mmurph Offline Upload & Sell: On
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Two23 wrote:
Is the yen/dollar exchange that good?
Without knowing anything about that specific lens - yes! The Yen has lost 50% of it's value against the dollar in the last 2 years.
What used to cost $1 in the US was 80 yen. Now it costs 120 yen - 50% more. Or, to put it the other way around: Something that costs 80 yen used to cost $1 US. Now it cost 80/120 = 2/3 dollar = $.66.
The manufacturers are much, much slower to reduce US prices, because it amounts to "extra" profit for them. Did you see that all of the Nikon USA lens' that used to cost $1,000 are now $666? Not really; they do offer some minor rebates, but no whole-sale reductions.
Which makes grey market/direct import much more attractive right now. It is called "arbitrage." With some risks, but also obvious rewards.
FWIW: In the graph below, the most recent "low" around October 1, 2012 was at about 78 Yen to the dollar. It closed today at 119 yen top the dollar. It has been hovering around 120 yen.
Japan likes the Yen "weak", like now, so that they can export a lo and grow their economy.
Good luck!
Edited on Feb 18, 2015 at 12:24 AM · View previous versions
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