Online petition to Canon about pricing

[evilenglishman]

(Can we have this as a sticky? pleeeaaaase)

After the posts on the subject of Canon's UK prices in this thread:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=42224

I have set up an online petition addressed to Canon regarding the pricing of their items in The UK and the lack of direct e-mail contact on their UK website.

Maybe (probably) it wont make any difference but I would appriciate it if you could all sign it, it only takes a moment and your email address (doesn't have to be legit) will be kept private.

Click here to view and/or sign the petition (http://www.petitiononline.com/z5z5z5z5/petition.html)

[Scottes]

Why not petition the governemtn about the VAT, too? Isn't that a very large portion of the price?

In the next state cigarettes cost less than half the price of cigarettes in Masschusetts. Why? Because Massachusetts tacks on $3 a pack in taxes. So it wouldn't do me much good to petition Marlboro.

I thought a lot of the reason that European prices were high was the VAT and taxes. Am I wrong?

[CyberDyneSystems]

(Can we have this as a sticky? pleeeaaaase)




er ... no.

And I'd get braced for the flame... :lol: :wink:
The last time someone posted a pettition on this forum it wasn't very pretty :shock: :lol:

[evilenglishman]

ok, but i dont see how anyone could find this petition a bad thing

[tommykjensen]

Why not petition the governemtn about the VAT, too? Isn't that a very large portion of the price?

In the next state cigarettes cost less than half the price of cigarettes in Masschusetts. Why? Because Massachusetts tacks on $3 a pack in taxes. So it wouldn't do me much good to petition Marlboro.

I thought a lot of the reason that European prices were high was the VAT and taxes. Am I wrong?

Exactly, I would love if the world could influence Denmark to lower the VAT from 25% to a reasonable amount! We already pay more than 50% in tax and every time we buy something we pay additionally 25% VAT.

Sorry but the main reason for the different prices in different countries is govermental VAT & TAX. I hate that a thing like 20D can be bought for $1500 in USA but in Denmark I have to pay something like $2100 but that is not Canon's fault (entirely).

[tommykjensen]

ok, but i dont see how anyone could find this petition a bad thing

Its not bad but why do something that will have no result at all?

[Cadwell]

Why not petition the governemtn about the VAT, too? Isn't that a very large portion of the price?

In the next state cigarettes cost less than half the price of cigarettes in Masschusetts. Why? Because Massachusetts tacks on $3 a pack in taxes. So it wouldn't do me much good to petition Marlboro.

I thought a lot of the reason that European prices were high was the VAT and taxes. Am I wrong?

You are wrong. The VAT is a factor... but it doesn't explain everything.

1Ds at B&H = $7,999
1Ds at Jessops = £5,999 = $10,789

That's with all taxes including VAT paid.

I make it we are paying a cool $2,790 over the odds on that camera and I am afraid that the majority of that is going straight to Canon. Why do you think Canon refuse to honour the warranty on US bought cameras in the UK? It's to discourage consumers from voting with their feet and buying from the likes of B&H. Canon want to force us to buy from the UK and so protect their unreasonable mark-up.

Were I to import that camera from B&H and pay all Tax and import duties on it, it would cost me $9,878. Of course, I'd have no warranty.

[tommykjensen]

1Ds at B&H = $7,999
1ds at Jessops = £5,999 = $10,789


Oh boy, it seems at least with this camera that Denmark is cheap - well not compared to US.

In Denmark the 1Ds cost approx $8783 ! And it would not even be profitable to order it from B&H because then the price would be $10.000 !

[evilenglishman]

exactly!

[Cadwell]

But let's inject a degree of realism here... Canon are by far from the only offender. Virtually ALL electronics goods sellers play the same game in terms of pricing.

[aam1234]

I could be wrong on this, but I heard that canon charges us the UK prices here eventhough we don't have any taxes or VAT

That's the reason I have interest in this subject.

In comparison, Nikon charge prices close to US market.

