Insane prices in Europe

[mg]

Hi there,

I just wanted to buy Rigol 1052 as Dave suggested and Hakko FX-888.
The soldering station goes for around ~80$ in US which is 55 Euros.
The prices in Germany start from 150 Euros.
The same goes for Rigol.
400$ is something like 270Euros whereas in Germany I can get it for something like 550 Euros.
Insane!

Where do you buy your things in Europe?

[Ernie Milko]

Second-hand.

[Alex]

Shop around. The more expensive the item, the more worth it is time invested in looking for a better price.

[mg]

Ive spent like 6-8hours looking around on internet looking for this soldering station. 2nd hand does not exists. I am  not binded to germany only and ive been looking for one in denmark, and sweeden. It simply does not exist in any local store.

[Kiriakos-GR]

400$ is something like 270Euros whereas in Germany I can get it for something like 550 Euros.
Insane!

Where do you buy your things in Europe?

We stealing them ... or comes as gifts  

I have wrote all ready many topics about this issue.
And seriously I feel the same like you, about it.

I will give you an useful tip .

Forget the web as easy shopping.
Find some major distributors in your area , and use the phone to call them.

Even today, very few distributors have in mind the Internet, as main way for sales,
and they are not organized to deal with you , with e-shop sales.  

[DavidDLC]

Or go to their website, get the phone number and call them.

This way I got a 10% discount on my last Agilent scope purchase.

If I wouldn't call them and just buy the unit at the website, then no discount !

[scrat]

Why not this: http://www.progshop.com/shop/oscilloscopes/Rigol-DS1052E.html ?
Adding VAT that's 355 euro (free shipping in the EU). Not so bad!
I paid mine about 40 euro less, after importing it from dealextreme and paying the taxes (practically loosing the 3-years warranty and waiting about two months for delivering)...

BTW, tektronix scopes "same level" as the Rigol, in the sense the bandwidth and screen type (not DPO) are similar (but hey, that's Tek vs. Rigol!) are going for low prices: Farnell scopes low end. I've seen one of those, and it's a pretty instrument for the price.

[david77]

I have to admit I had never even heard of Hakko before I joined the eevforum. They seem to be very underrepresented here in Germany.
There seems to be one company that imports them but the price is just ridiculous: 168,00 EUR. For that kind of money I wouldn't buy it, add another 50 EUR and you can get a Weller WS51, for example. As Hakko is so obscure here I imagine it could be hard to get tips for them, whereas you can get Weller tips in nearly every electronics shop.

[Zad]

The first I heard of Hakko was when AdaFruit started to stock them. I had heard of Metcal and Pace, but here in the UK Weller is the big name, with Antex covering the lower end of the market. I don't think I have seen a pro bench here that didn't have a Weller iron on it.

This UK place does Hakko 888s for £80 http://www.dancap.co.uk/soldering/fx888pricelist.htm To be honest though, no matter how good they are, they look like toys.

Maybe it is just my age, but I wouldn't pay €300+ for a Rigol. That sort of money buys you a really nice reconditioned real Tektronix or similar machine. It won't have all the pushy-button-effects that look really sexy in reviews, and it will be a CRT not digital phosphor, but it will be a far far better scope with lower noise, higher resolution and better calibration.

[mg]

Or go to their website, get the phone number and call them.

This way I got a 10% discount on my last Agilent scope purchase.

If I wouldn't call them and just buy the unit at the website, then no discount !

I agree with that, 10% discount is better than nothing.
The think however is that we are talking here about ~3x difference and adding 10% discount doesn't make sense for me.

[mg]

I have to admit I had never even heard of Hakko before I joined the eevforum. They seem to be very underrepresented here in Germany.
There seems to be one company that imports them but the price is just ridiculous: 168,00 EUR. For that kind of money I wouldn't buy it, add another 50 EUR and you can get a Weller WS51, for example. As Hakko is so obscure here I imagine it could be hard to get tips for them, whereas you can get Weller tips in nearly every electronics shop.

In Germany it is 168 Euros, in Denmark I got a quote for 150 Euros, in UK you can get one for 90+VAT+Shipping = ~150Euros, in Sweden they told me that they will not send it anywhere else.

I also don't think that spending ~150 Euros on it is worth it, but I would get one for a half of that price ~75 Euros.
I will be soon in Anchorage (AL) and maybe I will get one there (probably shipping costs will be to high), and 100W voltage converter for 15 Euros.

[flolic]

Where do you buy your things in Europe?

Nowhere. I prefer buying from China for half of European price   

[david77]

May I ask you why are you so set on this particular station? There are other good stations available.
I would get one where it is easy to get spare parts especially tips in a few years time.
What use is a soldering station when you may have to wait for replacement tips for weeks?
You can get reasonable quality soldering stations in Germany from about 60,00 EUR, like the Zonghdi ZD-916 wich makes a good impression for the money or look at the Ersa Analog 60 or RDS80, they are both decent stations from a reputable manufacturer with good support.

[Neganur]

I have to admit I had never even heard of Hakko before I joined the eevforum. They seem to be very underrepresented here in Germany.
*snip*
As Hakko is so obscure here I imagine it could be hard to get tips for them, whereas you can get Weller tips in nearly every electronics shop.

Try this shop: http://shop.wiltec.info/index.php/cat/c251_Hot-Air-Reworking.html
Their service is quite nice and shipping within Germany starts at 5.50 EUR (DHL).

Also, Hakko tips are compatible (I guess they're the same even) with Aoyue tips. I guess they're the same thing, just a different name.

PS: forgot to say, I bought my 968 rework station there. They shipped with UPS for uh *searches invoice* 11 EUR to Finland. (did I say DHL sucks?)

