Ordering From Overseas Still?

[oldcarfan]

Please don't take this as political as I'm genuinely wondering. As of yesterday I saw a notice that many EU and Asian countries will no longer take packages bound for the US until the issues are worked out. However, and this is what I'm wondering, I also saw that mail and packages valued at less than $100 would still be accepted. Over the last year I've been ordering a lot of things from SpotModel and various Japanese shops.

It sounds like that means that we can keep orders under $100 and still get stuff. My last order came in from Japan about a month ago with no problems. 

If this is too off topic, please delete. I'm not trying to start any arguments. 

[The Junkman]

The Quick and Dirty?  Nobody knows, including those implementing the changes.  All we can do is wait for it to shake out.

[BKF]

I've got a list of ProScale paints im wanting to order soon so i too was wondering how that will go.

[iamsuperdan]

I'm very tempted to do a pre-emptive lock. 

However, I too have noticed on my IG, that almost all of the companies I follow from Europe, Canada, Australia, etc have posted that either they are choosing not to ship to the US, or their postal service has suspended all parcel shipping to the US. This is for model stuff, guitars, vehicle parts.

Tough situation.

 

 

I'm guessing this thread will get locked by end of day today.

 

 

[Bainford]

53 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said:

I'm very tempted to do a pre-emptive lock. 

However, I too have noticed on my IG, that almost all of the companies I follow from Europe, Canada, Australia, etc have posted that either they are choosing not to ship to the US, or their postal service has suspended all parcel shipping to the US. This is for model stuff, guitars, vehicle parts.

Tough situation.

 

 

I'm guessing this thread will get locked by end of day today.

 

 

Because of its potential political bent, or because of perceived negativity?

I do think this is a valid topic. It is an international issue that discusses significant problems that effects almost everyone on this board, whether we are in the US and ordering from abroad, or we are from anywhere else ordering from the US. This problem may be politically generated, but personally, I have no interest in political discussion. I do, however, have a great interest in discussion on this topic as it is having a huge effect on our community, trying to figure out how and where we will obtain our kits and supplies. Politics aside, this topic, and its impact, is foremost in the minds of very many on this forum. The discussion does not have to include any politics, just the reality that we are all living with at this time.

I do hope you will allow this discussion to continue. I also hope that this reply will not push it over the top.

[stitchdup]

23 minutes ago, Bainford said:

Because of its potential political bent, or because of perceived negativity?

I do think this is a valid topic. It is an international issue that discusses significant problems that effects almost everyone on this board, whether we are in the US and ordering from abroad, or we are from anywhere else ordering from the US. This problem may be politically generated, but personally, I have no interest in political discussion. I do, however, have a great interest in discussion on this topic as it is having a huge effect on our community, trying to figure out how and where we will obtain our kits and supplies. Politics aside, this topic, and its impact, is foremost in the minds of very many on this forum. The discussion does not have to include any politics, just the reality that we are all living with at this time.

I do hope you will allow this discussion to continue. I also hope that this reply will not push it over the top.

purely because it tends to end up political, and then people end up on moderation or worse. none of us want that. i'll leave it for now but any politics and it gets locked. 

[iamsuperdan]

2 hours ago, Bainford said:

Because of its potential political bent, or because of perceived negativity?

I do think this is a valid topic. It is an international issue that discusses significant problems that effects almost everyone on this board, whether we are in the US and ordering from abroad, or we are from anywhere else ordering from the US. This problem may be politically generated, but personally, I have no interest in political discussion. I do, however, have a great interest in discussion on this topic as it is having a huge effect on our community, trying to figure out how and where we will obtain our kits and supplies. Politics aside, this topic, and its impact, is foremost in the minds of very many on this forum. The discussion does not have to include any politics, just the reality that we are all living with at this time.

I do hope you will allow this discussion to continue. I also hope that this reply will not push it over the top.

100% because politics will eventually enter the chat. 

[oldcarfan]

I can delete if necessary, let me know.

[iamsuperdan]

Nah, people are either behaving or just staying away because they know they wouldn't be able to contain themselves.

 

So for now, we all good. 

[oldcarfan]

I'm kind of tempted to place an order from Hobby Search/1999.co.jp or SpotModel and keep it under $100 just to see what happens. Maybe that's tempting fate.

[meechum68]

I have a single kit coming from Japan, but the worst is, it's been in the "preship" stage for a good bit, and expected Sept 22. It is one of my Initial D cars. I will see how this goes once Sept hits, if it doesn't look good, I will cancel, and see what I can find locally. 

Definitely interesting times for so many of the hobby things we get from abroad. 

 

[1930fordpickup]

The biggest problem with this topic is even some of the facts may be taken as political. 

My stash is large enough anyway. 

 

[Mike 1017]

E-Mail the vendors to get the facts

[stitchdup]

17 minutes ago, Mike 1017 said:

E-Mail the vendors to get the facts

its not vendors thats the problem, shipping companies wont accept usa parcels currently as they dont have storage space. on top of that, royal mail require every item in a box listed exactly with a value. they would not accept 45 piece scale model engine in 3d resin so i ended up writting a boring novel for the stuff i sent. an hour to post one parcel

[bobthehobbyguy]

I believe the biggest issue is that in the past items less than $800 did not have to be handled by customs. That threshold has changed and the system does not have the resources to handle the new volumes. Hopefully the issues will be addressed.

[iamsuperdan]

2 hours ago, stitchdup said:

its not vendors thats the problem, shipping companies wont accept usa parcels currently as they dont have storage space. on top of that, royal mail require every item in a box listed exactly with a value. they would not accept 45 piece scale model engine in 3d resin so i ended up writting a boring novel for the stuff i sent. an hour to post one parcel

You're right. It's actually a lot of the postal services. I've used a company in Switzerland before for guitar parts. He has recently posted that Swiss Post is no longer sending parcels to the US.

 US customs regulations hamper the shipping of goods to the USA

 

 

 

[Mike 1017]

On 8/28/2025 at 8:14 AM, Mike 1017 said:

E-Mail the vendors to get the facts

 

23 hours ago, stitchdup said:

its not vendors thats the problem, shipping companies wont accept usa parcels currently as they dont have storage space. on top of that, royal mail require every item in a box listed exactly with a value. they would not accept 45 piece scale model engine in 3d resin so i ended up writting a boring novel for the stuff i sent. an hour to post one parcel

The vendors will explain that fact

[papajohn97]

Initially, like many here I figured I'm safe because of my extensive stash of unbuilt kits (cars, planes, tanks, ships) that I've accumulated over the years. Then it occurred to me....Oh No! ....Paint! Supplies! Decals! AM stuff! Many of these items are foreign sourced (Tamiya, Gunze, Zero, Cartograph, AK, MiG, Eduards,....). I guess US dealers will still be ordering big orders (> $800) from any foreign manufacturers and selling to us domestically but I can also imagine a possible supply chain slow-down due to bureaucratic issues/ customs process chaos over the coming weeks (months?).....

We may all want to take inventory on our paint & building supplies and order a safety stock as required from US dealers soon???? God forbid we all run out of paint & glue!