Im Thinking About Setting Up A UK Robotic Part Store...

[Joesavage1]

Im Thinking About Setting Up A UK Robotic Part Store, (which if it gets good will ship worldwide)  but i sorta need to know how many people that are from the UK want to buy these type of things, so can ANYONE, who comes across this thread, PLEASE comment, so they can get, cheap , affordable stuff all in one place!



Thanks


Joe

[SmAsH]

but i sorta need to know how many people that are from the UK want to buy these type of things

Thanks

Joe

buy what things? please tell us what you intend to sell.

[airman00]

you're going to need capital - money to purchase the merchandise
I'm not from the UK, sorry

[superchiku]

I DONT KNOW ABT UK BUT HERE INMY PLACE THE DEMAND IS HIGH SO A ROBOTIC PART SHOP WILL CLICK/ ...:d

[Joesavage1]

but i sorta need to know how many people that are from the UK want to buy these type of things

Thanks

Joe

buy what things? please tell us what you intend to sell.

Robotic Parts, starting with the $50 robot parts!

[Razor Concepts]

Can you make it to the post office every day? I find that when even selling the odd thing here and there, getting a ride to the post office is a hassle - and if you run an online store, you should ship out at least every other day.

[paulstreats]

If you get to a point of selling a lot of stuff then the post office will collect from you instead of traipsing to the post office (they prefer it cause it cuts down on queus)

[SmAsH]

If you get to a point of selling a lot of stuff then the post office will collect from you instead of traipsing to the post office (they prefer it cause it cuts down on queus)

wow, i never knew they did that? but for when you first start out maybe post once a week, like admin does with the axons.

[DC-Electronics]

Depends where you are.

Im at the post office all the time shipping things from my store and they still make me wait in line lol.

Fedex on the other hand does door to door pickups quite redily. as does Purolator.


If your looking to stock up, Im selling thoes high torque motors at a discount rate per case.

Good luck

[Webbot]

Im Thinking About Setting Up A UK Robotic Part Store, (which if it gets good will ship worldwide)  but i sorta need to know how many people that are from the UK want to buy these type of things, so can ANYONE, who comes across this thread, PLEASE comment, so they can get, cheap , affordable stuff all in one place!

Hi, I'm based in the UK.

Some points to consider.....

1. You wont be able to sell general electronics bits cheaper than the 'big boys' in the UK like 'rapid' etc as those guys buy 1000s at a time.

2. If you are planning to sell overseas, where there is no local supplier, then checkout the likely postage and customs duties. Some Asian countries charge 'what they like' on imported goods - be prepared for stuff to go missing in customs.

3. If your just selling robot stuff then you'll compete with folk like techobots, active-robots etc.

4. Do you really have the cash to buy in and store stock.

5. I think you're better considering an export to other countries who just dont have local suppliers. Australisa, Eastern Europe etc. These people are already paying too much and normally for old stuff. Try to link up with another SoR member you trust in those countries. Export to them, let them sell locally. Get them to pay all, or at least 50%, of any stock you have to buy. Consider what happens if they loose interest (ie backed up orders etc) - who will sort it out. Who is liable? Is it under UK or Romanian law? Try it out on a small scale. If all seems ok then get some legal advice and pt a legal agreement in place with your distributors.

Sorry if it all seems a bit negative. But although there may be a need with SoR folk then that doesn't make a business. Don't want you to loose loads of dosh.  Think 'why hasnt anyone done this before' - they may be loads of downsides/costs.

But if you think you can make it work then go for it.

[Joesavage1]

Depends where you are.

Im at the post office all the time shipping things from my store and they still make me wait in line lol.

Fedex on the other hand does door to door pickups quite redily. as does Purolator.


If your looking to stock up, Im selling thoes high torque motors at a discount rate per case.

Good luck

Thanks, i might think about that.

Can you make it to the post office every day? I find that when even selling the odd thing here and there, getting a ride to the post office is a hassle - and if you run an online store, you should ship out at least every other day.

Good Idea

If you get to a point of selling a lot of stuff then the post office will collect from you instead of traipsing to the post office (they prefer it cause it cuts down on queus)

Awsome, i hope they eventuly will.

Im Thinking About Setting Up A UK Robotic Part Store, (which if it gets good will ship worldwide)  but i sorta need to know how many people that are from the UK want to buy these type of things, so can ANYONE, who comes across this thread, PLEASE comment, so they can get, cheap , affordable stuff all in one place!

Hi, I'm based in the UK.

Some points to consider.....

1. You wont be able to sell general electronics bits cheaper than the 'big boys' in the UK like 'rapid' etc as those guys buy 1000s at a time.

2. If you are planning to sell overseas, where there is no local supplier, then checkout the likely postage and customs duties. Some Asian countries charge 'what they like' on imported goods - be prepared for stuff to go missing in customs.

3. If your just selling robot stuff then you'll compete with folk like techobots, active-robots etc.

4. Do you really have the cash to buy in and store stock.

5. I think you're better considering an export to other countries who just dont have local suppliers. Australisa, Eastern Europe etc. These people are already paying too much and normally for old stuff. Try to link up with another SoR member you trust in those countries. Export to them, let them sell locally. Get them to pay all, or at least 50%, of any stock you have to buy. Consider what happens if they loose interest (ie backed up orders etc) - who will sort it out. Who is liable? Is it under UK or Romanian law? Try it out on a small scale. If all seems ok then get some legal advice and pt a legal agreement in place with your distributors.