[CyberDyneSystems]

...Boycott... :shock: :shock: :shock:



:lol:

[Cadwell]

...Boycott... :shock: :shock: :shock:



:lol:

:shock: :shock: :shock: Y..y..you... mean... go cold turkey? :shock: :shock: :shock:

I don't think I can :oops: I'm not strong enough :oops:

;)

[sGu]

hope this will make canon lower UK price, not increase US price :shock:

[gcogger]

Why not petition the governemtn about the VAT, too? Isn't that a very large portion of the price?

In the next state cigarettes cost less than half the price of cigarettes in Masschusetts. Why? Because Massachusetts tacks on $3 a pack in taxes. So it wouldn't do me much good to petition Marlboro.

I thought a lot of the reason that European prices were high was the VAT and taxes. Am I wrong?

You are wrong. The VAT is a factor... but it doesn't explain everything.

1Ds at B&H = $7,999
1Ds at Jessops = £5,999 = $10,789

That's with all taxes including VAT paid.

I make it we are paying a cool $2,790 over the odds on that camera and I am afraid that the majority of that is going straight to Canon. Why do you think Canon refuse to honour the warranty on US bought cameras in the UK? It's to discourage consumers from voting with their feet and buying from the likes of B&H. Canon want to force us to buy from the UK and so protect their unreasonable mark-up.

Were I to import that camera from B&H and pay all Tax and import duties on it, it would cost me $9,878. Of course, I'd have no warranty.
Yes, a 1DS costs $7999 at B&H.
Jessops is very expensive. If you bought one in the UK at a sensibly priced shop (e.g. Park, or A J Purdy, or Ffordes - simply the first ones I looked at) it's between £4900 and £5100 - say £5000 on average. If you remove the VAT (as Canon is not responsible for that), it's £4255.
At today's interbank rate, that works out at $7595.
From the above, it seems that the Canon price is lower in the UK than the US, but I'm not sure whether the B&H price includes any sales tax. If so, we'd have to remove that from the $7999 to get a fair comparison.
Considering we get better warranty protection in the EU (up to 6 years as a statutary right, if you want to try and claim it!) I don't feel cheated by Canon. The only reason we pay more in this case is because of VAT.

[tommykjensen]

Well in that case Denmark is much cheaper. Without VAT the price in Denmark is $7076 ! The price from B&H is without sales tax.

[aam1234]

Hi gcogger,

Just wondering, how did you arrive at the price without VAT. Did you multiply the 5,000 by the vat rate then deduct that amount from the 5,000. If that's the case then I think the calculation is not accurate (somebody help us with the math here).

Second, the exchange rate that you used is very different than the rate you & me get at the bank. The difference could be quite significant.

[SnJPhoto]

I'll sign your petition if you'll sign mine for free exportation of ale... I shouldn't have to pay more just because its an "import" either......

That is only fair. i think I would get the better part of the deal at that.....

[Scottes]

Hi gcogger,

Just wondering, how did you arrive at the price without VAT. Did you multiply the 5,000 by the vat rate then deduct that amount from the 5,000. If that's the case then I think the calculation is not accurate (somebody help us with the math here).

Second, the exchange rate that you used is very different than the rate you & me get at the bank. The difference could be quite significant.

I didn't think his number was right either, but I'm not sure about the VAT. But if the VAT is 25% and the price with VAT included is 5,000 then the price before VAT is 4,000.

4,000 * 125% = 5,000.

[evilenglishman]

Can someone tell me, do B&H prices include all vat etc?

I have used jessops as they are the biggest photographic supplier in the UK as are B&H in the USA.
Yes Parkcameras and other shops sell cheaper but the two shops I've used are the major shops.

B&H..........EOS-1DS DIGITAL SLR BODY ONLY..........$7,999.00 (£4,453.04)
Jessops....EOS-1DS DIGITAL SLR BODY ONLY..........£5,999.90 ($10,778.81)

I've just done a check with kelkoo.se to find Swedish prices. It seems that Kr66,000 is an average price:
http://www.kelkoo.se/ctl/do/search?siteSearchQuery=1Ds&x=0&y=0

The British price converts to Kr 79,933.57

[gcogger]

Hi gcogger,

Just wondering, how did you arrive at the price without VAT. Did you multiply the 5,000 by the vat rate then deduct that amount from the 5,000. If that's the case then I think the calculation is not accurate (somebody help us with the math here).

