windows vista UK price rip off

[nicholas]

I know this has been mentioned quite a bit lately (UK, Europe and OZ
prices), but I went to the Amazon UK's website tonight and I was shocked the
find that the charge for the ultimate version (full, not the upgrade
version) is £369. I do not know how much that is in dollars, but I know it
is a lot more than you lucky sods are paying in the USA.
There is not many things I get jealous about the USA, but this is one of
those things I am jealous about.

I shall just have to swallow my pride and stump up the money to get it as I
can not see me going back to XP :-(

NIK

 

[DCR]

Why don't you try contacting Microsoft UK for an explanation?


|I know this has been mentioned quite a bit lately (UK, Europe and OZ
| prices), but I went to the Amazon UK's website tonight and I was shocked the
| find that the charge for the ultimate version (full, not the upgrade
| version) is £369. I do not know how much that is in dollars, but I know it
| is a lot more than you lucky sods are paying in the USA.
| There is not many things I get jealous about the USA, but this is one of
| those things I am jealous about.
|
| I shall just have to swallow my pride and stump up the money to get it as I
| can not see me going back to XP :-(
|
| NIK
|
| --
| Remove NOSPAM for personal reply
|

 

[Mike Brannigan]

I know this has been mentioned quite a bit lately (UK, Europe and OZ
prices), but I went to the Amazon UK's website tonight and I was
shocked the find that the charge for the ultimate version (full, not
the upgrade version) is £369. I do not know how much that is in
dollars, but I know it is a lot more than you lucky sods are paying
in the USA.
There is not many things I get jealous about the USA, but this is
one of those things I am jealous about.

I shall just have to swallow my pride and stump up the money to get
it as I can not see me going back to XP :-(

NIK

Nik,

Then order it from Amazon.com or another distributor in the US and
have it shipped to the UK.
I really fail to see why people who obviously use the internet cannot
grasp that they can buy item in local currency from other places and
save a great deal compared to UK pricing.
Unless you are desperately unlucky and get a customs charge you are
quids in even with the shipping charges.
$1 = £0.5 at the moment so it evens out nicely.

 

[Guest]

There is really very little to stop you buying a US version, you could even
pay the VAT on it if you like. I know for the cost saving, I'd soon find a
friendly US traveller who could return with the goods. Hell it would still
be cheaper to buy it and have it mailed over.

Enjoy the currency differential between the pound and the dollar, whilst we
still have a job I say. For too long firms remove the dollar sign and
replace it with a pound sign and they aren't even close in value, don't
accept it.

Colin T

 

[nicholas]

Because I do not like wasting my time.

They are not bothered with a single person going on about how expensive
vista is in the UK.

NIK

 

[Quanta]

There is really very little to stop you buying a US version, you could
even pay the VAT on it if you like. I know for the cost saving, I'd soon
find a friendly US traveller who could return with the goods. Hell it
would still be cheaper to buy it and have it mailed over.

Enjoy the currency differential between the pound and the dollar, whilst
we still have a job I say. For too long firms remove the dollar sign and
replace it with a pound sign and they aren't even close in value, don't
accept it.

The dollar is terribly low in value. London was workable a few years
ago...but I got .70 per pound then.

 

[David Hearn]

Nik,

Then order it from Amazon.com or another distributor in the US and
have it shipped to the UK.
I really fail to see why people who obviously use the internet cannot
grasp that they can buy item in local currency from other places and
save a great deal compared to UK pricing.
Unless you are desperately unlucky and get a customs charge you are
quids in even with the shipping charges.
$1 = £0.5 at the moment so it evens out nicely.

If an item is available on Amazon.co.uk as well as Amazon.com then
usually Amazon.com will refuse to allow you to complete the order,
stating some junk about not being allowed to ship outside the US.

I'd be surprised if Amazon.com allowed you to order Vista and deliver to
the UK.

D

 

[Guest]

If an item is available on Amazon.co.uk as well as Amazon.com then

usually Amazon.com will refuse to allow you to complete the order,
stating some junk about not being allowed to ship outside the US.

