We know USA vs EU pricing but this is outrageous ....

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I have a Lowrance 3500C plotter .. with NW Europe Chart card ... very happy with it too ...
Boat has moved to Baltic - so I want the NE Europe Chart Card now ... Lowrance / Silva Part no. 108-196.

Price in UK seems to range from about £130 up to RRP of £149.95 + delivery.
Looking on US web-sites .... they sell Nauticpath Chart Cards for $99.99 in most outlets + delivery.

BUT you cannot order from US sites - as the "rule" Lowrance products for US only ...

Take above prices and calculate the difference .... EU pricing approx. DOUBLE !! Not even same figure dollar for pounds ..

Are we being ripped off or what ???????

/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
"Are we being ripped off or what ???????"

Yes. I bought rope clutches in NY, for half the price they would have cost in the UK, despite the fact that they are manufactured in the IOW.

I used to travel regularly to the US, which helped keep boating costs down a lot. Unfortunately (from one point of view) my business travel is now pretty much within the bounds of the London Underground's Circle Line.
 
This is Treasure Island for manufacturers- huge rip-offs are the order of the day on many products.

The US prices are tempting but even if you can overcome the C&E import duties and VAT, it is very difficult to find a US seller who is willing to export(they seem unaware of markets beyond their territory)- then of course there is the protectionism to which you refer.

What is needed is a discreet and trusted service which for a modest fee will act as intermediary to purchase and send items (doesn't get around the duty and VAT problems).

For me that means encouraging one of my relatives to relocate to Washington in the not to distant future to take advantage of the situation at an acceptable risk level /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Our daughter has a good friend who studies in Belgium, but whose parents now live in the US. Regular traffic of all concerned between the 2 countries. We order on US internet sites, delivery to the friend's US address, and item gets hand delivered max 6 weeks later. Obviously works better for eg small electronics
 
UK expensive ?
I buy everything worth something via internet either from UK or US. Even UK is 30% - 60% cheaper than finnish chandleries. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Years ago I was involved in buying computers - mainframes they were then -which were all US sourced. We paid the same in £ as the Yanks paid in $. I asked the seller why this was and he in all seriousness said 'It is the Trans-Atlantic uplift factor'. IMHO they think we are little and stupid and we behave as if we are.
 
You could, for physically small stuff like this find a contact in the States who will receive the item for you, open the packaging ( or remove it if necessary) and send it on to you with a 'Used/secondhand' declaration and revalued at $30 say. This will get you under the VAT/duty threshold.

A small 'fee' for doing it can then easily be absorbed.
 
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the Trans-Atlantic uplift factor'

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Something I have been saying for years. But who has all this extra money, where does it go to ?
 
For electronics and deck gear I would agree with you, but the small every-day stuff (shackles, fenders, ss nuts/bolts etc) comes from Biltema... :-)
 
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But who has all this extra money, where does it go to ?

[/ QUOTE ] Personally, I'm not sure it really exists.

Books in the UK have the same pound/dollar parity as many other products and much navel gazing has gone on to decide why this should be so, since (trust me on this /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif) UK publishers are no more profitable than their US counterparts. The general consensus is that it's economies of scale which make the difference, particularly at the production and distribution stages but also in areas like marketing.

As a f'rinstance, a mega seller in the UK might do 1 million copies in paperback, whereas in the US it could do 5 million. Much of the cost of printing is tied up in origination (typsetting, design etc.). To print 5 times the number of books will cost nothing like 5 times the money - more like 2 times.

I'm sure this principle applies to a lot of fmcgs.
 
"my business ... is now pretty much within the bounds of the London Underground's Circle Line."

If only i'd known twas youse busking at Paddington i'd huv put a bawbee or two in the hat .....
 
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To print 5 times the number of books will cost nothing like 5 times the money - more like 2 times.

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I agree with that, but the 6 million copies are more likely to be printed in the Far East rather than the respective countries.

But lets look at a product made in this country then sold in the US cheaper than here. How?
 
www.defenderus.com will ship most items worldwide, There are generally amongst the more competitive on line chandleries in the US.

West Marine will also ship worldwide www.westmarine.com .
Not as competitive as Defender but they do have a good loyalty scheme issuing you with vouchers that can be used on line to redeem against future orders.

As for chips. I am going out to the states from 11 to 25th April so quite happy to bring some back for you /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
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Unfortunately, my only US 'relatives' are in Denver, which is not much of a mecca for sailing!

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There is a West Marine on South County Line - I know them quite well as I always visit when I'm over there. They will order for you - I even got them to add me onto the loyalty scheme. The biggest problem is getting out of the door because they always want to talk about sailing in Europe.
 
But they could receive what you order and send it on?

The US also charges sales tax depending on the location of the addressee I think
 
[ QUOTE ]
www.defenderus.com will ship most items worldwide, There are generally amongst the more competitive on line chandleries in the US.

West Marine will also ship worldwide www.westmarine.com .
Not as competitive as Defender but they do have a good loyalty scheme issuing you with vouchers that can be used on line to redeem against future orders.

As for chips. I am going out to the states from 11 to 25th April so quite happy to bring some back for you /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Tried both - both have restriction - US addressed only.

I have a brother who lives and works in States .. so I could go the US address route if I wanted ... I know others also ... but why should we be forced to such devious actions ?

On the subject of production costs etc. A chart card ? What real cost once data is set on master machine ? Cards are 2 a penny wherever you get them from ... and a quick record onto it ? Books etc. - I can understand ... but this ?

Sorry ... rip-off.
 
You are quite right in my opinion to be outraged but sellers depend on purchasers being individuals and until such time as the consumers mobilise and cooperate they have no pwer to force the sellers to toe the line.

Whilst you (and I )are protesting there will be many more who just dig deep and pay up, so perpetuating the rip-off.

Personally I get a lot of enjoyment trying to beat 'the system' legitimately, so I will go to almost any lengths to prove the point even if ultimately there is little financial benefit- at least I have denied those who expect to be able delve into my pockets for whatever price they see fit to ask!

My attitude has resulted in one manufacturer asking me to sell their goods here which I am pleased to do as a hobby and an interest, at very little profit as I discount the UK RRP substantially, simply because their first UK importer told me a load of lies and frankly couldn't be bothered to supply me, which is another aspect of the UK scene with which many of us will be all too familiar.
 
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