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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / August 2004Rip off Britain, Again!
Having see the great response the thread on illegal land based 35Mhz models generated. I was wondering if it would be worth posting the details of some large prices hikes placed on some models imported from an well known name in the States by a British company. I've contacted both companies but as yet have only had a reply from the States. Maybe a little more people power applied to both parties would see a shift in pricing policy! Example:- US price $619.00 or £336.00 UK price £595.00 or $1088.00! Tom >Maybe a little more people power applied to both parties >would see a shift in pricing policy! The strongest power is purchasing power. DON'T. If "they" can't sell it, they'll have to eat it or lower the price. I wonder how much of that grossly inflated price is the infamous VAT. Dr.1 Driver "There's a Hun in the sun!" Have you tried to post a parcel across the Pond? Compare the weight of your item to your body weight and seat price and you will see that one of the biggest rip-offs is by the freight people 17.8% or there abouts. -- Paul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > >Maybe a little more people power applied to both parties > >would see a shift in pricing policy! [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Dr.1 Driver > "There's a Hun in the sun!" Now then Tom! Keep your cool, remember you're British. You've no right to expect a price that is fair to Manufacturers, Distributors and Customers in this county. - Must I remind you that you belong to a race of people that is prepared and willing to pay 15 to 50 percent on top of the average world price for the knowledge that our goods have a much higher specification than those in the rest of the world. (I've had this on good authority from many of the traders) - Haven't you learned yet that we Brits must expect prices in this country to be based solely on the premise of: - 'What is the maximum they can screw us for before we buckle' - This is a fact of life Tom so it's no good getting upset and hot under the collar about it. I don't know whether I should tell you this Tom because it will only upset you more. - But what the hell you're already mad! Did you know that if you happen to belong to a minority group, hobby/sports, it is highly likely that you are also paying another added levy for the bits and piece you buy/need even though many of these bits and pieces are commonplace in the various trade shops. - - The trick seems to be for the model traders to buy commercial quantities (Boxes of 100 or more) divide the contents of each boxes into piles of fours - put each small pile into a self-sealing plastic bag - think of a reasonable profit - quadruple that profit and flog it to people who call themselves modellers. - You think I exaggerate? - I paid £1 for four captive nuts at the last Weston Park Show only to find them advertised at 27 pence for ten in the latest Screwfix catalogue Just had a thought Tom! - Could it be that small self-sealing plastic bags are astronomically pricy? - - That must be it!! - It will also explain why my local B&Q and Focus charge a fortune for anything that is sold in small plastic bags. - Why didn't I think of that before?? Ivan > Having see the great response the thread on illegal land based 35Mhz > models generated. I was wondering if it would be worth posting the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Tom > You think I exaggerate? - I paid £1 for four captive nuts at the last > Weston Park Show only to find them advertised at 27 pence for ten in the > latest Screwfix catalogue 27p + 5.95 (handling & packing) = UKP 6.22 Unless you went there especially, I'd say you got a bargain. Perhaps you should order about fifty quid's worth and get them delivered free. Then just put them in plastic bags and hawk them at the next show. -- S.C. And it is just the same with imported goods isn't it - freight, VAT, import duty, cost of stocking, risk on exchange rate changes, profit, warranty and support costs etc. etc. If it so easy to make money importing or selling small quantities of componets then go for it! Regards Peter > > You think I exaggerate? - I paid £1 for four captive nuts at the last > > Weston Park Show only to find them advertised at 27 pence for ten in the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > -- > S.C. Yeah and its easy to find the odd example to prove a point. I like screwfix as a company but their balsa is shite and they never have any stock of the servos, clevices, snakes, engines, fuel etc etc etc etc that I always need. I mean what kind of company are they???? > And it is just the same with imported goods isn't it - freight, VAT, import > duty, cost of stocking, risk on exchange rate changes, profit, warranty and [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > -- > > S.C. I was amazed after buying some rather neat small tools in a large DYI shop in the UK (these were manufactured in the UK) only to find the identical same items in a local hardware store when I returned to the US . . . for about 25% less than I paid in the UK. Red S, Gainesville FL > And it is just the same with imported goods isn't it - freight, VAT, import > duty, cost of stocking, risk on exchange rate changes, profit, warranty and [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > -- > > S.C. > I was amazed after buying some rather neat small tools in a large DYI shop > in the UK (these were manufactured in the UK) only to find the identical [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Red S, > Gainesville FL You have to be careful of the prices charged by large outlets and DIY