Why is the UK always ripped off?

Question

I remember when I was 15, I went to Phoenix and saw CDs for the same price in dollars as they were selling in England in pounds! People go to France for certain items, but I've been told it's cheaper to get a cheap flight to New York and import your electricals!!!

Answer 1

This is a good point. The UK has always been a rip off. I think it is because of successive Governments believing that people should be taxed to the hilt so they hand a little back and we are supposed to be ever so gratefull. Also havn't you noticed how the Government claims the difficulties in the economy are global yet apart from crude oil prices rising (for which the Government gets a tidy slice) it is only the UK and USA that are affected. Just look at the value of the pound against the euro. If UK had converted in 2002 the conversion rate to join was 70p for each euro. It is now around 80p. To put it another way had we converted at the time everyones salary, wages, pension,or savings in the bank would have risen by nearly 43%. Now the figure is only 25%.

Answer 2

hmmmmmmmm

and in other countries you have to pay for medical and dental care

everyone pays for everything elsewhere, our system may not be perfect but its better than a lot of places

for out £10,000+ for an operation and then complain about taxes here

Answer 3

Because UK is the highest taxed country in Europe. That's why many celebrities move out. It's not the value of item, it is the amount of tax and VAT (Value Added Tax) that is put onto items. Things like fuel, beer cigarettes, have very very high tax added, even though they may be cheap to produce.

We can export cheap and buy the same items abroad cheap, but we can't buy them cheap here.

Answer 4

English people always think they have it the worst. And certainly there are some serious ripoffs--such as ridiculous petrol prices and the outmoded tv license.

However, in actuality, the UK DOES NOT pay the highest taxes in Europe--the comparative charts are available online to view. Nor are our wages particularly low as one poster put in --they are  generally higher than those in the US as a matter of fact. Scandinavian countries tend to be more pricey than the UK too.

Answer 5

Weaker American Dollar is good. More people aboad will spend more money here because of the good prices and stimulate the economy.

Answer 6

Everything you say is quite correct , its fun living over here.

Answer 7

The UK is used to high prices. caused by rationing after WWII which in part was caused by the US billing the UK for its work in saving itself! that bill was only paid off 4 years ago.

Because the UK had to pay the US billions for helping save the US that's why Britain has got these high prices, combined with low wages,  long working hours, short holidays etc etc.

Also being kept `OUT of the Euro' has allowed the UK not to see how expensive and underpaid it is compared to other countries as there is no 1:1 comparison.

Answer 8

Come live in Greece and pay their prices!!!! The £ and $ are nothing to the Euro .... prices in Greece are expensive to Greeks - so a Brit/American travelling here this summer will have a massive shock!

Think of the poor Greeks that get average wage of 600 euro a month (approx £450) and have to survive - VAT is 19% here on all non-food items ...... in UK it's 17.5% which is not even added to some items (eg Kids clothes) UK is cheaper shopping for Greeks! So stop moaning!