View Full Version : Overpricing
jacobzcoool
28-02-2007, 16:40
Just wondering would it work out cheaper to get Vista from the US? as it is essentially the same price in £ as in $ :mad:
Also, would it be missing anything if I did?
Euphoria
28-02-2007, 16:50
The $ to the £ is 2-1 pretty much so it would be cheaper if they are the same price. Maybe a few extra charges to pay though and I don't know what would be missing.
I used to know someone who worked in a (then) local PC shop, and he used to buy his own PC bits (mainly graphics cards) from the US. In his case he only did so because he knew someone over there that could send them through customs as a gift, and not as a sold item which would incur taxes. I think it becomes quite expensive if you simply buy from a US-based retailor, and I do not know any ways to avoid it.
I used to know someone who worked in a (then) local PC shop, and he used to buy his own PC bits (mainly graphics cards) from the US. In his case he only did so because he knew someone over there that could send them through customs as a gift, and not as a sold item which would incur taxes. I think it becomes quite expensive if you simply buy from a US-based retailor, and I do not know any ways to avoid it.
Lovely bit of tax evasion there!
As for the price of Vista, I do think it's too high, so I sgined the petition, but it's pretty useless.
InsolentMinx
01-03-2007, 00:44
everything designed/made in the US is sold at double the price over here. be it cars, clothes or hardware. Same model cars that are sold at $7000 over there sell for £11000 over here even when made domestically... Cans of coke are $.60 over there... £60 over here. Not sure why, I assume for ease of paperwork they just use the same figures in dollars and pounds.
I get pretty much anything i need be it clothes, music or games from the US. Shipping is never usually enough to make it anywhere close to the equivalent price over here.
But it's very worthwhile finding someone you know in the US to purchase items it and post them to you... or else, find a cheap flight out there, and buy everything you want, take an extra suitcase and bring it back with you. ... cheap stuff and 'free' holiday for your troubles.
I've just gotten used to the fact that we get screwed every way possible, and short of moving abroad, we just have to deal with it. :( sadly
jamesp129
01-03-2007, 00:48
60 quid for a can of coke wow where do u live :p .
jacobzcoool
01-03-2007, 07:53
lol! :D :p
60 quid for a can of coke wow where do u live :p .
London :p :p
I bought my copy from the US, saved £60 that way!
jacobzcoool
01-03-2007, 17:33
One thing I was worried about, does it do all the stuff in English (proper units etc)?
One thing I was worried about, does it do all the stuff in English (proper units etc)?
That's why you choose English (United Kingdom), and not English (United States) on the install.
jacobzcoool
01-03-2007, 17:47
I wanted to know if it HAD that option...
If it doesn't, then it's a very broken copy.
DarkEntity
02-03-2007, 00:05
Since when did Windows not have an option for UK English etc lol
To be fair Jacob wanted to know whether a US copy had UK settings available. Which seems a sensible question before buying from the US, especially if you have never bought software in the US and installed it in the UK
Euphoria
02-03-2007, 13:35
Our copy of XP Home is from the US and has UK settings upon install.
Aren't all the copies of Windows from the US?! Even if they are manufactured elsewhere, we would still be buying the same discs just with a different default language. Which can be changed....
InsolentMinx
02-03-2007, 14:00
Cans of coke are $.60 over there... £60 over here.
oops. it was a very good can of coke...
well im using it in UK english with no problems.
jacobzcoool
03-03-2007, 10:29
W00t, thanks everyone, might just get a copy from the US as I know someone who knows someone who lives there and could send it as a gift.
jacobzcoool
03-03-2007, 14:07
Ok, thanks :)
I know quite a few people who buy books etc from the USA simply because of the savings and it is easy enough to do. It really annoys me when you see on the back of a book $14.95 or something and it has a sticker saying £14.95 ... just stuck this in at http://www.xe.com/ucc/ and $14.95 = £7.78 as the exchange rate is $1.92 to the £1 :rolleyes:
DanielCoffey
05-03-2007, 14:03
Any item coming in from abroad can get stopped and opened by customs. If you send a Windows CD and label the package as 'family photos' you may get it confiscated and end up being fined/prosecuted for customs fraud.
Whenever I order stuff from the States, I just budget for the customs charges in advance - they charge around 15% duty, a 10% import fee and around £8 to £11 processing charge.
Most times, the item just arrives on my doorstep and I celebrate not having to pay the charges. The other times I get a letter from HM Customs saying "we have a package for which duty is due, please call us and pay over the phone and we'll authorise it for posting on to you" (which is what the £8 to £11 fee is for).
Don't lie and hope you won't get caught.
EDIT : advising others how to 'avoid' customs charges would fall under the following forum rule...
No Illegal Material : This is the forum that bears the name of our company - Posts which contain links to or discuss warez, hacking, crackz or any other illegal activities are not allowed.
I have a friend in West Virginia who sends me Christmas presents :D ... Not sure what the law is on that.
Regards
Yes Dear!..
1) I doubt you are female :D
2) I doubt you are from West Virginia :p
Neither, I was responding to the post above yours informing me of my possible infringement of the rules.
Some people take themselves VERY seriously!
I doubt that it can be illegal in any country to write the word "gift" on the front of a package, in the same way as one can write 'fragile' or 'do not bend'.
If that circumvent's a law, that does not make it illegal.
I would not suggest writing gift on the package at any time lolol :D ... I reckon get whoever sends the gift to enclose a birthday inside the parcel hahahhaha ......
Ok I just called my m8 who I will call Paul mainly because that is his name who worked for custom and excise and is actually still attached to C&E ..... He says that you have to pay VAT on almost anything coming into the UK although not on books. As for charging to then post it you he has never heard of such a charge, I think because the shipping has already been paid. All customs are doing is letting it pass.
He did mention some things to do with tariffs but my eyes and ears had started to fall asleep. He also mentioned it is imposs to police all this because of the sheer volume of things being sent.
I have orderd goods off of ebay that came from the USA and no VAT etc was charged and they were just delivered to my door.
Still makes it cheaper to order certain goods from the states even if you end up paying VAT :)
I think you get stung for VAT, import duty (as well) & a post office fee (for effectively delivering the item to customs then you I guess). It's not something I found easy to get info on - gleaned most of this from forum posts.
Hi,
What you call import duty maybe is what Paul meant by Tariffs but this is not on every item. Items coming into the country I dont believe get delivered from the post office to customs and I will have to take Pauls word for it (for now till i see him in person) that he does not know of any delivery charges
Regards
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