few of my customers have requested that I hold on to their order for them until lockdown rules are relaxed in their country. I am of course more than happy to do this for you if you wish. It is a good way to get your order in early so it can be made in advance, ready to be sent as soon as the rules are relaxed. If you would like me to hold on to your parcel, simply order as usual and make this request in the ‘Order notes’ section on the Checkout page. Alternatively, you can just message me direct once you’ve placed your order and again when you’d like me to send it.

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