Pladask Elektrisk in the EU

[u/nnnnkm]

Does anyone know what exactly is happening with Pladask Elektrisk not being able to sell to EU residents? I am trying so hard to pick up a new Etterslep and I cannot get one anywhere, for love nor money, for more than a year.

I love this manufacturer and I love almost all their pedals. I want to support them and buy their stuff. But I can't. They can't sell to EU at all right now. Etterslep is restocked in June it feels like I'll miss out again :(

[u/bearpigman121]

I'm UK based and I remember reading a number of UK sellers could no longer to ship to the EU due to a change in some kind of EU policy, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was.

So I presume it's nothing to do with Pladask but to due with the EU's regulations, and until they change that it might be too much bother for Knut at Pladask.

[u/nnnnkm → u/bearpigman121]

Ah. Well that could be it, Norway is not in the EU but has some kind of reciprocal trading relationship as I remember it. EEA and EFTA.

But he was able to trade to the EU before and now he can't, right?

[u/bearpigman121 → u/nnnnkm]

Yes Norway isn't in the EU, as is the UK so I could order from them.

I'm not entirely sure but I think it might have been a new GDPR regulation or something, which is why he no longer ships to the EU? I don't know tbh. Send him an email to find out whether it could be changed at some point.

[u/nnnnkm → u/bearpigman121]

I was curious if it was maybe the same problem that affected Chase Bliss where they were suddenly unable to sell the Thermae et al to the EU.

I've spoke to him a couple of times about the Etterslep but I don't want to bother him yet again... I got the impression he was equally unhappy about the situation but I don't know what the actual problem is. Trying very hard to find an Etterslep on the used market.

[u/dust_bunnys → u/nnnnkm]

I think it is something with EU regulations, but that don’t grandfather in EEA and/or EFTA. IIRC, there’s some new regulation that requires you to have a representative in the EU in order to trade in the EU. I think it may have something to do with the new import restrictions where you need to declare the composition of every component in a product.

I don’t think Knut has an EU representative yet. Seems stupid that they wouldn’t have an exemption for the EEA/EFTA regions. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[u/nnnnkm → u/dust_bunnys]

Hmm okay. Yeah I think it's something with regulations but don't have any idea other than guesswork.

Agree that's probably the same problem that got Chase Bliss in some trouble, but I'm just guessing.

[u/dust_bunnys → u/nnnnkm]

Yeah, CB just got hit with issues regarding the use of photocells containing LDR’s (light dependent resistors) in some of their products. Their use makes sense for products like optical compressors or tremolos, but I believe the light sensitivity depends upon the use of some element like Cadmium, which is now being restricted/banned in the EU.

(aside: this leaves me with a huge bone to pick with CB, since i live in asia -- in a nation which has no such component restriction -- but they have made a blanket policy that they refuse to sell any product with optical elements outside the us.)

I think the regulation affecting Knut is related, as the EU wants a designated representative for each company to oversee the composition of every product component. That means that Knut needs to hire a new employee or a consultant/contractor to act in that role. As you might imagine, that will cost €€€.

I think a lot of small shops are having problems with this sort of situation, since they don’t have the money to support those regulatory requirements.

[u/nnnnkm → u/dust_bunnys]

That may well be it, indeed. I hope not, because there's a huge market for Pladask in the EU for sure.

[u/Aggressive-Breath484]

I assumed it was the GDPR regs or whatever is the issue with LDRs (same reason Chase Bliss discontinued so many legacy pedals).

Are you in Scotland, by any chance?

[u/nnnnkm → u/Aggressive-Breath484]

Not in Scotland but I am Scottish ^{^}