Canon Flash UK pricing.

Also don't forget about currency fluctuations and exchange rates. These can impact prices massively. For example if you took the Yen price MSRP at launch for a 5DII and 5DIII after you adjust for inflation (ie increase the 5DII price to "equivalent value") the mark 3 is actually cheaper.

But once you throw in the currency markets and ignore inflation you get people saying the price has gone up a grand.
 
I've just bought the 600ex-rt & the st e3 combination , while I'm very pleased with the flash ( still waiting for the e3 to be delivered)
I do think it's an awful lot of money for what it is.
That said, if you want one now that's how much you have to pay.
 
vinnyburns said:
You are not getting this at all.
I am talking about the DIFFERENCE between the 580EX II and the 600EX RT in both territories.
Even with your magical 20% added it would look lie this

In the US (with 20% added)
580 EX II $598 roughly £372
600 EX RT $754 roughly £469

A difference of £97

In the UK, The prices at WEX are
580 EX II £375
600 EX RT £675

A difference of £300

This is about the difference between the price premium of buying one flash over the other in both territories.

Now do you get it?
Click to expand...

There are a multitude of reasons why pricing in America is seemingly cheaper than here. Its not as simple as a direct conversion rate, other factors need to be accounted for such as min wage, Fed Min wage is $7.25 (approx £3.99) compared to our £6.19. The cost of living is cheaper in USA in most areas, of course there are exceptions. Also of course lets not forget the size of the market which is clearly larger than the UK. These factors obviously reduce as the number of items sell recouping the costs of R&D as you can see in the cost of the 580EXII. So whilst I am sure there is some feathering, if punters will pay then manufacturers will charge ;) the differences are not always as great as first seem.

Steve

Edit: The UK model can be found considerably cheaper than the price you quote.
 
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Mani Gill said:
Just to add, anything that we get from the US or anywhere else for that matter we are liable to pay customs tax, can't have blighty out of pocket now can we, so if we do work it all out, it ends up around about the same price, but I do get the point the OP is making in that we do always pay a premium for living in the UK.
Click to expand...

The Daily Mule continues the work of IngSoc - DoubleThink is alive and well.
 
Mani Gill said:
snip..
but I do get the point the OP is making in that we do always pay a premium for living in the UK.
Click to expand...

The point the OP was making, and how he tried - is that the particular flash in question has a much higher UK price than the usual price difference. Not that you'd get that from reading a lot of the comments here, nor would you get to understand that the massive ripoff we have in Britain is just a fallacy.

Try buying alcohol in Scandinavia (up to £8 a pint) if you want a real view of rip-off Britain - with our Wetherspoons special offers.
 
Hmmmm Weatherspoons hmmmm cheap beer :lol:

Steve
 
hollis_f said:
It is a well known 'fact', especially amongst Daily Mule readers. But it ain't true. In fact the prices are near identical.

Let's look at the 7D

Wex Price = £1100
B&H Price = £1550 = £1000 + 8.875 sales tax = £1090



What about the 70-200 f4 IS

Wex price = £945
B&H Price = $1349 = £950 (with tax)

If you're a pro and can claim the VAT back then the UK is drastically cheaper than the US.
Click to expand...


There is also the import duty of 6% on goods from overseas + VAT + Parcel Force delivery Charge of apx £18 ( as they are the HMRC official import duty & VAT collection agent ) to pay.

The UK camera equipment is important from Europe, and Europe imports from Japan, Korea etc.
So we are also subject to currency fluctuations before it hits the shelf’s.
Years ago I looked into buying a performance motorbike. Then prices in the UK were apx 40% more expensive than Europe i.e France, Holland, etc.
 
hollis_f said:
It is a well known 'fact', especially amongst Daily Mule readers. But it ain't true. In fact the prices are near identical.

Let's look at the 7D

Wex Price = £1100
B&H Price = £1550 = £1000 + 8.875 sales tax = £1090



What about the 70-200 f4 IS

Wex price = £945
B&H Price = $1349 = £950 (with tax)

If you're a pro and can claim the VAT back then the UK is drastically cheaper than the US.
Click to expand...