Second, the exchange rate that you used is very different than the rate you & me get at the bank. The difference could be quite significant.

My VAT calculation was absolutely correct - I used a VAT value (for the UK) of 17.5%.
If £4255 is the price without VAT, try adding 17.5% to the £4255.
17.5% of 4255 = 745
4255 (base price) + 745 (VAT) = 5000 (selling price)

I can't think of a simpler way to prove this!

The exchange rate I used was the one the banks use when transferring money between currencies. Yes, you or I would get a less favourable rate, but it would be either above or below the Interbank rate depending on whether we wanted to convert £££ to $$$ or vice versa! So you could use that to show that my figures were either optimistic or pessimistic, depending on whether you brought a US camera to the UK, or a UK camera to the USA.

All in all, I think I've been fair. It might be interesting to work this out for other cameras - I suspect that the UK prices are a little higher in many cases.

All this changes, of course, as the exchange rate fluctuates and that makes me think the comparison is more complex than we are allowing for. Canon does not go from being a fair to a rip-off company in the UK as the £/$ exchange rate varies.

[tommykjensen]

And the swedish price coresponds to the danish which is approx DKR 53.000,-

[gcogger]

Can someone tell me, do B&H prices include all vat etc?

I have used jessops as they are the biggest photographic supplier in the UK as are B&H in the USA.
Yes Parkcameras and other shops sell cheaper but the two shops I've used are the major shops.

We need an American to tell us whether B&H prices include any sales tax :)

I think that B&H in the US are a much more competitively priced company than Jessops are in the UK. If you really want to use Jessops, they will usually price match internet companies if you take a printout with you.

What we really need is the trade prices that Canon charges in the 2 countries, but I somehow think we won't get them :wink:

[aam1234]

B&H prices don't include taxes. Non New York residents don't pay taxes when they buy from them.

[tommykjensen]

We need an American to tell us whether B&H prices include any sales tax



Why do You need an american to confirm that? I wrote in an earlier post that the price does not include VAT. You have to add 7% sales tax on the prices if You buy in the store. For online orders outside New York You don't pay sales tax.

[tommykjensen]

B&H prices don't include taxes. Non New York residents don't pay taxes when they buy from them.

That only applies for orders that are sent out of New York. If You as a non New York resident buy in the store You still have to pay sales tax.

[aam1234]

That's correct tommykjensen. But even if you pay NY sales tax (8.5% I believe) it's still wayyy cheaper than European (or my) prices.

I actually paid the NY tax for a lens and still it's half the cost than here.

[tommykjensen]

That's correct tommykjensen. But even if you pay NY sales tax (8.5% I believe) it's still wayyy cheaper than European (or my) prices.

I actually paid the NY tax for a lens and still it's half the cost here.

Yes I can only agree on that and as I have posted in earlier threads on this subject on certain lenses I can save 50% if I buy it in New York - the cost I save can even pay for a weekend trip from Denmark to New York (this just applies for one or 2 specifc lenses!

[gcogger]

We need an American to tell us whether B&H prices include any sales tax



Why do You need an american to confirm that? I wrote in an earlier post that the price does not include VAT. You have to add 7% sales tax on the prices if You buy in the store. For online orders outside New York You don't pay sales tax.

Oops - sorry. I missed that :oops:

[evilenglishman]

I think the Swedish price also illustrates how we are being over-charged in the UK.

I lived in Sweden for quite a while and can honestly say that salaries are higher than the UK and the cost of living and products is higher than here.

So why is it that a 1Ds is £975 ($1750) more expensive in the UK?

[aam1234]

Hi gcogger again. Sorry I didn't see your reply earlier.

If I may comment on your reply, I'd like to say two things.

If £4255 is the price without VAT

The operative word in that quote is "if". Mathematically, you still didn't demonstrate the price before VAT.