sheds. I priced a hand scroll saw in the local B&Q it was £9-99 with just the one blade. A visit to my local independently owned DIY shop got me one, with a pack of 5 spare blades, for £4-99 !!! I needed a 40 Amp switch with neon indicator...... local DIY shed was priced at over £15, but they were out of stock... a visit to a much smaller electrical wholesaler got me the same thing for just over £4. The big "sheds" are often convenient as you can wander around and determine just what you need.... it can then pay handsomely to take your business elsewhere >:-) Reg >> And it is just the same with imported goods isn't it - freight, VAT, > import [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >> > -- >> > S.C. Reg, You gotta remember that it is just the opposite in the US. There, you can go into a Home Depot and buy EVERYTHING you need in one go at great prices. None of this having to go to thre specialist stores to do one project. B&Q sells glazing putty, the little clips to hold the window in, the trim molding. But do they sell GLASS? No, you need to go to a glazing shop for that! They sell toilet seats, toilets and such.. Do they sell replacement screws to hold the seat on? Hell no. You gotta go to a plumbing store for that! -- Paul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > > I was amazed after buying some rather neat small tools in a large DYI shop > > in the UK (these were manufactured in the UK) only to find the identical [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > >> > -- > >> > S.C. > Reg, > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Paul McIntosh > http://www.rc-bearings.com Yeah, but just look at the beneficial exercise you are getting with all that running around. >:-) You get to explore more of the local town/city as well >:-) Reg >> > I was amazed after buying some rather neat small tools in a large DYI > shop [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] >> >> > -- >> >> > S.C. And waste more of their precious gas! -- Paul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > > Reg, > > [quoted text clipped - 69 lines] > >> >> > -- > >> >> > S.C. > Now then Tom! Keep your cool, remember you're British. You've no right to > expect a price that is fair to Manufacturers, Distributors and Customers in [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Weston Park Show only to find them advertised at 27 pence for ten in the > latest Screwfix catalogue I went to a fishing satand at a country fair, and saw what I recognised as 'closed loop wire' - plastic coated stranded - normally sold at about a couple of quid a meter, at about 5 quid for 20 meters. Nuts and bolts are frightening. M3 bolts for 25p each as you say, that are a pound for a hundred...in bulk. Lighweight filler at 5 quid a tiny tub when the builders merchants do it at a quarter the price. It sort of makes sense when you realise the LHS should be a one stop shop, but in practice it isn't anyway, so simply buy in bulk from eleswhere. > Just had a thought Tom! - Could it be that small self-sealing plastic bags > are astronomically pricy? - - That must be it!! - It will also explain why [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >> >>Tom > I went to a fishing satand at a country fair, and saw what I recognised > as 'closed loop wire' - plastic coated stranded - normally sold at about [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >> >> Ivan I was quite chuffed when I discovered some clamps, both large and small in a local £ store (or was it Poundstretcher... what a memory !!) They were £1 for 12 small clamps and also £1 for 5 much larger ones. They have proved very handy for clamping stuff together whilst gluing. A visit to the same place a couple of days ago got me a nice handsaw for £1 and a pack of 10 different sized modelling knives for another £1. Then there was the pack of 5 different types of magnifier for another £1..... >;-) The tools are probably not up to serious DIY use, but have been suitable for modelling purposes. If there is a branch of Wilkins near you they sell packs of hardware quite cheap and their batteries are very cheap... pays to shop around. Reg From the pictures I see of modeling projects in the UK how much more serious can "for modeling purposes" get? :-) It blows us away here in the colonies - those huge models and those tiny autos or lorries. :-) Red S. > The tools are probably not up to serious DIY use, but have been suitable > for modelling purposes. > Reg >From the pictures I see of modeling projects in the UK how much more serious >can "for modeling purposes" get? :-) You're right, Red. They do some serious giant scale over there!!! Of course, they probably don't have the beaurocratic (sp?) bullshit like we have to deal with over here; like special licenses, and weight and insurance limits that someone decided was for our best intrests.. Dr.1 Driver "There's a Hun in the sun!" No, they don't have the same restrictions, just different ones! -- Paul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > >From the pictures I see of modeling projects in the UK how much more serious > >can "for modeling purposes" get? :-) [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Dr.1 Driver > "There's a Hun in the sun!" > From the pictures I see of modeling projects in the UK how much more serious > can "for modeling purposes" get? :-) > > It blows us away here in the colonies - those huge models and those tiny > autos or lorries. :-) > Red S. Good point... if models get any bigger the makers will need to invest in a crane and some other serious lifting gear. If they can aford the model then the crane should be no problem >:-) Reg >> The tools are probably not up to serious DIY use, but have been suitable >> for modelling purposes. >> Reg >> From the pictures I see of modeling projects in the UK how much more serious >> can "for modeling purposes" get? :-) [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >> Red S. I am not very up to date but the process of getting an exemption from the air navigation order that says models not to exceed 20k is something like this. Dual radio system, etch with duel battery's on servo and receiver. Inspection by appointed examiners during construction, Before and after sheeting and covering. also covers spec of radio / servos. For Jets, 12 flights at a safe airfield, total one hour air time. No public. Etch to include a stall and the proposed flying routine. The CAA appoints the LMA to enforce the rules and doze spot checks at public shows, or else!  