[Grousemore]

Has anyone else noticed the disparity between prices of 'top-end' binoculars in the UK and USA?

Comparing mail order prices the following was noted:-




Swarovski 8.5x42 UK 789 USA 850

Leica Ultravid 8x42 UK 898 USA 747

Nikon HG 8x42 UK 769 USA 500

Zeiss V 11 8x40 UK 719 USA 494

All of the prices are in Pounds Sterling.

The prices were obtained from Binoculars.com and Warehouse Express and Dollars were converted to Pounds using a rate of 1.8 dollars to the pound.

Makes the Victory 2's look positively cheap in the USA,which is more than you can say for the Swaros!

[pduxon]

The pound had been stuck at the 1.50 mark for ages which would have given prices of....
Swaro - 1020
Leica - 896
Nikon - 600
Zeiss - 593

How come Zeiss are so cheap in the States?

[Ragna]

Both Zeiss and NIkon seem to be very good value over in America.Swarovski prices seem to be as good in Britain as anywhere else in the World if not slightly cheaper.If buying from America you have to add Postage(Expensive)Plus VAT plus i think there is another 4.5% to add dont know what for.This brings the price up rather a lot,you may get away without theVAT if you can get the dealer to mark the customs form as a gift or such like.Almost worth going out there to get a pair of Zeiss or Nikon and having a few days birdwatching free.

[Bill Atwood]

Originally Posted by Grousemore

Has anyone else noticed the disparity between prices of 'top-end' binoculars in the UK and USA?

Comparing mail order prices the following was noted:-
The prices were obtained from Binoculars.com and Warehouse Express and Dollars were converted to Pounds using a rate of 1.8 dollars to the pound.

I believe there are reliable US stores that beat Binoculars.com on most items.

[Bill Atwood]

Originally Posted by Bill Atwood

I believe there are reliable US stores that beat Binoculars.com on most items.

In fact i got a quote for the Nikon 8x42 roofs of $750, just a couple weeks ago. Using the 1.78 factor results in only 417 pounds.

[Leif]

One thing to watch is that US dealers often charge more than seems reasonable for postage/shipping, and to add insult to injury, UK Customs & Excise charge VAT on the binoculars AND the postage/shipping.

That said, I bought some Nikon lenses many years ago from the States, and I'm now selling them on a commission basis. I have already sold some at little or no loss, so it can be well worth it. 5 years occasional use at almost no cost is hard to sneeze at.

I imagine quite a few people have relatives or colleagues mail new optics from the US with a note along the lines of "Hi John, you left your binoculars behind when you visited. Here they are." and have them confiscated at customs, or have VAT and/or a fine levied.

If you are not fussy then I would look out for nearly new items being sold on forums such as BF. I frequently see nearly new Nikon HGs and Leicas being sold at good prices.

Anyway, back on the ranch, why such a large disparity between US and UK prices on Zeiss and Nikon? Is this a case of successful marketing in the UK allowing a higher price, or a larger market in the US allowing economies of scale for some manufacturers? I think Zeiss and Nikon are much bigger companies than Leica and Swarovski.

[Ragna]

Leif.
you could be correct about Zeiss and Nikon being much bigger in America. 15 years ago Zeiss binoculars ruled the roost but now you see very few birders with the newish Victory binoculars compared to Swarovski and Leica.Lots of Zeiss about but these are old models, the Nightowl range they brought out a few years ago were a flop.Looked at a pair of used Victory 8x42 in Kays and the rubber armour looked very worn.Not a good advert for Zeiss.

[HokkaidoStu]

Originally Posted by Grousemore

Has anyone else noticed the disparity between prices of 'top-end' binoculars in the UK and the USA?

It's even more extreme here in Japan. I got some Nikon Monarch 10 by 42 for 27000 yen ( about 135 pounds ) last month and they are 379 pounds at warehouse express. The Nikon sopes are also cheaper although proportinately less so than the binoculars.

Another forum member informed me that some Opticron scopes are merely rebranded Vixen scopes. Vixen make the cheapest scopes in Japan.The latest 80mm ED scope ( body only ) is available for 53000 yen ( about 270 pounds )-about a third of the equivalent Opticron? The MM2 equivalent is likewise less than half the price......................

Why are these things double the price ( or higher ) in the UK? Ok Japan doesn't have to import but.......................


Like another poster said by ordering from abroad you'll lose most of your savings in post/tax/import duties etc ( and you won't be able to order from Japan unless you can read and speak Japanese ) but it doen't really excuse the fact that the UK prices are a bit of a rip-off.


Having said all this Leica et al in Japan are virtually the same price as in the UK. Like cars I guess the locally produced stuff isn't quite as good as the Germans but as near as dammit and way cheaper.

[Leif]

Originally Posted by stuprice68

Like cars I guess the locally produced stuff isn't quite as good as the Germans but as near as dammit and way cheaper.

Is that distant noise the sound of Scampo choking on his porridge?

[Michael Frankis]

Originally Posted by Stuprice

Why are these things double the price ( or higher ) in the UK?

Its just the usual rip-off corporate greed Britain - grossly inflated prices so that UK company bosses & shareholders can have their fat cat rake-off (typically 30% or more). American, and presumably Japanese, and also most continental European, bosses and shareholders are satisfied with much lower profit margins, usually around 5%. It applies to everything, optics, books, food, CDs, you name it.

