Quote:
Originally Posted by kentech
The unfortunate fact is that within the EU distributors have to cope with things like the following:
- VAT (about 15-25% depending on the country)
- High shipping costs from Asia (think 20-30%!) if you want it delivered within a reasonable timeframe. These costs are constantly rising as well...
- constantly changing Yen exchange rate which is today @ 122 when it was @ ~165 under 2 years ago (do your maths and you notice a 35% change - has Japanese products you buy risen 35% in 2 years?)
- high costs for employing people
- etc.
Those are the unfortunate facts. Still, if the customer can buy the same product considerably cheaper from Asia and have it at his home within a week, of course he will! So European distributors and shops naturally have to try to compete with Asia, USA AND Europe today. But the distributor is not there to lose money. If that's what's demanded to sell cars then he will in the long term most probably stop selling that car before it makes his company go bankrupt. So we end up with a situation where there is no distributor selling that car.
Just a somewhat simplified example to show it's a more complex situation than most think. Of course some chose to sell the cars with very little or no profit just because they're Tamiya fanatics  |
It's not simple I know. But comparing prices on the internet is.
I bought my Durga for €200 from a dutch webshop that isn't even specialised in RC. My LHS was offering one for €260.
Even within the EU the prices vary to much. People have to make a living. But apparently some people are just not good at it and lose clients cause they ask to much.
If you want people to buy the car in european shops. Tell your retailers to maintain a uniform price (where possible) and to stock parts.
That way they'll get and keep customers.
Don't think releasing a car two weeks earlier in europe will solve much.