FIRST GEAR - WHERE TO BUY

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If you are selling, I have contacts who buy collections of all sizes.

FIRST GEAR's OFFICIAL SITE

  FIRST GEAR

MY REGULAR AND RELIABLE SUPPLIER

  TOY TALK REPLICAS

LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC MODEL OR MODELS?
EMAIL ADDRESS'S OF SUPPLIERS WITH STOCKS BUT NO WEBSITE

Jean Lohnes - Rocky Road Collectibles - New York
Tom Tello - Boston
Donald Barnes - New Hampshire

OTHER WORLDWIDE SUPPLIERS I HAVE USED

  DIECAST & DECALS - FOR CUSTOMISED FIRST GEAR
  CURTIS COLLECTIBLES, BROOKLYN
  ROY FERGUSON SALES - (Construction Vehicles and others)

OTHER WORLDWIDE SUPPLIERS

BURLINGTON REPLICAS - First Gear and other models.
  3000TOYS.COM
  DHS DIECAST (Construction Vehicles and others)
  WESTCHESTER COLLECTIBLES
  WHITE BEAR STUDIOS (FG Models and some 1/32 accesories)

US BASED - SHIP TO UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT

  TOYS PLUS (FG Models and OTHERS)
  TOY TRUCK CITY (FG & Others)

UNITED KINGDOM

  McCLAREN MODELS, Falkirk, Scotland

AUSTRALIA

  SHIRE MODELS
  GATEWAY MODELS

If you haven't already tried it, EBAY is a great source for adding too or starting your collection. If you don't live
in the US, which I don't, then you have to consider shipping costs. Although it may still be more than worthwhile,
especially if you can get your items at the right price. Just key in the words First Gear on a worldwide search and a
superb range of FG items will be on offer. Sellers I've used include Eds-spread / bjtoys and ghs55, plus others.
My UK supplier is AMTRUX, who have given great service and supplied around a third of my collection.
Please be aware if you are outside the US and you are buying from a US supplier that shipping charges vary from suppliers.
Airmail, which takes about 7 - 14 days to the UK and does not cost significantly more than surface mail, which can take
around 10 - 12 weeks. Most US suppliers will only charge the actual cost but some add more on.

Depending on where you live, you may occasionally get caught with import duties but this is the luck of the draw.
Customs are more likely to catch larger shipments either by the size of the shipment or its value. Some people get
their sellers to mark the items as gifts, secondhand toys and even to mark down the value of the goods, on the shipping
papers, especially if no insurance is involved but of course I cannot advocate this as a practice.

In the UK, It matters little that you are buying for a personal collection rather than re-selling etc. You are still
liable for duty. At the time of writing, import duty into the United Kingdom is applied to goods over $35 and gifts over $50.
The rate of duty initially charged is 15% of the total value including shipping charges. On top of this VAT is added at
the rate of 17.5% and the UK handler also usually adds a fee. This stands at about £8 - £10 at present ($15 - $19).
It should be noted that a number of parcels arrive without any charges being applied as there is simply too much for the
customs to spot and keep control of. Parcelforce deliveries get spotted but few others.

HOWEVER, as they come from the US the carrier/customs do not take into account that the items are manufactured in China,
which carries a rate of less than 5% and not 15%. In the UK the category is 9503905100. This category number came from
the Tariff Office. So you will have to go to the bother of claiming back a refund. For UK purchasers you need to call the
tariff office, (ask customs for the number), explain the circumstances regarding the country of manufacture and ask for
the category. For reclaiming from the customs you will also need to supply the persons name who gave you the category,
this is most important as its part of their checking system. Also, you will need to send back the charge label off the
parcel, your receipt or your credit card statement and covering letter explaining the circumstances. Customs will advise.
All this is a nuisance really as you may wait ages on the phone to get through but IF you do get charged and you do want
your money back then that is it!

If you live in the US consider yourself lucky, as not only are First Gear in the US, most of the suppliers are as well.
Also, much more is offered on EBAY by sellers who will ship to the US only and of course US shipping charges are much
lower. Most collectors are US based as well. Nevertheless, Worldwide collectors like me love their First Gear collections.

To keep track of what's new I would very strongly recomend that you join First Gears Collectors club. You will get an
annual catalogue of every vehicle made to date and also regular monthly newsletters to keep track of the new releases etc.
FG models may not be the cheapest on the market but they are certainly larger on average than most, and the quality is
outstanding. They really are models to be treasured and you certainly get what you've paid for!

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