Life as a Physicist

We have to replace our video camera. And, as Paula just pointed out, we need to do it before Christmas so we can video Christmas! So much for waiting to see how much insurance is going to give us!

This turns out to be a real problem. I like the Sony SR7. We will arrive from France in Ottawa on Dec 22nd, so we need to have it starting then. Here is a break down of the cost in all countries I’m going to be in or around over the holidays.

Cost in the USA: $1045 (pre-tax).

Cost in France: 1200 euros (with taxes) ==> $1760 US

Cost in Ottawa: $1400 Canadian (pre-tax) ==> $1381 US

Further — when I order from Amazon, I was charged no tax. That is a huge difference in cost - especially to Europe. I don’t get it either — the dollar is so weak. It has been declining for a while - why are items made outside the US still so cheap inside? Is the mark up that big? And in Europe the taxes are larger than the US, but not that much — especially when you take the conversion rate into account.

How do Europeans buy enough gadgets!? 

From the legal point of view, this camera spend the first week of its life in Canada, then move to the USA for 3 weeks, and then over to France for about 7 months, and will then remain in the USA for the rest of its life (assuming it isn’t stolen). So ordering it from the USA should be no problem — and it is, by far, the cheapest.