Florist News

Hi Guys!

I'm considering using metz instead of Flowers4Florists for my next order. I've read through previous threads and you all seem to rave about the quality, so no probs there.

I was just wondering, whilst I was looking at ordering things:

• Do the priced include VAT? (If not, it is really expensive!) And is it @ 17.5% or 6% (which is what F4F charge it at)
• If a product is listed, does that mean it is available? Eg. Lily of the valley is on there, but it says 'difficult to get' or similar when hovered over?
• What days of the week do they deliver?
• How far in advance can I order?
• Am I right in thinking foam etc. is cheaper from ya local wholesaler, I paid about £8.00/20 blocks.

On F4F if it isn't on there, it isn't readily available, but if you email them, they'll get it for you. Same with Metz?

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As far as I'm aware, Metz don't charge VAT on their flowers (although I have a feeling there are forum members who have got them to?)

If it's listed with a price, then it's available.

Delivery days depend on whereabouts in the country you are, I think most customers get the option of two deliveries a week. Mine's currently a Mon and a Thu.

The flowers that you can order online come up about 3 days prior to your delivery.

Dunno about sundries, think they are slightly more expensive.

Yep - if there's something you need am sure they would be able to buy off the auctions.

Also, they have a minimum order value of £200 and were about to start charging for delivery, which I think is £5.

Oh... and... not sure if they cater for the odd order every now and then rather than something on a regular basis, I know with Heemskerk I got booted off for not ordering often enough.

hope that helps

puss

Ok, the VAT thing: if you are VAT registered then Metz do not charge you VAT so no VAT is recoverable on the purchase. VAT is still chargeable on sales. If you are not VAT registered then VAT is added to the purchase price.

How this f4f only charge 6% is a mystery to me, where are they located?

Example figures for VAT comparison;

Example 1:
Purchases on buying from Metz and AN Other UK Supplier

Turnover £100,000

Purchases from UK company £20,000 + £3,500 VAT £23,500 (Total paid to supplier)
Purchases from Metz £20,000 £20,000 (Total paid to supplier)

Sales £85,107 + £14,893 VAT (17.5%) £100,000

VAT Return

Sales VAT - Payable £14,893
Purchases VAT - Recoverable (£3,500)

Total Due to HM Custom’s £11,393

Therefore paid out £3500 + £11393 = £14893 in total



Example 2:
Purchases on buying from AN Other UK Supplier only

Turnover £100,000

Purchases from UK company £40000 + £7000 VAT £47000 (Total paid to supplier)


Sales £85,107 + £14,893 VAT (17.5%) £100,000

VAT Return

Sales VAT - Payable £14,893
Purchases VAT - Recoverable (£7,000)

Total Due to HM Custom’s £7,893

Therefore paid out £7000 + £7893 = £14893 in total



Example 3:
Purchases on buying from Metz only

Turnover £100,000

Purchases from Metz £40000 £40000 (Total paid to supplier)


Sales £85,107 + £14,893 VAT (17.5%) £100,000

VAT Return

Sales VAT - Payable £14,893
Purchases VAT - Recoverable (£0.00)

Total Due to HM Custom’s £14,893

Therefore paid out £14893 in total

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Do you have a shop Jake as i am not sure if Metz will supply you if you don't you need to look up the rep covering your Area on thier website and then give them a call. They came out and visited me before they started supplying me. It gave me a chance to ask all the questions i wanted and they also picked up a shop key for the driver as he arrives here in the early hours so he lets himself in which i think is commom practice with Metz.

Thanks for the maths lesson!

I don't have a shop, no, but Richard Pring said he is more than happy to supply me. I just wanted to know if the priced shown included VAT or if it's added to the bill afterwards.

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You're welcome

I hope it didn't come across as patronising, it's just that this was an issue we initially struggled to get our heads around and Metz gave us that example to try and illustrate how it all worked out.

I'm still curious to know how you're getting charged 6% VAT by your other supplier, my VAT knowledge is pretty basic but I just don't see how thats possible

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If you are not VAT registered, then when you import you need to pay that countries VAT, which in Holland is 6% for flowers, other items are 19%, but there is a concession for the flower trade here.

Ok, I'm still confused

When we first started buying from Metz we were'nt VAT registered and they charged us VAT at 17.5%, but now we are registered and we aren't charged VAT on our purchases from them

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Metz must have a registered UK company to charge you 17.5% which i think they do, so not sure why they dont charge you VAT now then.

We were exactly the same as you paid 17.5% until we got our VAT reg number now we pay nothing