# Domestic items seen as "luxury" in other countries? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 16, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667 "2010-05-16T19:18:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/61 "2010-05-17T20:25:42Z")
I don’t know if “luxury” is the right term, but Coca-Cola from Mexico made with cane sugar is a sought after item in the US. In areas where it is hard to find, people pay a premium for it. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/62 "2010-05-17T20:51:34Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Despite my current “location”, I am English, and I say “They most assuredly do” (or did - they could have changed since I left). I’ve never in my life met a person who thought Ford was British. With all due respect, it would seem like a pretty dumb thing to think. ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/63 "2010-05-18T08:21:30Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > I’ve never in my life met a person who thought Ford was British. With all due respect, it would seem like a pretty dumb thing to think. When I was a very young child I used to think Ford was British because they’re generally boring designs. And I thought Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover were American because they look pretty cool. Then I grew up. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![dogeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@dogeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogeman)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/64 "2010-05-18T09:36:42Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > I’ve never in my life met a person who thought Ford was British. With all due respect, it would seem like a pretty dumb thing to think. Really? It’s not that dumb to think. I would say in Australia, Fords are still viewed as an Australian car brand, especially the larger 6cyl and V8 cars, which are often marketed as the quintessential aussie car. It’s not a stretch for people not to associate Fords as American. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/65 "2010-05-18T10:03:22Z")
In a broad sense, “imported” items are luxurious, while “domestic” products are considered normal, which leads to some interesting sights when traveling. I was rather shocked to see Budweiser next to Heinekin, with the Bud being more expensive, in Korea. Here, I was surprised to see Korean soju selling for 4-6X the price in Korea, and sold alongside the much higher quality Japanese sake’s. Also in Korea, Tony Roma’s and McDonalds give half the meat for the same price (thus doubling the price,) and Burger King is like a 1-2 star restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/66 "2010-05-18T10:11:46Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > I’ve heard that BMWs are considered just ordinary cars in South Africa, while they’re considered luxury enthusiast-oriented vehicles in North America. > > Isn’t Ford considered a slightly more upmarket brand in the UK compared to its home turf in the United States? I’ve also seen references on Top Gear and in British car magazines that Honda is the preferred auto brand among the elderly, much like Buick in the United States. Actually back in the 80s when we lived in tidewater Virginia, caucasions had mercedes, and blacks/hispanics tended to have BMWs. Also merkurs tended to be a black/hispanic mark of car. Very odd. I personally prefer VWs, much more affordable, and still well engineered and built. I know it is popular to thrash on VWs on the dope, but we have _never_ had the lemon car issues you guys seem to have suffered, and we have always bought used so it isn’t that they have always had better care. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/67 "2010-05-18T10:14:59Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > In a broad sense, “imported” items are luxurious, while “domestic” products are considered normal, which leads to some interesting sights when traveling. I was rather shocked to see Budweiser next to Heinekin, with the Bud being more expensive, in Korea. Here, I was surprised to see Korean soju selling for 4-6X the price in Korea, and sold alongside the much higher quality Japanese sake’s. > > Also in Korea, Tony Roma’s and McDonalds give half the meat for the same price (thus doubling the price,) and Burger King is like a 1-2 star restaurant. It’s the same when you visit high-end department-store food halls in continental Europe. Amongst the expensive wines, meat and other goodies, it’s surprising to see such things as Cadbury’s Roses chocolates and Basset’s wine gums, which are considered run-of-the mill here in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/68 "2010-05-19T03:44:50Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Also, in Europe there are Mercedes trucks – I see them all the time, especially in Germany. That’s another thing that doesn’t get exported to the U.S. If you’re talking about Mercedes commercial trucks, they have those in the U.S. I don’t see them a lot, but they exist. I even drove a Mercedes cab-over box van around a parking lot one time. It was a 5-speed that had a little short console mounted shifter that looked like something you’d find in a Toyota Tercel. The clutch felt like something you’d find in a Peterbilt. > [@dogeman](#): > > Really? It’s not that dumb to think. I would say in Australia, Fords are still viewed as an Australian car brand, especially the larger 6cyl and V8 cars, which are often marketed as the quintessential aussie car. It’s not a stretch for people not to associate Fords as American. Doesn’t Ford Australia build a completely different line of cars than Ford U.S.? ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/69 "2010-05-19T04:04:47Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > Otherwise…Ugg boots? I don’t think they are considered high end here at all. Of course - Classic. Uggboots in public in Australia, means you’re a massive Bogan\* (_Bogan_ roughly = _Redneck_) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/70 "2010-05-19T04:37:51Z")
Oops! Wrong thread. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/71 "2010-05-19T11:04:48Z")
I think I have an explanation to the wine by the bottle mystery. In Sweden, as in the UK, you can sell alcohol either to be consumed on the premises (restaurants) or off the premises (liquor stores). Restaurants, of course, buy what they sell at the same price as anybody else. Countries where you can buy wine at a restaurant at retail prices might not have this distinction so a restaurant can serve both functions. ---
**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/72 "2010-05-19T13:02:37Z")
Not really truly answering the OP, but related: The Louis Vuitton pattern is _everywhere_ in Beijing. I saw leather **trash cans** in the pattern. True, these were all rip-offs, but after carrying plastic shopping bags with the pattern, I will never see Louis Vuitton as a “luxury” again. I don’t know how the average Chinese feels about it, although I’m sure that the retailers know that the patterns impress some Westerners. ---
**Author:** ![MrFloppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@MrFloppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFloppy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667/73 "2010-05-19T13:31:08Z")
Not much to add except that the 3 series BMW is the 7th best selling car model range in the UK. This because there are umpteen engine possibilities which make the car somewhat affordable. In the US, there are three engine choices…two 3 litre petrols and a big diesel - certainly ‘top of the line’ in the UK. In addition, options such as cloth seats and other cost saving measures make the car cheaper and more likely available to the average bloke. No cloth in the US although they do offer leatherette which is ‘fake leather’ (vinyl lol). I have a 335i. I told a car buddy of mine in the UK and he basically shrugged his shoulders via email 🙂 Bleh! In the US, unless you live in SoCal, the 335i is a reasonably exclusive vehicle. Also, someone mentioned SOuth Africa - mine was built in Rosslyn SA. A good percentage of US bound 3 series are being built there at this time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-items-seen-as-luxury-in-other-countries/539667.md?page=3)