Hi Richard (Day)
This obviously sounds like it's going to be a full-on 'Richard vs Richard' debate......lol ! I am fully aware that this subject has cropped-up on numerous previous occasions, but I'd like start by saying that usually I have the greatest respect for the views that you express on photographic matters. However, I'm afraid I have to take issue with your sweeping generalisation that:
US prices are not way below UK prices.
Clearly there are numerous variables involved when attempting to compare like-for-like retail prices between different continents, as far as currency exchange rates/local taxation/import duties/wages/international - national warranties etc are concerned.
Incidentally, I should be most interested if you would be willing to supply recent evidence to support your claims that:
If you add 17.5% to US prices you will see that in some instances the UK is cheaper.
All I can say is it has been my regrettable experience (as well as many others, I might add) that as the U.S. dollar has weakened markedly against the £ sterling over the past few years, the gap between what retail customers have been charged for identical goods in the USA & Great Britain has indeed widened. As a case in point, I distinctly remember when I first became seriously interested in purchasing a Pentax K10D last spring and enquired about the cost of obtaining a D-BG 2 battery grip. I was genuinely
shocked and horrified that U.K. stores were demanding the princely sum of £199.99 for it ! However, a quick search on the internet soon revealed that U.S. stores were selling the identical item over-the-counter for only $150.00 or about £75.00. To add extra insult to injury, they were even offering additional rebates which reduced the price even further, making it cheaper still for America buyers. I'm prepared to hazard a guess that canny U.K. Pentax photographers soon realised that they could purchase this particular accessory online from the 'States' at just over half the price including taxes, FORCING British wholesalers to reconsider their pricing strategy, or face losing a sizeable chunk of revenue to overseas suppliers. It was this price-drop which enabled me to secure my battery-grip from a U.K. dealer for a more modest £99.00 or approx $200.00 ! Admittedly, at the time there was no possibility of a rebate in England, but with the savings that I'd made, I was able to purchase additional items such as spare batteries and a carrying case, thus keeping my supplier happy ! I am not singling out the photographic manufacturers for undue chastisement, but am simply asking for a 'level playing field' where retail pricing is concerned. This market sector is no different from any other type and manufacturers/wholesalers had better wake up to the fact that they can no longer expect to get away with screwing excessive profits from traditional markets. As a final adjunct, I'd like to pose this simple question:
Q: If a Chrysler 300C auto-mobile is marked up at sticker-price of only $20,000.00 (£10,000.00) in the USA, how come it magically increases to $52,000.00 (£26,000.00) by the time it arrives on these shores ?
A: Because plenty of British customers obviously relish the prospect of paying 'through-the-nose' for imported products and are apparently congenitally stupid !
Best regards
Richard (the other one !)