[johnmx]

Why not this: http://www.progshop.com/shop/oscilloscopes/Rigol-DS1052E.html ?
Adding VAT that's 355 euro (free shipping in the EU). Not so bad!

I made my order today in this store:
1x DS1052E
1x BXM80
The best (cheapest) place to order is from these guys or from TekEquip. Get the special offer while it last. It ends at the end of the month.

[bearman]

In regards to Hakko spare parts or any items that wear out.

I learned a long time ago.  Buy your spare parts up front with the unit you are buying.

I bought a Hakko 936 and I included 4 of the most useful tips I would need along with the soldering station.  I bought a couple pairs of other size tips I might use later also. 

All I have to do in the future is go into my inventory and grab a new one when I need it.  No waiting for spares to ship.  No fear of having a hard time finding spares once items get discontinued.  You know stuff fails right in the middle of your hot project when you need a tool the most.

I do the same for anything I buy, especially if they are not over the counter consumable items like batteries.

I hurts a little up front when buying on a budget but you save in the long run.

[Bored@Work]

I do the same for anything I buy,

And when you are my age you start to regret that cunning plan. Because you are sitting on all kinds of dubious spares and components even the most mad guys on eBay won't pay a single dollar for.

[mg]

I have to admit I had never even heard of Hakko before I joined the eevforum. They seem to be very underrepresented here in Germany.
*snip*
As Hakko is so obscure here I imagine it could be hard to get tips for them, whereas you can get Weller tips in nearly every electronics shop.

Try this shop: http://shop.wiltec.info/index.php/cat/c251_Hot-Air-Reworking.html
Their service is quite nice and shipping within Germany starts at 5.50 EUR (DHL).

I bought the ("Hakko replacement") Aoyue 2900 (70W) with additional tip for 124 Euros.
The same station in .us stands for 48 EUR.

I also thought about getting the ERSA RDS80 (120 EUR) but after reading this: http://www.mikrocontroller.net/topic/93174 I decided not to.

[Slobodan]

I just bought/ordered Extech EX 330, and here, in Serbia, it's cost 5600 dinars, which is 56 Euros or 80 U.S. dollars. Compared to 55 U.S. dollars, which is the price in America. And that's the cheapest i could find.

[xian]

Yap, it seems that here in Europe we are doomed to pay ridiculously high prices compared to the rest of the world.
The only solution I could find is to order my stuff from china. Even with extremely high shipping price to Romania plus VAT and other taxes is still a lot cheaper then getting it locally. And if is under 50E most of the time I also don't have to pay the VAT because seems that anybody in china know to mark it as gift.

I just bought/ordered Extech EX 330, and here, in Serbia, it's cost 5600 dinars, which is 56 Euros or 80 U.S. dollars. Compared to 55 U.S. dollars, which is the price in America. And that's the cheapest i could find.

I wanted one also, but finally I had to abandon the idea. You can not find any Extech at a decent price in Europe. Ordering one form ebay is also not a good idea because the high sipping. I think I will go with a UNI-T because I found some decent ones with free shipping.

Also the shipping to Romania is a a pain. Probably it has the most expensive postal service in the world, even more expensive then International Space Station I think. Fortunately from china I always find something with free sipping.

[Kiriakos-GR]

EXI-EX330  43EUR  In Greece, plus there is currently 10% off discount, than the listed price ... for all Extech .

Just call them for details.

http://www.netscope.gr/ViewShopCategory.aspx?id=9707&PageNo=4&direction=1&OrderBy=8

[logicnibble]

Kiriakos-GR,

Do you know if "www.netscope.gr" sells for other countries in Europe?
Those prices arte amizingly cheaper than in other stores like Conrad for example.

Does anyone alse knows other sites in europe to buy cheap electronics components and equipment online?

Thanks!

[Morten I. Larsen]

I got a couple bench power supplies from Circuitspecialists.

http://www.circuitspecialists.eu/triple-output-dc-bench-power-supply-lcd-display-csi-3005xiii-p-168.html
2 x 0-30VDC, 5A  and a fixed 5V, 3A.
It also has a serial mode (0-60V, 5A) and a parallel mode ( 30V, 10A)
The voltage readout is very accurate. (My pair of Fluke 87V agrees)
€206.88 Inc VAT

And also a smaller 0-18VDC, 2A:
http://www.circuitspecialists.eu/adjustable-dc-regulated-power-supply-csi-1802x-p-169.html
€48.68 Inc VAT

I have been very pleased with both of them.


I got my Rigol DS1052E from Tekequip.

http://www.tekequip.com/digital-oscilloscope/rigol-ds1052e.html
Currently it is €299.00 (Free shipping within EU)

[hisense999]

Where do you buy your things in Europe?

Nowhere. I prefer buying from China for half of European price   

Is something very  important is cheap till you not pass the "duty free" value, after it you will get clue why in EU is so expensive - VAT magic, if you pay for something ~123EUR which will cost not more than ~100EUR then is not about greedy shop but about VAT - in more simple explaintation very high tax rate comparing to US and China where nobody care about pay of tax. So if you buy something from China and your "duty free in your country is for example value < 100$" then ordering something for 100$ you need to pay a VAT for it, of course packages from China usually are declared with funny values but buying with invoice for real value then always add 18-23% (depend of your country tax law) to price + other costs then you can get real comparision with local shops.

B.R.

[logicnibble]

I got a couple bench power supplies from Circuitspecialists.
...
I got my Rigol DS1052E from Tekequip.

Unfortunately, neither sites have good digital multimeters to buy.
I'd like to buy the EX330 from within Europe. Does anyone know where to buy it cheap and online?

I've seen it on www.conrad.de at ~63 Euros but I was looking for cheaper, as www.netscope.gr does: 43 Euros.