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About LinkBacksMicrosoft did not answer the question about reigion coding, which I think is quite relevant as there are plenty of people here who would happly buy an import version from the US if they thought it would activate.
Could you ask them?
Microsoft did not answer the question about reigion coding, which I think is quite relevant as there are plenty of people here who would happly buy an import version from the US if they thought it would activate.
Could you ask them?
I'd rather let HEXUS try and get a prepared interview with a Microsoft representative and get the facts straight from the top, rather than somebody just sending stock replies.
They're unlikely to do a full cost breakdown, but it would be nice.
Hell if Pinocchio worked in MS's marketing department then they'd have no glass left in the building.
80% more expensive to distribute my posterior.
In the next letter, can you ask them for full sentences please? I won't be getting Vista until I build my next computer, but these price differences are ridiculous!Originally Posted by some bod at Microsoft
Last edited by Ruggerbugger; 05-01-2007 at 03:02 PM.
if microsoft thinks for a second that i am going to take a 88% markup on vista they can bloody well think again. debian and cedega here i come
am bllody well voting with my wallet i hope you lot are going to aswell
Beginners guide to raid Beginners guide to raid post edition Hexus.Social - FAQ
just the usual rip off Britain
I don't mind paying vat ( direct taxes would be better ) but there just seems to be a widespread mark up on everything. Oh well just another thing to "bring" across from the states
Is this rip off Britain, or rip off Europe? People have been mentioning a trip to America to pick up a few copies of vista etc, but, what about somewhere nearer? Ireland perhaps? (thats just a guess before anyone starts)
You owe it to yourself to click here really.
I'm sorry, but thats all utter crap.Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you for your e-mail concerning price differences between the US and the UK.
I can confirm that the U.S will usually be cheaper owing to the following reasons:
U.S resellers, particularly online ones may be able to sell the product at a lower price owing to them taking a reduction in their margins. They can normally do this more than resellers in smaller countries due to the economies of scale of selling to a larger customer base. I should point out at this stage, that as a result of EU regulations we cannot set prices ourselves. Taxation, which can be substantially lower in the U.S than the U.K.
Operation costs such as distribution and manufacturing can be significantly lower in the U.S owing to the same economies of scale as mentioned above.
Different Microsoft regional offices can offer promotions and discounts to resellers and consumers that are specific to their own region. Microsoft UK and Microsoft Europe will quite often offer such promotions that are not applicable to our U.S customers.
Finally, the differences in price can also vary with the currency exchange rate between the U.S and the U.K.
I hope this information has answered your query, but if you have any more questions, please call us on 0870 60 10 100. Our lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Of course if you prefer please send me an email.
Many thanks for contacting us.
Kind Regards,
ANOOP VISWANATHAN
Customer Service Professional
Microsoft Customer Services
The only valid point they made is the VAT side. If the cost of the Uk version was 20% more I'd say fair enough. 80% and over is a rip off plain and simple.
It does not and can not cost 80% more to sell the same dvd box in the UK as it does in the US. In fact I'd argue that shipping and distribution costs in the USA could be higher due to the distances involved. If they were having cost issues due to distribution, why not make the boxes smaller. That would make things cheaper for starters.
For the extra cost we pay for uk copies I'd expect to have them delivered by ferrari to my door.
While Microsoft is clearly the scum of the earth, in their defense it is not just their products which are more expensive in you country. Everything is, such as a meal at a restaurant, a train ticket, etc.
You might also want to get angry with your government about this since it seems to me that that 1$=1€=1£ for purchasing power.
On the bright side if you come to the US a pound will get you much further than it Britain, so its a great excuse for an American vacation.
I've had a response from Microsoft. Nothing from Amazon yet, but there'll be a story about this over the weekend from HEXUS, I expect.
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This country is becoming more and more expensive, with the pound stronger than most currencies, the goverment is taking full advantage. Its upping import/export costs to financialy aid the country, and the country doesnt even see it. It pays ridiculous wages for ministers!
I know one local mp who was getting 3 wages a year, one for local mp, one for house of commons and one for welsh assembly... and what does he do... dunno aint seen him ever!!
Im sick of rip-off-britain...
(rant over...)
If they were to price it at the exchange rate equivalent then this wouldnt be so bad, or even the 20%, but 80%! its like there laughing at us?
And they wonder why people are using 'Pirate' copies of thier software!! No way i would pay a lot for the new OS.
just like everything, we end up paying more for it
What ever happened to 'equality' and 'equal rights'?
No wonder piracy is on the way up, prices like that only encourage it.
lets make a Hexus US Field Trip! get the vista and come back
Loved the email from Microsoft. Anyway it got me thinking, besides the cost of the actual application (i.e. source code etc), how much does the packaging and box cost because at the end of the day, the actual cost of developing the software is the same for everyone as its only developed in one place. Microsoft, should make the same amount of money per copy per user in the developed world. Not make e.g. $5 in the us and $305 in the uk
In essence the difference between the cost of a piece of software between the us and uk should be down to
a) packaging
b) manufacturing the actual cd/dvd
c) regional documentation
d) taxes
e) transportation and shipping costs
f) exchange rates
g) retailers profit
So US cost is MSFT charge + above
and UK cost is MSFT charge + above
Anyone have any guesses on the prices of above, because minus taxes/retailers profit I would be betting no more than $10 and i am sure the retailers and taxes dont amount to anywhere near $290 ish.
A few points i loved in the letter was the reference to the exchange rates. Well the pound is now much much stronger than the dollar so if anything, Microsoft who are a US company, their products should be cheaper!! I really hope this is brought up more in public because its so wrong.
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