Buying from the east

Complete rip off IOW

Yes, but how do we stop this government and the EU taking more and more in tax and wasting it?

In Japan, Consumtion Tax is 5%; in the USA purchase tax is typically 6-8%, in Australia GST is 10%. However in Europe VAT is around 20% with some countries significantly more.

Start comparing Pentax prices before local taxes and there is "reasonable" parity around the world - yes you need to allow for shipping costs and sales volumes.

You'll have the five eyes watching you for comments like that. Decent in the ranks?

Best regards

or even dissent!

The VAT on imports is a form of protectionism for our own businesses. If we could buy products cheaper and import them from around the globe who would use the shops here???

The VAT isn't protectionism but just a level playing field, or the government getting its standard cut, depending on how you look at it. You'd pay the VAT on a lens bought from UK stock as well.

The flat fee handling charge in theory isn't either, being instead aimed at making the system self funding or profit generating rather than run at taxpayers expense. I find this particularly onerous though, especially on small items. For expensive articles it isn't so bad a percentage.

That leaves the import duty which is indeed simply protectionism and/or an excuse to claw in more tax. 6.9% isn't that high though.

And my own particular hate is that the VAT and duty is levied on the entire value including shipping costs, not just the value of the goods.

Stop voting for it every 5 years

It's irrelevant form the buyers POV