Made In Thailand - Camera

[st11x]

G'day,

Does anyone have the street prices of cameras like the Sony a77 and if stocks have started recovering after the flood? I am looking to see if they are cheaper to buy in Thailand (since they are made in Thailand) than say at BHPhotovideo?

2 years back, a made in Thailand WD passport cost just slightly more in Chiang Mai than at the Best Buy store, so that was disappointing.

thanks

Matt

[Spoonman]

62k for the body.

http://klongdigital.com/price/sony-a77/

[st11x]

Thanks. Wow, that's a lot more that the US prices.

62k for the body.

http://klongdigital....price/sony-a77/

[lopburi3]

Official price for camera in Thailand are a lot higher than selling price in USA. Some models are available on gray market at lower prices but these will normally also be above the US price. The US does not allow price fixing and is the mass market for the world so price is normally lower there than anywhere else regardless of where made. Transportation cost for high value items does not make that much difference in final price.

[RKASA]

There is often an import tax on the items even if made in Thailand. If it was made under some rules it may be required to pay the same import tax to sell in the Thai market as any item that is imported it is something to do with BOI.

I wanted some solar panels but because of the tax on these panels if sold here in Thailand but made in Kaon kean they went out of price range to be usable. Some items they where making could not be sold at all in the country because they didn't yet have licence and tax permits from BOI to do so. It is Like 75% tax to import them from Thailand to Thailand. That is most likily the reason they cost more here.

Many items are cheaper in the US and its called product dumping via tax codes - Mass marketing has little to do with bad import policy and unfair trade practices that allow that.

[lopburi3]

The reason for high price in Thailand is exclusive dealerships/importers and set price. It has little to do with tax (almost all countries have tax). All sales are at the same price or supply is cut off.

In the 1950's the US had the same official importer and high fixed price system in place and cameras were a prime example of this activity and probably the main factor that is was made illegal. Product dumping has nothing to do with the normal price almost always being lower price in US - only for specific items at specific times.

[sbk]

moving to camera/ photography forum

[petedk]

Only yesterday I was thinking of buying a Nikon D3100 but for fun decided to compare with prices in Denmark. I thought it would be much more expensive in Denmark than Thailand but I was surprised to see it was about 4000 baht cheaper.

It's now added to my shopping list when I go to Denmark.

There are a few shops around that import themselves and sell without tax receipts. I found one a few years ago and saved almost 20% on a Nikon camera. They gave me full waranty but no tax receipt.