UK New Sony a7iii price unfair

[allanarthur]

I have the a7ii already and several Sony lenses.

Sony Zeiss 24-70mm f4 _ Sony 70-200mm f4 G_ Sony Zeiss 55mm f1.8_  Sony 90mm f2.8 Maco G_ and Sony Zeiss 16-35mm f4.

I have been waiting patiently for the new a7iii to come out

The a7iii looks to be a great camera.

In the US it is priced at pre-order $1999.

If you do the conversion at 1.39$ to the £, that should make it pre-order £1438 here in the UK.

But the pre-order price here in the UK is £1999. This makes it a staggering £561 more expensive.

That is 39% more expensive here, than in the US.

Now i expect there to be some price differences, i dont know what tax you pay in the US on cameras etc.

But this UK price difference is wrong Sony.

I was going to buy the new  a7iii and i was prepared to pay around £1600 but £1999 has taken it out of my price range.

I like Sony gear buttttt the prices, especially in the UK.

I have a back up Fuji camera and kit lens, which i also like.

I have to admit, that I have also been looking at Fuji recently.

I might have to look a little harder now.

Regards,

Allan 

[jumpsuit]

Hi @allanarthur

It does seem odd that prices aren't proportionate globally, but this has

always pretty much been the case.

It may be worth you waiting a little longer just to see if any retailers

start running any offers, or even if Sony bring back the cashback offers on cameras.

Cheers.

[allanarthur]

Hi Jumpy

Thanks for the reply mate.

The price differential just seems unfair.

I started with Minolta in the day, and bought Sony's first camera the a100, and have upgraded since then. I was really looking forward to purchase the new a7iii, but not at that price. I wiil take your advice and wait to see if the price comes down here in the UK.

Regards,

Allan

[Mick_D]

The prices quoted on US websites are a little misleading, in that they're all subject to local sales tax (VAT) at the point of sale. The situation is further confused by differing import taxes and duties and of course, by the fact that retailers are free to charge whatever the going local market rate is for their type of product. 

The problem is aftersales, and the related issue of 'grey' imports which avoid these duties. Increasingly, warranties are only valid in the country or region the product is purchased in. If a fault develops with your 'grey' Japanese camera, you will need to send it back to Japan for repair. This is the case with virtually every camera maker these days. 

In my experience, the savings, once you've paid your shipping, VAT and the rest, just aren't worth it. 

[IamNic]

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Mick_D schrieb:

The prices quoted on US websites are a little misleading, in that they're all subject to local sales tax (VAT) at the point of sale. 

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Thanks @Mick_D,

I was just about to write the same.

I personally hadn't yet have the opportunity to travel to the US, yet a friend of mine went there on her holidays last year.

She told me that it was utterly confusing to pick something off a shel in the grocery store, just to be surprised with the added taxes at check-out.

In Germany (where I live) products are already listet with their price+tax on the shelf.

Same goes for electronic products.

When Sony e.g. announced the PS4 release price as 399$, 399€ and 349£, I first thought it was unfair, too.

Yet if you do the calculations, it evens out after you add the tax on the US price.

Same goes for cameras and every other electronic device on the market.

- Nic

[allanarthur]

Thanks to you both for your replies. It helps to know that the US prices are not inclusive of purchase tax. I just wonder if the US purchase taxes would equal the difference to the US and UK prices, £500 +.

It does seem we pay premium prices here in the UK.

Regards

ALLAN

[IamNic]

Hi @allanarthur,

did you ever order something from the US or China?

I personally did and e.g. had to pay 40€  for a 120€ product from the US.

That is nearly a third in taxes (or 33%).

It is mostly less expensive to purchase a product directly in your home country.

Always check what would be less expensive - purchasing the product from the US and paying the taxes applicale for your country, or directly purchasing it in your home country.

- Nic

[allanarthur · Accepted solution]

Hi Nic

Yes i have purchased items from the US and China. Mostly photography related items. The taxes and import duties are pricey but not as steep as the US and UK price difference of the a7iii.

All the best

Allan

[ukaskew]

As others have mentioned the UK price includes 20% VAT, the U.S. price is before sales tax.

Let's say 8% sales tax, that gives us an equivalent UK price of £1554 at current exchange rates. Factor in 20% VAT on the UK price and it's much closer in comparison than it appears (the UK price less VAT is £1665).

Secondly, the UK camera market works on the basis of a high initial price to profit as much as possible from early adopters. This is pretty much the only period a UK camera retailer will make a reasonable profit on products. When the 'newness' wears off UK prices tail off fairly significantly for many items (check the graphs on camerapricebuster). Bringing prices much closer to other territories.

Finally,the cost of doing business in the UK is higher. Transport and warehousing cost significantly more and we consumers enjoy very robust consumer rights in the EU with returns/replacements legally available long after warranty periods etc. That all costs.

[allanarthur]

Thank you for the detailed explanation.

This does make me feel a lot better.

It is when you view the US Youtube photography sites, and they state $1999. It gives you the impression that this is the purchase price. You think that it is the same as in the UK, namely the purchase price always includes VAT.

I guess i will wait until the price comes down, so it is affordable for me.

Regards

Allan