Death, taxes and some cheap bits:

Another year, another post.

I don't really have that much to write about, keeping most of my work logs to forum communities like Yakromunda, and Reaper, I recon I don't need to spam about it in my blog as well..

Yet, the other day I discovered a site that I felt needed mention:

There's no secret that Norway is highly taxed country. It's not really as expensive as it is made out to be, since people can always afford what they need, and still have something to spare on fun and games. However, sources for miniatures are sorely lacking, and getting what you need can be a pain due to customs. The maximum order without a customs fee is 350NOK, 28.40£ or 45.19$. It was actually raised this year, from 200NOK, or a mere 25$/16,20£.

Orders above this amount will have a customs fee (only certain goods), a tax fee, a handling fee and a fee to the postal service. So when I used to order something in a foreign currency, and the result happened to be 202NOK, I had to pay 465NOK for the shipment.. Over double the price. That is without taxes, just handling and postal fees. To make it even more confusing, they say that postage costs should be a part of the total cost of the shipment, so in theory, you could only place very small orders.

Since they raised it, the packages can be a little bigger, yet still, since postage play a role, it hampers hobbyists like myself quite a lot. We have the choice of ordering large shipments, pay 25% extra in tax and up to 452NOK in handling fees. Alternately, we can order several small packages and pay a lot of postage fees. Unless it's really big orders, I have found several small packages to be the best solution.

It's in these times, it's good to have sites like: http://www.bitsandkits.co.uk/

I recently placed an order, and was amazed at how much you actually get for your money. I was in dire need of extra weapon bits for a new Necromunda gang, and the nice people over at YakTribe guided me there.

The order below cost me a total of 28.29£, including international shipping. Ton of bits, and even some scenery. Staying safely below the threshold of the tax-hammers. Will update with a pic when it arrives.

1 x CITIES OF DEATH MANUFACTORUM WALL SECTION E 0.00% £0.67
6 x CADIAN LASGUN SINGLE 0.00% £1.02
1 x SPACE MARINE CENTURIANS MELTA GUN X2 0.00% £1.34
5 x SPACE MARINE TACTICAL SQUAD CHAIN SWORD 0.00% £0.85
2 x SPACE WOLVES: WOLF GUARD TERMINATOR HEAVY FLAMER 0.00% £2.00
1 x CHAOS MARINE HEAVY BOLTER KIT 0.00% £1.34
5 x SKITARII RANGER/VANGUARD PHOSPHUR BLAST PISTOL 0.00% £1.70
1 x KHORNE BESZERKER PLASMA PISTOL 0.00% £0.17
1 x CHAOS MARINE PLASMA PISTOL A 0.00% £0.13
3 x THUNDER WOLF RIDER PLASMA PISTOL 0.00% £0.39
5 x SPACE MARINE CENTURIANS FLAMERS X2 0.00% £1.70
1 x TEMPESTUS SCIONS FLAMER KIT 0.00% £1.01
2 x SCOUT BIKE SHOTGUN IN HOLSTER 0.00% £0.68
2 x CHAOS MARINE CHAIN SWORD B 0.00% £0.26
1 x TEMPESTUS SCIONS HOTSHOT LASGUN KIT B (GRENADE LAUNCHER) 0.00% £1.01
2 x SKITARII RANGER/VANGUARD GALVANIC RIFLE SINGLE 0.00% £1.34
1 x CITIES OF DEATH BASILICA WALL SECTION C 0.00% £0.67
2 x CITIES OF DEATH BASILICA BUTTRESS 0.00% £0.68
1 x BAG O' BITZ 0.00% £6.70
3 x CHAOS WARRIOR SWORD C 0.00% £0.30
5 x SPACE MARINE DEVASTATOR BOLT PISTOL 0.00% £0.35
1 x SKITARII RANGER/VANGUARD CARBINE & RIFLE SHOULDER 0.00% £0.34
1 x DARK ELDAR HELION HEAD A 0.00% £0.34