[sdiy] Getting over eBay (rant)

[Neil Johnson]

> the reason everything is so cheap here for foreigners is that our
> government taxes the hell out of cars and bikes .... it's all politics..

Of course, that's the main reason for the price differences --- but the
average Joe only compares the prices on the label.  In the UK we have
Value Added Tax (VAT) which in general is already included in the price
tag in shops, unlike Holland or the US and Canada, for example, which are
the opposite:  the price tag _excludes_ tax, which is then added at the
till.  Always seems a bit bizarre to me, being used to VAT already
included.

Its one of those things that gets in the way of practical pan-European
currency.  It always amuses me when I see the average Joe in the street
being interviewed, and they think that when the unit of currency is the
same, they'll be able to make a "fair" comparison.  But as stated, they'll
also need to include the various local taxes, and the difference in the
cost of living, inflation, interest rates, and so on, to the point where
it is practically a pointless exercise!  Its a bit pointless to say that a
Dutch sausage is cheaper than an Irish sausage just by comparing the
number on the price tag.

About the only advantage is simplifying foreign currency exchange --- I'm
flying to Berlin on Sunday for a conference (PLDI'02) but whereas before
I'd be buying D-Marks, I'll now buy some Euros.  As far as my "consumer
experience" is concerned, the only difference will be the physical
manifestation of the foreign currency in my hand.

Ah well, plus c'est change, plus c'est la meme chose....(add your own
accents)

Neil

--
Neil Johnson :: Computer Laboratory :: University of Cambridge ::
http://www.njohnson.co.uk          http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~nej22
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