Rip off Britain?

Lenin · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 08, 2005 Posts: 3

Jut bought a Tomtom Go 700 in Switzerland (I live in Geneva) for CHF 1100 which is £480. This is even less than the Maplin with-voucher price in the UK (and it seems that Maplin do not seem to have stock yet), and the price is likely to continue dropping here. http://en.toppreise.ch/prod_59849.html

The price difference is partly to do with the 17.5% VAT rate in the UK (7.6% in Swizerland which is supposed to be an expensive country!) but if Maplin can offer the unit at £500, how come most other retailers sell it at £550 which is quite a mark-up?

flylikeahandbag · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 19, 2005 Posts: 44

I had a TTG 500 on order from Maplin £439.99 (with voucher for £30 off) and was fed up of waiting (seems like they have a major issue with a 3rd party supplier letting them down on delivery dates). Anyway I popped into my local Curry's on spec to see if they had a 500 in stock which they did, so my next question to the sales person was would they price match. He said they would match any high street retailer, so I said what about Maplin. He thought for a second and asked we what price was, then said OK if you want it now you can have it for £439 (He never asked for proof. Wish I had said it was cheaper now Wink

).

Now have a 500, and have downloaded the cam data and spoken alerts. If I could only get my SE K700i to work hands free then it be even better.

Might work for some of you still waiting for 300/500 and 700.

Rgds

Paul

P.S. I did have proof off the maplin deal with me just in case.

howie555 · Regular Visitor Joined: Jun 26, 2005 Posts: 99

the cheapest place to purchase tomtom in the uk is dixons at any airport
i bought the 700 for £468.00 :D

Lenin · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 08, 2005 Posts: 3

But you do have to then break the law by not declaring it to customs when you bring it into the UK - a risk you might be prepared to take.

howie555 · Regular Visitor Joined: Jun 26, 2005 Posts: 99

you are not breaking the law as it is not dutyfree :D :D :D

FazerBoy · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 17, 2005 Posts: 24

I bought my TT300 at Dixons, Stanstead. They didnt have any in stock but were able to locate one at their Heathrow branch. They delivered it to my home address for £7 I think it was.
It saved and bypassed the customs issue and also meant I didnt have to take it on holiday with me.
I asked if there was a limit to the number I could purchase, they said no.
Someone must be on a duty free scam!!
Steve

Lenin · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 08, 2005 Posts: 3

This is interesting, £468 is exactly £550 less VAT. So either Dixons are absorbing the duty free at their airport outlets or there is a tax scam going on. Anyway, my point was that most UK retailers are selling the TT700 at £550 which is pretty outrageous, taking advantage of the UK prosperous society where many are prepared to pay over the odds.

jheward · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 02, 2005 Posts: 31

flylikeahandbag - Thanks for your information.

I also had an order for a TomTom Go 500 with maplins for £439 after a voucher discount. However, was getting a bit annoyed with the wait.

Went into my Currys this morning and they also matched the £439 price for me. The salesman tried checking the price at Maplins but he wasn't really bothered. I even told him that maplins didn't have any stock and he didn't mind. I have just cancelled my order with maplins and am about to go and have a play with the 500! Thanks again for the tip.

lasitha · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 4:24 pm Post subject:

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