Price differences

[Freddy]

The price difference between Europe and Singapore is huge. A few years ago prices in Singapore were not much cheaper than prices in Europe, but this has changed.

See the below table:

 

ITEM IN SGD (EX VAT) SGD+VAT21% IN EURO (BOUGHT IN SING) IN EURO IN NETH

A7RII        3639                    4403,19            2828,75                                3399

24-240mm 1113                   1346,73            865,18                                    999

Samyang

lens 85/1.4  394                    476,74             306,27                                    349

SDXC-card San-

disk 128GB 140                    169,4               108,82                                    109

Extra battery 39                      47,19               30,31                                      52

TOTAL                                                         4139,35                                 4908

Transport +

admin.        120                    145,2                 93,28  

BOUGHT IN SING TOTAL                           4232,64                                4232,64

DIFFERENCE                                                                                             675,36

 

 

I compared prices between a well- known Singapore shop (Cathay Photo Store) with an excellent name and a well-known shop in Amsterdam (Booms).

The items bought in Singapore come with an international warranty and transport is by FedEx (takes four or five days).

AFAIK all shops in the EU are similarly expensive. (VAT may differ between countries.) Reason why?

Kind regards, Freddy.

[Freddy]

This editor is not meant for tables apparently. Hope you can still understand it.

KInd regards, Freddy.

[tiltshift]

I dont really understand the chart but I think I understand the question. the reason in the price difference is as far because they can. a great example is how Canon prices products internationally. on a brand new 5ds for example i saw someone quote a ~25% difference on price when comparing grey market to normal local pricing. 

 

grey market is essentially the same as you buying a camera in Singapore and importing it yourself to your country. only difference is there is a company that does the import. 

 

this price difference as i speculated earlier is because they can charge more in European markets and still get sales. where as in other markets they cant get away with it.

 

or possibly the Singapore sellers are happy with smaller margins and greater number of units?

 

All I know for sure is that it is frustrating for us consumers to see such a price difference on the same product....

[adwb]

There are of course shipping costs and insurance to europe, as well as various custom dues and duties when you are official importer.

 

Add to that even with distributor or dealer discount the profit you need to make to stay in business and you are almost bound to be more expensive that buying the same product in a country of origin.

 

The grey importers are buying in COE at a discount do not run a bricks and mortar operation and have low overheads, and you pay for the shipping to the uk or wherever, so it should be cheaper even if you do get caught for various taxes and  you mostly don't.

 

What does annoy me is when you see a identical product for sale in the USA cheaper than the UK and from a big store like B&H. That should not be possible.

[Freddy]

I will try to improve the table a bit:

 

ITEM IN SGD (EX VAT)  |  SGD+VAT21%   |  IN EURO (BOUGHT IN SING)   |   IN EURO IN NETH

A7RII           SIN$ 3639                 4403,19        2828,75                    3399

24-240mm           1113                 1346,73          865,18                      999

Samyang

lens 85/1.4            394                  476,74           306,27                      349

SDXC-card San-

disk 128GB           140                  169,4             108,82                      109

Extra battery           39                    47,19             30,31+                       52 +

TOTAL                                                            €4139,35                  €4908

Transport +

admin.                  120                  145,2               93,28  

BOUGHT IN SING TOTAL                               €4232,64                 €4232,64 -

DIFFERENCE                                                                                 € 675,36

 

 

 

While editing this looks a lot better. Hopefully also after it is saved ...

 

Kind regards, Freddy

[Freddy]

Hmm, not nearly as good as when I edited the table... Something strange happens with the spaces.

[Freddy]

"There are of course shipping costs and insurance to europe, as well as various custom dues and duties when you are official importer."

 

Shipping and administration were merely SIN$120 (see the table). The VAT I had to pay was much more, but even then the price difference was huge. VAT is also accounted for in the table. There was no import tax (much less than VAT anyhow).

[Lescatalpas]

Price differences exist in Europe as well. For instance the Zeiss Sony 55 f/1.8 sells in the Netherlands for €999 and in Germany (through Amazon) for €817.  Something to think about when buying abroad is the warranty. If you have a problem with the product is Sony going to help you locally?  I had a similar very bad experience with Nikon, where I bought a camera in the Middle East (I lived there) and it broke down in Europe in the warranty period after I moved back. Nikon simply referred me to the Middle East importer!

[Guest all8]

Reason: Europeans can afford to pay more - the local market sets the price more than you might expect. Yes, you can buy it from Singapore for less ... so go do that, and if lots of people do that then eventually the price in Europe would fall.

[alastc]

The US /UK price difference is generally because they have to show the price with VAT in the UK, but without sales tax in the US.

 

I got the A7R2 from BH Photo, then when Wex advertised it the price was actually the same when you included the VAT on both.