Living in Ripoff Britain

[k4kyv]

For tens of thousands of travellers who have jetted off from Britain to the United States in recent weeks, lured by currency rates that convert £1 into almost $2, shopping in the US must feel like heaven. (To-day's newspaper reports the exchange rate at £1= $1.97).

So, how does the UK compare with the rest of the world?

The average wage in the US is significantly lower than in the UK – about £18,500 ($36,450) in the US and about £25,000 ($49,250) in the UK.

If you look at median wages – where the majority of US workers are clustered, they are even lower, a mere £12,500 ($24,625). In the UK they are £23,000 ($45,300).

Average and median should be close to the same. Average = "the result of adding several amounts together, finding a total, and dividing the total by the number of amounts." Median= "having a value in the middle of a series of values: the median age / price; the middle value of a series of numbers arranged in order of size." That means that wages in the US are clustered around lower figures, with the high wages/salaries of a small minority bringing up the average.

Cars, take the luxury version of the Renault Laguna 2.0 Privilege. In the UK the book price is just under £20,000 ($39,400). If you are good at haggling, you might even negotiate to £18,500 ($35,500). In Paris right now, the same model will set you back £13,600 ($24,800).

In Italy, a new three-door Ford Focus Fiesta TDCi 1.4 will cost 9,850 euros, or less than £7,000 ($13,800). Another £450 will buy you the five-door version. Meanwhile, the list price in the UK is £11,600 ($22,850), while the five-door version costs £12,500 ($24,625).


Read the Full Story (http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/articles/article.aspx?cp-documentid=2846563)

[ka5piu]

Hello.

Yes, cars are more expensive in the US than in Canada, and even cheaper in Mexico.
But, the same stuff is more expensive in Alaska, where everything must be trucked in.
Prior to the Chunnel, costs for some imported goods was even higher.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel
However, as was pointed out, taxes has a lot to do with it.
And, last but not least, the same car is not usually the same car.
The British have this silly little parking light requirement.
The US have very complex emission and safety standards.

[w4rlr]

Quote[/b] (ka5piu @ Feb. 07 2007,18:26)]Hello.

Yes, cars are more expensive in the US than in Canada, and even cheaper in Mexico.
But, the same stuff is more expensive in Alaska, where everything must be trucked in.
Prior to the Chunnel, costs for some imported goods was even higher.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel
However, as was pointed out, taxes has a lot to do with it.
And, last but not least, the same car is not usually the same car.
The British have this silly little parking light requirement.
The US have very complex emission and safety standards.
And don't forget they drive on the LEFT instead of the RIGHT. Which means a different instrument panel and dash, and all the steering gear must be moved to the other side of the car.

That could account for some of the cost difference between cars on the Continent and cars in the British Isles.

[k4kyv]

Quote[/b] (KI4PEQ @ Feb. 08 2007,01:37)]And don't forget they drive on the LEFT instead of the RIGHT. Which means a different instrument panel and dash, and all the steering gear must be moved to the other side of the car.
Probably, but as in the US, well over 50% of the cars sold today are made in Japan.

Don't the Japanese also drive on the left? So there shouldn't be a shortage of Toyotas, Nissans, Mazdas, Isuzus, etc. with right hand drive.

I haven't compared prices, but why would the same car cost less in Canada than in the US?

Here's another link regarding inflation. It pertains specifically to the UK, but what they are saying basically applies here as well.

What will the inflation threat cost you? (http://money.uk.msn.com/tax/articles/article.aspx?cp-documentid=2846877)

The government tax system operates in a fantasy world. If the inflation rate is 4%, and your bank account interest rate is also 4%, that interest shouldn't be considered income, since it is just making up for the devaluation of the $ or £. For tax purposes, the gov't pretends like the value of currency is fixed. That's the reason for the debate over the minimum wage in US, and the reason the Alternative Minimum Tax is working its way down to the middle class.

[kf4vgx]

Quote[/b] (k4kyv @ Feb. 06 2007,15:46)]For tens of thousands of travellers who have jetted off from Britain to the United States in recent weeks, lured by currency rates that convert £1 into almost $2, shopping in the US must feel like heaven. (To-day's newspaper reports the exchange rate at £1= $1.97).

So, how does the UK compare with the rest of the world?

The average wage in the US is significantly lower than in the UK – about £18,500 ($36,450) in the US and about £25,000 ($49,250) in the UK.

