[adriatikfan]

I ventured into the world of 'better' headphones this week with the purchase of a set of GRADO SR - 60s for £80.00. A reasonable price here in the UK, given that some vendors (including online ones) have them at £109.00.

I've just seen through the HeadFi link that these can be purchased new in the USA for $69.00, (although 'licensing arrangements' with GRADO mean they cannot be sold to the UK).

I am accustomed to us having to pay more for things, even dollar to pound price matching but this does seem excessive. Where does all the extra profit from the UK sales go? Is it the retailer? Is it tax?

Best Wishes
David

 

[PinkFloyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by adriatikfan Is it the retailer? Is it tax?

Both. As an example a retailer will buy a Musical Fidelity X-CAN V3 from Musical Fidelity for £107. They will sell it to you for £249. £142 profit to the retailer. Answer your question?

 

[Zorander]

As far as I'm aware. Grados are horridly over-priced in the UK. A few (or perhaps many) have resorted to Alessandros instead since they do not suffer from the price jacks of their Grado cousins.

 

[sniks7]

People tend to try and make a gross profit of 66% over here. Include the VAT, a bit of transport and the import tax and you're probably there.

 

[Bobs]

Grados are almost twice the price in europe. In Norway the RS-1 retails for $1360.

 

[sniks7]

Let's all just give thanks to Audiocubes and ebay!

 

[PinkFloyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniks7 People tend to try and make a gross profit of 66% over here. Include the VAT, a bit of transport and the import tax and you're probably there.

Yup, daylight robbery but that's what you get when you live in a democratic dictatorship... ie: you have a choice of which dictator you'd like to vote into "power", once they're in you have no say in anything.

 

[ejoy]

I got a pair of er4p off amazon.co.uk for £160 a few months ago, which is a high price even including VAT. True, you can buy it for better price from the us, but you have to pay high import duty on receiving.

 

[squall2072]

Import fee's don't have to be a problem. Why not buy from a US head-fier? I bought my SR-225's form a head-fier and I bought my RS-1's from ebay (US seller).

Screw the government.

 

[sniks7]

ejoy - next time try audiocubes. They put in an invioce that comes to less than the amount for which duty is payable. Cheeky, but handy if you want 1/3 discount.

 

[iancraig10]

Exactly why the Grados are regarded as poor value for sound quality in the UK. (Also helps Sennheiser and Beyer quite a lot)

It is a pity that Grado don't allow a free worldwide market so that we can order direct from the USA.

I don't know if it's just me, but I suspect that the USA guys do a lot better when say ordering Beyers on the Internet.

Ian

 

[titaniumx3]

For us UK folks, every purchase is preceeded by a crusade when it comes to buying headphones.

 

[mysticaldodo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobs Grados are almost twice the price in europe. In Norway the RS-1 retails for $1360.

Thats outrageous

I've read that in UK the 325 retails for nearly the same price as RS-1.

 

[juzmister]

just buy from todd, i got a pair of shure e5c from the states at dollar for pound

 

[ejoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniks7 ejoy - next time try audiocubes. They put in an invioce that comes to less than the amount for which duty is payable. Cheeky, but handy if you want 1/3 discount.

I'm now hunting for an hd600. I have a look at that site, they are selling stax 007 but no senns

I think buying 2nd hand from headfi member is also a good option, just telling them to mark the headphone as "gift".