Lens prices US vs Japan

Well I was looking at the 24-70 2.8 (BRICK) on B&H and it's $949. I checked kakaku.com (Reasonable Japanese site) and its 150,800Y. I'm just estimating, but that is near $2000 USD! Why would a Japanese product be that much more expensive in Japan? Even when the exchange rate was better, it was still more expensive . Any particular reason? What are your thoughts?

I'm guessing because photography maybe more popular here vs America? I don't know...Thoughts?

Some sort of VAT maybe? Seems strange to me too.

They're selling the 5D Mark II for $2,921, or about 10% more than here in the States. Sounds reasonable. The 24-70 is selling for $1,671, which is about 60% more. Strange indeed.

Isn't canon a japanese company? 10% higher I can understand, but 60%? Thats definitely an artificial increase.

Exactly. However, I have to believe they know what they're doing. Charge what the market will bear. They've been at it for some time.

True. Maybe Japanese consumers are used to paying more. Still sucks for them.

Americans should consider themselves lucky when it comes to photography equipment. Pretty much everything is cheaper there.

The EF-S 18-55 IS, 55-250 IS & 50mm 1.8 are made in Malaysia, yet the street price of these lens is the same in the US as it is in Malaysia.

Considering the shipping cost and the margin made by the shops (cost of life and salaries are much higher in the US than in Malaysia by a factor of 3-4), it should be higher, but no, it's still as cheap as it gets.

I'm in the market for a flash right now and the 430EX is sold USD 315 here, but one can get it as low as USD 200 on Adorama.

Enjoy your Xmas shopping guys!

That is normal... just like items in china are more expensive then here even though they are made there.

Its due to the country giving tax rebates to the manufacturer so if you do keep the product in the same country and there is a huge price hike.

I have a factory in China and i delat with the same thing when i tried to sell my products locally.

I hope this clears things up a little.

I would imagine that the one of Canon's goals is to maximize foreign revenue. Perhaps US prices are based on price elasticity so as to achieve that goal.

I find that prices are very much country dependent. Most expensive in Europe

Noticed the $949 was for a used one at B&H.
Still, lenses in USA are cheaper. At Yodobashi, after discount of 10%, the price is 196,000 yen. Yen today about 90/US$. At B&H new, I think it was $1129.00. All the lenses I have except the 50mm f/1.4 were bought from B&H, shipped to Japan Fedex. Even with shipping and tax/duties, cheaper. Perhaps Japan is a smaller market for the high end cameras and glass.
Cheers,
John

Everyone seems to have some really good points. I'm really leaning towards the tax rebate idea...
Or maybe prices are jacked up because in the stores, they have nearly EVERY lens, and one on display as a "demo"....maybe making up for the cost of that demo?

Oh well...I guess I will save my money for another time then.

John I can't believe through shipping and all that, it was still cheaper! That is amazing.

Move to Ireland. It's awful here. E2400 for a 70-200 2.8 IS???

Psychobiker wrote in post #6937265
Move to Ireland. It's awful here. E2400 for a 70-200 2.8 IS???

Yea but dude Euro is strong, sterling is weak, and shipping from the UK is cheap. So I found you one for € 1275.26

http://www.simplyelect​ronics.net/mainproduct​.php?pid=205

Merry Christmas

Livinthalife wrote in post #6930655
Well I was looking at the 24-70 2.8 (BRICK) on B&H and it's $949. I checked kakaku.com (Reasonable Japanese site) and its 150,800Y. I'm just estimating, but that is near $2000 USD! Why would a Japanese product be that much more expensive in Japan? Even when the exchange rate was better, it was still more expensive . Any particular reason? What are your thoughts?

I'm guessing because photography maybe more popular here vs America? I don't know...Thoughts?

It's called dumping.