Web offers hi-tech deals for UK consumers
21 July 2005
Britain's gadget addicts could be paying 50 per cent more than they need to for hi-tech gizmos, a new study claims.
Research carried out by PC Pro magazine discovered that a basket of gadgets and software costing £3,500 from UK shops could be purchased for £1,000 less when bought directly from US websites.
British IT users could save thousands by importing products from the US, as sellers in the US are able to offer exactly the same goods at huge discounts, the magazine reports.
Reporters found that a copy of Microsoft Office 2003 is £362 in the UK, but £211 in US stores, while Intuit Quickbooks Pro costs £270 in Britain, but only £130 in the US. Other affected products include laptops, PDAs and MP3 players.
"Some manufacturers fob us off with stories of localisation costs, but the price discrepancies between the US and the UK are simply too big to justify," said Paul Trotter, PC Pro news & features editor. "It's especially frustrating as web-savvy customers can quickly check the price of a product on a US website."
Buyers have reportedly avoided the so-called 'grey market' through fear of confusion with overseas clauses, expensive import taxes and concerns about customer support. However, the investigation insists that the buying process in the US is relatively straightforward and safe for buyers if they know where to place their order and understand their rights as an international customer.
Figures from the IMRG show that web sales of electrical goods increased five-fold in the three years to Christmas 2004 and now make up 20 per cent of all retail sales.
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