Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
Not just cars and houses. Designer clothes are twice the price here than in most places. Food is more expensive, generally. Compared to the U.S we are paying 25% to 100% more for pretty much everything. The 'Treasure Island' reputation has not gone away.
Martin. A little truth is a dangerous thing. Because a set of golf clubs cost twice the price in the UK compared with the US - is it valid to conclude a rip-off? I think not. If it is - do us all a favour - source golf clubs in the US at an appropriate price, sell them over here, and do us a favour with US prices and make yourself a thriving business. Well maybe not you - but some enterprising soul.

Or is there a Scottish referendum style conspiracy amongst suitable entrepreneurs to rip us all off and keep prices high out of spite? The sort of spite to their own face that means they throw away a good business opportunity to sell at half the price of other UK retailers, just to shit on the consumer by keeping prices high.

Surprised at this comment - most of yours display a more robust common sense.

I want a Maton Messiah EM100C guitar (its not price that's stopping me buying one - its a few self-imposed performance criteria, of the "your not having a new set of cricket whites when you can't catch a ball" variety). Last time I checked properly the only UK stockist actually stocking one was Guitar Village for £3450. Currently they have a pre-used one - I strongly suspect the one I auditioned and very nearly bought on impulse, and no new stock. Holland is the nearest stockist showing one in stock. The UK used one is £2450.

In Australia Haworths have new stock with a Hiscox case for 3299 ozzie dollars. That's £1832 at current spot exchange. plus £170 shipping = £2003 landed. Plus duty of £63 and VAT of £408 gives me a cost to my door for brand new of £2474. New for the price of an old one! What does that guitar I had shipped sound like? How is the action? State of fret dress? What do I do if it has a bent neck - as a manufacture fault not insured shipping damage? What if the bridge unglues after 10 months?

Rip off!