Dumping prices for nav + vhf in the UK ?

segaerta

segaerta

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 Nov 2005
Messages
215
Location
Gent, Belgium
Visit site
I'm a bit puzzled and thought somebody here could maybe help. I want to install GPS + VHF on my new boat and was thinking about a Navman 5607 (6.4" GSP plotter) and a 7100 VHF. Don't want to go too large or expensive.

My (Belgium based) dealer tells me Navman list price is about the same everywhere, which at least seems to be correct when I compare prices in Belgium and the Netherlands.

However, looking at websites in UK from JG Technologies or Marine Electronic Services, there appear to be huge differences between UK and Belgium / Netherlands prices.
For example:

- price quoted for a Navman 5607 GPS charplotter : in Belgium 1230 euro (already includes 12% discount), on UK website 569 GBP or about 770 euro at current exchange rate of 1.35 euro / GBP.
- price quoted for a Navman 7100 VHF : in Belgium 205 euro (incl 12% discount), on UK site 99 GBP or about 135 euro.

I find prices on websites in the Netherlands are about the same as in Belgium. My dealer says his purchase price is even above UK list prices.

Has anyone traded with these UK companies, and how come there are such huge differences in price ?

Thanks,
Alain
 
The stuff usually gets sold off cheap when the model is about to be superceded. JG Tech are reputable, but limited tech support and they can't fit it for you.
 
Thx all for quick replies.

Mind you, price difference is for all products, even new ones such as Garmin 5008 or Navman 8084 which I don't think will be dscontinued shortly ? Local Navman salesperson doesn't have an explanation either but fact of the matter is that my local dealer buys from Navman at a higher price than these UK companies sell it to the end user. So is Navman behind this ? Surely, larger companies get better purchasing conditions but this is over the top if you ask me.

Now about the service part ...
Suppose I buy in the UK, and anything goes wrong during or after the waranty period, would I have to ship it back to the UK for a repair or could I address Navman directly in Belgium and would I have to work via a Belgian dealer ? Anybody has any experience with this ?

Alain
 
I find all of this quite shocking ... total rip-off in our area /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif but what can we do about it ? I'm a bit worried buying this kind of stuff from the US and companies I don't know the reputation off, I don't know why. Probably the after-service part of the deal. Am I too worried ?
 
Try West marine in USA, good service and prices. You'll also see the latest kit advertised which probably won't include what you're looking at which means that it has already been discontinued. Happens a lot.
 
Noticed the same thing, since we have been based in Benelux. It's fine as long as everything is OK. No instructions in Fr or NL - but that's not a problem. Locals will not want to deal with the warranty though!
Be careful with VHF from US, they have different frequencies and not all sets will switch between the bands. Also a problem with one channel [31 - I think] that is used in NL and not on UK sold systems. I have this problem with a new Icom set that we brought with the boat to NL.
I've dealt with MES and they have been competitive and their service good!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top