>OK, one more - why are some fairly simple electronic
>parts and supplies so expensive there also??

I wish I knew. There is a certain something unknown to do with the tax
system and its inherent inefficiencies, but there is something else goes on
as well.

I source model railway items and accessories from the continent. The UK
retail price for items sourced through the UK agents has been almost exactly
twice the price in German retail shops. It is possible to order a UK
manufactured car, in say Holland, Belgium or Spain (these seem to be the
favourite cheap source countries) and pay anything up to 30% off the UK
retail price, even after importing it back into the UK and paying the taxes
at the border. There are means of purchasing a car without paying tax at
point of purchase that make this possible. It is a fairly common catch
phrase here about "rip off Britain"

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