Originally posted by Dipsoid 
US: lower taxes, lower duties with less tariffs. This means we get quite low prices for consumer goods, which also means that we get paid less and don't have much in the way of social welfare benefits like paid-time off, maternity leave, national healthcare, cheap higher education etc. However you want to cut it, we pay that extra $600, it just goes towards other things.
I think, more accurately, Europeans are just skewered with a hot iron through their nether regions on a regular basis for prices in general. You could take nearly any example to demonstrate that. So when the Xmas frenzy comes along and you see this type of price difference, it kind of makes you wonder...
---------- Post added 12-17-2015 at 12:19 AM ----------
Originally posted by Billy Joe Wait, they tell us you all have free healthcare, free college, and 6 weeks paid vacation... Something is fishy here
No, it's 5 weeks vacation (25 days), you pay for healthcare directly and indirectly it is absolutely not free (but probably 99% less expensive than the American medical mafia), public education is free but useless, therefore you go private and that costs a lot, etc...How about a 4 dollar expresso, an 8 dollar gallon of gas, and so so, the list is endless. The terrorist attacks however are free of charge.
---------- Post added 12-17-2015 at 12:22 AM ----------
Originally posted by biz-engineer Sure that's a significant price difference, but you have the choice to buy where you like, so feel free to do so. For the price difference, you can buy a flight ticket Paris-Tokyo, buy the lens in Tokyo at 800 euros.
That's what I generally do, thanks. I shop around the world, including the US as I work for an airline. However, in this day and age of Internet e-commerce shopping, there is something to be said for supporting your local brick and mortar shops. Otherwise, tomorrow, there will be nothing left in our cities. I agree to do that, but not when the item, already high-ticket, is proposed locally at twice the cost.
---------- Post added 12-17-2015 at 12:25 AM ----------
Originally posted by biz-engineer I don't think the price of the 31 ltd in France has anything to do with taxes. The same lens used to be priced at around 800 euros last year.
Definitely not taxes. The VAT at 20% was the same last year. Customs duties at import in France is about 5.5%, same as last year and even before. I'm telling ya, this is preposterous!
---------- Post added 12-17-2015 at 12:28 AM ----------
Originally posted by Na Horuk Yeah. And import duties, shipping or warranty costs don't justify this difference either. Meanwhile, large part of EU is still economically weak.
So I don't know how Pentax can be surprised it has low sales volume, with high prices and low availability.. or is Europe just such a low priority market for them?
As you all may know, France is indeed one of Pentax/Ricoh's strongest markets for DSLRs. I don't really know why but you do see Pentax shooters here. So why in the world would your sales and marketing policy be geared to push away current and potential customers...We haven't spoken of the entire Pentax range but it is extremely expensive compared to the US costs. Just doesn't favor this market.
---------- Post added 12-17-2015 at 12:29 AM ----------
Originally posted by UncleVanya Does anyone know the import duties in France and the VAT?
Yes, VAT is 20% and duties on photographic materail around 5.5%.
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