I'm as keen as the next gal, or guy, to save money where possible. Who isn't.

But have you noticed the huge price differences between UK and USA for Disco equipment.

Indeed, I spent one weekend last year either flying To, From, or internally around, the US, for a purchase of DJ gear which should have cost me £900~£1200 here, but which I saved over £200 on, by buying a last-minute air-fare and collecting it from a dealer in the states.

Chris's prices, from what I've seen are about as cheap as you could expect any UK dealer to be. Whilst reading the remainder of this post its important to note that its my solid belief that its certain UK equipment manufacturers themselves making such huge differences to prices between the UK and US, not the individual dealers, and DJ retail outlets.

For example, one US dealer sent out an email-shot, which I recieved a few days ago about Pioneer offering $200 cashback on the ol' CDJ-1000, and even the latest (but one) model DMP-555, (with the infamous "DJ Booth" software, which postponed its muted launch last year)

The same US Outlets price on the ol' CDJ-1000 is $744 USD, the customer effectively gets the CDJ-1000 for $544 USD after Pioneers cashback cheque arrives...

Using Xe.com for exchange rates...thats a CDJ-1000 for £335.59 GBP...

The strange thing is, the defeatured CDJ-800, which has no cashback, would be £70 more @ £406.54 GBP (exch rate calc'd as above)

Nothing that we can do ,except suggest that the above manufacturer refains from printing the UK version of the manual on paper made from Dodo egg extracts in 24carat gold ink.

Anyone got a ladder?

I agree with you, but isn't that typical of EVERYTHING that you buy from abroad, and not just Disco Equipment??. I mean fuel prices - they pay the same price per GALLON, as we do per LITRE. Not to mention designer clothes, CD's, Computer Equipment, all twice the price. Fags and booze are known by everybody to be cheaper elsewhere and thats only with a short "hop" across the channel!

The biggest blame doesn't lie with the manufacturers entirely, it lies with our flawed tax and VAT system. Sales tax in the US (Varies from state to state) I believe is around 5 - 8%, compare that with the whopping 17.5% levied on goods in the UK - on a £400 purchase, that is a big difference!.

Also bear in mind that anything you buy in the US for import into the UK via a carrier is not as straight forward as you may imagine . Firstly, all goods of commercial value and over £18 are liable for import duty when it arrives in the U.K. If you don't pay the duty on it then it'll be confiscated. Many people buy American Goods from certain auction sites thinking that they are getting a bargain - then they get hit with £50 import duty and a £60 UPS frieght charge - suddenly the item would have been cheaper bought from the UK after all!.

Obviously there is nothing stopping you from flying over to the US and buying goods in person. but bear in mind the cost of the ticket, and the maximum weight allowed for luggage by the airlines.

Goods are cheaper bought on trips from to US, but when buying any electrical equipment in the US, remember that their electrical system is different to ours (110 - 120v) and the US T.V system works on NTSC which is not directly compatible with our PAL system!.

Purchase Tax (PT) in NJ, I believe is still 3%.
American prices do not include PT, that is added at the till.

Although overall US prices are still a damn site cheaper.

Companies no longer look at the UK market, they see the European market and that can also have a servere affect on our prices. The two options are 1) "persuade" manufactures to look at the UK market as the UK and not as europe, or 2) We get ourselfs into europe big time and quick. Both have advantages and disadvantages, VAT in France is 20% on most things.

If you watch the figures ( £, $ & E) what they are trying to achieve is a parity between the E & the $ ( E1 = $1) and at the moment there are very close, it is a case of, Can it be maintained.

I do rather like the US market place, When out there I buy clothes by the case. eg. Shirt and trousers from Gap $14 each + tax = $28.84, over here same shirt at Gap in Reading £42 - so I got the shirt for half price and the trousers for nothing, As the americans would say "Go Figure"

Now close your mouths and listen, if I'd brought those same items in New York (PT 7% ?) they would have cost nearly £100.

In the UK prices are fairly stable whether your in Manchester, Glasgow, London or Brighton, just minor variations, over the other side price is affected by location. I do not recomend buying in New York or other major metro areas. Get out into the sticks, or better still find a factory outlet.

I went to the Levi outlet and Levi 501's (1997) were $16 + PT, this was at Hilton Head, SC in New Jersey the best price I could find was $20 + PT.

As a side line I do recommend Hilton Head Island for a quite holiday, end Sept - Oct, 78 degs at night and between 95 - 105 degs during the day, 18 pack of Bud $9.99. Charleston half an hour to the north and Savannah, Georgia half an hour to the south. If you get there, Crabby Nicks best food in the area, also the Salt Dog Cafe for a coffee and a snack, and they have an online web cam that looks out over the Marina. Can't wait to get back there. And I can say that the average American is a damn nice person, but please watch the State Troopers, on the spot fines that are mega compared to the sheriffs department.