SignatureRichard Crapp Same with carbon fibre 1 sq meter of 2 x 2 twill (0.2mm thick) without resin costs about 15 pounds. Look around at the prices charged by the so calle specialist companies selling this stuff and it is not rocket science. Ralph > > Now then Tom! Keep your cool, remember you're British. You've no right to > > expect a price that is fair to Manufacturers, Distributors and Customers in [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] > >> > >>Tom >Having see the great response the thread on illegal land based 35Mhz >models generated. I was wondering if it would be worth posting the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Tom Hi This is not new. For as long as I can remember (and that is more years than I care to remember) a general rule of thumb in converting from the price of any item bought over the counter in the USA to the price of the same item in the UK is to just call it pounds instead of dollars i.e. an item costing $100 in the US would probably cost £100 in the UK. By that criterion, your UK price of £595 against a US price of $619 is about correct. Regards KGB I am going over to the US tomorrow for a week. Ayone need anything? hehe I accept PayPal! -- Paul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > >Having see the great response the thread on illegal land based 35Mhz > >models generated. I was wondering if it would be worth posting the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Regards > KGB > Having see the great response the thread on illegal land based 35Mhz > models generated. I was wondering if it would be worth posting the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Tom Ok., $619 + $50 shipping is $669. Now add customs handling fee to about 12%, $750 roughly, now add UK VAT at 17.5% = $880, and you are within 20% of the total already, and if the seller bought at RRP that's his margin... Well, since we didn't know what the product is, it may have also been imported to the US. In which case, it is still Rip-off-Britain. There are plenty of products here that cost WAY more than in the US that originated in China or Japan. -- Paul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > > Having see the great response the thread on illegal land based 35Mhz > > models generated. I was wondering if it would be worth posting the [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > 20% of the total already, and if the seller bought at RRP that's his > margin... The companies involved are Chip Hyde at www.chiphyde.com and Probuild in the UK at www.probuild-uk.co.uk. Probuild have just sent out a newsletter promoting these models and announcing their sole European agency for Chip Hyde. So buying direct is not an option. I would guess that these models are produced in Asia and shipped directly to both parties so the trade costs won't be to dissimilar. My personal feeling is that the pricing in the UK is driven by greed as opposed to Chip Hyde's philosophy of quality and value for money. For those that are interested read Chip Hyde's philosophy on the pricing and design of his model range on his web site. It's quit refreshing. I have tried to get some kind of response from Probuild, having contacted them twice, but so far the silence is deafening! Tom > Well, since we didn't know what the product is, it may have also been > imported to the US. In which case, it is still Rip-off-Britain. There are [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > 20% of the total already, and if the seller bought at RRP that's his > > margin... > So buying direct >is not an option. Why not have someone in the USA buy and ship privately to you in the UK? Gotta be cheaper! Dr.1 Driver "There's a Hun in the sun!" > Well, since we didn't know what the product is, it may have also been > imported to the US. In which case, it is still Rip-off-Britain. There are > plenty of products here that cost WAY more than in the US that originated in > China or Japan. Oh hell, don't set me off on the price of coffee. Why the hell do the USA and France pay so little for the stuff compared to us ??? Hell it makes me sooooooooo mad !!!! Reg ( Who today just discovered for himself that it hurts when you stop an engine on full throttle with the back of your fingers >:-( ) > -- > Paul McIntosh [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >> 20% of the total already, and if the seller bought at RRP that's his >> margin... Tom -- Have you contacted the US company directly to see if they will ship to you? Cheers -- \__________Lyman Slack_________/ \______AMA6430 IMAA1564___/ \____Flying Gators R/C______/ \__Gainesville FL _________/ Visit my Web Site at: http://www.LymanSlack.com > Having see the great response the thread on illegal land based 35Mhz > models generated. I was wondering if it would be worth posting the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Tom |
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