US Gear prices in Europe

casperghst42

casperghst42

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Hi,

I'm a bit grumpy today, so I thought I would share my happiness with the rest of the universe....

I was wondering, as an example a KLIM Traverse Jacket is in the US without sales tax around $300, which in today money is 216€. Now with some import tax, which is 19% (I found out last week) we end up at 257€. They sell it for 306€, which leaves Adventure Spec 49€ (they will get some discounts from Klim which makes up for handling, and shipment, etc.).

That is an advance of 19%, which is a bit rich ...

I remember a few years ago some people were complaining about TT UK's prices... at least with TT one have the option to go to other countries to get it, with Klim it requires a small trip across the pond.

Not that I buy anything from Klim unless all other options have been exhausted, it was more the prices policy of Adv. Spec. I was looking at, as it looks like they do this with all products they import into Europe which cannot be found anywhere else.


Before anyone brings it up, there are other shops which sell Klim, but they charge the same amount....



Casper
 
Cheer up, cigarettes are (apparently) really cheap in Belgium and Rukka is cheaper in Germany (and England) than it is in Finland, where it's made. If you ever see the price in Sweden, you'll pee your pants or suffer an aneurism.
 
OK, how much do you think Adventure spec's profit margin should be? Your guess at 49 euros doesn't sound like a lot of money when you think they have to pay staff, shop costs, stocking charges, VAT etc etc and you don't know exactly how much they pay for the jacket from Klim! I suspect it's more than the US dealers pay due to import tax and shipping.

Most products whether they are widgets or Bentleys are different prices depending on market forces, local taxes etc and it's just the way it is I guess. Any business has to maximise it's profit or it will be gone sharpish and I would have though 19% for this was OK.
 
I don't understand your point? Is it that the mark-up is too high or too low?

If I were running their business I would not be interested in importing jackets for a measly 19% markup. Staff, premises, rates, stock, taxes. Do you have any idea of what it costs to run a business.

As Bilco points out it is the seller's business to decide how much to sell for - their job is to maximise their profits and sell the goods for the price that does this.

If you think their profits are exorbitant, then go buy it elsewhere.
 
A friend of mine used to run a 'Fashion' clothing shop.

The mark up on the branded goods they sold was a minimum of 100%
 
Simple answer, don't be a mug, don't buy it
 
stolzy said:
I don't understand your point? .
Click to expand...

His point is that his local retailer is seeking to charge him more than he wants to pay.

He wants his Klim, at a price he thinks is very (if not extremely) reasonable. What that is not revealed but whatever it is it's less than he's managed to secure so far. It's the perennial bikers' whinge... Everything is a rip-off..... Everything should be sold to everyone everywhere at the lowest price any individual can imagine at any one moment of the day or night, preferably when they want it, in the size and colour.
 
I wouldn't get out of bed for 19% markup

AdvSpec are doing the OP a favour for retailing it so cheap.............bite their hands off for a Latitude Jacket
 
surely it's more than 19% markup? that's the amount over the US selling price, not wholesale AFAICS, which presumably already includes a profit :nenau

otherwise, carry on.
 
not sure I would agree with all your figures, dont forget that you pay duty on the cost of the item and the shipping.
I have a card for MACCESS, which is a trade supplier for the motor trade, the mark up on a lot of what is sold through your local car parts shop is well over %100 some stuff like carb and brake cleaner can be over %200 .
I have a mate who imports computer cabling from Taiwan, silly example but an audio cable from the cd drive to sound card he imports for pennies well actualy less, when I bought 1 there was no point in charging me as the cost of the ink and paper to print the invoice was more than the cost of the item. The same cable sold by a retailer on the Tottenham court road was £6 !!!!!!! so less than %20 on a bike jacket that requires a shit load more storage etc (which is a cost to the retailer) dont seem like to bad.

casperghst42 said:
Hi,

I'm a bit grumpy today, so I thought I would share my happiness with the rest of the universe....

I was wondering, as an example a KLIM Traverse Jacket is in the US without sales tax around $300, which in today money is 216€. Now with some import tax, which is 19% (I found out last week) we end up at 257€. They sell it for 306€, which leaves Adventure Spec 49€ (they will get some discounts from Klim which makes up for handling, and shipment, etc.).

That is an advance of 19%, which is a bit rich ...

I remember a few years ago some people were complaining about TT UK's prices... at least with TT one have the option to go to other countries to get it, with Klim it requires a small trip across the pond.

Not that I buy anything from Klim unless all other options have been exhausted, it was more the prices policy of Adv. Spec. I was looking at, as it looks like they do this with all products they import into Europe which cannot be found anywhere else.


Before anyone brings it up, there are other shops which sell Klim, but they charge the same amount....



Casper
Click to expand...
 
Wapping said:
His point is that his local retailer is seeking to charge him more than he wants to pay.

He wants his Klim, at a price he thinks is very (if not extremely) reasonable. What that is not revealed but whatever it is it's less than he's managed to secure so far. It's the perennial bikers' whinge... Everything is a rip-off..... Everything should be sold to everyone everywhere at the lowest price any individual can imagine at any one moment of the day or night, preferably when they want it, in the size and colour.
Click to expand...

Actually I don't want any Klim, already had one experience with them, don't need anymore. I used them as an example, could have been Kriga.

Casper
 
cookie said:
surely it's more than 19% markup? that's the amount over the US selling price, not wholesale AFAICS, which presumably already includes a profit :nenau

otherwise, carry on.
Click to expand...

Depends on the State you buy it in, some states do not have any sales tax, but it is as far as I know always lower than 10%.
 
1) I don't want anything from Klim again (I disagree with price/quality - and business model), and European brands are in general easier to deal with
2) I don't care what Adv. Spec charge

I actually was looking at Kriga prices to start out with, could be any brand which does not have an official distributer/general importer.

My rant is more about brands which does not have official distributers where a shop decide to import (ya! great), but then decide to set the price because that shop is the only one who actually sell that brand. But price should be realistic, and sometimes one see that prices are elevated to a point where it hurts just to look at it. Look at the Klim prices before they where lowered. Or for example the Touratech prices in UK, I've heard enough complains about that over the years.
 
casperghst42 said:
Depends on the State you buy it in, some states do not have any sales tax, but it is as far as I know always lower than 10%.
Click to expand...

my point was that the original figures appeared to be retail, so there was already a profit factored in before the much trumpeted 19%.
 
cookie said:
my point was that the original figures appeared to be retail, so there was already a profit factored in before the much trumpeted 19%.
Click to expand...
And a good point it was too.

Nevertheless, the 19% difference seems small in comparison with the shipping, handling duty (12% on clothing IIRC and on the shipping and handling) and then VAT on top of all that (including on the duty - nice touch).

Seems to me that, when you take the cost of import into account the UK retailer is getting a slimmer margin than the US retailer.
 
Well throw another one in, i am able buy irish whiskey made locally cheaper in usa than here

Think lot down to local tax and pure sale volumes be least five times eat uk would sell

There id good market 4 unline retailer setup sell like high end bike geat cheap and cut of expende of running an open to public shop
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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