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You americans are soooo lucky

#21
Jazz Ad said:
VAT is not a valid reason. Local taxes exist in USA too, they just don't show in the display price.
At us$ 1.5 = 1 €, I feel much luckier living in Europe and buying from US shops, thank you.
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yeah but UK VAT is like 17.5%, and my local sales tax is only 4% here in Maryland. That and they have to pay shipping from the US, and then import duties. A long time ago, when the dollar was much stronger, I used to buy goods from the UK regularly because it was much cheaper than buying them in the US. Tables have turned for much of Europe! Buy our US made goods, please.
 
#22
MAGUS®;5436503 said:
Just apart from the extra shipping costs alone, 3.5% import duty on the goods, ( approx ) and theres 17.5% UK VAT . Our postal system also charge a handling fee

A $500 bass there can end up as £500 here ( say $1000 give or take )


Bear in my mind that the Govt. here, it doesnt matter which party, are all about taxing the life out of the citizens. Thats their job.

Our fuel is now at £1.11 ( more in some areas ) per LITRE. Yes per litre. In old money, thats like £4.50 a gallon. Nearly $9

Getting the picture yet ? :D

Oxygen will be next
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There's a lot more in terms of direct taxes in the UK, but I'm certainly no better off here than I was in the UK. I lose just as much of my paycheque in tax as I did there, and I still have to pay for stuff like health insurance on top of that. Sure, petrol's a lot cheaper, but you have to drive a lot more, usually in bigger, less fuel-efficient vehicles, without the option of decent public transport in most areas. It's swings and roundabouts, really. Anyway, that's enough of being off topic.

But back to the subject of basses, it's not really worth the effort to import something only worth £500... on the other hand, if you want big-ticket items, say, a Sadowsky, you can save a lot more money by importing, even after VAT, import duty and the post office's handling fees.

You'll get great prices from European importers who import in bulk... places like Thomann.de have broadly comparable prices to most US stores when you take the exchange rate and VAT into account.
 
#29
The only time its worthwhile importing stuff from the US is if you cant get it over here or its a rare item. When Im not playing bass I play Mandolin. A store here would import a $2000 instrument, they would call it £2000 then the taxes get added on. I would Import a nice Weber or Smiths Creek Mando direct and save a fortune,but for Basses ect its best to pay the going price here.
 
#30
Parabolic Box said:
The UK, AFAIK, is heavily taxed on everything. You're practically taxed on being alive. :p
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The average American pays roughly 50% of their entire income on taxes.

Sorry our instruments are so expensive in the UK, but I guess that's the price you pay to have all the best bands coming from your country.
 
#31
Benjamin Strange said:
The average American pays roughly 50% of their entire income on taxes.

Sorry our instruments are so expensive in the UK, but I guess that's the price you pay to have all the best bands coming from your country.
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Whew! Glad I'm not average. I only pay 0% income tax, but that dang social security crap is killing me. This is why I love buying online from private sellers. No sales tax too! :D
 
#35
Yeah. I cant spend that much on goods. However, when it comes to gas, man do I get raped. My state taxes are also rape. But my federal is always a refund of over $3000. And I also get a nice credit for my home. I just fail to see how i spend 50% of my income on taxes.

Unless you consider my house payment a tax?
 
#36
Off topic, but taxes on gas/petrol is the only effective way of increasing fuel efficiency and decreasing gas/petrol use. Think of it as paying for nice clean air, and the fact that my house (which is ON the Atlantic) won't be covered in water this century!
 
#39
Greyvagabond said:
Off topic, but taxes on gas/petrol is the only effective way of increasing fuel efficiency and decreasing gas/petrol use. Think of it as paying for nice clean air, and the fact that my house (which is ON the Atlantic) won't be covered in water this century!
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The news blows everything out of proportion. Your house will not be underwater.

However, I do fail to recognize how the taxes that we pay which are percentage based on gas/petrol are making American more fuel efficient?! Were just footing the bill for whatever the politicians think we need to pay for. I never see how a government taking money from us benefits ANYBODY!!!!!

That being said.. political/religious threads on TB are kinda.. well frowned on. We should move onto topic. ;)
 

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