Text 32556, 52 rader
Skriven 2009-05-23 09:49:38 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
  Kommentar till text 32536 av Roy Witt (1:397/22)
Ärende: Re: Prices
==================
RW>WD> $80 for a Levi's would be considered a low price.
 
RW> $19.98 at any Wal-Mart store, in any of the 50 states and territories.
RW> They're also available online to mail order...
 
Overhere they cost more. Also the cut is different ... wider legs, other type
of pockets. I prefer North American models which are more tight.
 
While still working I once encountered the safety-manager of Levi's in Europe
and he explained that the markets in North America and Europe get a different
product. Overhere they try to make it a bit more stylish (hence the price). He
also explained that it is illegal to buy Levi's in North America and then bring
'm here if you live here. They have prosecuted people for it, or so he claimed
... Well, certainly not in Belgium.
 
When you are stopped at customs and discovered you have several new pairs with
you, you'll be levied import duties. In about 40 trips to the US, my bags have
never been opened once upon return. Twice have I been searched at the beginning
of travel in the US, but the underwear and socks were still clean then. :-)
 
I also buy T-shirts there, socks, underwear, shirts, coats, shoes. Items of
clothing are way less expensive there than they are here. I think the only
non-US thing I wear is my suit.
 
On my last travel I had 7 pairs of shoes with me and at least 5 jeans, 3 boxes
of Equal, a gallon of Log Cabin maple sirup (weighs like a ton but is only sold
in tiny bottles of 198ml here [that's 1/19 gallon] and costs more], a pile of
batteries, 200  blank DVD's, 20 non-refillable printer ink cartridges, shirts
and other stuff. The combined savings earned me the money for my plane ticket.
My bags got a label "HEAVY. LIFT WITH 2 PEOPLE" and I was charged $25 extra ...
still I was making money on it.
 
Now I travel alone or with a daughter. When the kids were still young we were
allowed two items of bagage per traveller, which meant 12 items in total and
getting to the airport there, and home here, was a challenge. The final leg
from Amsterdam to Antwerp was always in a small Brasilia twin-engine commuter
and the luggage arrived in 2 or 3 batches, each time KLM delivered it at our
home by taxi.
 
One time the final flight was cancelled and we were driven home by coach. The
bags went with the next flight and were there before we did.
 
With bagage charges all around these days it wouldn't work anymore, but my
still 'silver' frequent flyer status allows me 2 items for free.
 
My life's moto is that you have to screw the system whenever you can, because
when you don't then it will screw you.
 
 \%/@rd

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