Expensive machines here AND there?

They're expensive compared to, say, Brothers, yes. But the cost of living is higher over here, too, so you can't really do a pound-into-dollar conversion to compare prices.

Sewing is more expensive here because we don't have any big national chains like TSWLTH - you guys may not like the place, but you can certainly take advantage of those 99c patterns, can't you?

Actually machines and most other things as well are more expensive here in the UK, I often order from America and even when paying customs charges and our vat at 17.5% (kinda like state tax) it is still alot cheaper than I can find here. I'm from Michigan originally and have been living in England for over 10 years now. But the quality of most products I do buy here far surpass what I have experienced in the USA, so it's give n take both have thier uses. Here's a couple Uk sites to see what you think.

can find a currencyexchanger at And by the way we would love to pay your gas prices you have it soooo easy at the pumps!! Ours is a mere $7.50+ per gallon :-o Vicky

I would suggest the price of machines like Pfaff and Husqvarna Viking is what it is largely because of the cost of manufacturing those products in Europe.

gwh

A year ago I compared the cost of buying the 220v transformer and adapter to take our viking from usa home to sweden (sverige). At the exchange rate then, the cost was roughly the same.

I have also compared the accessory packs for the viking platinum series and they were cheaper in sweden even with 25% MOMS (aka VAT other countries). same for machines.

We purchased the viking platinum 770 in dec 2003 and in stockholm Feb.

2004, I called the husqvarna viking office to ask about the price there. platinum? they hoped to see one in april and to get training in the summer and in stores in august!. they were clear: viking manufactures for US market and then to Sweden!

G. Wayne H>>

Yes, Vicky, as much as it hurts to pay $3 a gallon right now, I know you've got it much worse! At least I hear the UK and other European areas have better and more public transit systems than we do here. There's no option except within big cities for getting places. People don't carpool like they used to, that could help as well as so many people having large cars when its just them driving and never hauling more than a shopping bag around. To each his/her own I guess. Thanks for all the inputs!

What is TSWLTH?

The Store We Love To Hate--JoAnn's Fabric/Craft Store.