{"id":4326,"date":"2022-09-24T15:15:07","date_gmt":"2022-09-24T15:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/?p=4326"},"modified":"2022-09-24T15:28:35","modified_gmt":"2022-09-24T15:28:35","slug":"government-for-business-my-arse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/government-for-business-my-arse\/","title":{"rendered":"Government for Business &#8211; My @rse"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/download.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-4327\" src=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/download.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/download.jpg 225w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/download-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/span>orry if you came here for some trains sanctuary away from all the crap that is currently life in Britain. I\u2019m afraid you\u2019ve arrived at me having a despairing whinge about the state of the nation and wondering whether it was even worth carrying on.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">I<\/span><\/strong> have to confess recent news have left me pretty despairing and seriously concerned about the future of my business and my therapy is to have a rant about it here on my blog.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">N<\/span><\/strong>ow, things have been going to hell in a handcart for sometime with rising prices and the scam that is the current (lack of) government. So we\u2019ve been sold energy prices going up four fold then they borrow shit loads of money (that we\u2019ll have to pay back ) to make us feel good that they\u2019re only going up two fold.\u00a0 Fuel prices, shop prices, supply shortages &amp; business closures all affect us.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>A<\/strong><\/span>fter a bit you become almost immune to it so its easy to give it some \u201cLa La La\u201d and go and play with your model trains.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">W<\/span><\/strong>hen the latest budget nightmare from Kami-Kwasi meant the USD\/GBP exchange rate plummeted to a world record low the shell shocked me thought \u201cthat won\u2019t help\u201d and went back to spraying my model.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Khasi.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4330 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Khasi-1024x267.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"612\" height=\"160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Khasi-1024x267.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Khasi-300x78.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Khasi-768x200.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Khasi.jpg 1041w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>T<\/strong><\/span>hen this morning\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Customer #1 \u201ccan you get me some Banta Models stuff\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Customer #2 \u201cCan you get me some Micro Engineering stuff\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">M<\/span><\/strong>y first thought was \u201cNope, not a chance\u201d but then I thought I\u2019d better look into it a bit more.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/kissclipart-grinder-meat-cartoon-clipart-meat-grinder-clip-art-a791c12337aa742f-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-4332\" src=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/kissclipart-grinder-meat-cartoon-clipart-meat-grinder-clip-art-a791c12337aa742f-1-300x282.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"247\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/kissclipart-grinder-meat-cartoon-clipart-meat-grinder-clip-art-a791c12337aa742f-1-300x282.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/kissclipart-grinder-meat-cartoon-clipart-meat-grinder-clip-art-a791c12337aa742f-1.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px\" \/><\/a>N<\/strong><\/span>ow when I import stuff from the USA all sorts of cleverness happens in spreadsheets that takes the dollar cost, adds in the other cost such as currency transfer fees, customs duty, VAT and import fees. All very complex and cleverly sorted out in a spreadsheet to arrive at a UK cost price excluding VAT to which I then add a margin (my bit) and then UK VAT to arrive at a UK retail price.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>T<\/strong><\/span>here was a shortcut if someone said to me \u201cif you ordered me such and such from the states how much would it be\u201d. You tell them that the USD retail price was $X and the UK price would \u00a3X ie just change the sign.\u00a0 Pre-Brexshit when the exchange rate was 1.65 this gave a pessimistic view and you looked good when you charged them a bit less than they were expecting.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">P<\/span><\/strong>ost Brexshit the rate went to 1.25 ish and the estimation just about held good but its been under pressure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOW ITS BUGGERED!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>I<\/strong><\/span> thought I had better quantify it given the enquiries so I got the spreadsheet for my last Banta order placed when the exchange rate was 1.28 and recalculated it with todays 1.08. Still doesn\u2019t sound that bad does it but here is what it does to a sample of those prices.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Examples.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4328 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Examples.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"466\" height=\"167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Examples.jpg 466w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Examples-300x108.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>T<\/strong><\/span>hat won\u2019t be the end of it as it doesn\u2019t consider these factors<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I haven\u2019t increased my margins in years but all my costs are going through the roof whilst availability of items plummets.<\/li>\n<li>Sales are falling as you all feel the pinch<\/li>\n<li>USPS shipping costs have doubled whilst service has deteriorated. They go up again on 1<sup>st<\/sup> October.<\/li>\n<li>All your toy trains made in China are paid for it USD so all that\u2019s just gone up by another 20%<\/li>\n<li>Watch out for lots of guaranteed prices not being so guaranteed anymore.<\/li>\n<li>Businesses are failing or just calling time. One of the main etching companies, whilst apparently busy and viable quit with little notice in the face of coming energy bills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">N<\/span><\/strong>ot a very optimistic view is it? What am I going to do about it? Well, for the moment, where&#8217;s that model I was painting&#8230;&#8230;.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-views content-post post-4326 entry-meta load-static\" data-pvc-type=\"post\" data-pvc-id=\"4326\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-views-icon dashicons dashicons-chart-bar\"><\/span> <span class=\"post-views-label\">Post Views:<\/span> <span class=\"post-views-count\">760<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_4326\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"4326\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sorry if you came here for some trains sanctuary away from all the crap that is currently life in Britain. I\u2019m afraid you\u2019ve arrived at me having a despairing whinge about the state of the nation and wondering whether it was even worth carrying on. I have to confess recent news have left me pretty [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_4326\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"4326\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":647,"today_views":0},"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4326"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4339,"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4326\/revisions\/4339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}