That's actually not true. For example, I live in Canada and I can choose to
order from Amazon Canada or Amazon U.S.. I have never been refused an order
from Amazon U.S. and frequently buy there instead because they have a better
variety than they do at Amazon Canada.

 

[Brian W]

Nik,

Then order it from Amazon.com or another distributor in the US and have it
shipped to the UK.

Amazon US won't ship software to the UK, DVDs and CDs are fine but not
software (as far as I can remember)

 

[Mike Brannigan]

Amazon US won't ship software to the UK, DVDs and CDs are fine but
not software (as far as I can remember)

The don't use Amazon - it's a big Internet shopping mall out there -
find another supplier to buy from.
My point was that the purchaser is not hog tied to one supplier but
may pretty much buy from anywhere they can.

 

[Mr. Vista]

The don't use Amazon - it's a big Internet shopping mall out there - find
another supplier to buy from.
My point was that the purchaser is not hog tied to one supplier but may
pretty much buy from anywhere they can.

Your advice sounds good on the surface but it has no substance to it when
one considers the reality of the situation. Most online sites from the US
will *only* sell within the US.
Besides, you are not adressing the real issue of why prices in the UK are >
in the US.

 

[David Hearn]

That's actually not true. For example, I live in Canada and I can choose to
order from Amazon Canada or Amazon U.S.. I have never been refused an order
from Amazon U.S. and frequently buy there instead because they have a better
variety than they do at Amazon Canada.

Well, certainly has been the case for me in the UK trying to buy from
Amazon US in the last month.

Just tried now for a Vista upgrade DVD, (pre-order):
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Ultimate-Upgrade-DVD-Rom/dp/B000HCTYTO

When going through the checkout, it says to me:

"Important Message
There is a slight problem with your order. (See below.)

*** We're sorry. This item can't be shipped to your selected
destination. You may either change the shipping address or delete the
item from your order by changing its quantity to 0 and clicking the
update button below. ( See geographical restrictions.) ***"

Viewing the 'geographical restrictions' link it says:

"Warranty issues and manufacturer restrictions prevent us from shipping
certain products to all geographical locations. You'll be notified while
placing your order if we're unable to ship specific items to the address
you've selected."


So, I can't get it shipped to the UK it seems.

D

 

[Mike Brannigan]

Your advice sounds good on the surface but it has no substance to it
when one considers the reality of the situation. Most online sites
from the US will *only* sell within the US.
Besides, you are not adressing the real issue of why prices in the
UK are > in the US.

Then the purchaser or yourself are just being lazy and not doing a
little leg work.
There are a number of distributors that ship internationally.
Just go to any price comparison web site in the US, enter the product
you want and lots of retailers come up then a couple of clicks of the
mouse to find their shipping FAQ and job done.
For example 30 seconds of work
http://www.computerhq.com/products/parts-sby-1-stxt-windows+vista-page-2.html
Loads more out there.

As to why the price difference there are the usual excuses of taxes
added, import duty, and a lazy dollar to pound conversion of 1 for 1
that has been used by many companies for a long time. As it make their
life easier but causes obvious issues with customers.
So if you or the original poster are too lazy to find a US
distributors then a Canadian one or Australian one will do (both have
a weaker currency to the pound at the moment) and then there is all of
the EU where if you purchase in EUROs you can also make savings.

 

[John Barnes]

Someone has to pay for those idiot fines the EC keeps forcing Microsoft to
pay. Glad this time the stockholders and US citizens aren't getting stuck
for those revenue raising measures the EC has devised.

 

[Chris]

Then order it from Amazon.com or another distributor in the US and have
it shipped to the UK. I really fail to see why people who obviously use
the internet cannot grasp that they can buy item in local currency from
other places and save a great deal compared to UK pricing. Unless you
are desperately unlucky and get a customs charge you are quids in even
with the shipping charges. $1 = £0.5 at the moment so it evens out nicely.

Surely it's even simpler than that?
The thing that one is buying is the licence key.
Not the physical CD.
You can borrow that from anyone.
Or download the iso.
Buying a licence key from abroad should be easy!
What is the charge for postage and packing?
The charge for sending an email?

