Why is it Cheaper to buy from Prusa directly?
So I live in the USA, pray for me. There is a company here that not only produces Prusa filament here but they also assemble and sell Prusa 3D printers i.e. Core One L. But the weird thing, it is still cheaper for me to buy a fully assembled Core One L from Czech Prusa. This includes tariffs, taxes, shipping, and assembly. The filament is also more expensive here, even though they make it here with Prusa technology. Wasn't the point of having it made here to make it cheaper without tariffs? I guess profit margins can even kill that advantage. It is why hardly anything is made here anymore.
RE: Why is it Cheaper to buy from Prusa directly?
I assume you are talking about Printed Solid which is a Delaware based Prusa subsidiary. Yeah, it's not only cheaper sometimes but faster even to order directly from Prusa. It takes 9-10 days to get a domestic order from Printed Solid via USPS and only 2-3 days from Czech Republic via FedEx.
The only reason why I would order from Printed Solid is to "support a 'local' business"
RE: Why is it Cheaper to buy from Prusa directly?
I assume you are talking about Printed Solid which is a Delaware based Prusa subsidiary. Yeah, it's not only cheaper sometimes but faster even to order directly from Prusa. It takes 9-10 days to get a domestic order from Printed Solid via USPS and only 2-3 days from Czech Republic via FedEx.
The only reason why I would order from Printed Solid is to "support a 'local' business"
RE: Why is it Cheaper to buy from Prusa directly?
But it's not a Local business, it's a business owned by a Czech based company. They bought it outright on May 16th, 2022. Originally when Matthew Gorton started the company in 2013 it was a Locally Owned Company. Their website still says "we are an authorized reseller for Original Prusa printer." But how do you resell something, if the company who owns you, are the people who make the printer, you are "reselling?" Just seems weird.
RE: Why is it Cheaper to buy from Prusa directly?
The wording is really strange but since the people working there are locals earning their money you could consider it local, just not locally owned. I live in the Netherlands and when I buy products from the US I often pay less than ordering the same product from a Dutch company. Some of these products are locally made under license (firearm stuff) and its still more expensive. Crazy tax and import schemes at work.
RE: Why is it Cheaper to buy from Prusa directly?
Schemes indeed.
RE: Why is it Cheaper to buy from Prusa directly?
There are a few threads out there that explain it in more detail, but printed solid is around so that US companies can buy a maid in the US printer. The entities that are buying those printers are fairly price Insensitive. Printed solid was not set up for consumers, but rather for corporate and government and education customers.