Rip Off Britain!

[JamesS]

I'm trying to get hold of a replacement paddle wheel for my Autohelm (Reytheon) ST50 log.

Its been under-recording and despite the electronic adjustment wont come up to speed.

So, first call to Raytheon at Portsmouth, very helpful and dircted to their help desk. Again all very helpful, confirmed the nature of the problem and even the part number.

By now I was speaking to the USA as everyone kept on telling me to 'have a nice day'

I agreed to buy the part and was quoted a price of 24 US dollars. As I was passing my personal details across the young lady realised I was from the UK and advised I must ring Portsmouth and place the order there.

Again back in Portsmouth I was in the process of placing the order only t be told the price was now £23 plus VAT!

When I queried the difference I was told that 'everyone knows it costs more in the UK!'

Any suggestions welcome.

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[mirabriani]

Have you still got the old paddle wheel. Is it broken?
I successfully repaired mine using West Resin and a matchstick.
Mind you it always read slow and still does.
I did wonder if it should have two magnets.
Hope this helps
Regards Briani

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[aitchw]

James, there are no easy ways round this one. If they won't supply direct you have only 2 choices. Pay the UK price or find someone in the States to take delivery and post it on. Neither is very satisfactory. There should be no duty to pay at this price level but beware the possibility of VAT.

It is almost universally the case that US prices translate to UK price at 1:1 USD to GBP. Yes, it is a rip off but we have to live with it.

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[bruce]

one thing, check with your bank and discover that the us dollar is not worth your pound, something like $1.70 to your 1 pound sterling...

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[JamesS]

...quite right, which means I should be paying around £13 to £14!!


Cheers

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[galion22]

I'm trying to invent a machine which swallows up control freaks, rippof merchants and uncooperative foreign harbour masters, which will run forever on red diesel and low mooring fees.


<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by galion22 on 14/09/2004 14:42 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[dulcibella]

It's a small price for not living in the USA.

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[bruce]

but, i understand that the crime rate is higher in london than new york, and our marine vhf lic is cheaper, bottom line is we live where we like/want to in either place.

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[supermalc]

Nothing new here. Imperial Typwriters made a portable that sold for £35 in the UK in the early 70 (working man's wage £22 a week). Three dollars to the pound. Sold in the US for $33.

Get a mate to buy you one on holiday. He can bring it home in his hand luggage, or even his pocket.

<hr width=100% size=1>Malcolm.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://geocities.com/malcsworld/>http://geocities.com/malcsworld/</A>
Take a look at my boating pages.

 

[gandy]

I suppose you could call it "rip off Raytheon" instead, since they're the ones choosing to sell more expensively here than in the US, and refusing to ship direct. Are there other makes of instrument with a closer UK connection?

It can sometimes work both ways. I saw a thread on a woodworking site complaining that Clifton tools are overpriced in the US, and speculating whether it was worthwhile ordering from a UK dealer to ship to the US, or getting a friend to buy in the UK and carry home.

Tony S

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[JimC]

I won\'t rip you off

I've got a complete ST50 speed transducer surplus to requirements. It is used but in good working order and obviously includes the paddle wheel. It was registering accurately to the best of my knowlege and belief when I was using it. (I bought a complete new instrument when the depth sounder part failed, hence the redundant speed transducer).

Pmail me if interested

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[ArthurWood]

Hear, hear! nm

,

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[ashley]

Rip off France

Rip off britain! Try going further into Europe.
I was quoted the equivalent of £322 pounds for two epoxy "B packs"
I've just bought them from an excellent UK dealer for £159.
OK, i had to pay £53 carriage for hazardous good this time, but I've still saved over 50%

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[ArthurWood]

Re: Rip off France

Rip-off UK! Just been ripped off, IMHO, by a hotel in Silchester, UK: I was prevented fom attending my niece's wedding last weekend because of the impending hurricane strike here, but the hotel would not waive a 40 quid deposit. Never experienced this at an hotel anywhere else in the world. I knew it was a non-refundable deposit beforehand, but I really had no choice where I stayed. You would have thought they would have shown some understanding, or would you, especially as I gave them a week's notice? I wonder how they do business with business people whose plans are continually changing.

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[Robin]

Re: Rip off France

I would suspect this was not a 'business' hotel but a tourist one most of the 'chain' ones here nowadays will allow you to cancel up to the day of arrival even as late as 4pm.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[robind]

Dont you guys realise that there are extra costs involved for manufacturers when delivering items to wholesalers in the UK, like:-

Its usually done through a US wholesaler 25%, then theres the packaging (extra thick bubble pack)5%, and then collection from factory to us Wholesaler 10%, then US wholesaler to dock 10% . the shipping costs 10% then collection from Dock to wholesaler here 10%, then delivery to the retailer 10% then his profit 25%.

Total 105% so pay up and look good!! ))

Rob

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[abraxus]

In addition, the boating and leisure market in the US is much, much larger than here and therefore economies of scale make it possible to sell at lower prices.

Having said that, I still feel that we're ripped off here, both in terms of price and generally appalling levels of service. The trouble is that we put up with it. Americans are far more fussy and intolerant of such things and aren't shy of making a noise when they feel they're being conned, and as such force greater competition and keep prices down.

Apart from that, at least in London, it's getting damn near impossible to buy anything in either shops or restaurants, without having to either ask three times, increasingly slowly, or be fluent in an eastern European language.

Personally, I now prefer to buy from the US when I can as I find the service better, delivery pretty quick, and even after shipping costs and being mugged by the postman for the duty I still find it cheaper.

I appreciate that this reduces revenues in this country and ultimately diminishes the funds available for the government to finance urgent issues like fox hunting, but my guilt is eased every year when the government kindly send me a reminder of my contribution to these noble causes in the form of a P60.

Bill

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[milltech]

err, but aren't they made here?

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[JamesS]

Re: I won\'t rip you off

Thanks,

Please see my PM.

Cheers

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[Birdseye]

Made here??? Very much doubt it. Why would you want to make anything here rather than in China?

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.