The European Union will from 1 November introduce a €2 handling fee on packages from outside the bloc in a bid to curb the influx from China.
  • Waterpumpee ( Waterpumpee@lemmus.org ) English
    11·
    7 days ago

    Europe has also expressed concern about “unsafe” non-EU products such as toys that violate the rules arriving in the bloc via Chinese e-commerce platforms.

    Yes this needs regulation. BUT its not only on chinese Plattforms. You can barely find toys, electronics… from non throw-away brands anymore on Amazon.

    • Scrollone ( Scrollone@lemmy.zip ) English
      1·
      6 days ago

      Amazon is completely useless now. Most of the things they sell are cheap shit from China with a huge markup.

      Just go on AliExpress directly and you’ll find the same exact products for half, or even one third, of the price.

      And for all other things, try local online shops. There are price aggregator services that help you find online shops for all the stuff you need.

      Amazon is useless and they don’t deserve any money.

  • WFH ( Wfh@lemmy.zip ) English
    4·
    6 days ago

    There are some things that are simply impossible to find in the EU. I used to be in the watch modding hobby. The only good parts dealers are in Singapore or Hong Kong. Shitty parts dealers on Ali too.

    For a complete SKX-style mod, you’d need:

    • a mechanical movement
    • a case
    • a case back
    • a crown
    • a sapphire crystal
    • a stem
    • gaskets
    • a bezel
    • a bezel insert
    • a dial
    • hands (x3)

    That’s a whooping 36 to 39€ extra for a 50-150€ mod. Plus 2€ per parcel because nobody sells all the parts you want.

  • Lantsu ( manuremy@sopuli.xyz ) English
    5·
    7 days ago

    Good, should be higher still. And I say this as a person/family who fixes and mods small electronics and such. We don’t need cheap, dangerous crap from China. No clothes made with dangerous chemicals and dyes, no children’s toys filled with asbestos. If that’s the price, good.

  • JustEnoughDucks ( JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nl ) English
    2·
    6 days ago

    Ah, yes, this should make EU electronics manufacturers, who literally do not sell their products at all to individuals in the EU, forcing them to go through Chinese and US corporate import distributers, much safer and more accessible for the EU citizen…

    /s

    This is going to all but wipe out the electronics self-repair and DIY industry, but that is one of the actual goals. Corporate-bought slimy excuses for MEPs want you completely dependent on their corporate masters.

    Forget about trying to fucking buy a motor anymore. EU companies, again, literally won’'t sell to individuals.

  • matelt ( matelt@feddit.uk ) English
    2·
    7 days ago

    I’m still fuming about the absence of provision for personal gifts. I used to love sending Xmas and birthday presents to my family in France but last time I sent a HANDMADE BY ME gift to my mum I had to pay 16eur for the privilege. Ludicrous.

    So that only makes me more angry. How dare they lump me in with Chinese tat senders???