From the manufacturers standpoint, I can confirm what Chris and Mikeee say. Isn't it true that everything from clothing to computers and electronics, costs less in the States? In fact a Dollar there and a Pound here would seem a rough guide. Apart from certain high profile items like European cars, the distributors or manufacturers are not simply taking more in the UK.

It's a lot cheaper to ship from the Orient into the U.S. than Europe. Scales of economy also makes for cheaper prices, simply because of the size of the American market. As Chris says, if you buy from the U.S., expect to have to pay duty and indeed the VAT on import here. The VAT payable will be on the dutied price and they even can include an element of freight costs for that calc. Sales tax in the U.S. is a lot less, although as Mikeee says, it's not included on price quotes.

Some products like Wireless Mics will simply be illegal here. Don't rely on the U.S. dealer's advice on this. We have plenty of stories where the U.S. dealer said "yes it's no problem in the UK", when it is.

Plus, what happens when it does need warranty attention? You don't have the rights with dealers that you would if purchased here.

All worth thinking about.

Thanks Rob, it's nice to get the Manufacturers point of view on this. Even as a distributor I get the "Why is stuff so much cheaper in the U.S", to some extent I blame the Auction Sites!

On the warranty issue, you raised a very valid point!. Most UK Warranties cover you for parts and Labour charges in order to repair / replace the item. However in most cases, the Warranty requires you (The Customer) to return the item to either the distributor or Manufacturer at your own expense (Return to Base Warranty or RTB). This also applies to the US, so imagine if you had to stand the expense of returning the item to the US under warranty!, then running the risk of further customs charges on it's re-entry back into the UK.

On another note, in the US warranties can only run for 90 Days!, where as in the UK, you are entitled to at least 12 Months, with some manufacturers offering 2 or 5 years on selected products as standard.

The radio mic subject is also cause for concern, Auction Sites seem rife at the moment with very low cost imported radio mic systems selling at silly prices. Most of these operate on illegal frequencies, some even operating on the 88 - 108Mhz band!!, the quality of these is also dubious, I certainly wouldn't consider using one for professional applications.

With legal radio mics selling from £84, it really isn't worth the risk. If you've spent £2000 on a sound system, why skimp on a Mic?. The legal mic Frequency range (VHF) in the UK is 173.8 - 175.00 mhz - the UHF versions (830 mhz range) found on more expensive mics are also perfectly legal.

I understand that certain import duties/taxes/levies apply and that if a warranty issue should arise, then it "might" turn into a chargable repair, and indeed I agree that "cheaper in the US" certainly isnt a phenomena restricted to DJ equipment.

The way that we (The UK) get stitched up on Digital Camcorders isnt nice either. (The have to be de-featured so that the DV in/Rec In sockets dont work, to avoid huge levies.)

It was merely brought into sharp focus by the email that I mentioned above, which I received advertising that Pioneer in the US was giving cashback (after purchase) of almost 25% of the unit price on two of their CD decks.

And lets face it, Pioneer must still be making profit on that, even with them throwing $200 back at the customer.

But given that they have alot more competition than they used to, in the CD market now. EG: their CDJ?-5000 and 3000 are outperformed easily by the Gemini CD-X2000 (sorry Rob, I might have got an "X" in the wrong place there). Also, the Pioneer CDJ-1000 and 800's are not free of competition either anymore, but are still priced as though they're unique.

I'm not saying that "profit" is a dirty word, far from it - overheads must be met. But these US cashbacks are very reminiscent of Sofa Warehouses, or Carpet mega-stores, that are suddenly able to offer 50%+75% off stock, normally a week after you've spent an absolute packet at the "original" price.

QUOTE

The way that we (The UK) get stitched up on Digital Camcorders isnt nice either. (The have to be de-featured so that the DV in/Rec In sockets dont work, to avoid huge levies.)

Whats this about then and how will it affect me bearing in mind I was looking at purchasing one plus a digital projector for weddings etc??

Ok, firstly, i dont think that it'll affect your projector purchase at all.

But as for the camera....

On a Digital Video Camera...you've got a DV out connector (Firewire or IEEE 1395 connector) which you can connect to a PC's firewire card, and upload all your cameras shot video data in a "lossless" (99.9999999999% good) manner. Much better than using phono/scart leads to get your camcorder footage onto a PC, DVD recorder etc.

All Camcorders will do this no problem.

