Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/04/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Jean, This echoes my experience from my trips to Paris--I like to see the shops on Blvd. Beaumarchais but the prices in France are simply outrageous. As you note, it has nothing to do with different VAT rates (the UK is a bit lower than France, 17.5% vs. 21%). It is simply that the French market is not particularly competitive, and I would not be surprised if the retailers engage in silent collusion to keep prices high. Furthermore, the prevalence of Internet shopping is low in France--perhaps due to language difficulties, many people are reluctant to buy from, say, German online shops, which tend to have the lowest prices in Europe--lower than the UK. Nathan > > van: Jean Louchet <jean.louchet@inria.fr> > datum: 2004/04/15 do AM 12:05:41 CEST > aan: lug@leica-users.org > onderwerp: [Leica] equipment prices vs. countries > > > Whaaaat? > > Here (France) Superia1600 cost more than 8 euros (9 USD) each 36 exp > roll, more than twice the US price! > > > B&H (and, I imagine, others) sells 36 exposure rolls > > of Superia 800 at $3.69 per. 20 pack of Press 800 is > > $59.80. > > > > Either way a very cheap and very good film. > > > > So is the Superia 1600. > > In 2002 I bought (new) the CV 4.5/15mm in England for about 35% less > than the public retail price in France. My favourite shop guy in Paris > told me he had to buy CV lenses for more than the public retail price in > Britain. Apparently the situation is about the same for all new CV > equipment (lenses and cameras), and (to a lesser extent) with new Leica or > Nikon stuff. Most of my gear (leica and non-leica, new and second hand) > now comes from UK, Germany and the US. I don't understand what is > happening down here. Is there a monopoly situation abuse with the import > companies? Or another reason? In theory the taxes are about the same in EC > countries (between 15 and 20%) so this doesn't explain it. > > Jean > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >