Topic: 5DMkII and A900 pricing in UK out of line with the rest of the world? (Read 10456 times)

NigelC · « **on:** January 05, 2009, 11:58:10 am »

I see See Michaels' comparison of 5D MkII and Sony A900 quoted Canon as couple of hundred dollars cheaper in US and 100$ more in Canada. In UK, taking Warehouse Express as typical, Nikon D700 is just over £1500, A900 is £1700 and 5DMk II is £2200, £500 or $750 more at current exchange rates. I was expecting the canon's price to fall to closer to the Sony after Xmas, but with the yen/pound rate moving the wrong way (for us) Canon have just increased retail price by £200. I don't see many 5DMkII's being sold in UK.

rcdurston · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2009, 01:26:12 pm »

UK pricing on everything is way out of whack. Epson and Canon printers are one of the biggest culprits; almost double compared to the US.
Try this one
Lyson inks are made in the UK and are still double compared to B & H but
Lee Filters are actually cheaper in the UK.
When I called Lyson they told me they were still cheaper than Epson inks (?!). . . . so what?
I can buy your inks for my Epson from B & H and get almost double the amount of inks for the same price.
I just have to pay the VAT and 6.5% for customs (FYI tariff code #3215908090).

UK distributor's pockets are lined with gold

NigelC · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2009, 02:16:50 pm »

Quote from: rcdurston

UK pricing on everything is way out of whack. Epson and Canon printers are one of the biggest culprits; almost double compared to the US.
Try this one
Lyson inks are made in the UK and are still double compared to B & H but
Lee Filters are actually cheaper in the UK.
When I called Lyson they told me they were still cheaper than Epson inks (?!). . . . so what?
I can buy your inks for my Epson from B & H and get almost double the amount of inks for the same price.
I just have to pay the VAT and 6.5% for customs (FYI tariff code #3215908090).

UK distributor's pockets are lined with gold

Will B&H ship to UK?

feppe · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2009, 02:36:34 pm »

It's not only UK, it's all of (Western) Europe. We've had this very discussion several times on here, and the consensus seems to be that there are three main reasons:

Import duties and taxes are higher in Europe than the US
Cost of doing business in Europe is higher than the US (only partly related to #1)
Because they can get away with it, ie. people still pay the exorbitant prices

I voted with my wallet and bought a bunch of stuff in the US from B&H when I was there last time. Planning another trip later this year.

jjj · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2009, 02:47:31 pm »

Quote from: NigelC

Will B&H ship to UK?

Yup. I bought a ringflash from then a while back as it was the only non studio one I could get that would fit over my large aperture lenses. It was discontinued and hard to come by.
I ordered it on Sunday and it turned up on Wednesday, which is even more impressive as I had to pay VAT on the import before the UK delivery would even ship it and I also had to a pay a fee for the the fact I was [incorrectly] being charged VAT. I can claim VAT back, but VAT is not even applicable on secondhand goods in first place.
THat's quicker delivery than many UK firms!

feppe · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2009, 03:10:01 pm »

Quote from: jjj

Yup. I bought a ringflash from then a while back as it was the only non studio one I could get that would fit over my large aperture lenses. It was discontinued and hard to come by.
I ordered it on Sunday and it turned up on Wednesday, which is even more impressive as I had to pay VAT on the import before the UK delivery would even ship it and I also had to a pay a fee for the the fact I was [incorrectly] being charged VAT. I can claim VAT back, but VAT is not even applicable on secondhand goods in first place.
THat's quicker delivery than many UK firms!

That's my experience with Amazon.com. The US version. They and most other American companies deliver goods faster and more reliably than their European counterparts - even after delays at customs are taken into account.

NigelC · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2009, 03:33:38 am »

Quote from: NigelC

I see See Michaels' comparison of 5D MkII and Sony A900 quoted Canon as couple of hundred dollars cheaper in US and 100$ more in Canada. In UK, taking Warehouse Express as typical, Nikon D700 is just over £1500, A900 is £1700 and 5DMk II is £2200, £500 or $750 more at current exchange rates. I was expecting the canon's price to fall to closer to the Sony after Xmas, but with the yen/pound rate moving the wrong way (for us) Canon have just increased retail price by £200. I don't see many 5DMkII's being sold in UK.

Just to add to previous response, the point I was trying to make was not that prices in UK/Europe are higher than US (although need to add taxes to US prices) but that the relationship between 5D2 and A900 is reverse of that in US. Is this like the situation with Mamiya medium format a few years back where Mamiya MF was a lot cheaper than Hsselblad in the UK but because of the Mamaiya distributor in the US, prices were as high as/higher than Hasselblad.

rcdurston · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2009, 04:07:14 am »

Quote from: feppe

It's not only UK, it's all of (Western) Europe. We've had this very discussion several times on here, and the consensus seems to be that there are three main reasons:

Import duties and taxes are higher in Europe than the US
Cost of doing business in Europe is higher than the US (only partly related to #1)
Because they can get away with it, ie. people still pay the exorbitant prices

I voted with my wallet and bought a bunch of stuff in the US from B&H when I was there last time. Planning another trip later this year.

Sorry but I have to disagree with you on your first two reasonings. Most of the stuff we are buying is coming from Asia and Europe (cameras and lighting) and if you look up the codes or call for them you'll find they are set to zero or well below 10%. These distributors don't have any higher cost of business; they are selling out of the manufacturer's warehouses and seldom have any big ticket items in stock. Also they locate in industrial areas with lower rents; you never see that in the US, stores are in urban shopping areas usually.

Anyways don't let them get you down. Tell your reseller you are pissed off and are ordering it stateside. Give them the option to match the price including shipping.

If you want to get the customs codes for your regularly ordered items, here's the UK customs code inquiry.
Their number is 01702366077
the site is
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/actio...7544&r.s=tl
The site is a little convoluted though, so I called
you are allowed to ask about 3 items per phone call

0% Digital camera (any size) 8525803000
4.9% Digital camera (any size) also shoots moving images 8525809100
0% Ink Jet Printer (any size) 8443321090
0% Printer paper (any size) 4823904000
6.5% printer ink cartridges 3215908090

All of these items will still have to be charged VAT, unless you are of course exempt
All commodity codes must have 10 digits

hope that helps
r

sorry for hijacking the thread NigelC

Ben Rubinstein · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2009, 04:47:08 am »

Quote from: rcdurston

Sorry but I have to disagree with you on your first two reasonings. Most of the stuff we are buying is coming from Asia and Europe (cameras and lighting) and if you look up the codes or call for them you'll find they are set to zero or well below 10%. These distributors don't have any higher cost of business; they are selling out of the manufacturer's warehouses and seldom have any big ticket items in stock. Also they locate in industrial areas with lower rents; you never see that in the US, stores are in urban shopping areas usually.

Anyways don't let them get you down. Tell your reseller you are pissed off and are ordering it stateside. Give them the option to match the price including shipping.

If you want to get the customs codes for your regularly ordered items, here's the UK customs code inquiry.
Their number is 01702366077
the site is
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/actio...7544&r.s=tl
The site is a little convoluted though, so I called
you are allowed to ask about 3 items per phone call

0% Digital camera (any size) 8525803000
4.9% Digital camera (any size) also shoots moving images 8525809100
0% Ink Jet Printer (any size) 8443321090
0% Printer paper (any size) 4823904000
6.5% printer ink cartridges 3215908090

All of these items will still have to be charged VAT, unless you are of course exempt
All commodity codes must have 10 digits

hope that helps
r

sorry for hijacking the thread NigelC

Well that puts it into perspective, 5D mkII does video so it has import duty attached unlike most other DSLR's. It's probably more marketing actually. The Canon is in great demand by those with legacy canon gear. The Sony is in less demand and Nikon are applying an extremely aggressive pricing structure in the UK at present to lure Canon photographers.

Jim Pascoe · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2009, 05:10:32 am »

Taking the cost of the 5D Mk2 as an example, are they really much cheaper in the US than in the UK?

According to B&H they are $2700, which is about £1836. Add on the 4.9% UK import duty for any digital camera capable of shooting moving images brings us to £1926.
Add on VAT at 15% and we have £2215.

Ok, so that is £36 cheaper than Warehouse Express. But then you have to pay shipping.

I see Warehouse Express are also selling the kit with the 24-105 at £2500. B&H are $3500, which if imported would be £2871. Warehouse Express have low stock but B&H
are on back order.
The Sony is £1700 in the UK but the imported cost from the US would be £2346, so obviously a bargain in the UK!

The 1DS Mk3. $4389 in UK, £5129 if imported from the states. (No, I did not add the 4.9% for this one!)

Seeing that many retailers are struggling in the UK, and some specialist camera shops have recently gone out of business, I don't think we are being ripped off by the retailers.

Mind you, maths was never my strong point. Have I missed something?

Jim

NigelC · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2009, 05:19:19 am »

Quote from: pom

Well that puts it into perspective, 5D mkII does video so it has import duty attached unlike most other DSLR's. It's probably more marketing actually. The Canon is in great demand by those with legacy canon gear. The Sony is in less demand and Nikon are applying an extremely aggressive pricing structure in the UK at present to lure Canon photographers.

Are we sure the Nikon D90 and Canon 5D2 are being taxed at a higher rate because they also do video, which is only the case for the EU I think. If true that would explain part of the higher price for the 5D2. I can believe that Nikon is pricing to win market share from Canon.

Ben Rubinstein · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2009, 06:07:59 am »

UK is part of the EU so I assume the video tax is being applied.

As for the price differences, it's only been the case in the last few months that the pound has dropped so badly that the prices are beginning to come in line. For most of the past couple of years the £ has equaled $2 and that has been where the huge difference is/was. Evenso Nikon prices never had the huge gap that the Canon prices did.

