#1
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Fixed for a price?
If you thought telescope prices in the UK were suspiciously similar,
think about this story: ================================================== == In a fix? If you've ever looked around magazines and shops, and wondered why all the prices are so similar, take a read of the following: I wanted to trade Synta products. These are excellent telescopes for the money, and I wanted to promote astronomy and observing to as wide an audience as possible. I would sell via the internet and mail order, I thought. But, it's not that easy. The UK agent for Synta told me that, unless I had a shop or showroom, they wouldn't supply to me. They said this was because the internet was proving such a fierce source of competition. So, they like the idea of a free market, but only if the rules suit them. If they don't, they just won't supply you with the goods. So, this is why suckers in the UK (and probably abroad), have to continue to fork out over-the-odds prices for telescopes. The only way to compete is to provide 'freebies' like an extra eyepiece or something, anything to help you sell the product against a competitor. If you think this stinks, write to the Office of Fair trading (www.oft.gov.uk.) |
#2
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And all this time I thought telescope prices were pretty good. Thanks
for enlightening me. |
#3
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Cant have any sympathy for you mate - sorry! If I had a business that
required a high level of customer service (which I imagine a serious telescope business would need) I certainly would not want any Tom, Dick or Harry to set up internet businesses in their bedrooms. Sure recipe for disaster in my opinion. That aside, with a few exceptions, telescopes are already bloody cheap - wouldnt everyone agree? |
#4
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On 18 May 2005 02:30:29 -0700, "coolbreeze"
wrote, in part: Cant have any sympathy for you mate - sorry! If I had a business that required a high level of customer service (which I imagine a serious telescope business would need) I certainly would not want any Tom, Dick or Harry to set up internet businesses in their bedrooms. Sure recipe for disaster in my opinion. That aside, with a few exceptions, telescopes are already bloody cheap - wouldnt everyone agree? Telescope prices certainly have gone down in real dollars. But are telescope prices in the U.K. the same, when exchange rates are factored in, as telescope prices in the United States? If not, part of the cause may be that the U.K. may be lacking antitrust laws similar to those of the U.S.. However, the U.K. also has VAT - and television licences. This, despite having a *Labor* government. One would have thought that a Labor government would abolish all forms of regressive taxation, in favor of relying on income taxes, which are graduated in accordance with the ability to pay. Of course, it is difficult to avoid something like VAT when one is competing economically with other countries that also have sales taxes - because one doesn't charge VAT on exports, but income taxes are folded into the cost of goods manufactured. John Savard http://www.quadibloc.com/index.html _________________________________________ Usenet Zone Free Binaries Usenet Server More than 120,000 groups Unlimited download http://www.usenetzone.com to open account |
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