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Why are BelOMA lenses much cheaper in USA than in Europe?
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:12 pm    Post subject: Why are BelOMA lenses much cheaper in USA than in Europe? Reply with quote

For example the Zenitar 16/2.8 Fisheye
Cheapest "Buy it now" offer I can find in the US are 140€ while the cheapest "Buy it now" offer I can find in the EU is about 230€! That are about 65% more you have to pay in Europe. But the factory is in fact in Belarus (also known as White Russia), so in eastern Europe.
Can someone explain this to me?


PostPosted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I paid mine 120 euros at a used camera gear fair: before buying it I followed some and I remember many going for about 150 euros, both bin and finished auctions. But I haven't been checking for some months, so it might have gone up - even though 230 euros seems a little too much to me.
I can't see any reason for such a difference, actually I would expect none.


PostPosted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, I would expect 20% difference if discussing new prices due to VAT.


PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 4:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe because they write them correctly BELOMO? Wink


PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 5:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

US photo market on most item significantly cheaper even on used market where is no VAT.

Huge homogen market 200+ million people use same language, naturally cost is less than in Europe where we speak dozen languages.
VAT difference also a serious factor.


PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 5:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do those "buy it now" lenses for 230€ and up have "make offer" options? Because I noticed many sellers give ridiculously high starting prices but don't actually seem to expect to sell at those prices. On a few of these I made ridiculously low offers and while sometimes I would be turned down immediately, a couple of times the seller would start haggling with me. He would go down 5€, I would go up 5€, him down 5€, me up 5€ and so on for a few more exchanges. Eventually we would settle on a reasonable price well below what the item was originally offered for. It goes something like this:

A: this lens will be 300€ please, thank you very much
B: don't be ridiculous, I'll give you 50€ for it
A: ok, special price just for you, my friend: 295€
B: 55€
A: 290€
B: 65€
A: 280€
B: 70€
A: 275€
B: 150€
A: sold

Wink


PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Plenty of those Zenitar fisheyes for £140 on ebay, with free p&p. Smile