"The exchange rate I used was the one the banks use when transferring money between currencies"

Sorry, that's the definition of an exchange rate, not the basis of the rate you used for that calculation.


"Yes, you or I would get a less favourable rate, but it would be either above or below the Interbank rate depending on whether we wanted to convert £££ to $$$ or vice versa"

Sorry again. First, the Interbank rate is the rate for exchanging one million US dollars and above. Don't know about you, but I don't make these transactions very often.

Second, it doesn't matter if you are exchanging US$ for Pounds or vice versa. The market set these rates, not even the all mighty the US Federal Reserve can affect the exchange rate for more than an hour or two. And even that influence is due to the phyicology (spelling) of the market, not supply and demand of a certain currency.

I think we went too far with this subject.

[atleypnorth]

To calculate price ex vat (with VAT at 17.5%) ....

5000 / 1.175 = 4255

[MarkH]

Hi gcogger again. Sorry I didn't see your reply earlier.

If I may comment on your reply, I'd like to say two things.

If £4255 is the price without VAT

The operative word in that quote is "if". Mathematically, you still didn't demonstrate the price before VAT.


Since I don't live in the UK I am not 100% certain of the VAT rate and can't be arsed looking it up. However gcogger stated that it is 17.5% and no one has challenged that. gcogger mentions that the best price he has seen is around £5000 and has clearly explained that 4255 would be the price without VAT. Why is his explanation not clear?

If a product costs 100 + 17.5% VAT then the total is 117.50 which is most simply calculated by price x 1.175 = price incl VAT. To reverse this calculation simply take the inclusive price and divide by 1.175 like so: 117.50/1.175=100.

Hence:
5000/1.175=4255.32

Simple!

[aam1234]

opps

[evilenglishman]

If a product costs 100 + 17.5% VAT then the total is 117.50 which is most simply calculated by price x 1.175 = price incl VAT. To reverse this calculation simply take the inclusive price and divide by 1.175 like so: 117.50/1.175=100.

Hence:
5000/1.175=4255.32

Simple!

It's getting late and my brain isn't working.
just playing with a calculator;

100 + 17.5% = 117.50

117.50 - 17.5% = 96.93

huh?

#edit# and where does the 1.175 come from???

[aam1234]

Under construction....need work on my math.

Sorry guys about that, especially to gcogger.

[aam1234]

#edit# and where does the 1.175 come from???

It's 1+ the vat rate.

[evilenglishman]

i've had too much to drink tonight :?

my sluured brain is telling me that if a camera costs 5999.90 with vat, then I subtract 17.5% from that figure and I get 4949.91 which is the amount minus 17.5%

i need sleep

[evilenglishman]

these were my earlier exchange rate calculations;

EF 50mm f/1.8 II. UK: £79.90 ($142.97) US: $74.95
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM. UK: £579.90 ($1,037.55) US: $689.95
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS UK: £1449.90 ($2,594.16) US: $1,649.95

now some fun.

uk prices without 17.5% VAT and USA prices unchanged.

EF 50mm f/1.8 II. UK: £68 ($122.27) US: $74.95 (UK $47.32 more)
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM. UK: £493.53 ($887.46) US: $689.95 (UK $197.51 more)
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS UK: £1233.95 ($2,218.88) US: $1,649.95 (UK $568.93 more)

[aam1234]

If I were you DIJ, I would also show the "%" difference.

[evilenglishman]

hahaha, bugger off! I'm off to bed now with my thick head :D

[gcogger]

If I were you DIJ, I would also show the "%" difference.

Allow me :)

50mm = 63%
17-40 = 29%
70-200 = 34%

I also get 31% for the popular 70-200 f/4 L, and 29% for the 28-135 IS. So it looks like most lenses are around 1/3 more in the UK (the 50mm being an exception).

I thought I'd try some popular Sigma lenses for comparison:
18-125 DC = 19%
15-30 EX = 17%
70-200 f/2.8 EX = 15%
50-500 (Bigma) = 12%

The Sigma prices may be OK - the trading regulations and company taxes are different in the 2 countries. It certainly seems that Canon increase their UK prices more than Sigma, however.

