Vista Price UK v USA

  • Thread starter Thread starter Basil
  • Start date Start date
RUDE INDEED!

If Mike Halls reasoning (or apology) is correct, then shouldn't the price be around $306 AU?
Does Australia have a VAT?
Is the VAT 245%?


| Australian pricing is almost as rude. $751 AU for Ultimate full retail,
| which equates to $575 US.
|
| --
| Jane, not plain ;) 64 bit enabled :-)
| Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
| | > 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.?
| >
| >
| > message
| > | > | 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
| > | > | >
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
 
unfair? hell yes..
Click to expand...

And people wonder why the release version is already freely available
from the 'usual places'.

Cheers,

Guy

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.
 
Sorry I mean $400 AU would be $306 US.

| RUDE INDEED!
|
| If Mike Halls reasoning (or apology) is correct, then shouldn't the price be around $306 AU?
| Does Australia have a VAT?
| Is the VAT 245%?
|
|
| || Australian pricing is almost as rude. $751 AU for Ultimate full retail,
|| which equates to $575 US.
||
|| --
|| Jane, not plain ;) 64 bit enabled :-)
|| Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
|| || > 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.?
|| >
|| >
|| > message
|| > || > | 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
|| > | > | >
|| > | > |
|| > | > |
|| > | >
|| > | >
|| > |
|| > |
|| >
|| >
||
|
|
 
Then your cost SHOULD -- per Mr. Hall -- be $440 AU (approx. $337 US) or thereabout, yes?

Someone is getting shafted.
And since Microsoft sets the prices...

| We have GST, which is the same as VAT. I think it's around 10% or so.......
|
| --
| Jane, not plain ;) 64 bit enabled :-)
| Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
| | > RUDE INDEED!
| >
| > If Mike Halls reasoning (or apology) is correct, then shouldn't the price
| > be around $306 AU?
| > Does Australia have a VAT?
| > Is the VAT 245%?
| >
| >
| > | > | Australian pricing is almost as rude. $751 AU for Ultimate full retail,
| > | which equates to $575 US.
| > |
| > | --
| > | Jane, not plain ;) 64 bit enabled :-)
| > | Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
| > | | > | > 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.?
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > message
| > | > | > | > | 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
| > | > | > | >
| > | > | > |
| > | > | > |
| > | > | >
| > | > | >
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| >
| >
|
 
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...

Or how about buying Vista in the U.S., copying the original DVD to
another DVD and labeling it "Justin Timberlake's Greatest Hits," and
then mailing or carrying it abroad with the product key copied down and
transported elsewhere?
 
Dr said:
And people wonder why the release version is already freely available
from the 'usual places'.
Click to expand...

"I can't afford it" is no excuse for pirating or stealing something,
especially when that something is a luxury item, not something you need for
basic survival.

I agree with the price being a rip-off. I totally do, but that justifies
boycotting the product, not "stealing" it.
 
I think you've all got it wrong, and you're all getting the decimal point in
the wrong place !
Perhaps Vista only costs £4.50 :-)

regards, Richard
 
I agree with the price being a rip-off. I totally do, but that justifies
boycotting the product, not "stealing" it.
Click to expand...

To make it clear, that is my stance too.

Cheers,

Guy

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.
 
could be done that way.
Daze N. Knights said:
Or how about buying Vista in the U.S., copying the original DVD to another
DVD and labeling it "Justin Timberlake's Greatest Hits," and then mailing
or carrying it abroad with the product key copied down and transported
elsewhere?
Click to expand...
 
Regardless of the fact the person was a US citizen and that tax was paid, it
was not VAT.
As far as the government is concerned it was got outside of the EU and
therefor NO tax was paid.
 
Nero said:
could be done that way.
Click to expand...


I would certainly think so, but I have no idea about what, if any, laws
or license agreements one would be breaking in the process. For one
thing, it would obviously involve sneaking something past customs . . .
 
Just wondering if anyone in the UK, Australia, or wherever has asked their local Microsoft office
how they justify this enormous discrepancy in prices?

Has anyone asked their local media to investigate?

It seem so me that with the already negative attitude of the EU toward Microsoft, this could become
a public relations nightmare for MS.
 
Nero said:
Regardless of the fact the person was a US citizen and that tax was paid, it
was not VAT.
As far as the government is concerned it was got outside of the EU and
therefor NO tax was paid.
Click to expand...

And, being as it wasn't bought in the EU, no VAT should be charged, of
course!

Duh!

Alias
 
By rights, if it was paid for outside the EU,no, by british law, yes........
because the government in the UK do not like us buying without paying VAT.
Free country...........not!!
 
Nero said:
By rights, if it was paid for outside the EU,no, by british law, yes........
because the government in the UK do not like us buying without paying VAT.
Free country...........not!!
Click to expand...

But using your logic, if you buy a shirt or trousers or a tie, they will
charge you VAT and they don't. Does it just apply to software or are
there other things on which that the British government feels you should
pay retail tax twice?

Alias
 
IF anyone buys ANYTHING from outside the EU then VAT is payable by law.
IF anyone can find American websites where they can buy(in dollars)and have
that company ship over then on that item getting into UK customs, customs
will decide what the charge is(from a list)and also IF import duty has to be
paid as well.
On top of that the money is payable to the postal service who in turn charge
you over again for re delivery even tho shipping was included in the price
you paid to the American company or whatever country it was gotten from.
If I pay for shirts or jeans from Sheplers then they ship it to me over
here, I pay in dollars(gets converted to dollars) for said items and
shipping.
Then when it comes thru UK customs they look it up on a list according to
what it is and how much it cost in the states.
Then I get charged the right amount of VAT for said goods plus import duty
because I have imported it.
It's the law here and that is that.
Short of paying for goods and gettin them shipped to someone who lives in
the states and then they ship it/mail it here with the chance customs WILL
check it.................
So there really is no way round it.
 
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