£800 difference with the USA - 5D3

Although it would be nice to have a lower target price for aspirational gear here in the UK, I do feel that high end, luxury goods is where it is justified to charge a high tax rate to contribute towards digging us out of the sh*t poured on us by the bankers. (Don't I pronounce my "w"s funny? Little Brit joke there...). The same 20% VAT is charged on many essentials in the shopping baskets of folks here that are barely getting by. Get this in perspective people...

Professionals, of course, can reclaim the tax if they are VAT registered so the real price to them would be £2,500, assuming they are stupid enough to buy one before things settle down. I understand that there is more of a difference between UK and US prices than the VAT can account for but the UK market is, as others have said, pretty small in comparison.

And although Mr Hollis is perfectly capable of defending himself, it really is a bit unfair to criticise him for being loud, confident - and RIGHT. Bringing an item of that value into the UK without paying duty and VAT is smuggling, simple as that.

But finally. How many of you would go all that way and take all those risks to buy a camera that you haven't even seen any images from? Quite a few if this thread is representative.

AlexMcCranor wrote in post #14009880
Any chance you need a second shooter on that trip will even do it just for cost of flight and hotel so I can get myself a 5d3 at the same time


Alex

Thanks for the offer but i have already had a few friends offer there services for free!!! Funny that...
I wonder if the 5D3 will be available to hire by end of March, might give it a go if there is a shop in Vegas that hires.

Sometimes its not the message but how you deliver it.........

I live here in norway, checking on online shops here and I can preorder the mk3 for NOK 27,995 OR USD5,000!!!!!

I work 5 days a week and my salary a month is around 20,000 nok - there's just no way I can afford this thing here if its priced that much!!!

WTH!!! how much are tickets going to the US (new jersey - closest to the atlantic) cheapest i find (quick search)- NOK 5870 = 1050 USD...

what are these shops in norway thinking??? even if I can get a good warranty here compared to the US its still not worth the 1500 diff!!!!!

I have a friend who travels to the US regularly.. maybe he can help...

razaec wrote in post #14016659
what are these shops in norway thinking??? even if I can get a good warranty here compared to the US its still not worth the 1500 diff!!!!!

They're thinking like 30 years ago, when few people travel, and there was no internet for people to check how much they're being robbed :P Debbie

Sirrith wrote in post #14013342
Last year I flew London-New York for 223 pounds return. If I were to do the same trip, and do nothing else in New York but buy a 5DIII, I would save ~570 quid. A couple of nights enjoying myself in NY is not going to cost US$900. So if I were to do the same trip and have myself a nice little holiday as well, I would still end up saving money over just buying the camera in the UK.

Would you not say the real idiot is the one who buys the camera in the UK?

alex.hondsmerk wrote in post #14015634
London - Newark return = £370
Three nights in a cheapish hotel in NYC = £180
Food etc = £100
Slush fund left over from £800 = £150

For the difference in price, you could fly to the states, but the thing at B&H, have a three night / four day play in NYC and still have cash left over. Crazy...

Both of these are on the basis that things are cheaper if you break the law (and don't get caught). Hardly surprising really. Of course, if you do get caught, it might work out rather more expensive...

gcogger wrote in post #14017065
Both of these are on the basis that things are cheaper if you break the law (and don't get caught). Hardly surprising really. Of course, if you do get caught, it might work out rather more expensive...

I am pretty sure the majority of the people on this planet has broken the law made up by their respective governments at least once in their life time. I mean I know for the fact that most if not all of my friends have downloaded movies, games and/or software from those torrent sites. I do hope nowadays that those customs agents have better things to do than catching people "smuggling" digital cameras

razaec wrote in post #14016659
I live here in norway, checking on online shops here and I can preorder the mk3 for NOK 27,995 OR USD5,000!!!!!

I work 5 days a week and my salary a month is around 20,000 nok - there's just no way I can afford this thing here if its priced that much!!!

WTH!!! how much are tickets going to the US (new jersey - closest to the atlantic) cheapest i find (quick search)- NOK 5870 = 1050 USD...

what are these shops in norway thinking??? even if I can get a good warranty here compared to the US its still not worth the 1500 diff!!!!!

I have a friend who travels to the US regularly.. maybe he can help...

I feel sorry for you Norwegians because I know there are a lot of you guys driving across the border to Sweden to do shopping and Sweden is not really a cheap place to live either.

I work too and my monthly salary here is between 35,000B and 41,000B ($1166-1366 USD). The minimum price that the 5D3 is going for is $3500 USD or 105,000B (body only and US price, not final Thai price), but I will still be getting one.

I think the Australians pay even more than in the UK.

Here in Bangkok we will undoubtedly pay more, but I'm guessing only $200 USD or so (6,000B).