Abroad purchasing

[Ruphus]

Received customs bill today from shipping company in Germany related to a gear purchase made in USA.

This time I checked numbers a bit more closely.
Shipping, duty&tax add 1/3 amount of the gears price. ( 775.00$ becoming 1057.86 )
Alternatively you could buy from importers ( if they have it in stock ), have better guarantee or repair conditions, but count with ~ 1/2 price extra charge instead.

Either way is just pure ripping off.

In general I would say the US are a shopping paradise for electronics. Another reason for to envy you guys over there, apart from the great countrysides.

Ruphus

[e-cue]

I do not take any of my gear purchases for granted...

[Ruphus]

Being no native speaker I understand the words but can´t grasp its meaning in this case.
But I guess you are aware of nice pricing enjoyable over there on most sorts of gear and in your special case I guess there are even much more ways to a bargain.

Anyway, I certainly wouldn´t grudge anybody for better opportunities ( just as if theoretically once profiting myself ), rather than being annoyed about these stupid tax and custom politics sticking on ones purse like spilled chewing gum on heels.

Apart of all that one certain typical in our economical ways would be appearing counterproductive to me, anyways.
The fact that money comes to money like following the principle in Mark Twain´s The Million Pound Bank Note.

A lousy paradoxum. The more cash you have the less you need to pay.

Ruphus