Just like to point out you're comparing a 3 year old camera and a 6 year old lens, they have both dropped in price over the years.

Instead of comparing prices years after their release look at their RRP from the manufacturer.

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_70_200mm_f_4l_is_usm
$1349

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/EF_Lenses/Telephoto_Zoom/EF_70-200mm_f4L_IS_USM/
£1450

I'm sure in a few years time the 600EX will be at a price similar to the US.
 
or8it said:
Just like to point out you're comparing a 3 year old camera and a 6 year old lens, they have both dropped in price over the years.

Instead of comparing prices years after their release look at their RRP from the manufacturer.

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_70_200mm_f_4l_is_usm
$1349

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/EF_Lenses/Telephoto_Zoom/EF_70-200mm_f4L_IS_USM/
£1450

I'm sure in a few years time the 600EX will be at a price similar to the US.
Click to expand...


I can not agree more !
 
VAT, Import Duty, Sales Tax, Exchange Rates and the price of bananas have nothing to do with what the OP is talking about.

The price of a 600EX RT in the USA is 25% more than the price of a 580EX II in the USA

The Price of a 600EX RT in the UK is 80% more than the price of a 580EX II in the UK

We are not complaining about the price of a product in one country over the price of the same product in another country.

We are pointing out that percentage Canon has raised the price of the 600EX RT over the 580EX II in Britain is massively more than the percentage Canon has raised the price of the 600 over the 580 in other countries.


I would not have mattered if the 600 had been $12,500 and the 580 $10,000 in the USA that's 25% more, and if the 600 was £18 in the UK and the 580 £10 that would still be 80% more. The actual price is irreverent, its the difference in percentage between the two models thats at issue.


Put it another way, in the USA for the price of a 5D III I can get 5.5 600 EX RT speedlites, in the UK for the price of a 5D III I can only get 4.4 600EX RT speedlites.
 
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hollis_f said:
Totally irrelevant. Only a moron pays the RRP.
Click to expand...

Really? The RRP price is the price BH are selling the 70-200 for as you pointed out in your post. Therefore are you classing all Americans as morons as they are paying the RRP?
 
Canon's RRPs, at launch:

Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT US: $629.99 / EUR: €699 / UK: £679.99

From DPReview.
 
This is why it is nice to have friends in America to send you 'presents'. The price difference is not going away, I remember when the exchange rate was 2:1 and it was actually cheaper to fly to America and buy some stuff and bring it back than it was to purchase here. What might be interesting is whever canon allow uk retails more flexibility over selling price, I know some new products they are required to sell at MRSP. I would be very interested in an explanation of the huge price increase here for canon, it is difficult to comprehend any incurred costs specific to the eu that would have risen that drastically.
 
or8it said:
Really? The RRP price is the price BH are selling the 70-200 for as you pointed out in your post. Therefore are you classing all Americans as morons as they are paying the RRP?
Click to expand...

Classing Americans as morons works for me lol

Rrp can't be enforced in the EU but iirc canon can set a minimum selling price in the us.
 
Davec223 said:
Don't forget to add vat to Roberts prices, as his Web site is ex vat.
Click to expand...


Including VAT

Screenshot2012-04-21at113309.jpg
 
MWHCVT said:
But also don't discount other taxes, such as import duty, which is different from country to country :( sorry to say but your on a hiding to nothing with this one :(
Click to expand...


Taxes and import duty have NOTHING to do with the original post, I just don't understand why people can't see this.

What the OP is saying is

Canon take into account the cost to make, import and all taxes in country (a) for a 580 and came up with a price , they then release the 600 and add 25% onto that price of the 580 to give them the cost of the 600

Canon take into account the cost to make, import and all taxes in country (b) for a 580 and came up with a price, they then release the 600 and add 80% onto price of the 580 to give them the cost of the 600

Canon have taken account of all taxes, duty and costs in each country when they came up with the price of the 580 for that country, so the question is why does there have to be a much larger increase in the price of the 600 in country (b) than country (a)




Having said all that, I'm not sure the OP is correct in the differences, as the list price for a 580 is far far higher than it's current selling price but the 600 is at or just below the list price (well £50 below at Robert Whites) :) and comparing the two UK list prices there is only about a £120 increase, which is about the correct amount.
 
