Astro gear pricing

Martin Brown wrote:


Anything *manufactured* in Europe you can buy from any country you
like.
The adoption of the Euro has made pricing a lot more transparent (and

put the parasites that ran money exchange and laundering booths out
of
business). It is mildly inconvenient for UK residents still using GBP

unless they have a Euro account. But you can buy any European product

where you like in the EEC online or by mail order, unless there is a
local dealer with a sole dealership franchise. In the latter case you

have to travel in person to make the purchase - modern discount fare
airlines make this possible.



Regards,
Martin Brown

You should try buying British audio products here in Denmark. 30-50%+
over UK retail prices is perfectly normal. No dealer will sell outside
their sales patch or country. The same applies to amateur astronomy
equipment where a dealer exists in Denmark. The manufacturers have it
sewn-up in not providing international guarantees for their products.
Any problems and the product has to be returned to the original dealer.
Now isn't that nice and customer friendly?

The UK dealers will not (cannot?) deal with an online order from an
Englishman living in Denmark. I call that rather more than
"inconvenient". :-(

I just had a thought. :-) Now that Celestron have been taken over by
Synta...will they keep the present fixed-area European dealer system
with all its juicy price add-ons?

If not, they could easily force Meade to abandon its European retail
system just to be able to compete with Celestron. Given Synta's
international structure they wouldn't have the same America-First
syndrome. Synta/Celestron SCTs and other "high-end" products could
easily become much more affordable over here in Europe. Particularly if
they invest heavily in increasing output. Meade would just have to
follow Celestron's lead.

Well, it was an interesting thought while it lasted. ;-)

Regards
Chris.B

Anthony Ayiomamitis wrote:
Chris,

I am not exactly sure about the wide variation within the EU that you

describe below. Prices in Greece for Celestron and Meade products is
easily double and triple the pricing in the US. In fact, I am
wondering
if this is the primary culprit behind the reason for a lack of
interest
in amateur astronomy in this country. Furthermore, should you
purchase
something from the US, import duties and taxes on the purchase amount

PLUS the shipping charges adds a further 30-35%.

Imagine someone waiting years to be notified for an AstroPhysics
refractor, dishing out over $9k USD for the scope plus a few minor
accessories and shipping and then to be looking at a further 30-35%
in
money out the window for taxes and duties.

Anthony.

You aren't taking the present low value of the US Dollar into account.
If you can get the correct exchange rate then US items could be much
cheaper even if you have to pay airfreight + 4-5% import taxes + VAT on
everything.

The problem (as I understand it) is finding a US dealer who will sell
"Names" products to Europe in dollars at the present (near 2-1 $/=A3)
exchange rate and not rob you on shipping. Fortunately(?) I rarely buy
anything new. sob ;-)

I have a feeling that (ever-increasing) buying online may just break
the present international protectionist systems eventually. But true
globalisation seems very long in coming and only seems to favour the
strongest.=20

Regards
Chris.B

wrote:

Anthony Ayiomamitis wrote:


Chris,

I am not exactly sure about the wide variation within the EU that you





describe below. Prices in Greece for Celestron and Meade products is
easily double and triple the pricing in the US. In fact, I am


wondering


if this is the primary culprit behind the reason for a lack of


interest


in amateur astronomy in this country. Furthermore, should you


purchase


something from the US, import duties and taxes on the purchase amount





PLUS the shipping charges adds a further 30-35%.

Imagine someone waiting years to be notified for an AstroPhysics
refractor, dishing out over $9k USD for the scope plus a few minor
accessories and shipping and then to be looking at a further 30-35%


in


money out the window for taxes and duties.

Anthony.


Chris,

You aren't taking the present low value of the US Dollar into account.
If you can get the correct exchange rate then US items could be much
cheaper even if you have to pay airfreight + 4-5% import taxes + VAT on
everything.

I am taking into account the present value of the dollar. I am also
using local pricing. In other words, if you try and pick up a Meade or
Celestron product locally, it will cost you 2-3x the price in the US for
the same item and after adjusting for currency.

The problem (as I understand it) is finding a US dealer who will sell
"Names" products to Europe in dollars at the present (near 2-1 $/£)
exchange rate and not rob you on shipping. Fortunately(?) I rarely buy
anything new. sob ;-)

I have this problem as well and the ONLY way out of this mess is to buy
from someone reselling on Astromart (for example) since they usually
have no problem shipping locally or overseas. I have my busted C14 whose
primary broke 2.5 months ago and I have gone through all kinds of loops
with the local dealer to no avail. Part of the problem and which he will
not acknowledge is the fact I bought the scope from the US when I was
living there and not from him directly here locally. Now with the
impending service issue, he is basically asked to run around for a
purchase made in a different continent (not my fault since I was living
overseas anyway at the time of the purchase). To compound the problem,
Celestron and in its infinite wisdom will not allow me to send the scope
back for repair directly but insists that I use the local dealer.

I have a feeling that (ever-increasing) buying online may just break
the present international protectionist systems eventually. But true
globalisation seems very long in coming and only seems to favour the
strongest.

I am also all for globalism and in spite of crazy and countless
obstacles. Although the Chinese are suddenly getting a serious rap
locally due to some deaths (electricutions from faulty Chinese steam
irons), I sincerely hope the Chinese will change the way of doing
business, particularly as it relates to dealers and the existing
regulations.

Anthony.

Regards
Chris.B