What a wrap-off!

BRITS will fork out around DOUBLE the money paid by Americans - for the same Christmas gifts this year.

Families here are set to spend an average £413 on presents, which would cost as little as £200 in the States.

And for those splashing out on big-ticket items like laptops and designer watches, the savings can run into THOUSANDS. For example, Canon digital SLR cameras costing £5,000 in the UK are almost £2,000 less in the US.

And when it comes to smaller items, the latest GHD hair straighteners are £47 cheaper there, a report by import firm Bundle Box reveals.

The rip-off is blamed on British shops having less buying power and higher running costs. Lower US sales tax and brands setting different prices in different countries are also factors.

Richard Perks, an analyst for research firm Mintel, said: "Comet, for example, is big in the UK but small compared to the largest US electrical retailer Best Buy.

"A major Japanese electrical brand can happily manage without Comet but can't afford to ignore Best Buy.

"Plus buying or renting a shop is lower in the US because there is much more land. And employment costs are lower."

Brits wanting to save by ordering online often find US websites won't ship to the UK. So Bundle Box provides a US postal address for American firms to ship to, and its staff dispatch the parcels to customers' home addresses in Britain for a fee that covers delivery and taxes.

Boss Andre Schmidt said: "It is a cost-effective way of letting you buy from across the pond."

Our Captain Cash has lined up £10 off your first order with Bundle Box. See captain cash.co.uk for details.

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