Sorry if it all seems a bit negative. But although there may be a need with SoR folk then that doesn't make a business. Don't want you to loose loads of dosh.  Think 'why hasnt anyone done this before' - they may be loads of downsides/costs.

But if you think you can make it work then go for it.

You've made some good points which i will greatly take into consideration.



Just to tell everyone, it may be another year until i do make one, its just i figure i should plan ahead. Also, just to ask is there lots of paper work you have to fill in to start a buissnes, or can you start just shipping to people via post office?



Thanks



Joe

[paulstreats]

You are best off setting up as a 'sole trader'. Just call up inland revenue and you can register over the phone. Just keep a record of what you buy and sell (keep the invoices and record them on a spread sheet). at the end of your financial year you work out how much profit you have made which is in a basic way stock sold minus stock bought then do the quick tax calculation(it is easy really). When the time comes just complete a self assessment form and return it to the tax office remembering that you will have to keep some profits back to pay the tax you owe the government.(you first £4000 - £5000 profit is tax free and then its something like 6% of other profits up to £32,000 then there is another rate for above £32,000 I cant remember the exact figures but its hierarchical like this).



You may have a problem registering if you are under 16 though. and you are allowed to trade for 3months before having to register. You can also register as a sole trader if you have a regular job too (which means that you dont have to worry about paying your own National Insurance as this gets done along with PAYE when you get paid through a regular job)

[Webbot]

Agreed.

But if in doubt - talk to the tax man. They aren't all monsters. Main thing is that if you need to paying NI and dont let them know then they fine you £100. Or get some financial advise. Since you're a teenager then I recommend that you  talk to your dad as well !! He may not be a monster either 

[Joesavage1]

You are best off setting up as a 'sole trader'. Just call up inland revenue and you can register over the phone. Just keep a record of what you buy and sell (keep the invoices and record them on a spread sheet). at the end of your financial year you work out how much profit you have made which is in a basic way stock sold minus stock bought then do the quick tax calculation(it is easy really). When the time comes just complete a self assessment form and return it to the tax office remembering that you will have to keep some profits back to pay the tax you owe the government.(you first £4000 - £5000 profit is tax free and then its something like 6% of other profits up to £32,000 then there is another rate for above £32,000 I cant remember the exact figures but its hierarchical like this).



You may have a problem registering if you are under 16 though. and you are allowed to trade for 3months before having to register. You can also register as a sole trader if you have a regular job too (which means that you dont have to worry about paying your own National Insurance as this gets done along with PAYE when you get paid through a regular job)

Agreed.

But if in doubt - talk to the tax man. They aren't all monsters. Main thing is that if you need to paying NI and dont let them know then they fine you £100. Or get some financial advise. Since you're a teenager then I recommend that you  talk to your dad as well !! He may not be a monster either 

Yer your comments confuse me a bit, so i think ill talk to my dad 


Thanks


Joe

[Admin]

All the robot retailers are reporting large drops in sales from the economy . . . you probably want to wait ~10+ months

[cosminprund]

Joesavage1, I'm from Romania and I routinely buy stuff from UK shops. That makes me think you're trying to fix the wrong problem: I'm 1200 miles away from you, yet I find stuff over there.
Are you sure you found a business opportunity - or are you hoping to fix your own problem (of being able to find cheap stuff). You should ask yourself this question because a business is made to make a profit, not to function as a "service to the comunity".

Other then that you seem to be in a good country for this kind of business Under Romania's law you'd pay 16% of all the profits starting with the first sale, and the sales tax is 19% (you've got 15%). Just for those two reasons prices in your store would be 13% less then prices in our stores

[Joesavage1]

All the robot retailers are reporting large drops in sales from the economy . . . you probably want to wait ~10+ months

Ok.. Im probably going to wait about a year or two anyway.but thanks for saying!

Joesavage1, I'm from Romania and I routinely buy stuff from UK shops. That makes me think you're trying to fix the wrong problem: I'm 1200 miles away from you, yet I find stuff over there.
Are you sure you found a business opportunity - or are you hoping to fix your own problem (of being able to find cheap stuff). You should ask yourself this question because a business is made to make a profit, not to function as a "service to the comunity".

Other then that you seem to be in a good country for this kind of business Under Romania's law you'd pay 16% of all the profits starting with the first sale, and the sales tax is 19% (you've got 15%). Just for those two reasons prices in your store would be 13% less then prices in our stores

I know its to make profit, i thought about it as there are few in the UK so more of a buissness opertunity as I have suffered the problem of having to uy from more than one site myself. Thanks For The Facts and Figures Too.





Thanks


Joe

[redhedgehog]

Hi Joe
My name is Mark and I own and run a CNC machine shop in Staffordshire.
I too have been thinking about a robot store here in the UK but I would concentrate on selling more heavy duty stuff like military grade recon robots.Which would be designed and built by ourselves.

But if your interested in talking to me email me.
[email protected]
I hope to hear from you soon

best regards