For a typical example on smaller items . . . Audubon bird-call, exactly the same item:
In the US, US$7
In the UK, GB£20

Michael

[digi-birder]

I had a message on my computer recently that my Norton Internet Security package needed the subscription updating. When I visited the Symantec website I decided to upgrade to the 2004 version instead. This took me to the EU section where the prices were in Euros (about 50). I did a conversion and it worked out to about £35 so I decided to go ahead. I then clicked on a link to take me to the UK section and the price there was around £50. I swiftly went back to the EU section and bought in Euros!

[Michael Frankis]

Originally Posted by digi-birder

I had a message on my computer recently that my Norton Internet Security package needed the subscription updating. When I visited the Symantec website I decided to upgrade to the 2004 version instead. This took me to the EU section where the prices were in Euros (about 50). I did a conversion and it worked out to about £35 so I decided to go ahead. I then clicked on a link to take me to the UK section and the price there was around £50. I swiftly went back to the EU section and bought in Euros!

Only to find your bank will charge you £40 for converting £ to € . . . .

Michael

[digi-birder]

I'd change your bank, Michael, if that's what yours charges.

[CDK]

Originally Posted by Grousemore

Has anyone else noticed the disparity between prices of 'top-end' binoculars in the UK and USA?

Comparing mail order prices the following was noted:-




Swarovski 8.5x42 UK 789 USA 850

Leica Ultravid 8x42 UK 898 USA 747

Nikon HG 8x42 UK 769 USA 500

Zeiss V 11 8x40 UK 719 USA 494

All of the prices are in Pounds Sterling.
The prices were obtained from Binoculars.com and Warehouse Express and Dollars were converted to Pounds using a rate of 1.8 dollars to the pound.
Makes the Victory 2's look positively cheap in the USA,which is more than you can say for the Swaros!

Great, had a check via google for the best prices on Victory 8x40 mk2 in the USA.
Saw the equivalent £458 price (based on 1.8 ex rate) and noted that it was a refurbished model (Sierra Trading).
The suggested retail price was over $1,100.
Although the prices look lower, I wonder what you get, and how do we stand on warranty? Lot of hassle if they have to be shipped back to the US from the UK.
Binoculars.com had a price of $979 (ex rate 1.5) gave £652.66, well South West Optics have them advertised for £699, so for £46, better to stay in the UK and have the back up should it be required.

[Ragna]

Stu can you recommened any Nikon shops that sell binoculars in tokyo as my daughter is going for a short holiday in June. If prices are that good i may get her to try to get me a cheap pair of Nikons as a spare pair.Leif if prices are that good in Japan i think we'll all be choking on our porridge.

[bubbles]

HM Customs and excise will charge 4% duty on binos. You then pay 17.5% VAtTand the typical shipping with insurance from USA is about $50. If the seller marks the package as 'gift' and of value less than £80 (current limit) then you will avoid the taxes - however, you will have problems with the seller getting insurance correct - these are too expensive not to insure properly! I have had experience of having to explaion to HM why a nikon lens marked as a git for $50 was insured for equivalent of £300.... careless!

I had a serious ook at Ultravids from USA vs UK - after those taxes and insured delivery there was not a lot in it. There is also an issue with some makes when it comes to registering the Binos for warranty etc. I used Hiltons as I got best price in UK from them.... also decent in replying to any questions etc and keeping me informed.. comfort is worth somehting too!

Nikon have always been a rip off in UK compared to US and Japan - I have sourced lenses and various ancillary equipment when I happen to be in USA anyway - would have done the same with the Ultravids if I had a trip planned this side of the summer.. but could not wait.....

Good luck if you are buying overseas...!

[bubbles]

whoops mistake - duty and VAt due on goods worth more than 18 - not 80!

[Grousemore]

Originally Posted by CDK

Binoculars.com had a price of $979 (ex rate 1.5) gave £652.66, well South West Optics have them advertised for £699, so for £46, better to stay in the UK and have the back up should it be required.

They have increased in price over a day,but Eagle Optics have them for $899 today.That equals 500 quid,so the point remains.
Why are you using a rate of 1.5?...1.8 was being conservative and allowing for credit card charges;the actual rate today was 1.9.
In any event,I was not suggesting importing by mail order anyway.Apart from not wanting to help Gordon Brown at all costs,I was merely wondering why prices were so much higher in the UK.
Michael was probably partly correct,along with the factor of 'economies of scale'.

[HokkaidoStu]

Originally Posted by Ragna

Stu can you recommened any Nikon shops that sell binoculars in tokyo as my daughter is going for a short holiday in June. If prices are that good i may get her to try to get me a cheap pair of Nikons as a spare pair.Leif if prices are that good in Japan i think we'll all be choking on our porridge.

I don't know any specific shops in Tokyo ( I live on another island ) but most electronics stores sell cameras/optics. Akihabara is a famous shopping district for this kind of stuff as is Shinjuku ( the "Oxford Circus" of Tokyo ).

I bought my stuff online at www.kyoei-bird.com

I think this is an actual shop in Tokyo ( I'm not 100% sure ). They had some great deals anyway. Check out the website ( it's all in Japanese-click the second item on the left hand menu and then just click on the brands) to get an idea of price. The third tab on the menu has further discounts................for example Nikon HG 8 by 20 for about 150 pounds at the moment and some VERY cheap scopes.............


By the way the exchange rate from UK pound to Japanese yen is VERY good at the moment. The pound is the strongest it 's been since I arrived in Japan 5 years ago.....................good for your daughter ( but not so good for expats! ).