The price of the Vixen mounts in the UK is largely determined by the yen exchange rate.
In 2008, the SRP for the GPD2 without motors was £495. At that time £1 bought 200 yen.
In 2013, the SRP for the GPD2 without motors was £849. By then £1 bought about 145 yen. In addition, the cost price in yen had been increased by Vixen by 15%.
At launch, the AP mount (without motors) was £599 and £1 bought about 180 yen.
Today we are back to £1 buying 145 and a retail price of £729.
Inflation would have increased the 2008 price of £495 to around £629 today.
Who'd want to be a Vixen distributor?!
Pete