UK - US Price Differences

[Martin Horne]

Amazing difference in UK/US price for a Voightlander VC2 meter.

Cameraquest $174 plus shipping. (US)

Robert White $261 plus shipping. (UK) equivalent.

Even allowing for import duty it's a fair old whack

I may just fly over and pick one up...

😕

 

[migtex]

it looks that the distributors in Europe get them at US street price... then add their margin and VAT .... and it's with everything... software as well, look Adobe!

 

[mwooten]

Amazing difference in UK/US price for a Voightlander VC2 meter.

Cameraquest $174 plus shipping. (US)

Robert White $261 plus shipping. (UK) equivalent.

Even allowing for import duty it's a fair old whack

I may just fly over and pick one up...

The RW price works out to about $223 USD before the UK VAT. In the US, there are seldom any State or Local sales taxes on mail order/internet sales unless the seller has a presence in the State of the buyer. So, if you do come over for a vacation and camera gear-up then keep the tax savings in mind.

Michael

 

[oscroft]

I expect the current £/$ exchange rate is part of the reason - the £ is very strong right now (but then, if the equipment is imported from Japan and priced globally in Yen or Dollars, it should make no difference).

But anyway, I've been buying my CV gear from CameraQuest - even if I get stung for import taxes (which I haven't so far) it's still cheaper.

 

[Paul T.]

I wonder if this differential will disappear eventually. It has with computers. My iBook bought in London was cheaper (admittedly, I can reclaim VAT) than the same model from LA.

But, for the moment, I buy my small VC items from cameraquest. I've done my time paying thru the nose at Classic Camera or Jessops Classic, and didn't get any superior customer service for that premium. Altho everyone I've dealt with really rates Robert White, of course, and they're the first people I'd go to for an R-D1S...

 

[oscroft]

I may just fly over and pick one up.

Oh yes, and there's no need to fly there to get one - they have a clever thing over there called a postal service 😀