I was just reviewing the Connaught Shaving website for shaving soaps and discovered that many items are priced far below what we have to pay when purchasing from U.S. based sources. While the airfreight charges will offset the savings for small orders anyone purchasing more than 60 British Pounds (Roughly $70 U.S. at current exchange rates) Connaught will ship to the U.S. via standard air parcel service for free. The savings are pretty dramatic for a number of premium and everyday shaving soaps. U.S. buyers get the items for a price that excludes the U.K. VAT so that a 6.30 British Pound (GBP) Mitchell's Shave Soap refill is only 5.25 GBP or roughly $6.10 U.S. at current exchange rates. This compares to a U.S. retailer price of typically $15/occasionally discounted to $12 on sale.
Other examples include:
My only concern is that at these prices it may be too easy to contract a severe case of SAD
Other examples include:
- Mitchell's in the Ceramic Bowl for 14.50 GBP/roughly $16.85 U.S. (typically sold for $30-$35 in the U.S.)
- D.H. Harris hard soap refill for 9 GBP/roughly $10.50 U.S. (typically sold for $20+ in the U.S.)
- Tabac Bowl for 10 GBP ex VAT/roughly $10.60 U.S (typically $25-$30 in the U.S.), the refill is only 5.75 GBP/$6.70 U.S.
- Taylor of Old Bond Sandlewood Shaving Soap refill for 7.50GBP/roughly $8.70 U.S.
- Saponificio Varesino 70th anniversary soap for 22.50 GBP/$26.10 U.S. versus a typical U.S. price of $50+
- Arko Sticks are one pound (need to by two) or roughly $1.16 U.S versus close to $2 on Amazon. The Arko tubs are 2 GBP or roughly $2.33 U.S. versus a typical price of $5-6.
My only concern is that at these prices it may be too easy to contract a severe case of SAD