Simviation Forum - FSX rip off factor

Reply #15 - Sep 29^th, 2006 at 3:04pm

RollerBall Ex Member

When I was a Marketing lecturer I used to tell my classes about the Italian coffee manufacturer who supplied the same products to the UK as they sold in mainland Europe, but at something like 50% higher prices.

When asked why they did this, their answer was, 'Because we can'.

Unfortunately the political no-brainers we have running the UK who have no experience of the real world are even prepared to condone this kind of thing - viz the UK Courts supported an action by a large Jeans manufacturer against Tesco a while back to prevent them bringing in 'grey' imports' that they could sell at 'low' prices ie at prices similar to what the items were being sold at elsewhere.

That's why people get ripped off by international companies - it's very well known for example that for most/many IT items, what we pay in £s in the UK you can buy for the same number of $s in the States. And don't forget that even in the EU, we in the UK still pay waaaay over the odds for the same cars that are being sold in mainland Europe at much lower prices (it's been shown that RHD v LHD has nothing to do with it..).

Oh yeah - want another actual example? A couple of weeks ago I bought a brand new Seiko automatic watch off Ebay from Singapore. Including shipping it cost the princely sum of £26. I was staggered. Add a 1 to the front (approximately) for the official UK price.

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Reply #16 - Sep 29^th, 2006 at 4:22pm

vololiberista Offline
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Vieni in Italia

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The reason why many things in UK cost more is because people are prepared to pay those prices!!! Cars are another example. )being one third more in UK than in Europe) But, one can find good prices if one looks hard. The computer fairs I mentioned earlier are an example. I put together a new system about 20 months ago from "new" properly guaranteed parts for the exorbitent price of £250 all in!! That's everything including case etc etc
Vololiberista

Andiamo in Italia&&

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Reply #17 - Sep 29^th, 2006 at 5:15pm

Arnimon Offline
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Whats up Bugs?
Germany

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But...
This Thread tells me that my thoughts were not so false.
First i wanted to order FSX in the US. But then i thought that there might be different versions for several countrys. Such as for CFS 3. And though i have no real probs in reading or understanding english language,i really prefer a german version of FSX.

It looks like chicken,smells like chicken,tastes like chicken,but when Chuck Norris says its Beef...then damnit...its Beef!!!

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Reply #18 - Sep 29^th, 2006 at 10:37pm

ashaman Offline
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I'm from Italy, errors
in my text are a given.
LIRN

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Quote:

If you want new bits to make FSX work find an excuse to goto London and visit one of the monthly computer fairs. Over the years I have bought components for at least 6 rebuilds amounting to half price compared to the shops both in UK and here. I'm thinking of doing the same either before Christmas or early next year in order to build a system for Vista.
http://www.britishcomputerfairs.com/
Vololiberista

Volo, you are already in the UK. For you to go to london is like for me to go in Rome. Roll Eyes

But for me to go in London is... like for you to go in Rome exactly. Grin

With the same amount of money I would have to pay in travel fare and hotels, I'd be able to put together a ninja PC without moving from here. Wink

Better for me to find another reason to visit London than FSX. Tongue

There's but one real cure for human stupidity. It's called DEATH.&&&&At the moment mourning the assassination of sarcasm and irony for the good of the "higher".&&&&Proud FSIX user. Active user of FS98, X-plane and novice of Orbiter.&&&&Seen the GREAT service pack for FSX and its usefulness, really awaiting for FS11 to upgrade.&&&&AMD Athlon Xp 2400@2700&&MB Asus A7V8XX&&1Gb ram DDR 400 @ 333&&ASL Nvidia Geforce 6600gt 128Mb DDR3 AGP&&Creative Sound Blaster Live&&Windows XP Professional Sp2&&2 HD Maxtor 40Gb - 1 HD Maxtor 80Gb

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Reply #19 - Sep 30^th, 2006 at 2:12am

vololiberista Offline
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Vieni in Italia

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"When" I was living in London I went to the fairs every month. Now that I live in Italy I have like you to add on the air fare etc so for many things it would be uneconomic. But I still reckon I could save money!!
Vololiberista

Andiamo in Italia&&

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Reply #20 - Sep 30^th, 2006 at 11:27am

wji Offline
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Posts: 1644

"When asked why they did this, their answer was, 'Because we can'."

Thanks, RB . . . always enjoy your thoughtful insights

I imagine living in Canada puts us on the other end of this curve: Most of our prices are the same as in America but we pay in CAN$ so right away we save almost ten percent.

Here's yesterday's advert (that's UK for ad) ofr FSX in Canada. Cool.

What else can you buy for $49 bucks? (that's quid in the UK . . . )

PhotoShop 7 user

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Reply #21 - Sep 30^th, 2006 at 11:59am

Tweek Ex Member

Quote:

What else can you buy for $49 bucks? (that's quid in the UK . . . )

That would be 23 quid for us!

