Importing electronics

[Rigger]

Just received an Autohelm ST 4000 + wheel pilot from America. Ordered on line 2 wks ago. Total cost £506 icl p&p plus £104 import tax,ie grand total £610.00. Typical U.K. discount price is£660 plus £25 p&p even though the box says made in the U.K!!!! Mad world.

 

[AJW]

So you've saved 50 quid (ish) which is good. What happens if it goes wrong though? Will you have to send back to seller in US? For 50 quid I think I'd probably deal with my local retailer for the aftersales service benefits.

 

[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[AJW]

Fully accept that point and agree its a bit nuts! Market pricing I guess.

 

[Rigger]

The raymarine warranty covers this country as well. In the unlikely event of it going wrong I can simply send it back to them,(though hopefully not via the USA!!)

 

[BlueChip]

If you get caught for VAT as well as import duty it may not look like such a good bargain

 

[StephenSails]

Not wanting to be accused of spam here but we sell them for less and I am sure others do as well. + delivery within a few days, quick, easy and without giving the ceptics business.

 

[Rigger]

I have to say I hadn't seen your price, I simply googled and searched the first 10 or so UK prices that came up. There really is an incredible difference in asking prices and I naively ask the question :how much do these things cost to make!! Certainly will check you out in future!

 

[fireball]

Now you've blown it .... nobody likes hearing that they've overspent /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[StephenSails]

Oooops, maybe I can save him some beer vouchers in the future sometime

 

[Rigger]

Definately wiped the smug grin from my face!

 

[Sarum28]

Got mine at London Boat Show for £600 on my card

 

[yachtbits]

I really Hate to upset you BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we sell them here in the UK for under £600 inc vat and carriage is only £4.95.

http://www.yachtbits.com/raymarine/st4000_mk2_wheel_pilot.php

Need anything else!!

kevin

 

[Birdseye]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the point Rigger's making is the stuff has been manufactured in UK, shipped out to USA, shipped back into UK and still costs less than it does purchased in the Uk in the first place. A valid criticism in my opinion, why on earth should something manufactured in the Uk cost less by purchasing it abroad even if by only 5p?

Cheers, Brian.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are they not made in China? Wouldnt have expected them still to be made in the UK, and if they are made overseas then there is no reason why they shouldnt be cheaper in the US.

When I was exporting from the UK (many years ago) we used to make our money on the UK market and simply get volume at marginal cost from export markets so we had economies of scale. Hence our prices were always lower in the US than in the UK. Or to put it another way, you dont p*s in your own pot by depressing the price level in your home market.