Digital/Tech prices on web in New Zealand

Stuart Mac

Are the prices you see for for hi-tech stuff on the internet in New Zealand a fair reflection of what you pay in the shops? I've just been looking to buy a digital camera and I compared web prices in New Zealand with the UK. New Zealand seemed a bit dearer. Can you get cheaper in New Zealand shops?

John Miller · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:03 pm Post subject:

Computer stuff isn't cheap here. A shop called "The Warehouse Stationary" is currently growing fast and beats most others on price but has a pretty limited range.

At the moment they're advertising the Canon A300, which I'm quite interested in, for $400 (about GBP 150).

I checked Comet's price in the UK. It was GPB153 if bought online or GBP200 in store.

The A300 in New Zealand is a better buy because it comes with double the memory of the UK one.

Anyone from the USA or the far east would find electronics stuff here expensive and people from the UK or Europe won't find it cheap.

Moorf

Would doing a stop over in Hong Kong enable us to purchase laptops/tv's etc at better prices than either UK or NZ and then get them shipped?

Robert · Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2004 8:40 pm Post subject:

It may be possible to find items slightly cheaper in the far east but the trouble is that most electronic parts are traded on a world scale and hence the price variations are often fairly small.
There are some trade tariffs which increase the cost of products in the EU (as well as additional sales taxes) which do not cause trouble in the USA and far east but the benefit is likely to be smallish.

Also bear in mind the potential for finding parts when you arrive - not all epson printers sold in the UK are sold here and it can be a pain finding cartridges. Had I known I would have bought on arrival.

You would also have to hope customs don't notice your new purchase and charge import duty and GST on it. Technically you would be liable to pay this although the chances of being caught would need to be weighed against the savings.

Overall I find that things are not so pricey here as to be prohibitive (at most 10% higher than in the UK) and would only advise buying in the UK if you can make a good case for it being tax deductible.

I bought a laptop for that latter reason, and it was great to have email within 24 hours of arrival. I could easily have bought a PC locally for under $1200 with more than adequate capability though and it would have taken only a few days more.

One final thought - travelling that way will result in a very small baggage allowance and, given the cost of excess baggage, it is hardly likely that anything larger than a camera would be worth the trouble.

Hope this waffle helps!

Rob

Moorf · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 2:17 am Post subject:

Thanks - very useful and insightful Nice One