BS: Price comparisons worldwide

Subject: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 04:49 AM

I was just looking at a thread on ISBN numbers and thought it might be an interesting exercise to make some comparisons of prices in different parts of the world of items other than books..
For instance, I have purchased a Crosman Air Pistol in the UK, which normally retails here for £99.95 or $179. The same Pistol can be bought in US for around $45.
I am currently looking to purchase a British style longbow and arrows of which the cheapest here is again around $180 or £100. How do prices compare elsewhere please. Please use this thread to make your own enquiries about prices that interest you.
Best wishes.

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: kendall
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 07:45 AM

My many trips to the UK have been educational, I don't know how you can afford to live there. Petrol is about $7.00 per gallon, whereas it is $1.75 here.
Jacqui and I went out to dinner the other night at a seafood restaurant. We ordered a "fisherman's platter", and it was piled high with shrimp (prawns) scallops, haddock and clams. The french fries (chips) were on a seperate dish. We both ate from the platter, and there was enough left over to take home, which we both had for lunch the next day. The price $19.95, plus a pitcher of beer which we split with my brother and his wife. Well, it wasn't REAL beer, it was Coors, (American)
My house is valued at $120,000. In England, anywhere near London, it would be worth at least $200,000.
Your pound is worth about $1.80, yet your prices are such that you spend pounds like we spend dollars.
I love the UK, but I couldn't afford to live there.

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 08:07 AM

Get down to the necessities of life:

Beer - anything from £1.50 a pint to £2.40 or more. (Of course pints here are bigger than they are in America, which cpmplicates things._

A set of guitar strings from £4.50 up.

Cup of tea, from 50p to £1.0.

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: mack/misophist
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 09:38 AM

Taxes make the biggest difference, I think. Compared to the UK, the US has low taxes. Compared to the UK, the US also has no social services. It balances.

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 10:21 AM

Petrol about $1.00 Aus a litre at moment.

My house cost A$50,000 in 1984 - it supposedly is nearly 350,000 to $400,000 now - and it was not an expensive big house as they go here.... I keep getting real Estate Clowns ringing up and asking me to sell - I ask them how the hell I would ever buy anything else in a convenient place, especially now that I am unemployed...

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 12:26 PM

The UK has low taxes compared to many other European countries. With public services to match.

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: Grab
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 08:32 AM

Getting down to necessities of life, in the UK you pay a massive mark-up on US-made guitars. A threefold markup isn't uncommon (I've seen $600 Martins for £1200!), and paying double the US price would be normal. I don't know who's making the money here. Some of it is doubtless down to import taxes and shipping, but nowhere near all of it. I don't think this is the manufacturers - I personally suspect UK guitar shops are ripping off their customers. Ditto guitar strings.

But on other things, US-based companies have simply set out to fleece the rest of the world. CDs, DVDs, clothing, cars - all of these are sold for artificially inflated prices in the UK. Cars are getting better (after a crack-down by the government), but luxury items are just getting more expensive. We've basically stopped buying CDs except for birthdays, because they're too expensive to buy on impulse.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 11:15 AM

UK prices baffle me. CAMSCO has a bunch of UK customers (admittedly a small one) that buys CDs. The odd thing is that I can sell them UK-produced CDs at a lower price than they can get in the UK--and that's after double shipping overseas and a small profit for me. The price gap has closed somewhat since the value of the Dollar vs. the Pound has been Bushwhacked, but it's still significant.

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: GUEST,Sledge
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 11:20 AM

In February While in the US, I bought an IPOD Mini and was able to save around £70 on what is now the average UK retail price, thats a serious hunk of change.

Sledge

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: Maryrrf
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 11:59 AM

Having gone back and forth a lot between the US and the UK, I think prices are much higher for most things the UK - from eating out to consumer goods and services,. I always heard it was because of the way VAT works - a tax added every step of the way, so to speak. And the salaries in the UK seem in most (not all) cases to be lower. However, I do envy the public services and NHS that they have in the UK. I know the NHS is much maligned but I've heard a lot of good things about it too - and it's there for everybody regardless of their ability to pay. I think in quality of life, however, the UK is just fine. I wouldn't mind living there - as I matter of fact I'd love to move over.

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 12:35 PM

I have just seen a Martin Backpacker (steel stringed) advertised over here in UK for £199.95 which is $358.33 and have looked on a US site to find exactly the same guitar for $148.95 which is £83.11. What a disgusting mark up. I shall try ordering from U.S if someone ships them to UK. Best wishes.

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 01:04 PM

In Canada we have very High Prices compared to the US but low Prices compared to the UK. We have a lot of Tax (HST) on most items but we have an excellent National Health Service..it is all a trade off I guess, you decide what you value most, then you have to fund it.
   I also think that people live differently in all three , therefore our views as to what is "expensive" may vary.

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: GUEST,portland oregon
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 09:52 PM

I'm trying to compare average homeprices worldwide..does anyone know
where i can find that info? I have info on the US and the basics of UK, but is there anything out there that compares prices worldwide?
T

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: Peace
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 09:56 AM

http://www2.jurock.com/articles/columnist.asp?id=1564

Subject: RE: BS: Price comparisons worldwide
From: Alice
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 10:11 AM

This thread is like a time machine to read "petrol is.... $1.75 here".
I did a double take and then looked at the year, 2004.

Alice