Stena Line has some information about Poland on their website.
"With Poland's membership in the EU, all hassle with customs disappears. However, you still need to bring your passport. You buy what you need and travel back. But many are probably wondering if it really is that simple. To dispel any doubts, we asked a Polish and a Swedish customs officer if there are any problems when someone comes to the border crossing with a trailer full of furniture, TVs, and white goods? The answer was unequivocal: Nie ma problemów or in Swedish: Inga problem."
On the Tax Agency's pages, this information is available
"For individuals, the EC is a single large market. You pay VAT in the country where the seller is located. This is called the origin principle. As a consumer, you can choose to travel to Greece or Germany and buy your new TV, and drive home with it in the car, just as you can go and buy it in Alingsås. The difference is that in Sweden you pay 25% VAT, in Greece 18%, and in Germany 16% VAT."
We have just been to Poland and checked a bit. It will probably be a shopping trip soon.
//Lisa
"With Poland's membership in the EU, all hassle with customs disappears. However, you still need to bring your passport. You buy what you need and travel back. But many are probably wondering if it really is that simple. To dispel any doubts, we asked a Polish and a Swedish customs officer if there are any problems when someone comes to the border crossing with a trailer full of furniture, TVs, and white goods? The answer was unequivocal: Nie ma problemów or in Swedish: Inga problem."
On the Tax Agency's pages, this information is available
"For individuals, the EC is a single large market. You pay VAT in the country where the seller is located. This is called the origin principle. As a consumer, you can choose to travel to Greece or Germany and buy your new TV, and drive home with it in the car, just as you can go and buy it in Alingsås. The difference is that in Sweden you pay 25% VAT, in Greece 18%, and in Germany 16% VAT."
We have just been to Poland and checked a bit. It will probably be a shopping trip soon.
//Lisa
We are currently packing because tomorrow (Monday) we are heading to Poland via Nynäshamn. We're skipping the Baltics since too many questions arose regarding prices and selection..... 
But tickets are booked for the ferry on Monday at 18.00 from Nynäshamn, and we're returning from Poland on Saturday at 18.00.
Any last-minute tips to keep in mind?
Has anyone rented a cabin at the campsite in Gdansk and knows the standard of these? We would love tips on other cheap accommodations in the Tricity area!
But tickets are booked for the ferry on Monday at 18.00 from Nynäshamn, and we're returning from Poland on Saturday at 18.00.
Any last-minute tips to keep in mind?
Has anyone rented a cabin at the campsite in Gdansk and knows the standard of these? We would love tips on other cheap accommodations in the Tricity area!
HiJesca_j said:Now we're busy packing, because tomorrow (Monday) we're heading to Poland, via Nynäshamn. We're skipping the Baltics as there were too many question marks regarding prices and selection.....
But tickets are booked with the ferry on Monday at 18:00 from Nynäshamn and we're coming back from Poland on Saturday at 18:00.
Any last-minute tips to consider?
Has anyone rented a cabin at the campsite in Gdansk and knows the standard of these? Tips on other cheap accommodations in the tri-city area are welcome!
Good luck, but save some for me too
. I'm probably heading down in the fall/winter.Are you traveling with a truck or a van?
Said
We are traveling by van (VW bus with only the front seats, classified as a passenger car on the ferry), and we're mostly out to scout and buy tools needed at the start of the construction during this first trip, plus some tiles, bathroom furniture, and other fun stuff. If the prices are good, we'll probably go down again, either with a truck or a big trailer behind the VW.
A few and a few... a couple of hundred square meters of tiles/clinker and 150 square meters of parquet I wouldn't call a little......Husbyggarn said:jesca: Yes, you can do that sometimes... (but we already have such good discounts at Beijer, so we don't haggle there either...
But "large batches" doesn't feel like buying a few square meters of tiles or some kitchen cabinets at IKEA. It should be a few thousand kronor before you even consider haggling. Or?
Besides the kitchen cabinets, we also didn't buy everything at the same place or at the same time...
Anyway, we're back now after almost a week in the Gdansk-Gdynia area.
What we did was take a notepad and go around to Obi, Praktiker, LeroyMerlin, and Castorama to compare prices as these can vary quite a bit.
What we noticed was that Praktiker was the most expensive for most things, and the others were fairly even in prices.
I will post the prices here in the thread later, once I've had a chance to rewrite the notes and unpack the car which is fully loaded at my partner's parents' place.
Your website is slow as molasses...if you want any customers, maybe it would be a good idea to speed it up a bit...seeing is believingbubaab said:Hello!!!!
Everyone interested in purchasing building materials in Poland. I'm down here in Szczecin and happy to help. Give a call and our little cooperation can be beneficial for both sides.
We are now back after the second budget/shopping vacation in Gdansk/Gdynia/Sopot. The kids probably have enough material for a Myrdal-/Gyllenhammar-book by now.
This time, I didn't go around to a bunch of stores but mostly hung out at Castorama most of the days. Nice staff there, some spoke relatively good English. I grabbed someone who walked around with me for hours and took notes on what I wanted. I've probably never received such good service. Some materials cost about 1/5th of what they do in Sweden. Some were just a little cheaper. Interesting to see that there were the same brands for waterproofing, etc., as in Sweden. I picked up a bunch of catalogs from a small tile company I've previously bought from and am now handling purchases from home via email.
