Comments on: Electronics Prices in Europe http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/ Thoughts and photos from an American living in Spain. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:54:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Peter http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-2187 Peter Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:56:05 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-2187 You know Erik, I'm convinced that Japanese electronics manufacturers are cashing in by making us poor Europeans pay through the nose. Even by subtracting the high European VAT taxes (21% in Belgium) on electronics, it just doesn't explain the exorbitant price difference between the US and Europe for most electronic items. Guess the US just gets their wholesale merchandise cheaper, I can see no real other explanation. You know Erik, I’m convinced that Japanese electronics manufacturers are cashing in by making us poor Europeans pay through the nose.

Even by subtracting the high European VAT taxes (21% in Belgium) on electronics, it just doesn’t explain the exorbitant price difference between the US and Europe for most electronic items.

Guess the US just gets their wholesale merchandise cheaper, I can see no real other explanation.

]]> By: Erik R. http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1773 Erik R. Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:03:08 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1773 Sorry, I just noticed your comment here, Uncle Neil. I'm pretty sure my in-laws have never been in an airplane. They had tickets to take one to southern Spain for their honeymoon, but ended up not going (I can't recall why), and they bought tickets to visit us in England, but something else came up. They never once visited us in England. They don't do much travelling at all, really, except down to Extremadura in the summer. Belén and her grandfather <i>did</i> visit us in England, though. And Belén has been to Italy, presumably by plane. Obviously the flying vs. driving price ratio goes way down as the distances get longer, like "to Alaska". Sorry, I just noticed your comment here, Uncle Neil. I’m pretty sure my in-laws have never been in an airplane. They had tickets to take one to southern Spain for their honeymoon, but ended up not going (I can’t recall why), and they bought tickets to visit us in England, but something else came up. They never once visited us in England. They don’t do much travelling at all, really, except down to Extremadura in the summer.

Belén and her grandfather did visit us in England, though. And Belén has been to Italy, presumably by plane.

Obviously the flying vs. driving price ratio goes way down as the distances get longer, like “to Alaska”.

]]> By: Uncle Neil http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1577 Uncle Neil Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:47:00 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1577 What experience have your in-laws, and their parents, had flying? Where have they flown and when? Belen? When I was younger I flew quite a bit but I guess that was quite a while ago :] Flying is way cheaper than driving now where I live. The price round trip to Alaska is just over $500 and has been for a long time. What experience have your in-laws, and their parents, had flying? Where have they flown and when? Belen?
When I was younger I flew quite a bit but I guess that was quite a while ago :]
Flying is way cheaper than driving now where I live. The price round trip to Alaska is just over $500 and has been for a long time.

]]> By: Erik R. http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1545 Erik R. Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:00:09 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1545 Theresa, I couldn't even get her to buy anything in Tiffany's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/536498156/" rel="nofollow">when we were there</a>. Theresa, I couldn’t even get her to buy anything in Tiffany’s when we were there.

]]> By: Erik R. http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1544 Erik R. Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:55:58 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1544 My Fifth Ave. suggestion was kind of a joke. Since I'm lucky enough to have a mailing address that I will be visiting in the US, I'll be ordering online a few weeks before my flight. Simon, the <acronym title="that's slick photographer jargon for 'lens that comes with the camera'">lens kit</acronym> for the <i>European</i> version of the 40D is the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-17-85mm-4-5-6-Stabilized-Digital/dp/B0002Y5WXO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1198074476&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM</a>. The lens kit for the US version is the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-28-135mm-3-5-5-6-Standard-SLR-Cameras/dp/B00006I53S/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_1_1" rel="nofollow">EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM</a>. The bundled lens is almost $200 more if you buy it not-bundled. More research needs to be done on deciding exactly what lens to buy. Simon, you can rendezvous with me in the Frankfurt airport if you want! :-) If I'd thought about it, I might have booked a connecting flight through Brussels. My Fifth Ave. suggestion was kind of a joke. Since I’m lucky enough to have a mailing address that I will be visiting in the US, I’ll be ordering online a few weeks before my flight.

Simon, the lens kit for the European version of the 40D is the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM. The lens kit for the US version is the EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. The bundled lens is almost $200 more if you buy it not-bundled. More research needs to be done on deciding exactly what lens to buy.

Simon, you can rendezvous with me in the Frankfurt airport if you want! :-) If I’d thought about it, I might have booked a connecting flight through Brussels.

]]> By: Theresa http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1543 Theresa Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:43:42 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1543 Are you trying to give us all camera envy? I'm asking for a new camera too, but not one that expensive. That is a bit too big for me and my photography skills aren't up to it (and neither is my pocketbook). So, I have my eye set on the Panasonic TZ3, which is nice and small, has a 10x optical zoom, and looks much better than what we have now. It is more expensive in the stores here than online, but I wouldn't buy something like that over the Internet. In your case it could be worth it to take the trip to New York, but not in mine. But your wife will probably want to join you for shopping, so it could end up being expensive. ;) Are you trying to give us all camera envy? I’m asking for a new camera too, but not one that expensive. That is a bit too big for me and my photography skills aren’t up to it (and neither is my pocketbook). So, I have my eye set on the Panasonic TZ3, which is nice and small, has a 10x optical zoom, and looks much better than what we have now. It is more expensive in the stores here than online, but I wouldn’t buy something like that over the Internet. In your case it could be worth it to take the trip to New York, but not in mine. But your wife will probably want to join you for shopping, so it could end up being expensive. ;)

]]> By: simon http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1542 simon Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:27:14 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1542 Hold your horses - what's the lens package in NY? Does it come with the 28-135mm in the picture? Besides, if you're going over anyway to get yourself one, just pick up two and I'll transfer you the money, thereby saving us having to shell out for 2 plane tickets and accommodation... Hold your horses - what’s the lens package in NY? Does it come with the 28-135mm in the picture?
Besides, if you’re going over anyway to get yourself one, just pick up two and I’ll transfer you the money, thereby saving us having to shell out for 2 plane tickets and accommodation…

]]> By: Erik R. http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1541 Erik R. Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:20:55 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1541 Paola, yes, I knew he was looking into that. So have a nice trip! :-) (sorry Simon!) Paola, yes, I knew he was looking into that. So have a nice trip! :-)

(sorry Simon!)

]]> By: paola http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1540 paola Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:17:59 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2007/12/19/electronics-prices-in-europe/#comment-1540 Ah! Erik, you star... Since, as you probably know, Simon wants to buy exactly the same camera in the new year, you just gave me the best argument ever to convince him to take me shopping in New York! Ah! Erik, you star… Since, as you probably know, Simon wants to buy exactly the same camera in the new year, you just gave me the best argument ever to convince him to take me shopping in New York!

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