Currently, some customers in Europe receive e-mails from Thrunite with following content, especially i.a.w. inquiries on the availability of the V6 Catapult Mini:
“Due to our business strategy adjustment,we won’t sell to European countries,which means we won’t ship to European countries. Currently,we don’t have specific time to operate again.”
Does anyone have more information? Thrunite also delisted their entire portfolio on amazon.de. On amazon.co.uk they claim to have a “clearance sale” which i.m.h.o. is not worth mentioning as prices are not less than before.
Correct! It came to customers attention during the V6 presale. Out of a sudden, the EU warehouse has been taken from the list and now it appears as Thrunite has changed their sales strategy.
They disappeared about a year ago from the Manufacturers Forum on CPF.
After a quick search I found out they also disappeared from the product range of the biggest Dutch on-line stores and brick and mortar shops. Pretty soon we all will be at the mercy of the sellers of the finest tactical flashlights. And of the largest Canadian manufacturer, of course.
Maybe they got tired of dealing with Euro customs, taxes, duties, etc…? Just from reading the GT thread, seemed like shipping was a major problem in many examples.
I doubt that as Thrunite sent out all of their flashlights via Amazon - even those that were ordered from www.thrunite.com. But it could make sense if Amazon and Thrunite have stopped their business relationship.
True. Amazon is not the most seller friendly place to do business. Their policies are increasingly making it difficult for sellers to make a profit. However, the products still have to go through customs to get to the Amazon warehouse.
Thrunite stopped selling to Brazil since late 2015 because “it’s a lot of trouble shipping [there]”. Wouldn’t surprise me if they restricted their customer base again, based on factors that only they know clearly.
Still, one can get Thrunite products through hkequipment.net. That’s how I bought my T10.
The EU has very strong rules on mail order consumer rights and product warranties. It may be that Thrunite have decided that it’s easier to let individual customers order from middlemen in Asia and let them carry the can for customer support and returns. If that’s true, then it would make me wonder how much that two year warranty is actually worth, whether I was an EU customer or not.
Customs are certainly an issue, but you can normally achieve lower prices for your customers if you ship in bulk through customs, and then sell individual orders from a subsidiary or an authorised dealer in the EU. That way, the per-shipment customs fees are spread across many customers, and only the percentage taxes remain an issue.
Not all EU customs personnel has taken the concept of import tax equally serious. If the main cheap way is gone now (and Amazon got so much legal pressure that they can no longer close their eyes on that general topic) some companies have to learn to import the official way. It may take a while to get the papers right…
O well, I have the Cata V2, Cata V5, TN31, TN32UT, TN42 (not mentioning the two TN31’s I already sold on).
Never had any problems with customs, non whatsoever.
If Thrunite decides not to sell to the EU themselves directly I will simply stop buying their stuff.
Lots of other brands that will do: Olight, Nitecore, Astrolux, etc….
No worries for me.
And bytheway: their new “Catapult” V6 - I don’t call it a Catapult, it’s way to small to earn that name.
They may not sell directly anymore but not impossible or hard to get a thrunite light there. Just have to order from a middle man. Something must have happened for them to not want to be directly involved. It always comes down to money in the end. If someone really wants their light they will purchase it through another vendor and pay the taxes and duties.
It definitely sucks though for Europe people though.
It really does suck. As a former Amazon seller, I can tell you they are brutal to their sellers. In February, they announced (in the us), that any product that sits on the shelf for more than 1 month will start incurring shelf space rental fees. I forget exactly how much they are, but it wouldn’t take long for those fees to eat up your profit margins. I could go on and on about how Amazon treats their sellers, but put it this way. Amazon makes ebay look like a bargain.
I remember you posting this in another thread. Me and my wife looked into maybe trying a Amazon and eBay store. I’ve had a eBay store before but it was about 8 or 9 years ago. But now the fees and rules are just to much unless you do a lot of business. And like you said the seller is always wrong no matter what. They don’t want people to stop spending money regardless if they are in the wrong.
Makes me wonder if that’s why sofirn and thorfire recently sold a bunch of models for 10 dollars including shipping. To clear out stock that was about to incur rental fees