Anyone from the UK, order from Canada. Grin

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Reply #22 - Sep 30^th, 2006 at 1:27pm

Heathaze Ex Member

Quote:

That would be 23 quid for us!

Anyone from the UK, order from Canada. Grin

Factor the costs of getting it delivered over the pond and you'll probably have a somewhat higher price (not to mention possible tax!)...

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Reply #23 - Sep 30^th, 2006 at 1:36pm

Tweek Ex Member

Quote:

Factor the costs of getting it delivered over the pond and you'll probably have a somewhat higher price (not to mention possible tax!)...

Which is what I said earlier in the thread... Wink

Quote:

My advice would be to order from the US, or anywhere else you can (permitting that delivery costs don't exceed the price!).

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Reply #24 - Sep 30^th, 2006 at 1:40pm

Heathaze Ex Member

That's what happens when you only use the last few posts to get the gist of a thread! Lips Sealed

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Reply #25 - Sep 30^th, 2006 at 2:20pm

vololiberista Offline
Colonel
Vieni in Italia

Posts: 1042

Anyone in Europe buying FSX from anywhere outside Europe will have to pay VAT (IVA) at the rate set in the relevant EU country.
The EU tax regulations state that ANY commodity or service purchased outside the EU that is available within will be subject to VAT so you'll be paying VAT on the game plus packaging. Postage is already a tax! Any other form of delivery attracts VAT. Start saving or wait 12 to 18 months for when the price will have dropped and spend your money in the meantime on upgrading your system!
Vololiberista

Andiamo in Italia&&

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Reply #26 - Sep 30^th, 2006 at 4:26pm

RollerBall Ex Member

Quote:

Factor the costs of getting it delivered over the pond and you'll probably have a somewhat higher price (not to mention possible tax!)...

Surprisingly not. I've had several items delivered from the States - and just as for most other things, what we pay in £s they pay in $s. So deliveries from the States to the UK eg by DHL are surprisingly reasonable Wink

Oh, and as for tax - you may be surprised to know that you pay tax on your purchases in the UK and the rest of the EU already

It's based on the purchase price of the item.

As far as I'm aware, a computer game would not be subject to Customs Duty - and as the value of the item being imported is lower than you'd be paying if you bought it within eg the UK you'd pay LESS VAT on the imported item, not more.

And from experience, chance is on a single item you wouldn't pay any tax - the cost of administering it would be more than the tax paid.

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Reply #27 - Sep 30^th, 2006 at 4:28pm

ashaman Offline
Colonel
I'm from Italy, errors
in my text are a given.
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Sorry Volo, I really can't say how but was convinced you were living in UK. Wink

Anyway, it seems that the one paying FSX less than anyone else here, will be old lil' me. Wink

Now I only need someone to gift me a new and powerful rig. Who wants to be my benefactor? Grin

There's but one real cure for human stupidity. It's called DEATH.&&&&At the moment mourning the assassination of sarcasm and irony for the good of the "higher".&&&&Proud FSIX user. Active user of FS98, X-plane and novice of Orbiter.&&&&Seen the GREAT service pack for FSX and its usefulness, really awaiting for FS11 to upgrade.&&&&AMD Athlon Xp 2400@2700&&MB Asus A7V8XX&&1Gb ram DDR 400 @ 333&&ASL Nvidia Geforce 6600gt 128Mb DDR3 AGP&&Creative Sound Blaster Live&&Windows XP Professional Sp2&&2 HD Maxtor 40Gb - 1 HD Maxtor 80Gb

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Reply #28 - Oct 1^st, 2006 at 5:43am

Ashton Lawson Offline
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FS Water Configurator
Programmer
Phuket, Thailand

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Quote:

In your neck of the woods pirating films etc is very big business. I was able to buy a film some years ago on dvd before its release to the cinemas!!! I suspect at that price your copy of FSX will be just that, a "copy" If it works lucky you!!!! If it doesn't then you will get what you paid for!!!
Vololiberista

Actually, i checked with the guy and it is a real version. Ya see, most hot games in Thailand are sold at about 1000 baht, due to the not-as-high pay that the average thai guy gets, but if the game isn't that hot, then the price goes down abit. The reason why the FSX Deluxe i'm getting is that cheap, is because in Thailand (or Phuket to be more specific) Flight Simulation isn't regarded as really cool, so the price goes down, while really cool stuff like NFS or Burnout etc. has prices go up.

BTW, i know what'cha mean about Thailand being sort'of 'copy central'. It ain't nice, but when u consider the real prices of certain things, u may reconsider...

Quote:

How is the military coup going by the way??? Wink

The coup is fine, hasn't affected me at all...

&&FS Water Configurator+ has new modifications in the works, plus DirectX 10, Service Pack&&1, and Radeon HD 3+ Series support.

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