UK shooters get ripped off

[JonathanKent 16]

I am afraid I am going to have a whinge (sorry in advance!)

 

Firstly I love the UK, I think we live in one of the most enlightened, welcoming, wonderful countries in the world. We set the standards in so many fields and in so many ways.

 

However..............................

 

One thing that really, really gets on my t*ts about living in this wonderful country of ours, especially being a country boy and enjoying fieldsports, we get ripped off on everything to do with our sport!

 

My most recent example: I am just about to buy a semi-auto .22LR (just for the range and keep my weihrauch for bunnys). I am looking at a SIG 522 SWAT. The US rrp is $600 (about £380 ish) the UK RRP is £850 well over DOUBLE the price!!

 

This is for a gun made in Germany and then shipped to the UK and USA, Germany is in the EU, how can it be less in the US??

 

Its the same for everything from guns to glass! I know the US is a bigger market but really??

 

Sorry, rant over.

[StevoSmith 147]

I agree totaly mate......we get ripped off with everythimg

[paulus 26]

get hold of a copy of ` shooters bible` you will be amazed at the difference in prices, examples of rifles mines not the current one but its not a million miles away cz 452 american in 22lr $387 in 22wmr $407 and 17hmr $420 hornaday 17hmr 50rnds $9.50

[.338LM 10]

It is not just in shooting that we get ripped off. Everything, even whisky made in this country is cheaper elsewhere. If anything is said the usual excused of 'expense, taxes and overheads' gets mentioned. It boils down to how we are taxed in this Country and how that burden is passed down the line.

Welcome to rip off Britain!

[JonathanKent 16]

I hear what your saying about tax. I know we pay VAT on most things we buy, but everything made in the EU and shipped to the states gets import duty, this doesnt happen in the EU. Plus you the have the cost of physically shipping it out to the States so that should equal things up. In no way can it account for something costing over twice what it does in the states, like I say I'm just having a whinge!

[.338LM 10]

Actually, I dont think you are whingeing, what you have is a genuine complaint; one that most of use have. Why the hell should we be ripped off the way we are, and for what? Crap services from Government to local councils!

[JohnGalway 1,043]

Try being an Irish shooter if you want to be ripped off.

[Baghdadnights 150]

How about this then

Few years back a mate bought a brand new triumph Daytona motorcycle from the states imported it here paid all dutys and taxes and saved just over a thousand pound than buying one from Hinckley

[Rake aboot 4,936]

Tika T3 lite, over £800 here, £398 in the US, second hand they still ask £600 over here, total rip off

[Night Hunter 109]

I noticed when I was in the states an item priced at $480 would be on sale in britain for £480 ...do they think we are stupid here.... I think we should start buying from the states where possible until the powers that be stop ripping the Pi*h,I have bought a good few items from the states and after paying the import tax I have still saved a few ££££'s it also works better if you buy two or three items and sell the surplus ones on I have done this with lamps and I still sold them for less than you could buy them for here.

I am off to the states again in june and hope to get a few bargains while I am there and I will post them home gift wrapped ofcourse...

[paulus 26]

I noticed when I was in the states an item priced at $480 would be on sale in britain for £480 ...do they think we are stupid here.... I think we should start buying from the states where possible until the powers that be stop ripping the Pi*h,I have bought a good few items from the states and after paying the import tax I have still saved a few ££££'s it also works better if you buy two or three items and sell the surplus ones on I have done this with lamps and I still sold them for less than you could buy them for here.

I am off to the states again in june and hope to get a few bargains while I am there and I will post them home gift wrapped ofcourse...

post me a tika 3 lite

[kanny 21,210]

Yup i agree ive said this before in the airgun furum we pay well over the odds in this country for our shooting and sporting goods .. look at the prices of airguns your looking at a grand for a new decent pcp setup ... its ridiculous kids must have to much money now days one of my first rifles was 4 quid and me and my mate went halfs 2 quid each! and shared it

[andy s410c 61]

Your lucky to find the the gun in the UK that you want firstly....then the price!!Can't even get the powder i wan't after phoning several shops of course they can order it in,waiting time & again the over the top price is the sucker punch

[3175darren 1,102]

Totally agree the prices are kept artificially high, America has it right, dispite popular belief not all americans are rolling in money, most are down to earth hard working individuals who love to hunt shoot and fish,they wont spent $1800 dollars on a pair of range finder binoculars,especially when the laser has only 12 month warranty they use cheaper options,alot of their rifles challenge european rifles in accuracy,reliability and quality and price it seems that the major distributors in england have got together on alot of things,we have magazines who test only the top of the range gear,give them sparkling write ups and make them must haves,what a load of crap,profiteering big style making it so we have to pay it by reducing our options,there's alot of gear out there that is spot on but wont get looked at,or given a fair or impartial test,there's not enough profit in them,

[Squirrel_Basher 17,102]

Im off to the states soon and will be stacking up on clothes and small items .Like a kid in a sweet shop over there ,dont know where to start .Would like to know more about the import of firearms and scopes as they really are very cheap compared to here .