[blinking8s]

how many actual units of 10d's and 300d's were sold? Im guessing lots, ive met enough dumbasses with 10d's in school who shoot on automatic mode, i dont even bother thinking of them as people anymore...

[evilenglishman]

how many actual units of 10d's and 300d's were sold? Im guessing lots, ive met enough dumbasses with 10d's in school who shoot on automatic mode, i dont even bother thinking of them as people anymore...

what has that got to do with anything? :?

[Pekka]

how many actual units of 10d's and 300d's were sold? Im guessing lots, ive met enough dumbasses with 10d's in school who shoot on automatic mode, i dont even bother thinking of them as people anymore...

If there is auto or P mode on a camera there is no reason why one should not be able to use it. 1D has P mode, too. Am I a dumbass if I tell you I have used P mode now and then?

[samdring]

The price problem is solely due to the difference in quality of Canon products available in the UK - clearly lenses are sharper over here and camera bodies automatically give adjustment to provide high order composition.

just spend a little time comparing the web sites of members left and right of the pond :wink:

[IncompletePete]

Have I just found an mazing deal of something?

A 1D MkII for £2,969.98 inc VAT?

http://www.dabs.com/uk/Search2/Product+Details.htm?quicklinx=31KK&searchphrase=1d %20MkII

Admitadely it isn't in stock, but wow!

[steven]

Just to add to the price confustion :roll:
B & H's web price is different from what the actually sell the 1Ds.
The web page has a e-mail me a better price.and as of about two months ago the price was 7195.95.

[neil_r]

The price problem is solely due to the difference in quality of Canon products available in the UK - clearly lenses are sharper over here and camera bodies automatically give adjustment to provide high order composition.

just spend a little time comparing the web sites of members left and right of the pond :wink:

Brave Man :? :lol:

N

[MediaMagic]

how many actual units of 10d's and 300d's were sold? Im guessing lots, ive met enough dumbasses with 10d's in school who shoot on automatic mode, i dont even bother thinking of them as people anymore...

I prefer the term "Assically Challenged".

I shoot P mode whenever I think it's necessary. Program Shift is a cool feature, and compensation is readily available for tweaking the exposure. Darn, I'm not a people anymore.


And hey, those website's in the UK only LOOK better to you because you have better beer! :wink:

[evilenglishman]

over 650 page views and 4 signatures :roll:

[DocFrankenstein]

Hahahahahaha

[evilenglishman]

Hahahahahaha

very constructive, and just the sort of comment i would expect from a ####### ##### like you :wink:

[Canuck]

You only pay NY Sales Tax 8.65% if you buy it at B&H or have it shipped to a NY address...when I was in England, it was shipped w/ shipping charge only!

I use www.xe.com for the international extortion rates...today...
1 GBP = 1.79981 USD 1 USD = 0.555615 GBP
Banks, ripoffs that they are will be about $1.84 for 1pound to buy or 1pound will get u about $1.74 going the other way.

By the way, VAT in England is 17.5%!

[DocFrankenstein]

Hahahahahaha

very constructive, and just the sort of comment i would expect from a ####### ##### like you :wink:
Goes in tune with the post...

[robertwgross]

My little nephew, who has successfully completed eighth grade math, read this entire thread and thinks its a hoot!

I was mildly humored, myself.

---Bob Gross---

[karusel]

I respect the noble intentions of this thread, but clearly, Evilenglishman is not an economist... :D

[evilenglishman]

thanks again for the insults. I don't see the point of trying to belittle me and the point of the petition though.

It's clear that Canon's pricing in The UK is wrong - with VAT added and without VAT added, cpmapred to the USA and other countries in Europe.

This isn't limited to Canon's products. Sony are guilty of the same thing.
They like to use a $ price in The USA and just switch the $ for a £ in The UK.

The low amount of signatures just proves my point that people in the UK like to moan, but never actually bother to get off their lazy arses to try and do anything about it. Which is a shame.

