The Framers Forum

Hi Folks,

Just to let you folk know what we framers in Northern Ireland / Eire have to put up with, and John will back me up on this.

Over the pat few weeks I have been trying to get my hands on some Truvue Conservation glass. Thanks to John (the Estlite John) whoses help has been much appreciated, we did finally track a supplier down, BUT and theres a big BUT, they didnt have a clue (their own admission in a reply to my rather stern email). We got sent 3 sheets of museum glass (£72 a sheet) instead of 6 sheets of conservation glass (£29 a sheet) I had ordered 2 sheets, John ordered 4. But anyhow...thats only half the story..the rest is between John, the supplier and ourselves..all hopefully will be resolved within the next 7 days........again according to their email to us.

Glass & Mirror will transport the glass, Denglass Waterwhite..£15.50 a sheet + VAT, not a bad price..but to us..£170 + VAT shipping, minimum, so take the sheet price to £62. Order 2 pieces, say 20 x 16, which they will do, minimum shipping...yep, £170.00 + VAT..so thats put of the question. No mater what way you order the glass, its £170.00 + VAT shipping.

Britannia Mounts, their Denglass Waterwhite, £14.41 + VAT a sheet, an excellent price, but they WILL NOT ship under any circumstances..Again this problem will hopefully be resolved with the next month to 6 weeks.

Moral of the story for us poor down trodden framers in Northern Ireland at the moment is......a conservation / museum job? By all means, but you dont get the glass unless you pay £264 extra for the glass.

Anyone, any suggestions? Please answer on a postcard.

Steven

Steven
I am suprised that you dont have a supplier willing to ship it in straight from USA - it sounds to me like a good business opportunity for someone. Having said that, i know from bitter experience that all speciality glasses - especially the coated variety, dont travel well. When i first started using uv filter glass i would send back half the order due to marks and scratches - the uk suppliers are obviously covering themselves for the potential problems of sending small consignments. The packing on packs is now much improved, perhaps it would be worth trying to get hold of a friendly haulier who does a run to the mainland and get a pack of glass - 4 sheets - you would incurr the risk of breakage but it would be a lot cheaper.

Back some years ago I had a glass distribution selling to picture framers primarily in the Leinster area of Ireland………I was happy to sell it when I got the opportunity…..it was a nightmare business……….One of the reason that was killing the business me was shipping……and breakage.

You could bring glass in from the US providing you can ship in containers and the manufacturers would be only to happy to deal with you……a container of special glass form the US would cost in the region of US$50,000+ and about US$3,000 for shipping

Steven
The £170 shipping from the UK mainland seems very excessive…..I’m getting pallet lot’s of product from the UK to Wicklow for €130 + VAT at the moment and there is movement available still in that price…..and bear in mind that charge includes export and import documentation as the South of Ireland is export for UK companies……..I’m lead to believe that shipping within the UK including The North of Ireland is about £70 + VAT……you might be better considering shipping the packs of glass at a pallet rate rather than a package……it’s one of the quirks of shipping….


Rgs

Dermot

Hi Folks,

Many thanks for your replies. I spoke to the glas supplier this morning to try and pin down a date when my glass would be in the country, I got 2 weeks today.....whoppee, just hope my client is prepared to wait 2 more weeks, and by that time everything else will be prepared awaiting the glass.

Dermot, the shipping cost of £170.00 + VAT is apparently the standard costs to here from Glass 7 Mirror for 4 sheets. Goodness knows how much a pallet would cost. I spke to some assembled GCF's on Tuesday evening past at our GCF Seminar and muted the idea of a cooperative and buying the glass in pallets between us. Who stores it? Who delivers it? If this was sorted it could work.

Steven

Steven

You could try CRL Glass and Glazing 01506857940 who specialise in supplying framers. They're based in Midlothian and cover most of Scotland - they have several vans on the road and may be able to do paddle across the stream if you made it worth their while.

Ask for Charles he says he could be interested.

Joe

Hi,

Many thanks Joe, I will give them a try on Monday.I'll let you know how I get on.

Steven