When I was considering purchasing a scope last year I wrote to meade and celestron in the UK and to their US headquarters about the price discrepancy. Celestron did not reply, actually celestron never reply to my emails!, but both BC&F and Meade in Irvine did reply with explanations. So at least Meade is willing to try and justify the prices.
I've uploaded the document that Meade sent to explain the prices to the files section.
www.irishastronomy.org/user_resources/fi...1068132272-meade.pdf
The fact that they were able to send me a pre written word document tells me that they get this query a lot. The reply from BC&F i have included below.
Cheers,
~Al
Subject: Re: Prices in uk compares to USA.
From: "BC&F" <dave AT meade.uk.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 10:37:57 -0000
To: "Albert White - SUN Ireland" <albert.white AT sun.com>
Sorry to have taken so long to get back to you but it's a very busy time
ofyear.
First let me point out that it's always cheaper in America. The system
meade operate in the USA is for them to drop ship to the customer on
behalf of the dealer.i.e. the dealer will not carry stock but place the
order with Meade who will then ship it to the customer. That way the
dealer can take a a smaller margin, it's more like a commission payment.
Out side the USA Meade will only ship through an importer( BCF) who
operate the warranty agreement and service dept. We then sell through a
network of shops. So in fact you have one two extra people involved.
Before the goods get to you.
The cost of the telescope in the USA works out as follows.
Telescope 995
UHTC 150
PACKING 95 You cant get out of this payment as it's part of the cost
of Meade putting it in the box.
6% TAX 74.40 YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY THIS
Total $1219.40
You then need to add freight and duty and insurance to get it to the U>I.
$1219.40 + 18% = $1438.89 divide by the dollar (1.5) = £959.26.
That £959.26 gets you to the air port you will then need to pay
clearance charges and the VAT on total amount at 17.5%. I don't have a
figure for clearance so I would guess at about £10.00.
£959.26+£10.00+VAT =£1138.88.
Obviously things are changing all the time i.e. the dollar and shipping
costs but the above is a good average figure.
The other point is that if you direct import the telescope will have no
warranty with us and you would have to send it back to the USA at your
cost and pay for the return.
We think that he telescope is great value for money in the U.K but it
will always appear better in the USA.
I know it's not what you wanted to hear but I hope it helps.
Regards
Dave Lawrence FRAS
----
The scope in question in an LXD55 10" which has a list price of £1249 in
the UK. I recieved a similar letter from Paul Hobbs, Director of Export
Sales at Meade. On top of that Meade dont let their US retailers export
scopes, and they will only support scopes bought in the US and shipped
privately over if you ship the scope at your expence back to the factory
in california. However there is a mail in the IFAS archives from a
couple of months back from someone who did import an LX200 from the
states successfully and substantially chearper.
None of this explains the mysterious 20% for all goods that cross the
irish sea however!
Cheers,
~Al
