Tamiya Germany's import regulations

[Woz]

Read this on a forum discussing the topic-

I discussed this topic recently with a Japanese who lives in Germany and makes a living of selling Japanese hobby products that aren't at all or otherwise not easily available in Europe/Germany. He told me that the German Tamiya distributor had forced him to stop importing certain Tamiya items that the German Tamiya distributor doesn't import themselves. We're talking "special interest" products that are of interest to Japanese Tamiya fans and a little group of Tamiya fans outside Japan only. I'm not a lawyer, but have a little basic knowledge about import/export/trade regulations within the EC, so when the Japanese gentleman told me he thinks the distributor wouldn't really win in court if they sued him like they've threatened to do, I think he's right. However, I also agree with him that he's "David against Goliath", so going to court isn't really an option, regardless of how confident he is that he would eventually win. For a small / one-man business, a case like this is simply too exhausting. nerve wrecking and costly before finally winning, so the laws and justice are of little or no importance. "Goliath" wins.

As Seidel isn't the only Tamiya reseller who has put restrictions on their own business lately, I wouldn't be surprised if this was caused by the German distributor. After all, it's not exactly a company famous for high ethics (selling parts that are Tamiya clones and models that are partially Tamiya clones, cannibalizing the Tamiya brand and image by selling inferior hobby products as "Tamiya" / "Tamiya Exclusive" etc.) and as they are meanwhile the country distributor for several other European countries too, it's in their interest to separate markets along country borders, regardless of whether it's legal or not. Within the EC, it's hardly legal, but if you're "Goliath", why care about the law? Either way, I believe Tamiya HQ will eventually decide to drop this company as their distributor in Germany and some other European countries. Not only would Tamiya (Japan) benefit from it. Tamiya enthusiasts within their market would too. I can't wait for it to happen....

[jarndice]

So what this boils down to is it would take a court action by an EU members Government to force the hand of this German Dealer,
Does anyone know of a senior Government official of an EU Country who also builds 1/16 R/C Armour ?
Shaun.

[wibblywobbly]

I seem to recall that the rules of EU trade state that no restrictive practices are allowed, all trade is borderless. I have a friend in the model trade who was selling imported models at below that advertised by a German dealer. The German dealer then started threatening him, saying that the manufacturer and his wife in China were very good friends of his, and that if my friend did not raise his prices then he would get the UK distributorship withdrawn. My friend had no alternative but to raise his advertised prices?

It shouldn't take expensive legal action to stop sharp practice, if the EU was an honest outfit then one letter to an EU MP should be enough to put the wheels in motion, however as the EU free market is an illusion that few bother to research, they can conduct business on the wrong side of the ethical law.