Originally posted by lytrytyr Pretty much.
Take the Canon 35/1.4.
It's $1425 without tax in Germany,
and $1479 (but currently with $150 "savings") at B&H.
And tax is what for the lens in Germany? When I buy it from B&H I pay no tax. So the lens is $1479-$150=$1329 out the door.
Germans on the forum can correct me, of course, by my recollection is that the rate of value-added tax rate generally in force in Germany is 19%.
So, that lens in Germany is $1425 + $271 = $1696 out the door. My poor math skills say that it is $367 dollars more in Germany (or $217 without the "savings" in force currently).
By your reasoning Canon should immediately up the cost of that lens in the US. Wonder why two very successful camera companies don't have completely level pricing around the globe? Hmmm. I wonder.