However...The DV camcorders also have DV IN connectivity. For example, you've editted your movie on your PC and want to dump it back out to the DV Camcorder tape, perhaps for archiving the DV tape, or for taking the camcorder and tape around to someone elses house. EG: Granny, who doesnt own one of dem new fangled videoy taper machines... NO DICE!

DV camcorders which are sold in the UK (might even be european markets) have to have the DV in connectivity software disabled before they're allowed into the country. All DV makes, all DV models.

Needless to say that there are electronic hardware devices called "Widgets" which re-enable the de-featured software in most camcorders, but they are very specific to which models and even which serial numbers, they'll work with. Most are £20~£40, and you only need them once.

Thanks Gary............. I just wanted to know for future reference, and if you don't know....... ASK

QUOTE (Gary @ May 19 2003, 12:40 PM)

But given that they have alot more competition than they used to, in the CD market now.  EG: their CDJ?-5000 and 3000 are outperformed easily by the Gemini CD-X2000 (sorry Rob, I might have got an "X" in the wrong place there).  Also, the Pioneer CDJ-1000 and 800's are not free of competition either anymore, but are still priced as though they're unique.

Thanks for the acknowledgement Gary. It's not hard to get the X's in the wrong place, we're doing it all the time!!

you think uk prices are expsensive check out the prices in NZ.
Chris, have you exported any products to New Zealand customers?.

So what you all are saying is you need me to come over there with some of my personal gear on vacation, and then you can buy it from me at US rates. I think I can get about 140lbs of gear with out having to pay anything extra on my flight. I'll just have to say there for a performancing I am doing, I am really good and can mix on 8 tables, 4 CD's and an mp3 mixer all at once.

BTW, I paid 242.89 GBP per technic 1200mk3, with free shipping. Plus for nother 14 GBP I am getting a 4 year full coverage service plan. I also got zero intrest financing for 12 months.

How much could you guys get technic 1200mk3's for?

edited to add things I forgot

QUOTE

BTW, I paid 242.89 GBP per technic 1200mk3, with free shipping. Plus for nother 14 GBP I am getting a 4 year full coverage service plan. I also got zero intrest financing for 12 months.

I don't really push Turntables (Apart from Gemini, of Course Rob!!! ) so I've nothing to lose by sharing certain secrets with you....where they don't affect me obviously, and I'll never give any exact figures away. Suffice to say that your buy price in the US, Retail, is not far away from the Trade Price that UK dealers would pay, before 17.5% VAT (Tax)

If you shop around in the UK, you could maybe find them on sale if you looked hard enough for below the £300 mark. However, these are usually what are termed "Grey Imports", which are goods which have been unofficially purchased in Europe / US / Far East and brought in for reselling. I wouldn't call it smuggling and there is nothing illegal about it, but suffice to say, that if you buy a Grey Import then you are unlikely to get anything with regard to UK service and Warranties.

Usual Retail Price in the UK would be around £319 Each.

QUOTE (Gary @ May 19 2003, 01:08 PM)

DV camcorders which are sold in the UK (might even be european markets) have to have the DV in connectivity software disabled before they're allowed into the country.  All DV makes, all DV models.

Completely way off topic, but had to comment on it.

Your post isn't totally true. My old (now deceased) digicam (sony trv-240E - didn't like being hit with a skateboard + person) has both DV Out and In, which I bought for a blistering £500 in the UK.

They do allow them, but It think they charge extra for them because they become video recorders (not sure how true this is, but it suddenly popped into my head!).

NiM

Yes the "de-featuring" was to avoid some levy/tax that applied to recording equipment. Possibly for copyright issues. EG: You cant easily/successfully record copyright information thru the lens of a camcorder, but you'd get some excellent results dubbing between two DV enabled units.

De-featuring the DV IN, prevents the camcorders from being anything other than a playing device thru DV OUT.

The other possiblity, especially if you bought your old camcorder thru a small specialist, rather than a retail/chain store, is that the unit may have been a Grey Import eg: Not one that was originally factory-set(de-set?) for the UK market...and therefore was still enabled on all features.

Nah, coulda got the same one on amazon.co.uk for an extra £100 (online purchasing is cheap?).I got it from an authorised sony store. Dead chuffed I was.

Alas, I am now camera-less. Incidently, you can still get the same camera for under £500, highly recommended.. The low light capabilites were great (recorded some great footage @ some disco's)..

Woe is me

QUOTE

rather than a retail/chain store, is that the unit may have been a Grey Import eg: Not one that was originally factory-set(de-set?) for the UK

Hi Gary,

My JVC camcorder has DV in and out , bought through dixons about 7 months ago , i can aasemble edit on my Pc and then send it back to the camera though its Dv in.
I thought DV in was quite common as an extra option, but about an extra £150 on the price ..