Being counted as part of the uk

[TartYvette]

I have a shop and most of my suppliers insist on supplying me through the UK even though most products originate in europe. For example I have just had a letter from the UK distributor of a Spanish product telling me my prices are going up because of Brexit. Did I imagine Ireland's independence? Can you imagine this happening anywhere else. These suppliers will not supply Ireland separately as their British distributors have the accounts for Ireland because......well we're one and the same apparently

I'm not sure why it happens (logistics, maybe) but the reverse is also true. I used to be self-employed and found some international clients used Ireland as their headquarters and applied Irish laws about things like taxes and tariffs to me in the UK. I think some people have a problem accepting these islands aren't one homogeneous blob.

It's infuriating. Especially as I have to buy the stock in sterling, even when it originates in a euro-using country. Many many years ago when I was a teenager doing French exchanges the French used to refer to me as the English girl. When I would say well actually, I'm Irish they would shrug and go "same thing"! That did not bother me as it's an easy mistake but when I am out of pocket as a result of this confusion it's amazing how much more offended I feel

Wow, that's more than annoying. My SIL is facing a similar issue and has been talking about moving product lines to more Irish-made products (which is possible for her stock).

At least some of the time it's a shipping issue, where mainland Europe supplies Ireland via truck routes through Britain. That might change after Brexit happens if a customs border goes up around Britain, and mainland Europe might supply Ireland directly... but I wouldn't bank on it being any cheaper