Price of the Freerunner published?

[Lowell Higley]

Having lived in the US and Europe...

1) We usually do pay shipping from China.  It's usually built into the cost
of the product so it's hard to say exactly what it is.  I would guess less
than $10 a unit.
2) We do not have VAT in the US.  Closest thing we have to it is sales tax.
Most states have a sales tax rate of about 7 to 8 % (not 19) while some
states like Oregon have no sales tax.  Sales tax is ONLY charged when the
product is sold to the consumer, not every time it changes hands getting to
market. Also, if you are a resident of one state and purchase via mail
(post) and have it shipped to your state and the reseller has no offices in
your state, you do not have to pay your state's or the reseller's state
sales tax.  So I live in Las Vegas, Nevada, if I buy the Freerunner via post
from a reseller in Arizona and that reseller does not have an office/store
in Nevada, I pay no sales tax... just shipping (which sometimes can be more
than tax.)
3) The only state I know of that has state mandated recycling/environmental
fees is California.  The fee  is usually assessed on items that have a
battery or could be hazardous if disposed of incorrectly (LCD monitors and
TV's for example.)
6) I believe that for a product to be sold in the US, the manufacturer must
meet certain warranty requirements.  I haven't dealt with this in over 10
years but my memory tells me that the only cost a reseller is obligated to
incur is for shipping products back to the manufacturer for service.  I'm
sure that may vary by state and that laws have more than likely changed in
the last 10 years.

Hope that helps.

Lowell


On Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 11:51 AM, Vincent <imnotb at gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> On Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 6:40 PM, thomasg <thomas at gstaedtner.net> wrote:
>
> > Since nobody seems to realize it, I guess I have to explain this.
> > 1. Even the distributor has to pay shipping
> > 2. 19% VAT in germany
> > 3. x% additional fees (recycling, ...) in germany/europe
> > 4. 2 years warranty in germany
> > 5. The dollar-euro change will not always remain nearby 1.60$/1€
> > 6. People who handle the shipping and warranty in germany, do you think
> > they can work for free?
> >
> > Don't get me wrong, I also like to get products cheap and not too
> > expensive, but nobody can really expect to get the device for 285 euro from
> > a resaler - you have to pay the 19% even if you import by yourself (the 19%
> > are also on the shipping fees).
> >
> >
> >
> Regarding points 1, 2, 3 and 6 - doesn't the US have something similar?
> Regarding 5 - shouldn't the prices be according to current exchange rates?
> Isn't that the whole point of exchange rates?
>
> --
> Vincent
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