It still doesn't matter.

Posted by garth on November 10, 2004 at 09:04:25

In Reply to: Misconstrued my intent! posted by Audioquest4life on November 10, 2004 at 01:29:35:

I appreciate your personal concern but it is not a currency exchange problem. I have lived here in Germany for nearly 25 years and have been paid at various times in US$, DMarks, Swiss Francs and Euros.

When the dollar was sky high in the 80's (over 3 DM per $) US audio prodcts were extremely expensive in DMs. You got lots of DMs for your dollar but you also paid an inflated DM price.

Now the Euro is worth lots of bucks so in theory the cost of importing the US products is in theory lower (in Euros) but you don't many Euros for a buck so the product is still expensive.

The "problem" for you is the same as for every German buyer of US audio products, namely they are simply alot more expensive here that in the states regardless of what the exchange rate is.

Duty is not 20%, 5-8% is typical for most audio products (I know it's my business) so it is not the main problem but shipping can be expensive and getting more expensive every day and then the 16% VAT as you mentioned.

Yes, it a "problem" for some but it is not an exchange rate problem.

Cheers!

Do like alot of Germans I know. Take a trip to NYC and buy a bunch of stuff at dealers there making sure you wave a fistful of bucks at them. Ship it back with you as part of your luggage. It was a gift and perfectly legal as far as customs is concerned.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Strong EURO killing Audio in Germany - Audioquest4life 22:15:18 11/08/04 (14)

Its all in the timing! - SteveB 09:58:13 11/09/04 (4)

I disagree.............. - photoguy 13:19:41 11/09/04 (3)

Re: Euro economies suck in general... - Matts 13:43:33 11/09/04 (2)

plus........... - photoguy 14:13:56 11/09/04 (1)

Re: plus........... - Rob Doorack 06:40:21 11/10/04 (0)

Re: Strong EURO killing Audio in Germany - Jim Willis 09:24:19 11/09/04 (0)

Huh??? - garth 00:23:34 11/09/04 (7)

the body of the post makes sense, though maybe not the title - CD 00:45:09 11/09/04 (0)

You missed the part - James L 00:39:48 11/09/04 (5)

Doesn't matter. - garth 03:16:11 11/09/04 (4)

Re: Doesn't matter. - ripped_off_in_France 12:00:04 11/10/04 (0)

Misconstrued my intent! - Audioquest4life 01:29:35 11/10/04 (2)

It still doesn't matter. - garth 09:04:25 11/10/04 (1)

German Customs - Steve Crisp 10:55:22 11/10/04 (0)

Follow Ups

It still doesn't matter. - garth 09:04:25 11/10/04 (1)

German Customs - Steve Crisp 10:55:22 11/10/04 (0)

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