Gast
The title really says it all...
So when is it?
Best regards,
Wolfgang
MirkoBoeddecker
Wolfgang,
Everything would be so much easier for us if we knew these things.
Unfortunately, we’re at Fotokemika’s mercy.
If someone from Asia comes along and places an order for 25,000 packs of 9x12 glossy PE standard film, everything else gets put on the back burner, because that sort of production really brings in the money.
And in a way, that’s in all our interests too, because the more profitable they are, the more secure their future will be.
Actually, we were promised the films for November......
The latest announcements are in four weeks’ time, with possibly a few hundred units as early as next week.
We are currently also trying to recall stock from our warehouses in the US and the UK.
That will cost us more than we earn, but at least we’d be able to deliver again.
If investments weren’t taxed in advance in Germany (full advance taxation of commercial stock), then we could, like all our other colleagues in the EU, build up a large warehouse. However, as 55% tax is due upfront for every film on the shelf, our options are 55% more limited compared to England or France etc., because this capital goes towards the upfront tax and cannot be invested...
What can I say, the state is deep in the red and bankrupt, reforms are nowhere in sight, and our current Finance Senator has instructed the Berlin tax authorities to squeeze every last penny they can. As an entrepreneur, you feel the impact immediately, because all discretionary leeway suddenly vanishes overnight and completely excessive advance payment estimates land on your desk, which you then have to laboriously challenge through legal channels.
When this is combined with delivery problems from manufacturers, it unfortunately leads to unavoidable gaps in our product range.
In any case, we’re doing our best :-)
Best regards,
Mirko
Gast
Is it any wonder that companies are investing abroad? :(
Gast
Thanks, Mirko, for the information...
Best regards
Wolfgang
GerdK
What can I say? The state is deep in the red and broke, ....
Hello Mirko,
Tell me, weren’t it the ‘black’ politicians who drove Berlin into bankruptcy? Couldn’t Diepgen & Co. get enough and raked in a fortune from the Berliner Bankgesellschaft for their retirement pensions? Wasn’t it the CDU that pushed ahead with that idiotic Schönefeld Airport project?
It wouldn’t do you any favours in Berlin if the money were there. It would just be squandered on Schönefeld.
Bye, Gerd
MirkoBoeddecker
Gerd,
I don’t support any particular party, if that’s what you’re getting at.
The fact is that Germany taxes investments in stock, whereas other countries do not.
I can’t say who enacted this law, but I have to comply with it and therefore can’t set up a large warehouse abroad like some of my colleagues.
On top of that, the tax authorities are exploiting every last bit of discretion they have and are currently trying to squeeze out whatever they can using all sorts of tricks and loopholes.
This is a reflection of Berlin’s current financial situation, which the state government has no intention of changing and has done nothing to alter since taking office. Taken together, this means we cannot deliver because every euro we earn goes to the tax office.
I’m not sure if I’m too deeply entrenched in this to express myself clearly.
To put the problem another way: I have to pay tax even if I don’t withdraw any money from the company.
This cash flow to the tax office could be used for investment elsewhere, where it would strengthen companies against financial difficulties and lead to economic growth.
Here, tax is levied in advance, and an over-indebted company would be tax-optimised in Germany.
It wouldn’t be so bad if someone would lend me some money.
Then I could position FOTOIMPEX in line with the system.
But after four rejections, I’m not going to ask any more banks.
They’ve got this in-house ‘alarm system’.
As soon as they see ‘photo retail’, the red siren goes off and that’s it.
All this is to explain to you why we ‘don’t simply increase our stock’ when demand is greater than supply.
It’s meant to explain that we’re not idiots here who’ve missed the boat on demand, but that we unfortunately have a significant tax problem with a large warehouse.
I prefer to stay out of day-to-day politics.
Regards,
Mirko
PS: I’m a big fan of our city airport.
Schöfeld: yuck ;-)
Evil CDU, evil, evil! :(
MirkoBoeddecker
Back to business: We now have a delivery date.
All KB films should be back in stock in around 4 weeks.
All roll films are in stock.
KB 100 is in stock.
Mirko
CarstenM
Mirko,
Are the ADOX roll films finally available in those smart tins, or are those tins still bobbing about on a ship round Cape Horn? :-)
Best regards,
Carsten
MirkoBoeddecker
......they're currently out on the North Sea, or perhaps already on the Elbe :-)
micha
And what about those lovely sheet films?
Micha
MirkoBoeddecker
Micha,
Which sheet films are you referring to?
It’s not as if we don’t have any in stock...
We only have gaps in our stock for more unusual formats and speeds.
Best regards,
Mirko
Gast
Well, 8x10 and 9x12 :(
Micha
MirkoBoeddecker
For example, 9x12 is only available in 100 ISO and is currently in stock.
8x10" is not available in 100 ISO, but is available in 50 and 25 ISO.
We expect 8x10 in 100 ISO to arrive in 4 weeks.
Best regards,
Mirko
Ole
Are there perhaps other sizes available? 6.5x9, 13x18?
MirkoBoeddecker
Some films are out of stock, but the majority are available.
Please enquire specifically when placing your order – that way we can respond straight away and suggest alternatives if necessary.
6x9: efke 100
13x18: Classic 400
Best regards,
Mirko