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Price of 580EXII may be discounted as it's now end of line? Logically, it's replaced by the 600EX.
 
If you really want to scratch your head, have a look at camera price buster, because retailers arn't :D
Do they not look at the price others are selling kit for ?

The cost of the 600EX is MORE than the 600EX RT :lol:

Screenshot2012-04-21at144349.jpg
 
acetone said:
Taxes and import duty have NOTHING to do with the original post, I just don't understand why people can't see this.

What the OP is saying is

Canon take into account the cost to make, import and all taxes in country (a) for a 580 and came up with a price , they then release the 600 and add 25% onto that price of the 580 to give them the cost of the 600

Canon take into account the cost to make, import and all taxes in country (b) for a 580 and came up with a price, they then release the 600 and add 80% onto price of the 580 to give them the cost of the 600

Canon have taken account of all taxes, duty and costs in each country when they came up with the price of the 580 for that country, so the question is why does there have to be a much larger increase in the price of the 600 in country (b) than country (a)




Having said all that, I'm not sure the OP is correct in the differences, as the list price for a 580 is far far higher than it's current selling price but the 600 is at or just below the list price (well £50 below at Robert Whites) :) and comparing the two UK list prices there is only about a £120 increase, which is about the correct amount.
Click to expand...

Okay then let's take something else into consideration: Rent and Rates, Corporation Tax, Wages, National Insurance, PL Insurance etc etc, all things that differ from country to country so it's virtually impossible to compare prices from country to country, I also fail to see how the Duty on an item as that directly relates to the base cost of an idea so must be considered :thinking:

Matt
 
acetone said:
Nevermind, you'll never get it
Click to expand...

Well I sorry but you are obsessed with the cost of the product, that's not the only cost that makes up the sale price so it's really not easy to compare prices from one country to the next, I'm happy to listen to any reasoned argument you wish to make :shrug:
 
MWHCVT said:
that's not the only cost that makes up the sale price so it's really not easy to compare prices from one country to the next, I'm happy to listen to any reasoned argument you wish to make :shrug:
Click to expand...
by taking the actual price out of the equation & going on % price difference between products within the same market from the same supplier (in this case Canon US for the US & Canon UK for the UK) you should largely be able to take the variable cost of doing business in different countries out.

Doing so, you can't get away from the fact that currently there is a huge difference as a % between the price rise 580EX II > 600 EX-RT in the US (~26%) & the UK (69% & that's using £634@Robert White).
Given time I would expect them to narrow though.
 
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ALL the costs of Rent and Rates, Corporation Tax, Wages, National Insurance, PL Insurance etc etc are the same for the 580II as they are for the 600EX RT
.

So the question the OP asked is

Why in the USA does the 600EX RT only cost 25% more than the 580EX II does in the USA

Yet in the UK the 600EX RT cost 70% more than the 580EX II does in the UK.


At least Scott understands
 
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OK, before I post here, let me state on oath that I do understand what the thread is about.

It IS NOT about prices in the UK compared to prices in the US.

It IS about the relative prices of the two products in the UK, where there is a big price difference between them, compared to the US, where there is not a big price difference between them.

The actual price levels are irrelevant.

OK, here are my thoughts. It must be something to do with the structure of the UK market, or the behaviour of the retailers in the UK market, which differs from the US.

I think Frank is absolutely right here:
hollis_f said:
UK retailers will charge the MRSP for new gear to extract the maximum from those who simply must have the latest toys.
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hollis_f said:
As I said earlier - yes there are people gullible enough to pay the full MRSP for something brand new. The retailers know this so they keep the price very high initially. Once all the stupid/rich people have bought their new toys then they'll drop the prices.

It happens with every bit of new gear, every time.
Click to expand...

