Call to #hackerspaces & #makerspaces around the world, lets join forces!
Hi. 👋 I make #OpenSource smart #thermostats that don't spy on you. I don't ship internationally for two reasons: financial cost and environmental cost. I'd like to join a network of Makerspaces to have them be produced regionally so people outside of America can get a pre-made unit.
Does this network already exist? If so, how do I join? If it doesn't exist, would you like to help build it?
To give you an idea of how much international shipping costs, I paid $8.85 the other day to ship a #HestiaPi. Shipping that exact same package to the UK would be at least $30.45.
Speedier shipping would be $10.25 domestically, but $66.25 to the UK.
On top of that, the buyer would have to pay about $30 in taxes (VAT) to pick it up in the UK.
That's $51.60 that could be saved if the same thing were made by a local hackerspace. And if there's a problem, another $30-60 to ship a replacement part!
@hub I'm not a UK tax expert, but https://www.gov.uk/how-vat-works says VAT only needs to be collected if the business (Makerspace) was selling "more than £90,000" worth of stuff.
Regardless of this specific example, there are still huge advantages including:
- Not needing to be an international tax expert
- Less money spent on shipping
- Less environmental cost from shipping
- Help support a local Makerspace
- Help support local jobs
Hestia Hacker
Hubert Figuière