How do other countries manage to sell goods more cheaply than in UK? Some things are more expensive of course, but we rarely visit any other country where most items are noticeably more expensive than here. Some things are incredibly cheap in other countries. That makes us suspicious of UK sellers, makes us feel they are ripping us off. But it may be that rates, taxes, wages etc are higher here and have to be passed on to the consumer.

Hi is Britain a rip off too damn right it is let me give you one example.In calais you can buy a bottle of fizzy white wine for 0.69p.Exactly the same wine is available in a well known British supermarket for £4.99.(3.49 IF IT IS ON OFFER).If my maths serves me right this is a mark up of 723% I bet nobody can beat this rip off thanks Gordon.

ps (where is the dosh going)

Mal Roberts

Oh I don't know, last year in the USA I bought a battery hair clipper and shaver set in a .99 cent shop (about .59 pence GB), I saw the exact item for sale in a shop on the high street for £4.99, But I know what you mean, you look at ome goods an djust wonder how they managed to make it for the selling price, never mind the importers, transport, VAT and the shopkeepers profit...

An example of our acceptance to pay more stems from the fact we would rather pay thousands more for property and land than its real worth because we feel we can afford to, so spiralling prices upwards.
Even Brits abroad have for instance shown absolutely zero common sense when being sold property in say Spain, worth maybe £50k, for £150k.
Just because it seems cheap compared with UK we get pulled in by agents and pay what is, we are led to believe, a bargain price - without checking what locals are paying.
The reason we pay more for everything is because in general we are lazy, gullible and naïve, have too many rules to protect shareholders interests and there is not enough real open competition.

Yes, we are quite rightly, being rip[ped off.However we are as consumers, prepared to get into debt.