40mm f2.8 $199 in US, $355 in UK, why?

[paul13walnut5]

If the lens had been under £200 it was a no brainer.  At £230, I'm probably not going to bother.  MTF's look good, lens form looks good, just the price discrepancy is just obscene.

[neuroanatomist]

This makes what, the 3rd of 4th thread discussing this?  Sales volumes (US is a bigger market), VAT, import duties, currency exchange rates with the yen, etc., lots of reasons. 

[Obaidey]

This makes what, the 3rd of 4th thread discussing this?  Sales volumes (US is a bigger market), VAT, import duties, currency exchange rates with the yen, etc., lots of reasons.

And, there seems to be enough UK people still willing to buy at the higher price. Otherwise, Canon UK will have to drop prices

[moreorless]

This makes what, the 3rd of 4th thread discussing this?  Sales volumes (US is a bigger market), VAT, import duties, currency exchange rates with the yen, etc., lots of reasons.

Higher prices in the UK are expected but paying 75% more is way out of line with pretty much everything else Canon sells.

The main market of this lens to me seemed to be something between the 50mm f/1.8 and the 35mm f/2 in both price and focal lenght but its barely any cheaper than the latter in the UK right now.

[Albi86]

This makes what, the 3rd of 4th thread discussing this?  Sales volumes (US is a bigger market), VAT, import duties, currency exchange rates with the yen, etc., lots of reasons.

Sennheiser headphones are cheaper in USA than in Europe, and they're produced in Europe. And this is true for many things, unfortunately.

The fact is - unfortunately - the selling price has little to do with production costs. They set the price which they think customers would pay, that's it.

[pwp]

This $$ gouge is common. Look at Adobe pricing US vs Europe as a prime example. In Australia the cost of identical cars vs US is enough to make your hair curl. It goes way beyond differences in regional tariffs & taxes. Importers and local agents across the planet are free to charge what they think the market will tolerate.

I guess I'm expensive relative to the competition too. It's market positioning. Some people prefer you be reassuringly expensive. Maybe the Euro lens is better!

PW

[Mt Spokane Photography]

This makes what, the 3rd of 4th thread discussing this?  Sales volumes (US is a bigger market), VAT, import duties, currency exchange rates with the yen, etc., lots of reasons.

Yes, and it happens for every body or new item released.  The answer is always the same, and it does not vary from one lens or camera body to another.