Vista Price UK v USA

  • Thread starter Thread starter Basil
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Basil

Seeing the huge price difference UK v USA for Vista O/S Is there any problem
obtaining (on a personal visit) a copy of VISTA in USA and installing it
back home in the UK
Basil
Kent UK
 
IF you went to the states and paid for Vista, first the price marked is less
tax.
Then you have the choice of "sneakin"it thru UK customs with the chance that
customs will open hand luggage(they did everytime I went out there and came
back with Software).
US customs scan everything you go thru with(bags and such).
I know of people who have been in trouble for"exporting"software just by
putting it their bags.
When you get into UK customs and they decide to check your bags and they
find the software you will be made to pay VAT and also so called import
duty.
What you pay and how much is based on it's US value and not UK value.
You could always declare it and then end up paying VAT and whatever else.
Bringing software back costing what it does in the states does not come as
part of your"allowance".
I am goin over to the states next summer and I thought about buying it over
there and bringing it back.
 
Just my two cents, but...
Why is Vista so very, very expensive in the UK?
Even considering the VAT, $700 for an OS is absolutely outrageous.
I think the price of $400 in the US is totally out of line, but $700. Damn!!!
You can buy a brand new computer with very reasonable specs for $700, including a LCD monitor!
I just don't get it -- sounds like highway robbery to me!
What possible reasons are there for this rip off?

| IF you went to the states and paid for Vista, first the price marked is less
| tax.
| Then you have the choice of "sneakin"it thru UK customs with the chance that
| customs will open hand luggage(they did everytime I went out there and came
| back with Software).
| US customs scan everything you go thru with(bags and such).
| I know of people who have been in trouble for"exporting"software just by
| putting it their bags.
| When you get into UK customs and they decide to check your bags and they
| find the software you will be made to pay VAT and also so called import
| duty.
| What you pay and how much is based on it's US value and not UK value.
| You could always declare it and then end up paying VAT and whatever else.
| Bringing software back costing what it does in the states does not come as
| part of your"allowance".
| I am goin over to the states next summer and I thought about buying it over
| there and bringing it back.
|
|
| | > Seeing the huge price difference UK v USA for Vista O/S Is there any
| > problem obtaining (on a personal visit) a copy of VISTA in USA and
| > installing it back home in the UK
| > Basil
| > Kent UK
| >
|
|
 
The way pricing works is quite simple.. if it costs $400 dollars in the US,
it will cost the same numerical amount in GBP, more or less.. this applies
to almost all products, whether or not they are produced by Microsoft..
unfair? hell yes..
 
Rip off country mate, that's why.
Then there is the lil thang about IF us Brits go and buy from over the big
pond then those in high places over here force us to pay VAT........because
it was from outside the EU.
I have someone in NC and when I visit again next summer, they will mail
Vista to me in time for when I get back here.
There are ways round it.
I will order Vista and get it shipped to their place first and then mail it
from there to here.
Will save some money.
 
Nero said:
Rip off country mate, that's why.
Then there is the lil thang about IF us Brits go and buy from over the big
pond then those in high places over here force us to pay VAT........because
it was from outside the EU.
I have someone in NC and when I visit again next summer, they will mail
Vista to me in time for when I get back here.
There are ways round it.
I will order Vista and get it shipped to their place first and then mail it
from there to here.
Will save some money.
Click to expand...

What if an American citizen bought XP or Vista and brought it to Europe?

Alias
 
Even Amazon US won't ship software to the UK. DVDs and CDs are fine, but
software and electronics are a no-no
 
Unfair -- to say the very least!
Why doesn't Microsoft make an exception and make the cost equitable world wide? How could that be
impossible or illegal?
I like Vista, and will definitely be upgrading. I have credit card points that will cover the cost.
If I lived in the UK, I would probably not -- I could spend my $700 on something more durable since
OSs are upgraded about every 5 years or so. $700 is a nice piece of change.
Well, my sympathies are with the Brits.
What are the prices in the rest of Europe, Asia, etc.?


| The way pricing works is quite simple.. if it costs $400 dollars in the US,
| it will cost the same numerical amount in GBP, more or less.. this applies
| to almost all products, whether or not they are produced by Microsoft..
| unfair? hell yes..
|
| --
| Mike Hall
| MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
|
|
|
| | > Just my two cents, but...
| > Why is Vista so very, very expensive in the UK?
| > Even considering the VAT, $700 for an OS is absolutely outrageous.
| > I think the price of $400 in the US is totally out of line, but $700.
| > Damn!!!
| > You can buy a brand new computer with very reasonable specs for $700,
| > including a LCD monitor!
| > I just don't get it -- sounds like highway robbery to me!
| > What possible reasons are there for this rip off?
| >
| > | > | IF you went to the states and paid for Vista, first the price marked is
| > less
| > | tax.
| > | Then you have the choice of "sneakin"it thru UK customs with the chance
| > that
| > | customs will open hand luggage(they did everytime I went out there and
| > came
| > | back with Software).
| > | US customs scan everything you go thru with(bags and such).
| > | I know of people who have been in trouble for"exporting"software just by
| > | putting it their bags.
| > | When you get into UK customs and they decide to check your bags and they
| > | find the software you will be made to pay VAT and also so called import
| > | duty.
| > | What you pay and how much is based on it's US value and not UK value.
| > | You could always declare it and then end up paying VAT and whatever
| > else.
| > | Bringing software back costing what it does in the states does not come
| > as
| > | part of your"allowance".
| > | I am goin over to the states next summer and I thought about buying it
| > over
| > | there and bringing it back.
| > |
| > |
| > | | > | > Seeing the huge price difference UK v USA for Vista O/S Is there any
| > | > problem obtaining (on a personal visit) a copy of VISTA in USA and
| > | > installing it back home in the UK
| > | > Basil
| > | > Kent UK
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|
 