BTW Warehouse is far from being the cheapest option anymore, Amazon.co.uk have the 5D mkII at £1900 which is just £50 more than the B&H price for the US (probably even less given amazon is free shipping). Oh and you could get it for exactly the same price as the US if you go to dabs.com, I think that given the huge dive the UK economy is taking and the resulting lack of spending, canon UK have switched from 'gouging' mode to 'desperate' mode. I know the retailers never made more than a couple of quid on the canon bodies.

rcdurston · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2009, 07:06:05 am »

Here's something for thought. I'm still in the process of moving my stuff over from the states. One of my macs was heavily damaged. When I priced it out in the spring it was $4500 in the US or $6000 in the UK or $6500 in ROI (Ireland); it was a huge difference that I could buy a plane ticket and have a mini vacation and bring it back with me.
Now however the tables have turned and it is almost on par between the two countries. Now all I'll be buying when I'm over later this month is my favourite hot sauce I can't get here.

jjj · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2009, 12:08:05 pm »

Looks like UK prices may shoot up - by a possible 20%
BJP price hike article

NigelC · « **Reply #14 on:** January 09, 2009, 05:17:47 am »

Quote from: pom

Well that puts it into perspective, 5D mkII does video so it has import duty attached unlike most other DSLR's. It's probably more marketing actually. The Canon is in great demand by those with legacy canon gear. The Sony is in less demand and Nikon are applying an extremely aggressive pricing structure in the UK at present to lure Canon photographers.

Lowest UK price is Park Cameras @ £2099, (c$3200). Everywhere thats advertises lower has no stock. A classic marketing trick - watch price increase when it is in stock!

feppe · « **Reply #15 on:** January 09, 2009, 07:55:42 am »

Quote from: rcdurston

Sorry but I have to disagree with you on your first two reasonings. Most of the stuff we are buying is coming from Asia and Europe (cameras and lighting) and if you look up the codes or call for them you'll find they are set to zero or well below 10%. These distributors don't have any higher cost of business; they are selling out of the manufacturer's warehouses and seldom have any big ticket items in stock. Also they locate in industrial areas with lower rents; you never see that in the US, stores are in urban shopping areas usually.

Cost of doing business is higher in Europe, period. Wages, social security, taxation, transportation, warehousing, etc., all more expensive than the US.

Good points about the European and Asian imports, though.

PierreVandevenne · « **Reply #16 on:** January 09, 2009, 09:26:31 am »

Quote from: feppe

Cost of doing business is higher in Europe, period. Wages, social security, taxation, transportation, warehousing, etc., all more expensive than the US.

Good points about the European and Asian imports, though.

I've just checked dealer's prices here in Belgium, for single cameras orders and the cheapest is the Mk II, the D700 is about 100 EUR more expensive and the A900 is, officialy, almost 500 EUR more expensive than the MKII - I didn't call to haggle though. Yet, our biggest local main street store sells the D700 at 2199, the 5DMK II at 2399 and the Sony at 2690. IMHO, it depends on the moment batches were ordered. There are severe price distortions right now between continental Europe and UK, probably because of the tremendous movements in currencies we have seen in the last two months. A couple of weeks ago I ordered a ton of things in UK when the GBP was close to parity with the EUR <G>: there are many official prices still based on the 1.4 conversion rate. Add frantic "sales" to that and I'd say the UK is one of the best places to shop right now.

free1000 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 09, 2009, 02:24:40 pm »

Just received a 5DII from lambda-tek.co.uk, it cost a tad under £2000 including VAT, so beating Park Cameras by about £100. They are mainly a component supplier for computers etc, so don't expect any special photographic expertise from them. (No need as its all on bulletin boards like this one in any case).

As I didn't know the company I paid with a credit card to get the extra insurance that comes with it, though on the site they suggest you pay with a debit card.

The camera didn't have a protective plastic film on the LCD. Is that normal? I did wonder if it was a returned item. Camera clean, unblemished and appears to be perfect in every way. No doubt my measurbating will soon find some minor anomaly though.

jjj · « **Reply #18 on:** January 10, 2009, 05:31:47 pm »

Quote from: free1000

Just received a 5DII from lambda-tek.co.uk, it cost a tad under £2000 including VAT, so beating Park Cameras by about £100. They are mainly a component supplier for computers etc, so don't expect any special photographic expertise from them. (No need as its all on bulletin boards like this one in any case).

Looked like they weren't even that, as the site looked like just a bunch of search results of other places.

PierreVandevenne · « **Reply #19 on:** January 11, 2009, 03:13:16 am »

Quote from: jjj

Looked like they weren't even that, as the site looked like just a bunch of search results of other places.

FWIW,

http://www.lambda-tek.com/
http://www.lambdatek.co.uk/

Author Topic: 5DMkII and A900 pricing in UK out of line with the rest of the world? (Read 10456 times)