But I'm not so sure about this:
hollis_f said:
There are a lot more retailers [in the USA] and competition is fiercer. So they start discounting from the very start. Here in the UK there aren't as many retailers so there's less competition.
Click to expand...

I don't think there's any real shortage of retailers in the UK, and there are sites like Camera Price Buster to keep them honest. Even if any individual customer doesn't use the price comparison sites, the retailers themselves certainly do, and the big retailers (WEx, Jacobs, etc.) make sure they know what the others are charging.

The Sales Director of one of the biggest UK retailers has told me that, once products are well-established, competition means that UK retail prices tend to converge on the lowest price they can afford to charge, i.e. cost price from the manufacturers plus a wafer-thin margin. That's certainly evident when you look at price comparison sites.

Here's an idea. Suppose just one major retailer decided that - for ethical or other reasons - they didn't want to price-gouge the customers who absolutely must have the newest kit whatever the cost. Then none of them would be able to. Is that what happens in the USA? (And if it is, maybe it is because there are more retailers out there, simply because it's a bigger country, and in a larger group there's more scope for one to behave a bit differently.)

Here's another idea. Why does the RRP for Canon products vary so wildly between countries? As Richard observed:
HoppyUK said:
Canon's RRPs, at launch:
Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT US: $629.99 / EUR: €699 / UK: £679.99
From DPReview.
Click to expand...

I think it's been established many times here that, once products are properly bedded in, there's often no significant difference in the prices in different countries - it's really just sales tax, import duty, VAT etc. which makes the difference. So why the huge variaton in RRP? It looks like Canon know that, in the UK, retailers will grab every opportunity to charge an early-adopters premium, so they set an artificially high RRP to give them the leeway to do that. But if the USA, retailers (for whatever reason) don't do that, so there's no point having a high RRP.

It's certainly baffling.
 
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acetone said:
VAT, Import Duty, Sales Tax, Exchange Rates and the price of bananas have nothing to do with what the OP is talking about.

The price of a 600EX RT in the USA is 25% more than the price of a 580EX II in the USA

The Price of a 600EX RT in the UK is 80% more than the price of a 580EX II in the UK

We are not complaining about the price of a product in one country over the price of the same product in another country.

We are pointing out that percentage Canon has raised the price of the 600EX RT over the 580EX II in Britain is massively more than the percentage Canon has raised the price of the 600 over the 580 in other countries.


I would not have mattered if the 600 had been $12,500 and the 580 $10,000 in the USA that's 25% more, and if the 600 was £18 in the UK and the 580 £10 that would still be 80% more. The actual price is irreverent, its the difference in percentage between the two models thats at issue.


Put it another way, in the USA for the price of a 5D III I can get 5.5 600 EX RT speedlites, in the UK for the price of a 5D III I can only get 4.4 600EX RT speedlites.
Click to expand...

And we have a winner :-)
Sorry for dropping out of the topic. Been away for a family wedding and just got back.
 
acetone said:
Taxes and import duty have NOTHING to do with the original post, I just don't understand why people can't see this.

What the OP is saying is

Canon take into account the cost to make, import and all taxes in country (a) for a 580 and came up with a price , they then release the 600 and add 25% onto that price of the 580 to give them the cost of the 600

Canon take into account the cost to make, import and all taxes in country (b) for a 580 and came up with a price, they then release the 600 and add 80% onto price of the 580 to give them the cost of the 600

Canon have taken account of all taxes, duty and costs in each country when they came up with the price of the 580 for that country, so the question is why does there have to be a much larger increase in the price of the 600 in country (b) than country (a)




Having said all that, I'm not sure the OP is correct in the differences, as the list price for a 580 is far far higher than it's current selling price but the 600 is at or just below the list price (well £50 below at Robert Whites) :) and comparing the two UK list prices there is only about a £120 increase, which is about the correct amount.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting :-)
I just got my prices from Wex in the UK and B&H in the US as a lot of brits buy from Wex and a lot of people in the US seem to buy from B&H.
 
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