[RonHendriks1966]

The lowest I could find in The Netherlands is 969 euro and that is $ 1.386,83

[Stringmike]

Remember in Britain, you are paying usurious amounts of VAT and this is included in the quoted price. The same is true for much of Europe.

Here in the USA, prices are quoted before any sales taxes. Mail or Internet orders across state lines are not taxed by the seller if he has no physical presence in the state being shipped to, but the buyer is supposed to pay the appropriate amount to his state of residence. Of course, since there is no easy way to track these mail-order purchases, we don't usually bother to pay sales tax!

If you buy from a local store in the USA, tax is added at the check-out register at the local rate. Here in Scottsdale, this amounts to about 9%.

if you buy from overseas, watch out for import duty!

Mike

[Designosophy]

I paid $1179 for my K5 at B&H and then got a $20 credit from Bill Me Later...free interest for six months too!

This is what I would like to pay for a K-5.

[Sean282]

£999 in the UK currently which is $1635 or 1136 euro which is a serious difference.

I just checked the 7D with the 18-135 kit lens between the UK and US. UK price is £1399 versus £1312 at B&H ($2149)

I don't think the price difference can be put down to taxes alone in the UK anyway.

[timh]

Yeah, absolutely - VAT, especially after the most recent rise, is why I prefer to buy expensive stuff when I'm abroad (picked up my K-5 in Tokyo). It does account for most of the difference, but not all; companies figure they can wring some extra profit out of us and it'll be conveniently dwarfed by the 20% (!!!) VAT.

From what I can tell, the vast majority of stuff people buy online in the US ends up being untaxed. Bummer for anyone in Oklahoma or Colorado though!