It might not be so fun to spend the vacation at budget hotels/the car/building supply stores in Poland, but if you can save many nice thousands on it, then it's definitely worth it.
Bought 10-15 interior design magazines with prices and addresses of the articles listed. Incredibly good exposure of the products in the magazines.
Best regards,
A tired David
This time, I didn't go around to a bunch of stores but mostly hung out at Castorama most of the days. Nice staff there, some spoke relatively good English. I grabbed someone who walked around with me for hours and took notes on what I wanted. I've probably never received such good service. Some materials cost about 1/5th of what they do in Sweden. Some were just a little cheaper. Interesting to see that there were the same brands for waterproofing, etc., as in Sweden. I picked up a bunch of catalogs from a small tile company I've previously bought from and am now handling purchases from home via email.
It might not be so fun to spend the vacation at budget hotels/the car/building supply stores in Poland, but if you can save many nice thousands on it, then it's definitely worth it.
Bought 10-15 interior design magazines with prices and addresses of the articles listed. Incredibly good exposure of the products in the magazines.
Best regards,
A tired David
David: Was it you running around with the Byggmax magazine tucked into your shorts pocket?
Which brand did you buy for the waterproofing and what did it cost? Feel free to write down some names of companies you think have a good selection of tiles, as the big companies (OBI, Castorama, Praktiker, LeroyMerlin) seem to have a slightly boring selection.
Has anyone looked at HTH kitchens in Poland? (Located near IKEA.) Or another supplier that has nice oak doors? I also want tips on someone selling granite countertops at a good price.
Then a small question: Why are 99% of bathroom furniture just boring white? Or does anyone know where there are bathroom furniture in wood?
Which brand did you buy for the waterproofing and what did it cost? Feel free to write down some names of companies you think have a good selection of tiles, as the big companies (OBI, Castorama, Praktiker, LeroyMerlin) seem to have a slightly boring selection.
Has anyone looked at HTH kitchens in Poland? (Located near IKEA.) Or another supplier that has nice oak doors? I also want tips on someone selling granite countertops at a good price.
Then a small question: Why are 99% of bathroom furniture just boring white? Or does anyone know where there are bathroom furniture in wood?
I'm giving a rather concise answer as I'm at work.
If you want exclusive tiles, ImexTop32 and Agena are good places. Imex has a nice display of bathroom furnishings.
However, I found a company that sold Swedoor doors made in Estonia. A Teak door cost 3000 Zloty. I'll get back with the address later. I need to decide if I want the two doors they had in stock first.
At Castorama, they had oak veneer interior doors for 130 Zloty, including lock case. Great for the wallet.
Plaster, fireproof bricks, self-leveling compound, and mortar were extremely cheap.
Best regards,
David
Nope. I had jeans with a torn knee. Sometimes I had one of the kids with me.
Mapei. I'll get back with the price but it wasn't extremely cheaper than in Sweden.
I thought Castorama had cheap, stylish white tiles. 22 Zloty/sqm is extremely cheap. For tiles, I go to Agena.
If you want exclusive tiles, ImexTop32 and Agena are good places. Imex has a nice display of bathroom furnishings.
Also looking for nice cheap kitchens. Please leave tips here.
We cut them ourselves with countertops from Bauhaus. Otherwise, it was hard to find cheap wood products in Poland.
However, I found a company that sold Swedoor doors made in Estonia. A Teak door cost 3000 Zloty. I'll get back with the address later. I need to decide if I want the two doors they had in stock first.
At Castorama, they had oak veneer interior doors for 130 Zloty, including lock case. Great for the wallet.
Plaster, fireproof bricks, self-leveling compound, and mortar were extremely cheap.
Best regards,
David
One more thing. The electricity seemed to be designed a bit differently in Poland compared to Sweden. Their grounded outlets resembled our grounded light sockets. That is, a steel pin was sticking out. Therefore, I skipped buying electrical materials there. It will probably be Elbutik.nu instead. Does anyone know of anything cheaper?
Regards,
David
Regards,
David
The "only" thing that seemed to differ electrically was just the grounded wall sockets, the rest seemed to be the same.
I saw that there were ABB fuse boxes (empty) for around 65 zloty and the circuit breakers for the same, also ABB, cost 11.95 zloty each, 3-phase relay for mounting in a fuse box (ABB) for 50 zloty, and so on...
Oh dear... one almost gets a shopping frenzy when walking around...
The thing that seems to be the most "profitable" to buy is EVERYTHING related to concrete: Cement, concrete, tile adhesive, grout, etc., where prices could be a fifth or less on certain products......
Now I just have to buy a trailer to take with me on the next trip!
I saw that there were ABB fuse boxes (empty) for around 65 zloty and the circuit breakers for the same, also ABB, cost 11.95 zloty each, 3-phase relay for mounting in a fuse box (ABB) for 50 zloty, and so on...
Oh dear... one almost gets a shopping frenzy when walking around...
The thing that seems to be the most "profitable" to buy is EVERYTHING related to concrete: Cement, concrete, tile adhesive, grout, etc., where prices could be a fifth or less on certain products......
Now I just have to buy a trailer to take with me on the next trip!