[gillyworld]

how many actual units of 10d's and 300d's were sold? Im guessing lots, ive met enough dumbasses with 10d's in school who shoot on automatic mode, i dont even bother thinking of them as people anymore...

Ok, lets have a poll, who's a dumbass non person?

[neil_r]

how many actual units of 10d's and 300d's were sold? Im guessing lots, ive met enough dumbasses with 10d's in school who shoot on automatic mode, i dont even bother thinking of them as people anymore...

Ok, lets have a poll, who's a dumbass non person?

Me. I have been taking photographs for over 30 years, for 20 of those I only had manual cameras (you even had to focus manually :) ) I now use an EOS 1D Mk II and yes, occasionally I use the Programme mode :oops:

As to the economics, I dont want to play with the maths (or math for our transatlantic friends) but I bought my Mk II from B&H, I did pay the Vat & duty and it was still considerably cheaper that the UK price.

N

[DocFrankenstein]

I see what a ####### ##### I was.

We should all petition to have a Hong Cong electronics market here in canada. :roll: :shock: :?

[neil_r]

Hong Cong

? ? ? ? ?

N

[DocFrankenstein]

Sorry. I have spelling problems. Hong Kong.

I should read more. Much more. :?

[Mogwyth]

There are a lot of factors involved in local market pricing.

Canon will price on production costs, volume sold into a particular market, compitetion, local market costs and finally the price the local market will stand. Added onto Canons price will be the retailers overheads.

So why are UK, and in general European prices, dearer. Apart from the fact that the average purchaser is seen to as being willing to pay more, retail space costs more, labour costs are higher (not just wages), consumer protection costs are higher and the individual markets are smaller the US.

Another problem in the UK at least is market dominace, in what other market place would you find that the largest chain is also the dearest.

Just my twopennyworth.

[MarkH]

I don't think the petition is worth wasting time on. But I also don't think that you guys in the UK should donate money to rip-off merchants who overcharge by hundreds or thousands of pounds. Shop around, mail order if necessary, but don't fund the bad businesses.

Here in NZ when I bought my 10D I paid NZ$3400, but I saw the same camera available at NZ$4000 and NZ$4500 elsewhere, that's enough price difference to buy the Canon 28-135 IS Lens!

I am looking at the 70-200 f2.8L IS lens, my favourite shop sells it for NZ$3900. I asked at another shop but I don't remember the exact price, I think I blacked out a little after the shop assistant said five thousand and . . . That shop wasn't even the one that was selling the 10D for $4500, it was the one asking $4K for the 10D!

The Canon BP-511 sells here for NZ$157.50, that's over US$100! I didn't start a petition, but I did vote B&H for the recipient of my cash.

How do local stores get away with charging high margins? Easy - foolish customers encourage them by buying at those crazy prices. You owe it to yourself and all other photographers to not pay money to anyone overcharging for camera stuff. No retailer can sell goods for more money than customers are willing to pay, it's a simple supply and demand thing!

[evilenglishman]

I don't think the petition is worth wasting time on. But I also don't think that you guys in the UK should donate money to rip-off merchants who overcharge by hundreds or thousands of pounds. Shop around, mail order if necessary, but don't fund the bad businesses.

hmm, thanks for the support.
The problem here is that it isn't just a few stores that are over-charging. Its 99.9% of them.
I have been in touch with trading standards in the uk and they told me the following;

Although its a very unfair situation under current UK law I would like to point out that Canon can sell their product to retailers at what ever price they wish, just as a retailer can sell
products at what price he chooses.
It is up to a consumer to shop around and "try" to get a good deal. It is well known that most goods are cheaper in the USA. Some of the tabloid newspapers have raised this matter numerous times but to date it remains the same. It would not however be a matter
Trading Standards could investigate.

[karusel]

thanks again for the insults. I don't see the point of trying to belittle me and the point of the petition though.

It's clear that Canon's pricing in The UK is wrong - with VAT added and without VAT added, cpmapred to the USA and other countries in Europe.