 

[Mike Brannigan]

Which bit of this are you not getting ?? - shop around over the entire
planet and find the best deal - I only put that link in as after 30
seconds I found a US distributor that ship internationally.
The onus is on you to look around if you don't like paying your local
currency prices.

 

[R Geoffrey Crook]

If you think that the price is an absolute rip off, then wait 'til the
autumn of 2007 for lower prices.

 

[Guest]

Hi Mike. Your comments below are fair. We should search for online suppliers
in USA. Unfortunately.......not very easy as we have no clue of any names.
But I tried.
I don't want to get into the subject 'why rip-off?......it's a fact!

So, are there any entrepeneurs there in USA?
I, for one, would happily order from (say) Amazon.com (USA) for delivery to
a very kind, trustworthy person in USA, who would then post it on to me in UK.
I'll happily pay the postage to UK and a 'donation' to the sender of (say)
$50 for their trouble.

I'll take my chances with UK Customs. It could be classed as an 'evaluation
sample' or birthday gift.

It wouldn't surprise me to find lots of people here in UK who would do
likewise and buy from USA.
Anyone interested?
morrisg

 

[Alias]

Hi Mike. Your comments below are fair. We should search for online suppliers
in USA. Unfortunately.......not very easy as we have no clue of any names.
But I tried.
I don't want to get into the subject 'why rip-off?......it's a fact!

So, are there any entrepeneurs there in USA?
I, for one, would happily order from (say) Amazon.com (USA) for delivery to
a very kind, trustworthy person in USA, who would then post it on to me in UK.
I'll happily pay the postage to UK and a 'donation' to the sender of (say)
$50 for their trouble.

I'll take my chances with UK Customs. It could be classed as an 'evaluation
sample' or birthday gift.

I just received a copy of an OEM version of XP Pro in the post that an
American friend of mine was so kind to order from NewEgg and send it to
me via the US Post Office's Global Priority. I live in Spain. I saved
about 40 euros.

Alias

 

[DCR]

I would be more than willing to accommodate your need.
No need for $US 50.00 -- only postage.
Will even include free "Birthday Card".

DCR
(e-mail address removed)


| Hi Mike. Your comments below are fair. We should search for online suppliers
| in USA. Unfortunately.......not very easy as we have no clue of any names.
| But I tried.
| I don't want to get into the subject 'why rip-off?......it's a fact!
|
| So, are there any entrepeneurs there in USA?
| I, for one, would happily order from (say) Amazon.com (USA) for delivery to
| a very kind, trustworthy person in USA, who would then post it on to me in UK.
| I'll happily pay the postage to UK and a 'donation' to the sender of (say)
| $50 for their trouble.
|
| I'll take my chances with UK Customs. It could be classed as an 'evaluation
| sample' or birthday gift.
|
| It wouldn't surprise me to find lots of people here in UK who would do
| likewise and buy from USA.
| Anyone interested?
| morrisg
|
| "Mike Brannigan" wrote:
|
| > Then the purchaser or yourself are just being lazy and not doing a
| > little leg work.
| > There are a number of distributors that ship internationally.
| > Just go to any price comparison web site in the US, enter the product
| > you want and lots of retailers come up then a couple of clicks of the
| > mouse to find their shipping FAQ and job done.
| > For example 30 seconds of work
| > http://www.computerhq.com/products/parts-sby-1-stxt-windows+vista-page-2.html
| > Loads more out there.
| >
| > As to why the price difference there are the usual excuses of taxes
| > added, import duty, and a lazy dollar to pound conversion of 1 for 1
| > that has been used by many companies for a long time. As it make their
| > life easier but causes obvious issues with customers.
| > So if you or the original poster are too lazy to find a US
| > distributors then a Canadian one or Australian one will do (both have
| > a weaker currency to the pound at the moment) and then there is all of
| > the EU where if you purchase in EUROs you can also make savings.
| > --
| >
| > Mike Brannigan
| >
| >
| > >
| >
| >
| >