The beer over there, at least Guiness, is vastly superior to, the Guiness available here. By US law, beer must be pasteurized, which ruins the flavor. So drink lots of good beer while in London.
I'm not aware of anything electronic/audio related which can't be purchased here at equal or lower prices.
I'm not aware of anything electronic/audio related which can't be purchased here at equal or lower prices.
I have been surprised at the cost of drive units in the UK. For example a Fostex FX120 is about $125 (US) at Madisound and yet in the UK it sells for about $190US. Now you might get it without their VAT (Value Added Tax) if you're taking it back to the US (may not either) but it would still be well "north" of a locally sourced unit....
EDIT. Sorry just done some more research. The $190 is EXCLUDING VAT! So that's about the best you'll get!
There may be some boutique/vintage items around that would be hard to get at home but 'the run of the mill' items don't seem very attractive.
Cheers, Jonathan
EDIT. Sorry just done some more research. The $190 is EXCLUDING VAT! So that's about the best you'll get!
There may be some boutique/vintage items around that would be hard to get at home but 'the run of the mill' items don't seem very attractive.
Cheers, Jonathan
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Most things in Europe are more expensive. The money for all the services, the public is acoustomed to there, must be paid for through taxes. Profits on taxes on profits. Taxes in Canada are higher, partially because of our universal healthcare system (please no debate here!) than the USA, also our geography does not help, much.
If you want to bring anything back, check with the US revenue agency first. From what I recall: stuff older than 100 years is tax/duty free. E
If you want to bring anything back, check with the US revenue agency first. From what I recall: stuff older than 100 years is tax/duty free. E
We have an established system here in the UK which ensures that most of the profit for almost any goods goes not to the producer or the retailer but the person in between - the wholesaler or food processor or importer. Even stuff made here can be more expensive here than in other nearby countries.
If I have a bright idea to make a widget and sell it I probably won't make any money from it.
If I can buy widgets at £5 and sell them at £25 then I am an entrepreneur and can become a successful businessman and network with politicians.
If I have a bright idea to make a widget and sell it I probably won't make any money from it.
If I can buy widgets at £5 and sell them at £25 then I am an entrepreneur and can become a successful businessman and network with politicians.
Yes, have to take the rough with the smooth. Whenever I visit a foreign country, however nice it is, I am always pleased to get back home to England! I guess we all get used to our own country's weaknesses, and don't notice its strengths.
When in London, try to fit in a visit to the Science Museum in South Kensington. It's not as good as it was when I was a child (its now too 'family friendly') but still worth a visit. You can still see there some of the apparatus used in the early days of experimental science - part of the inspiration for me to study physics.
When in London, try to fit in a visit to the Science Museum in South Kensington. It's not as good as it was when I was a child (its now too 'family friendly') but still worth a visit. You can still see there some of the apparatus used in the early days of experimental science - part of the inspiration for me to study physics.
Books have always been less expensive in the UK.
That, and Belfast kitchen sinks at DIY centres (but not made in Belfast, due to the UK boycot of anything Northern Irish).
Oh, wait, and BSA parts.
Hold on, and top notch marmelade for little cash, if you know which brand to go for.
Hang on there, don't they sell Nestlé shredded wheat in the UK ? (the only eatable shoesole breakfast, and hardly available overhere thanks to the Kellogg's mobsters)
Oh Oh, i'm fainting again, then there's these terrific mariner gear brands, mucho cheaper in the UK.
Audio ?
Euhhhh, well, Holden & Fisher no longer is, regretably, neither is Partridge transformers, and the valve business looks different too nowadays.
Pffffff.
That, and Belfast kitchen sinks at DIY centres (but not made in Belfast, due to the UK boycot of anything Northern Irish).
Oh, wait, and BSA parts.
Hold on, and top notch marmelade for little cash, if you know which brand to go for.
Hang on there, don't they sell Nestlé shredded wheat in the UK ? (the only eatable shoesole breakfast, and hardly available overhere thanks to the Kellogg's mobsters)
Oh Oh, i'm fainting again, then there's these terrific mariner gear brands, mucho cheaper in the UK.
Audio ?
Euhhhh, well, Holden & Fisher no longer is, regretably, neither is Partridge transformers, and the valve business looks different too nowadays.
Pffffff.
Foyles is also a good place to get those specialised electronics books. If you go through the card boxes around the reference, technical books you may even find some 20 or 40 years old textbooks brand new... If I remember rightly, there is also a specialist electronics book shop in the vicinity of Foyles, Charing Cross Road): Books, eBooks, Fiction, Childrens & lots more | Foyles Bookstore
One thing you may find much more cheaply in London thrift stores are Britisch amps (Cambridge, Mission etc.). They are much cheaper there than over here in Germany, at least - but I don't know the US prices for these things.
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