This isn't limited to Canon's products. Sony are guilty of the same thing.
They like to use a $ price in The USA and just switch the $ for a £ in The UK.

The low amount of signatures just proves my point that people in the UK like to moan, but never actually bother to get off their lazy arses to try and do anything about it. Which is a shame.

Very fine then, name a few identical products that are priced the same all over the world. Do you think BigMac costs the same in Turkey and UK? Do you think same cars cost the same in differend countries? If you found lower prices elswhere in EU, buy from them, there's no duty. If enough people choose to do so, it WILL bring UK prices down eventually. This would then define the normal UK price for an item as low/est price in EU + transport cost + a little extra (potential risk, etc.).

Yes it does seem a bit off, doesn't it? It's logical that same stuff that is made in individual countries, such as, BigMac for example, doesn't cost the same everywhere, since the bread, meat, people and buildings don't cost the same. Electronics or wear products are a bit trickier, as they are usually assembled/made in very certain 'cheap' countries and then distributed worldwide. Why don't they cost the same? First of, because of differend wages cost, real estate cost, etc. then I'd assume because of free market. If people would find cheaper alternatives they'd buy them instead, which would eventually bring down prices of original products, unless of course, it were a classy and recognized brand, in which case it would be sort of treated as luxurious or 'way cool'.

[Kenski]

I'll tell ya what, I'm going to the UK in the spring for a vacation with the wife, I get what, 2 bags a person plus a carry-on right... Lets see, I pack pretty light, the wife will probably take the large bag plus the small bag... that leaves me with the duffle and the medium size bag... I could probably pack all my clothes in the duffle with no problem... That leaves me with a good sized piece of luggage... You guys start putting your money together and you can send it to me and I'll buy everything here for you and pack it up in my suitcase... When I go through CUSTOMS, I'll tell them that I am using it all for my vacation and you guys can meet me at the airport for the delivery.... We are flying into Manchester Airport at the end of April... I'll just charge you guys a small delivery fee of 1.5%....

Hows that sound :) lol

[evilenglishman]

If you found lower prices elswhere in EU, buy from them, there's no duty.

wrong! UK customs will charge you the UK rate.


Kenski, nice idea :wink:

[gcogger]

If you found lower prices elswhere in EU, buy from them, there's no duty.

wrong! UK customs will charge you the UK rate.

If you order something from any EU country, you pay VAT to the supplier (at the local rate) and there is no VAT charge from UK customs. I'm not sure if there's any duty, but I don't believe so...

[chris maddock]

If you found lower prices elswhere in EU, buy from them, there's no duty.

wrong! UK customs will charge you the UK rate.

If you order something from any EU country, you pay VAT to the supplier (at the local rate) and there is no VAT charge from UK customs. I'm not sure if there's any duty, but I don't believe so...

Provided the country of purchase is in the EU VAT zone, then you are correct about the VAT. However, not all countries are in that zone - eg the Channel Islands are not, so VAT is chargable on goods from there. Not sure about the newest members from the old Eastern Block.

As to Import Duty, that depends on the item concerned - it's zero on digital cameras, 6.7% IIRC on lenses, etc., etc.

The other charge (which probably doesn't apply here, but I'll include it for completeness) is Excise Duty, payable on goods from any country, EU or not - mainly on alcohol, tobacco and perfumes.

KRs
Chris

[evilenglishman]

I just looked at this page, its full of information about vat, import duty etc.
There is an interesting part at the bottom about calculating import duty.

http://www.sloanefox.freeserve.co.uk/importukduty.htm

If I import a camera from the USA the basic duty is 4.2% before anything else is added on.

[chris maddock]

I just looked at this page, its full of information about vat, import duty etc.
There is an interesting part at the bottom about calculating import duty.

http://www.sloanefox.freeserve.co.uk/importukduty.htm

If I import a camera from the USA the basic duty is 4.2% before anything else is added on.

Provided it uses film - digitals are zero-rated ;-)

Useful site, duly bookmarked, thanks.

KRs
Chris