USA and distant-from Europe/UK buyers, do you bother looking at the Bazaar of Obscurities

[The Gray Ghost]

I don't usually look at the bazaar.Postage is usually too prohibitive to make it worth it from anywhere besides stateside and there are too few US sellers/traders.
fitterpete's statement but it's true for me to.

[Connectamabob]

yes but what does the slang mean? I want to use it but I don't want to look the fool if I use it wrong.

It's basically exactly what it sounds like. A metaphorical comparison between the subject and, say, a lightly steaming pile/puddle of chunky something on the sidewalk outside a pub at midnight (or whatever other literal image the phrase "hot mess" might conjure). Use it exactly the way you would FUBAR or PoS.

[Burnt65]

I am in Canada and have bought and sold here
What does make a large difference is the exchange rate and duties
Right now, I choose a little more carefully what I am buying from the UK, as the exchange is not favourable
Duties are hit and miss, depending on the mood of the customs people it seems
I am not sure there is a need for a NA vs Euro board
Keith

[marianas_gamer]

I am on Guam and about as far away from Europe and the mainland US as you can get.  I buy from here all the time.  Shipping costs to the back of beyond are just something that I have been habituated.  I have had nothing but good experiences and met some nice fellows in the process.
LB

[FramFramson]

It's basically exactly what it sounds like. A metaphorical comparison between the subject and, say, a lightly steaming pile/puddle of chunky something on the sidewalk outside a pub at midnight (or whatever other literal image the phrase "hot mess" might conjure). Use it exactly the way you would FUBAR or PoS.

Another analogous term is "dumpster fire"

(Europeans might understand this better as a "skip fire", but that just doesn't have the same ring to it)

[Poiter50]

As one of the Antipodeans, I have purchased from this Forum and I would not like to see another board arise. Most sellers explain where they are and that OS postage will be more expensive. Here in Oz we are are used to the tyranny of the mail services although one of the big bugbears is the variety of ways in which businesses fail to reduce VAT when charging postage, so the real postage rate can be as high as 50%.

[grant]

I am in Canada and have bought and sold here
What does make a large difference is the exchange rate and duties
Right now, I choose a little more carefully what I am buying from the UK, as the exchange is not favourable
Duties are hit and miss, depending on the mood of the customs people it seems
I am not sure there is a need for a NA vs Euro board
Keith

There are no Canadian duties on hobby collectables, no matter their origin, worldwide.  What you pay is GST and their handling fee, and in general, only is applied after the $80 Canadian value is reached.

Like Poiter50, what bothers me most times when ordering from the EU is the failure in reduction of VAT as an automatic when I don't live in a VAT country. Obviously doesn't apply to private transaction in the Bazaar but still bugs me - it's a way it seems of subsidizing postage here.

[El Grego]

I peruse the Bazaar often, but I am looking for specific stuff and realize that anything there might have a high shipping penalty.

I also intend to list stuff there, after I get organized enough to begin off-loading my surplus materials - books, games, and figures.

[Revfan]

I'm an American, living in Europe and while I check the bazaar, I find, its not "just the postage" that would shy away some stateside LAFers from trading/buying/selling with their Euro counterparts.

Europeans are hit with 17-20% taxes on the goods they buy (even USED stuff on eBay for Heaven's sake!).   So when they go to sell stuff, their prices in generally much more dear.  Even at Car Boots/Floh Markets, I find the goods are priced higher, or maybe another way to say it, the prices are closer to their original retail price, than a similar sale in the US.  So for most Americans, if there is something we want used, we go to eBay or Craigslist first... then maybe Amazon. and chances are you can get it for cheaper than you could elsewhere.  Shipping within the States isn't too bad either, all things considered (San Francisco to Washing DC is 3928 Kilometers.... London to Moscow 2509 Kilometers)

Unless its something extremely obscure/rare, or it was produced in the Eurozone to begin with and not available in the states, its just not financially worth it. 

No offense meant... just my observation.

[Sterling Moose]

I live in Canada and do buy from the Bazaar from time to time.  Fortunately I have relatives in the UK who I see once a year around Salute time.  Depending on how quickly I need the items I have them either shipped directly to me or to them either works well.

I don't see a need for separate boards but if the seller is serious they should post their location.  Some quirky, witty line in your profile regarding location is fine for the average member but if you really want to sell something location is a must.

A minor observation regarding shipping costs.  Some sellers offer free shipping within their own country but then expect everyone else to pay 'at cost' for shipping to other locations. That's fine but would it be selfish to expect shipping to the other locations to be 'at cost' less the price of the free internal shipping?

[LeadAsbestos]

I've been here almost since day one, I've done probably hundreds of deals over the years with folks all across the world, and I've never had a single problem. If I want it, I'll get it, and I'll pay the postage. Plane tickets are expensive, even for our tiny soldiers.
And I just can't get all the cool $hit I want in the States! Great folks here, with some deep collections! 'Met' some cool people thru trades too, and that, in a few circumstances, was worth the price alone.

[Conquistador]

I do not use the bazar, too many people express interest until they get postage costs for me to bother with that hot mess.

I don't use TMP selling/buying/trading boards either though.

It's basically Ebay - USA only - or local gamers for cash, trash can, or melt them down to use for terrain.

Edit for scurv - http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hot+mess as in "train wreck" http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=trainwreck

More editing:  One Board, just like one Ring.  Just try and let people know up front about the shipping limitations would nice.  If I used the bazar, of course.

[Connectamabob]

That's... bizarrely incorrect. Where did you find that definition?

[grant]

I wouldn't rely on urban dictionary too much. Like any slang or jargon, it's hard to pinpoint exactly what all users mean.

I happen to think the definition is close, actually, in how I use the term.

[supervike]

I can see the usefulness of having a 'USA' subthread.  Especially for selling, as the US postal rates on international stuff has really skyrocketed in recent years.

However, as an American, I do use the bazaar and enjoy it quite a bit.  I've bought and sold several items, and like LeadAsbestos said, sometimes it's the only source I can find for 'harder to find' Euro-centric items.