Why are GPS units so expensive in Ireland?
Like most people I am pretty used to the idea that electronics cost more in Ireland. The manufacturers have a European price level that is higher than in the US and then 21% VAT gives us a further sting. (although interestingly the Asus EEE PC has the same before tax price in Ireland and the US).
Just to take the iPod as an example. A 16GB iPod touch will set you back $399 (€253). In Ireland it is €369. Even if you knock off the 21% tax the Irish price is 20% more than the US one.
With Chico about to go back into the water I have been on the hunt for a handheld GPS. I was stunned to see the difference in prices between Ireland the US. The 20% price difference I showed you above is dwarfed by the 50% price hike that seems to apply to GPS equipment.
The GPS handheld I am looking for is the GPS60CSX. Not quite top of the range, but with all the bells and whistles I am looking for. Amazon.com will sell it to you (when you add it to your shopping cart) for $290 (€185). The best price I could get for this in Ireland is at mysatnav.ie who can sell you one for €369. Strip out the 21% tax and that becomes €305 which is 68% more expensive!
The maps for the device are little better. If I was to get the map of the Irish Sea and down to West Cork it would be $247.05 (€157) from Amazon.com. MySatNav can do them for €259 or €214 after tax, a difference of 36%.
I am being generous there by leaving tax out. If you leave it in (as you can order tax free from the interweb in the US), then the maps cost 65% more in Ireland, and the GPS unit is 100% more expensive. This is a staggering difference. And as far as I can see it only applies to GPS equipment. Other consumer electronics are pricier in Ireland but not by this huge margin.
Does anyone know why?
Few points I’d add.
It seems that the manufacturers keep tight reign on pricing. No grey market in this equipment. I imagine many of the big US brands have not adjusted their pricing at all in line with exchange rates over the past 6 months, so the pricing seems even more out of kilter due to the massive ramp in Euro/$.
But comparing the biggest online retailer with a small Irish outfit is hardly useful. Did you consider the delivery charges? Amazon aint cheap when they whack on delivery, and I see that http://www.mysatnav.ie offer free shipping on many items.
DId you check out the prices for the same devices on Amazon.co.uk? You might be surpirsed with the difference in pricing between US and UK of the same retailer.
Last thing I’d mention – have you ever tried calling Amazon for advice?
But all in all it is shocking nowadays when you compare US prices of many items with their equivilents here.
I have done a bit of shopping around and I am getting what I want at a price I am happy with. But with the huge price differentials I will never be able to give the business to an Irish supplier.
What surprises me is that I did a quick check in prices for the Garmin Nuvi 350, a car sat nav system. They were pretty much in line for the UK and US. So this just seems to be persecution of recreational users!
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