Discussion
In fairness...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_...
...although I never quite understand how they do it!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_...
...although I never quite understand how they do it!
smifffymoto said:
French money stays in France and where possible spent on French made goods.
This is definitely true. You only have to look at what cars are bought; almost without exception Citroen, Renault and Peugeot...I don't think the British desire to not pay tax/cotisations eclipses the French and if you offer cash for anything in France it will always be accepted in preference to a cheque or card payment (and that includes at the tax office, bizarrely).
The 'black' is the default here in my experience. It is simply seen as a win/win, we both pay less tax. Simples
Puggit said:
They are definitely diversifying on the car front - albeit slowly. The number of Dacias visible around Tours is terrifying.
Spot on Puggit! They like a German car also.It seems no one likes to rip the Frnch off more than the French. I just cant get my head around how they seem happy to pay way over the odds for most things and services.
And as far as black money is concerned most French guys i know have some kind of second job that is all black(liquid) payed.
magooagain said:
Puggit said:
They are definitely diversifying on the car front - albeit slowly. The number of Dacias visible around Tours is terrifying.
Spot on Puggit! They like a German car also.It seems no one likes to rip the Frnch off more than the French. I just cant get my head around how they seem happy to pay way over the odds for most things and services.
And as far as black money is concerned most French guys i know have some kind of second job that is all black(liquid) payed.
never have I NOT been offered discount for cash, anything sold has nearly always been paid for in cash and not like its just been drawn form the bank 
many trades people here work to the 30k tax limit, thereafter they just dont take on anymore work or more often put through on black
Kias are more common than they used to be in our area due to a couple of dealers I think, I cant see any tight fisted farmer turning a blind eye to the 7 year warranties offered no matter how patriotic he is.
Its funny actually, in our rural community you will rarely see a french tractor being used, there are about 20 odd french argi. mach. manufacturers to. Always Klass, Massey etc
Pvapour said:
Its funny actually, in our rural community you will rarely see a french tractor being used, there are about 20 odd french argi. mach. manufacturers to. Always Klass, Massey etc
Appart from the fact that all of EAME sold Massey tractors over 90hp are made in Beauvais and that all EAME sold tractors from CLAAS are made in the ex Renault tractors factory in Le Mans.Respectively employing 2500 and over 1000 workers and producing 21,000 and 11,000 units.
J B L said:
Pvapour said:
Its funny actually, in our rural community you will rarely see a french tractor being used, there are about 20 odd french argi. mach. manufacturers to. Always Klass, Massey etc
Appart from the fact that all of EAME sold Massey tractors over 90hp are made in Beauvais and that all EAME sold tractors from CLAAS are made in the ex Renault tractors factory in Le Mans.Respectively employing 2500 and over 1000 workers and producing 21,000 and 11,000 units.
Hi,
Most of the houses around ours here were partly built this way.
I've seen mechanics owning a home full fledged workshop (lift and so on) doubling their income in their spare time.
Seems to me that this is not a British only thing
Éric Masson (France)
smifffymoto said:
I think working on the black is a British thing to avoid cotisations,I have never been asked to pay some on the black too a Frenchman,artisan or otherwise.
French money stays in France and where possible spent on French made goods.
Working on the black is really spread here.French money stays in France and where possible spent on French made goods.
Most of the houses around ours here were partly built this way.
I've seen mechanics owning a home full fledged workshop (lift and so on) doubling their income in their spare time.
Seems to me that this is not a British only thing
Éric Masson (France)
I would love to know why used cars are so expensive here compared to some other countries. After 13 years I decided to change my C-Class estate for - a C-class estate. Searched the interweb and found I could save 6,000€ by buying from Germany, so did so. One year old, 15,000 kliks, 2 years Merc guarantee and bought from a main dealer. Il n'y avait pas photo, as they say.
It is curious (price of used cars). I can only think that the fear of the paperwork must come into it, either that or lack of awareness of the reduced prices available in other countries.
Recently I've looked on Leboncoin.fr and the prices there are a bit more realistic, it's just hampered by their apparent inability to communicate electronically which makes that difficult (see 'the French part 3).
I refuse to buy cars here and I'm in the process of importing our 6th car from the UK in under 4 years...
Recently I've looked on Leboncoin.fr and the prices there are a bit more realistic, it's just hampered by their apparent inability to communicate electronically which makes that difficult (see 'the French part 3).
I refuse to buy cars here and I'm in the process of importing our 6th car from the UK in under 4 years...
Hi,
Foreign language teaching in French schools is a real nightmare.
At least 4 years of courses for the main language, but the result is always the same, badly spoken and hardly well written.
Buying abroad is not really an option, then.
Most prefer to purchase in the local dealership, but some rely on an intermediary to buy for them, it takes a commission, which increases the purchase price (still lower than french one).
Éric Masson
Foreign language teaching in French schools is a real nightmare.
At least 4 years of courses for the main language, but the result is always the same, badly spoken and hardly well written.
Buying abroad is not really an option, then.
Most prefer to purchase in the local dealership, but some rely on an intermediary to buy for them, it takes a commission, which increases the purchase price (still lower than french one).
Éric Masson
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