DCR said:
Just my two cents, but...
Why is Vista so very, very expensive in the UK?
Even considering the VAT, $700 for an OS is absolutely outrageous.
I think the price of $400 in the US is totally out of line, but $700. Damn!!!
You can buy a brand new computer with very reasonable specs for $700, including a LCD monitor!
I just don't get it -- sounds like highway robbery to me!
What possible reasons are there for this rip off?
Click to expand...

Well...it only cost $1 in Hong Kong.
Frank
 
In marketing, one sets a price at a level that one expects the prospective
customer to accept, fair or not.. the Euro car makers have been doing it for
years.. worse still, UK supermarket chains do it to their own, charging
slightly more for the same product in more affluent areas than they do in
the less affluent..
 
What if an American bought XP or Vista and MAILED it to Europe?

What about students, the disabled, the retired, and others on a fixed income?
Wouldn't $700 be TOTALLY out of reach for them?

F**king outrageous!
Just FYI...

| What if an American citizen bought XP or Vista and brought it to Europe?
|
| Alias
 
IF they got it in the states and came into this country or"Europe"then maybe
they would be subject to VAT and import duty as well.
I would have to read the info on this countries Customs site to see just who
would have to pay what.
From past expierience Anything got in the states and then brought into this
country is subject to VAT and so called import duty.
I got a camera lense from America and had it shipped over.
I paid $60 for the lense that had never been taken out of the box.
Same lense over here cost (in dollars)700.
By the time I was made to pay VAT and import on it, all I saved was $50.
So it was a waste of time and money.
 
All mail from the states comes thru customs where it will be opened if they
decide to do so.
If they decide that what is on a customs/content label may not be what is
inside then it will be opened.
Same as all mail goin to the states from UK is subject to being opened.
50/50 chance of it coming thru untouched.
IF it is opened then you get charged for import and VAT.
The days of something marked "gift"has gone.
They are wise to that one.
I had a customs list and it said about that one.
The"trade sample","Gift"and all those other tricks will get the mail opened.
IF they want to then they can have you for importing without a license
 
Nero said:
IF they got it in the states and came into this country or"Europe"then maybe
they would be subject to VAT and import duty as well.
Click to expand...

Are they also going charge you VAT for the shirt on your back or any
software you might have on your laptop? Your IPOD? That and the fact
that the US citizen has already paid retail tax in the country of
purchase, aka VAT. Now, if you had 100 copies of XP ... that would be
different.

Alias
 
I guess I'll drop it now...
But I just can't wrap my mind around something so idiotic and unfair -- hurts us, hurts them.

| All mail from the states comes thru customs where it will be opened if they
| decide to do so.
| If they decide that what is on a customs/content label may not be what is
| inside then it will be opened.
| Same as all mail goin to the states from UK is subject to being opened.
| 50/50 chance of it coming thru untouched.
| IF it is opened then you get charged for import and VAT.
| The days of something marked "gift"has gone.
| They are wise to that one.
| I had a customs list and it said about that one.
| The"trade sample","Gift"and all those other tricks will get the mail opened.
| IF they want to then they can have you for importing without a license
|
| | > What if an American bought XP or Vista and MAILED it to Europe?
| >
| > What about students, the disabled, the retired, and others on a fixed
| > income?
| > Wouldn't $700 be TOTALLY out of reach for them?
| >
| > F**king outrageous!
| > Just FYI...
| >
| > | What if an American citizen bought XP or Vista and brought it to Europe?
| > |
| > | Alias
| >
| >
|
|
 
Australian pricing is almost as rude. $751 AU for Ultimate full retail,
which equates to $575 US.
 
What if an American, or Canadian, bought it, put it or a copy online and
then e-mailed his buddy in Europe with the activation number. After all,
aren't all DVD's the same data, it's just the number that is different?
Just a thought folks.
 
Ray said:
What if an American, or Canadian, bought it, put it or a copy online and
then e-mailed his buddy in Europe with the activation number. After all,
aren't all DVD's the same data, it's just the number that is different?
Just a thought folks.
Click to expand...

Would work, but probably in breach of the EULA.
 
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