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by k-mcgrady 3571 days ago
This extended warranty thing is common throughout the EU (in the UK it's 6 years for example). In the UK we pay more than the US for most things but it's hard to pin down the exact reasons and price differences.
2 comments

"..it's hard to pin down the exact reasons and price differences"

Generally it's down to VAT @ 20% and import duties, with some exchange rate padding.

Example:

Apple iPhone SE is £359 in the UK and $399 in the US.

As of 15:00 on 06/09, the $399 is ~£298. Add 20% VAT and you have ~£358.

EDIT: Exchange rates play a big part.

In the last couple of years the Sale of Goods Act protections were weakened as part of bringing us into line with Europe. It's now been replaced by the Consumer Rights Act which although clearer gives fewer rights to refund from the seller.

Note it's the retailer rather than manufacturer who is liable, so we have much more confidence that what we buy is "of merchantable quality", safe and legal to sell. Quite a number of HN threads have made this advantage clear.

Yes it's manufacturer for the first year (or two possibly) and after that it falls to the retailer.