Oh Booger!! USA vs UK Prices

Dave_Snelson

Dave_Snelson

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www.makeyourowngarments.com
This has definitely been done before as Deleted User posted some info. But the situation has really become rediculous.

Navman 5500i from local chandler (who I rate highly by the way) retails at £500+

Star Marine Depot in the US, flogs 'em over the net at $408!!!

So I could pay less in $ than I do in £. It works out at £240!!!

I don't mind paying say £50 over the odds to keep my business local and to patronise this excellent chandlery - but less than half price. Who sets these flippin' prices anyway? How can the disparity be so wide? The stuff is made in NZ, so its not as if its US home grown!

I'm kinda committed now, as I have picked this guys brains and he has offered me heaps of information that I couldn't get elsewhere, and I'm not that unscrupulous as to cr@p on him and renage on the deal.

I don't think its the chandlers fault and I'm guessing that he pays more than £240 as a wholesale price. I guess I'm just miffed at rip-off Britain again /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Just a thought, does the UK price include some chart software? There was some sort of offer a few months back, this couldf account for some of the difference, maybe? But agree there is still the good old Uk mark up, almost always the same in $ as £.
 
Having bought from the USA via Ebay can I say that customs, VAT, postage etc may be prohibitive. I would also be concerned about warranty. A purchase whilst on holiday there may be the best option.
JJTOP
 
JJTOP's concerns about warranty are valid. Many of the lowest price US vendors are selling "grey market" goods. Which means they have bypassed the usual US marketing channels (along with their costs) and bought direct. With a weaker warranty, if much at all.

Kelly Cook
 
Its the tax you pill...ck, you get free hospital treatment in the Uk ...... of course it has to be paid for somehow +++ immigrants ++ incapacity benefit.
Why do you waste our time with totally krap postings!!!
 
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
That's an interesting perspective, free hospital treatment, I'm sure that if I'd been given the choice of saving all the taxes I've paid over the years i could have almost bought my own hospital! And all the other services I've not used! So I must be a pillock as well.

I probably paid for your education or maybe that of your kids, hope it was worth it.......................................
 
This has always been a problem for manufacturers in the far east. They like to make and sell plenty and the U.S. market has always been the largest potential single market. Product is shipped in bulk and sold through distributors and direst retail chains. They have alot of buying power and quite often dictate pricing structures and levels of support. Europe comes second and the UK is actually very small in comparison but difficult to sell to indirectly. In the UK there has always been much need for dealers that are helpful and knowledgeable as with your dealer. You can see therefore, too many resellers in the chain, promotional cost of advertising and exhibitions plus dealer support added onto an already higher price makes the UK the worst place to buy anything of a high tech nature. Grey markets will happen across European boundaries when one territory buys well through currency fluctuations and they can also provide manuals written in the appropriate language. It's very difficult to control for any manufacturer and the term, 'Grey Market' is now seriously penalised by EC law with massive fines. Hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Somebody has to pay for the fancy stands at Boat shows, the accomodation meals and wages, and of course trips abroad, it all makes the world go round except I prefer to buy abroad and not subsidise the mini bar bill /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Who cares what colour the market is - not my problem

Electrickery is usually reliable so risk warranty - if it fails buy another one and you are still in pocket.

Rip-off Britain is indefensible.
 
On the tax thingy.Many prices do not mention the state and local taxes which would be payable by any local purchasor.So the final price actually paid by peeps both sides of the pond may not be as wide as it first appears?
 
Dave,
I haven't seen the ad to which you refer, but the importer, you, pays duty and VAT, it can't be prepaid. That statement is usually made by US sellers who tick the "gift" box on the customs form hoping you will not then be asked for the duty and VAT on your doorstep.
 
there is a proposal with the EU to increase the allowance for tax free personal imports (hand carried by returning travellers) from the current £145 to £1000. This was proposed by the UK (G Brown believe it or not....!)

If this comes in then will make holidays in the US for boaters very attractive!

Just a pity we can't bring back a few thousand gallons of diesel as well....
 
Aha - I wondered what the "gift" tick box was intended for - a decoy! Even with import duty at say 30% and VAT at 17.5%, these units still come out at £366.60, which is still ahead of the UK best priced chandlery by £133.40.

I am still loyal to my local chandler and will still buy from him, because everyone gets good advice even if they are buying just a 10p widget. And the point about 10p widgets is that if you need one desperately (and can't set sail without one) and the chandler is no longer there coz he has closed, then you're stuck! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
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