I was looking at the US Prices of the 2007 SW theme, and all of them are the same in Dollars as they are in Pounds...which equates to about DOUBLE the price.

Why is this? It wasnt quite as bad in 2006. I am literally stunned by the prices, and it annoys me to no end. I doubt I will ever even get some of these. I just cannot justify

Is it that European prices are high, or that US prices are low?

Almost every region outside of the US pays similar mark-ups, and as I've recently learned, many regions that aren't serviced by shop-at-home pay even more. Heck, in Canada we pay nearly as much as you Europeans, despite sharing the world's largest unprotected border with the good ol' US of A.

Yeah its that its too expensive. I think the US prices are reasonable.

Yeah its that its too expensive. I think the US prices are reasonable.

Considering that LEGO has been in financial trouble for the past several years, is this even feasible?

I'm all for lower prices, but I'm pretty sure their marketing department has thuroughly researched what regional prices make sense for them. Remember, EVERYTHING is cheaper in America. For Americans, LEGO is still an expensive toy, simply because other lines are also cheap.

I believe that they have screwed themself by making the price so high this time. I mean, parents wont buy such small sets for their kids, for a high price, kids wont buy them as it will decimate their pocket money, and myself - the avid collector/AFOL finds the prices so extortionate that I wont buy them.

Because SW is licensed. Which means Lego has to pay to make those models. Those costs are then transferred onto the buyer.

About the US/Europe difference: I think I once read that in the US, taxes are not added to the S@H prices (but they are in Europe).

Because SW is licensed. Which means Lego has to pay to make those models. Those costs are then transferred onto the buyer.

About the US/Europe difference: I think I once read that in the US, taxes are not added to the S@H prices (but they are in Europe).

That's true. US and Canadian prices don't include taxes, whereas most other jurisdictions are priced with tax included. If you remove the VAT from the European pricing, then the difference (while significant) isn't as great as many buyers preceive it to be.

Because SW is licensed. Which means Lego has to pay to make those models. Those costs are then transferred onto the buyer.

About the US/Europe difference: I think I once read that in the US, taxes are not added to the S@H prices (but they are in Europe).

Even still, taxes don't make THAT big of a difference...I'm just glad I live in the US :-P

Sales taxes in the US vary state by state, some states don't have any, in most states its only 6-7% that hardley makes up the differance in the price.

Sales taxes in the US vary state by state, some states don't have any, in most states its only 6-7% that hardley makes up the differance in the price.

Yes, but you can't fault LEGO for the VAT. That alone is a 15-20% difference in price.

It also goes a long way to explaining the difference between European and Canadian prices. I've had far too many discussions where I've been told I should be happy that I don't have to pay European prices, when in most cases I do. This issue always irritates me because whenever a Canadian suggests that pricing is high, we're told that we have it good, yet at the same time European fans constantly rant about pricing, we're told that its unfair. Truth is, the pricing is what it is, and I very much doubt that LEGO is going to do anything to change it in the near future.

Yes, but you can't fault LEGO for the VAT. That alone is a 15-20% difference in price.

The main problem at the moment is that prices are approximately 95-100% more expensive more here.

The main problem at the moment is that prices are approximately 95-100% more expensive more here.

And they are 60-90% higher in Canada. Honestly, I don't see the big deal. LEGO is always going to price items disproportionately in weaker (read: non-US) markets. There has been a noticeable jump in LEGO prices this year. It simply hasn't affected the US. No biggie.

Bearing in mind that you can fly to the US for a hundred euro... Just go, load up, and consider it a lego financed holiday... ;-)

God Bless,

Nathan

Bearing in mind that you can fly to the US for a hundred euro... Just go, load up, and consider it a lego financed holiday... ;-)

God Bless,

Nathan

Another reason I'm all for the next EB get-together to be in the US X-D

I agree with everything blueandwhite said. I may be biased because I also live in Canada but...

I don't see why the Europeans are complaining, LEGO is extremly expensive here too, compared to the USA anyway. But I always thought Euro prices were lower than Canada's, and isn't it still possible that the prices may go down for Europe/UK? *y*

Meh, in any case, normal LEGO prices are pretty much expensive anywhere. ;-)

I agree with everything blueandwhite said. I may be biased because I also live in Canada but...

I don't see why the Europeans are complaining, LEGO is extremly expensive here too, compared to the USA anyway. But I always thought Euro prices were lower than Canada's, and isn't it still possible that the prices may go down for Europe/UK? *y*

Meh, in any case, normal LEGO prices are pretty much expensive anywhere. ;-)

When tax is factored into Canadian prices (something automatically done outside of North America), pricing is very close to European prices, but still figures to be about 5-10% cheaper. Licenced lines are noticeably more expensive in Europe than in Canada, but most lines figure to be around the same price.

That being said, if you ever have the time or money, a holiday in the US isn't a half bad idea.

I don't see why the Europeans are complaining

According to the LEGO.com S&H Prices.....

Imperial Shuttle CAD $69.99

Imperial Shuttle GBP

I have to put in my two cents in on this topic.

First off the prices are done so based on Supply and Demand. In most cases depending on where in the world they go to and how many are shipped. In the case of Europe and Asia, Lego may have to figure in quite a bit of cost like others have said for licensing, shipment, marketing. Also you have to look at the other perspective that both the Euro and the Pound are worth more hence the price differnce between Europe and the U.S.

The other thing that could be an issue is that TLG needs to recoup more money in Europe than in the U.S. since maybe things tend to sell out faster in the U.S.A. than accross the Atlantic. So LEGO makes most of it's money here, because people do purchase a lot more. I am a bit fuzzy on the whole Canadian thing though.

You may also have to consider that they are paying a mostly European work force and that can be expensive.

I am not an economics expert by any means, but I am sure one of those reasons above fit the bill.

DB