Why is everithing so expensive here??
By dieorfly
@dieorfly (763)
Slovak Republic
November 7, 2008 7:51am CST
I really never stop wondering why there are so big differences in price of some product here in middle Europe and in USA or Western Europe. For example I was trying to buy X Box 360 in USA it is $199 in my country (and we are member of EU zone) it is mostly about 199 but euros. Also cars, when I was in USA I have seen most of the cars less then half of the price than here. And do not want to talk about gasoline price which is here really terrible. It is about 1.2 Euro per liter recently.
I also bought wristwatch recently the price was about 140 Euros in my country shop, but when I check the price in the England store through Internet for the same watch it was only about 80 Euros!! 
I do not understand how can the price of some products increase so dramatically just because of transporting to other country.
Somebody is probably making really huge money here...
I do not understand how can the price of some products increase so dramatically just because of transporting to other country.
Somebody is probably making really huge money here...4 responses
@mojcica (1511)
• Slovenia
7 Nov 08
EU is expensive. You can see that everything is more expensive here. When I get something from ebay it very often cost less even thogu I pay shiping from US and pay extra taxes here, its still cheaper then buying it here.
I have a neighbour who is in the army, so they went to train in US arlmy for a month. She couldnt belive how cheap everything is.
I have no idea why things are so expensive here.
1 person likes this
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
7 Nov 08
It the same story in Malta. Two years ago We went to a Marks and Spencer in Uk and what was marked for 20 sterling was marked 20 mala liri (in Malta). I think that the transport is a convenient excuse for buisnessmen to make a quick buck.
1 person likes this
@dieorfly (763)
• Slovak Republic
7 Nov 08
Agree, with you my friend. Some people have huge profits.
Also during the rise of the price of gasoline worldwide the price in my country was rising according to that almost every day. But when the price went down worldwide, it took about 2 weeks for gasoline seller here to decrease of gasoline price. Why? The answer is simple I think...
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
7 Nov 08
The prices are not only higher due to transportation but also export/import tolls and fees. You are also probably taxed much higher. The EU has also tougher control standards as to making an item safe and secure for use, which require the installation of more features and/or higher quality parts. If you buy the XBOX in the US, you might not be able to use it in your country. Are the outlets the same, electricity voltage? If not, the XBOX has to be adjusted.
BTW, from my perspective, paying $199 in USD is more than paying $199 in euros. You guys have the exchange rate rate advantage right now.
@dieorfly (763)
• Slovak Republic
7 Nov 08
We will have euros form 1. January. The price of dollar here is much lest than the price of Euro now (1 USD is about 24 of my currency and 1 EURO is about 30 of my currency). So for me it is $199 much less. But I was not thinking about this issue from the point of view of US people, thanks for give my this thought.
Probably you are right about that control standards, it just sometimes seems so unfair from my point.
Probably you are right about that control standards, it just sometimes seems so unfair from my point.
@pierone (1894)
• Italy
7 Nov 08
Hello,
yes you're right, seems that middle europe is a gold mine for lot of people.
And as we recently saw, it not depend of the price of the $, price here was the same when we could buy more than 1,5$ with 1€, and now that 1€ is a few less than 1,2$.
About the gasoline, you're lucky, in italy it price grown in the past month till 1,4€ per liter ;)
I go often in china, and i found the most honest sellers in my country are the chineses: for the same goodies i found in china more or less the same prices they sell here in italy! I was wondering how it's possible, due i guessed the transportation should cost a lot. Then i found the answer! Transport 100 leather jackets from china to Amburg (germany) cost 60€ only, if you ship by sea!
So..... who's the thief?
