PMW-EX1 pricing. Rip off Britain. Again

[Steve Shovlar]

Well the pricing is out and the best price in the Uk is at Prestons at £4500 inc VAT. Creative are lagging behind at over £100 more.

Now compare that price with B&H. $6699 + tax
Tax in NY is something like 8.4%? $562 Total is $7261

Which is £3472. A whole £1,028 cheaper ($2149)

Is there any difference between a US version and a european version? Sony normally make their cameras switchable between Pal and NTSC.

Well, B&H won't ship to the UK with this camera because its a Cinealta. So that means jumping on a cheap flight over to NY for a couple of days to pick one up. Downside is paying the 8.4% tax from the shop, which is avoidable when ordering online. But I went across a month ago and the whole trip with flights and hotel was only £500, so a free holiday is again on offer.

Are all dealers in the US stuck with this tax and delivery embargo to the UK?

[RGBaker]

'Cross-border shopping' is a hot issue in Canada too -- with the Canadian dollar worth more than the American, and with pricing in the US still sitting 15% lower ... a buyer can save a quick 20%, more if your intentions extend to avoiding the taxes due when the item is brought back to Canada.

Is this a rip-off? No simple answer. All Canadians enjoy a funded health care, even those working at minimum wage retail jobs -- that gets paid for somehow. And minimum wage is $8 an hour, three times the wage on offer in some US states. Toss in regulations that protect language rights, and so raise costs ... and it is no surprize that Canada is a more expensive country to run per person. Same in the UK, truth be known, where the state assistance extends to paying prescription drug costs and , like Canada, keeping University tuition costs to just a few thousand annually.

So savings can be had, cross-border, though sometimes at risk to warranties and such -- check on the item you are buying -- but the larger socio-political question is not so simple, IMHO.

GB

[philip bloom]

Well the pricing is out and the best price in the Uk is at Prestons at £4500 inc VAT. Creative are lagging behind at over £100 more.

Now compare that price with B&H. $6699 + tax
Tax in NY is something like 8.4%? $562 Total is $7261

Which is £3472. A whole £1,028 cheaper ($2149)

Is there any difference between a US version and a european version? Sony normally make their cameras switchable between Pal and NTSC.

Well, B&H won't ship to the UK with this camera because its a Cinealta. So that means jumping on a cheap flight over to NY for a couple of days to pick one up. Downside is paying the 8.4% tax from the shop, which is avoidable when ordering online. But I went across a month ago and the whole trip with flights and hotel was only £500, so a free holiday is again on offer.

Are all dealers in the US stuck with this tax and delivery embargo to the UK?

I would advise from personal experience not to get a camera outside of your warranty area. Any problems and it has to be shipped back the US for an up to 3 week repair (depending on their workload) as opposed the the sony silver support warranty that gives you a loan camera after 10 days.

I used to live in NYC and London doing the whole Nylon thing, then I would have bought it the US (from B&H and getting it shipped to Connecticut to the in lawas to save tax) and every time I was in London and it needed repair easy. Now I am a full time Londoner again it would logistically too awkward!

The only thing sweetening it for me is i have 0% interest over 2 years on the camera, 2 8gb cards, 2 16gb cards, card reader and two long batteries.

[Steve Shovlar]

Phil, who is offering 2 years 0% interest? Prestons seems to be offering one year.

[ROne]

Creative video are doing an open day this wednesday, promising the best price.

I would be tempted to go, but I'm too happy (and busy) with the HVX at the moment.

[philip bloom]

I bought my f350 from them, good company. I was wondering if their open day means they will have them in stock on wednesday

[Steve Shovlar]

Prestons are also having an open day with free training course. Not that most would need it!

Sounds like both will have it in stock. Prestons are offering one year 0% finance, whilst Creative nothing to pay until Nov 08, then 29.9%!!!!! Or straight 19.9%!!!!
Ouch!

[philip bloom]

Just heard from Phil at Creative. They will have a demo unit on Wednesday. Are offering free shoulder mount for orders on any camcorders that day and they hope to have stock by the end of the week.