If you look at median wages – where the majority of US workers are clustered, they are even lower, a mere £12,500 ($24,625). In the UK they are £23,000 ($45,300).

Average and median should be close to the same. #Average = "the result of adding several amounts together, finding a total, and dividing the total by the number of amounts." #Median= "having a value in the middle of a series of values: the median age / price; the middle value of a series of numbers arranged in order of size." #That means that wages in the US are clustered around lower figures, with the high wages/salaries of a small minority bringing up the average.

Cars, take the luxury version of the Renault Laguna 2.0 Privilege. In the UK the book price is just under £20,000 ($39,400). If you are good at haggling, you might even negotiate to £18,500 ($35,500). In Paris right now, the same model will set you back £13,600 ($24,800).

In Italy, a new three-door Ford Focus Fiesta TDCi 1.4 will cost 9,850 euros, or less than £7,000 ($13,800). Another £450 will buy you the five-door version. Meanwhile, the list price in the UK is £11,600 ($22,850), while the five-door version costs £12,500 ($24,625).


Read the Full Story (http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/articles/article.aspx?cp-documentid=2846563)
For tens of thousands of travelers who have jetted off from Britain .

...


Reading the topic,you can certainly hear the accent http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KC9ECI]

If you really want sticker shock in the UK or Ireland, go buy a steak.

[K5FH]

The prices quoted previously - do they include VAT (Value Added Tax)? That might close the gap tremendously.

Ping our British friends: what say you?

[kf4vgx]

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Feb. 06 2007,21:05)]If you really want sticker shock in the UK or Ireland, go buy a steak.
Please elaborate http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif .

Is it that high ?

[KC9ECI]

Quote[/b] (kf4vgx @ Feb. 07 2007,22:22)]Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Feb. 06 2007,21:05)]If you really want sticker shock in the UK or Ireland, go buy a steak.
Please elaborate http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif .

Is it that high ?
No, it's higher.

http://www.sainsburystoyou.com/webconn....6803695 (http://www.sainsburystoyou.com/webconnect/index.jsp?bmUID=1170906803695)

[G7HEU]

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Feb. 08 2007,04:05)]If you really want sticker shock in the UK or Ireland, go buy a steak.
Or a house.

[n4sva]

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Feb. 07 2007,20:58)]Quote[/b] (kf4vgx @ Feb. 07 2007,22:22)]Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Feb. 06 2007,21:05)]If you really want sticker shock in the UK or Ireland, go buy a steak.
Please elaborate http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif .

Is it that high ?
No, it's higher.

http://www.sainsburystoyou.com/webconn....6803695 (http://www.sainsburystoyou.com/webconnect/index.jsp?bmUID=1170906803695)
Ouch! $28 for a 10 pack of Guiness.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (k4kyv @ Feb. 07 2007,20:55)]Quote[/b] (KI4PEQ @ Feb. 08 2007,01:37)]And don't forget they drive on the LEFT instead of the RIGHT. Which means a different instrument panel and dash, and all the steering gear must be moved to the other side of the car.
Probably, but as in the US, well over 50% of the cars sold today are made in Japan.
I think that figure is wrong.

Honda, Toyota and Nissan have plants here in the USA and do a lot of their manufacturing in the USA. Even Hyundai has a US plant. My Honda was made in Ohio. They're making a lot of cars here in the good ole US of A (quite surprisingly).

Quote[/b] ]Don't the Japanese also drive on the left? So there shouldn't be a shortage of Toyotas, Nissans, Mazdas, Isuzus, etc. with right hand drive.

That is correct, however JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) models are different from British models. They generally have more features and the cars' styling is somewhat different.

Other countries drive on the left such as some Caribbean countries and parts of Asia. But their cars may have some slight difference here and there.

[KC9ECI]

Quote[/b] (n4sva @ Feb. 08 2007,09:31)]Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Feb. 07 2007,20:58)]Quote[/b] (kf4vgx @ Feb. 07 2007,22:22)]Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Feb. 06 2007,21:05)]If you really want sticker shock in the UK or Ireland, go buy a steak.
Please elaborate http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif .

Is it that high ?
No, it's higher.

http://www.sainsburystoyou.com/webconn....6803695 (http://www.sainsburystoyou.com/webconnect/index.jsp?bmUID=1170906803695)
Ouch! $28 for a 10 pack of Guiness.
I can buy Guinness for less in LaCrosse, Wiscowsin, than I can in Dublin, Ireland.