The belief goes back decades and is hard to shake. Actually it would make a good topic for a new thread. I agree with you after looking up prices of various Campy stuff ordered from the UK. But simply put for the dubious, can one conveniently and securely buy comparable groups in Campy and Shimano for comparable prices?

Wait that is too simple a question. First we need agreement about which are the comparable groups. In the old days the story in the US was just match price between the brands and you would have the matching quality. It always seemed to me that was an intentional slap at Shimano's quality, because DA came out price equivalent to Chorus or worse and the various "Records" had no competition so their higher prices didn't count. I never bought into that story. So in order to believe that Campy is not more expensive than Shimano or SRAM, we are going to have to match up top of the line to top of the line.

Then you have to assume the buyer is knowledgeable about internet ordering and willing to do it. Correct me if wrong, but I am fairly sure the "USA penalty" is largely still in effect for Campy goods legitimately imported into the US. My impression is it is only "gray market" Campy, i.e. goods bought from another country that is price competitive with Shimano and SRAM. I don't think I can walk the two blocks down to my LBS and buy Campy for similar prices to the others. Heck, I can't even find Campy at such a shop. The good news is that warranty is not as important for bike parts as it is for cameras, so such gray market bike goods are not as problematic. Nevertheless, the lack of local warranty support would be an issue for many folks.

I would say we in the US need some help with this question. Tell us what YOU think the proper group comparisons are and where(ever) we can buy the Campy for prices similar to what the Shimano and SRAM equivalents would cost us domestically.

More information is the only cure for the disinformation disease you have recognized.