Sick brit

[Andrew Griffin]

Hello all,

I though I'd vent some frustration over the huge price difference between the US tool prices and those in the UK. A couple of years ago I bought a Jet 10" contractors saw from the states and had it shipped over. The shipping cost was almost the same as the saw cost and I had to pay a futher £200 to clear customs and delivery. Still I was pleased as I had a cast iron saw for much less than could be obtained here in the UK at the time.

I see now that JET is being sold in the UK but the price for the SuperSaw with sliding table and 30" fence is £1300 + delivery ( thats more than $2400 ) whilst you guys in the states can buy the same saw for around $1000 (£515).

No doubt the UK version has been nobbled so you can't even use a stacked dado blade as well.

Ah well, moan over

happy woodworking.

Andy

[George]

You want Socialism, you pay for it. Not even Kerry can get money out of a turnip, though he thinks he can.

[patrick conroy]

Yeahbut - you got good beer and you all talk real fancy like! That's gotta make up for sumthin'!

[Andy Dingley]

How different is it ? Does the UK version have usable guards, a 240V motor, a no-volt release switch and spins down in a reasonable time ? There's no reason why it has to be dado-incapable, it's just difficult to build a euro-legal saw that can also use a dado blade and few bother.

PS - I fail to see how socialism is reponsible for UK/US price differences ?

[bugbear]

You get cheap tools, we get cheap medical attention.

America is a truly fine country to be young, healthy and employed in.

BugBear

[igor]

Well, maybe not socialism. But, just emerging from policies that the US had until the late 60s and into the early 70s that "discouraged" price competition at retail. The UK is rather open to such things but most of the rest of the EU is not -- and the UK market alone does not have enough size to support US-style retail price competition. The EC (Commission of the EU) is slowly, but Shirley (it seems), moving the laggards to allow retail price competition. There is a news clip today about how France is dragging its heels [Insert joke/comment here] and a giant retailer there is trying to make it a political issue.

So, to the extent that socialism=the state knowing better than the markets and acting to impede the markets, that would be socialism being responsible for the disparity. -- Igor

[Charlie Self]

Andy Dingley asks:

C'mon, Andy. You KNOW socialism is responsible for everything--unless it's sumpin good.

Charlie Self "When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary." Thomas Paine

[Cherokee-LTD]

Move to Canada, we get both! Anybody want my free flu shot?

-Brian

[AAvK]

Don't you think it would have been better if She had allowed for the euro instead of keeping the pound? Isn't it a lot cheaper to vacation in Italy nowadays?

Alex

[AAvK]

mmmmm Watney's semi-chilled, too good.

Alex

[philski]

And Bush is getting money out of turnips yet-to-be-grown....

Philski

[Daniel H]

Um, cheap tools? Not here! (Well, at least the Ridgid JP0610 is tons cheaper in the USA than in Canada.)

[Cherokee-LTD]

: > Move to Canada, we get both! : > Anybody want my free flu shot? : : Um, cheap tools? Not here! (Well, at least the Ridgid JP0610 is tons : cheaper in the USA than in Canada.) :

Cheap, relative to prices abroad. Shopping wisely can also provide deals comparable to the US. Example; I just bought a Lincoln Mig welder locally that was cheaper than Amazon after exchange rate and I didn't have to ship it. Do you have your heart set on Ridgid? I don't see the value in that Jointer - not that it's a bad machine, just overpriced.

-Brian

[Cherokee-LTD]

"I own a turnip company? yuk yuk, that's news to me..... wanna buy some turnips?"

-GW

[AAvK]

hear hear!

Alex

[Badger]

Grotnees? YUCK! Gales ales perhaps...Chilled? HEATHEN!

Niel, writer of fine beer reviews.

[Badger]

igor wrote: n The EC (Commission of

France, hummm, as one of my T shirts "remember agincourt!", be honset the French still want to live in the past and the see the EU as an extension of the French republik!

[Robert Galloway]

It's even better to be old and retired in. I have no plans of emigrating soon (or ever).

bob g.

bugbear wrote:

[AAvK]

Well then that's your taste. How do you like Vlas Kop and Houten Kop?

Alex

[Leon]

You think maybe if the demand in the UK was as large as it is in the US, your suppliers could get a bigger price break?