New Leica MPs and M-As difficult to find??

The price of a Leica M-A in EU countries is, "as we speak", 4.400 Euros (about 5.300 US$), incl. a 19 - 20% VAT from seller's country. In Norway, where VAT is 25%, the price is even a bit higher.

If I understand you, a VAT of 19 to 20% is built in to the price of the M-A in the EU, which means that the total cost of the M-A in most of EU (Norway excepted) is roughly comparable to the untaxed retail price of the camera in the US for a US buyer. (4,400 EU vs $5195 US)

In the US, because most sellers are now required by state governments to collect and remit sales tax (the state tax rate plus local municipal and county rate based on the address of the buyer), most US purchasers will end up paying a little more total for the camera than someone in the EU would.

The sum of state plus local tax rates varies considerably in the US, but is typically in the 6 to 9% range. Nowhere do I think it exceeds 10%.

It seems as though the camera price is being subsidized for EU buyers to offset the higher VAT tax rate in order to keep the out-of-pocket cost to consumers roughly comparable in the EU and the US. We know the government gets its cut. So who in the EU is eating that cost?
 
If I understand you, a VAT of 19 to 20% is built in to the price of the M-A in the EU, which means that the total cost of the M-A in most of EU (Norway excepted) is roughly comparable to the untaxed retail price of the camera in the US for a US buyer. (4,400 EU vs $5195 US)

In the US, because most sellers are now required by state governments to collect and remit sales tax (the state tax rate plus local municipal and county rate based on the address of the buyer), most US purchasers will end up paying a little more total for the camera than someone in the EU would.

The sum of state plus local tax rates varies considerably in the US, but is typically in the 6 to 9% range. Nowhere do I think it exceeds 10%.

It seems as though the camera price is being subsidized for EU buyers to offset the higher VAT tax rate in order to keep the out-of-pocket cost to consumers roughly comparable in the EU and the US. We know the government gets its cut. So who in the EU is eating that cost?


Don't ask me.. 🙂 But yes, you understand me right. Unless the US impose an import tax / VAT higher than 19% calculated on a product's sale + shipping price, you may consider buying relative expensive stuff from EU e-stores, asking them to not charge you their VAT. This is fully according to EU laws, and you'll get your camera or whatever else cheaper than buying it from American stores. It might be far from an ideal situation when it comes to protecting American jobs, but that's how it is.
 
Keep on dreaming and good luck with that.


What do you mean? Any goods sold in the EU to non-EU buyers can and should be sold with no VAT. Since VAT is normally a part of the price shown to private customers, you can count on a -19 / 20% on the displayed price. How much you'll have to pay in taxes once the good arrives in your country, and whether that makes it worth buying in the EU, I have no idea. Maybe you do, and that's what you meant.
 
Any goods sold in the EU to non-EU buyers can and should be sold with no VAT.
Grateful if you could share the source of this information. I've lived outside the EU in a variety of countries and I have never been able to convince an EU seller to forego the local VAT. Not for any merchandise. Thanks for your feedback. Cheers, OtL
 
Grateful if you could share the source of this information. I've lived outside the EU in a variety of countries and I have never been able to convince an EU seller to forego the local VAT. Not for any merchandise. Thanks for your feedback. Cheers, OtL

Go to https://www.photografica.com/ (Denmark), put a random item into the basket, proceed to check-out. Choose country "Norway" and whups, MOMS (VAT) disappears. This is, however, different for any used item, even if sold by a shop. Then they usually will not waive VAT. I have also purchased several mountaineering/guiding related items in France and Spain without VAT (as single-person company, but I think it will be the same for individuals).
 
Grateful if you could share the source of this information. I've lived outside the EU in a variety of countries and I have never been able to convince an EU seller to forego the local VAT. Not for any merchandise. Thanks for your feedback. Cheers, OtL


Glad if I can help. Here it is, even highligthed in bold text. Since I moved from Italy to Norway 17 years ago, I bought tons of stuff from EU, benefitting from this possibility.

Edit: just saw that someone else posted the same or similar link. The opportunity is anywhere there for you to take 🙂
 
See that there is a high density of norwegians/people living in norwy on this thread - but very geographically dispursed.
Anyway, buying from Norway should be the most lucrative as the norwegian VAT is 25%. Might be why people are comming to Norway to buy Rolexes etc.
 
Thanks for all your tips folks! I just bought the black M-A that I was looking for. And of all possible places (which actually weren't that many), I didn't need to go any further than to another RF forumer, who had a spare one and could let it go.
 
Congratulations on acquiring your dream camera! It is good that Leica still makes a camera like this, expensive as it may seem (I’m sure the M3 or M4 also seemed equally expensive in their day).

May your camera serve you well.
 
Thanks for all your tips folks! I just bought the black M-A that I was looking for. And of all possible places (which actually weren't that many), I didn't need to go any further than to another RF forumer, who had a spare one and could let it go.


Congratulations! May it give you many years of service, pleasure and fine photographs.
 
I see it is already up for sale. What happened?


No, it's not. It's staying (for now) because it is a fabulous camera, smoother and with a much brighter finder than my M2 and M6. But other than that, I agree with Hamish on 35mmc.com who loved it yet judged it "underwhelming". Which is why I temporarely thought I could just as well keep the M2. These M cameras are just 50 shades of perfection anyway..
 
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