99$ = £60....NOT £89

short answer is import tax... hhmm

but the prices are messed up with anything from the US in general.. that goes for all the companies.. as although it's a download.. it's still counted as an export / import

the mackie BK I bought ages ago in better times was £155 .. then went up to £270 now is £240

z3ta I bought from DV was £50... went up to £89 ?  now it's errm £70

If we get "free" healthcare on this side of the pond I'm sure Cakewalk's prices here will go up.  Unfortunately, they'll also pass the cost on to y'all, too.  We'll all be thin, even if not beautiful.

Nice avatar Wood.

gadget


Just logged-on to the forum for the first time in a while (having just received the upgrade email) to register exactly the same grievance as the OP :-(((

Really not pleased with that currency conversion... and for that reason, I'm out.

To be honest, you cant really blame Cakewalk. Any online retailer selling downloads to the EU , must have a representative body in the the EU, and this makes sales liable for VAT. In business you rarely see someone selling something for the same price locally, and at a distance, unless the transport costs are low, or already figured into the price.
 
From an EU member state, its not that we are being ripped off, its that (most) countries outside of the EU are lucky they dont pay VAT. There is more to it than that, but its not unusual.

bunkaroo


Nice avatar Wood.

I've got tickets for Saturday evening. Can't wait!!!

It always bugs me when people compare the prices of goods in two countries by just using the tourist / bank exchange rate - it is a worthless comparison and is totally meaningless.

Converting something from dollars to pounds using the tourist rate of the day is meaningless. You are getting it for approximately the same price based on an average economic standard of living compared to average income level.

For some folks in the USA $99 bucks is a drop in the ocean just like $80 quid is in the UK, to others it's a significant outlay for the week or month.


A realistic exchange rate between the US Dollar and UK Pound based on many economic variables is around 1.2 (it has a name but I've forgotten it). So your 89 pounds for the upgrade is actually about 106 dollars....

because Cakewalk is in MA I can get it tax free for 99 (but I am actually supposed to report it on my tax returns and PAY the sales tax but no one ever does). If I live in MA then I probably have to pay 15 % or so tax on top making it around 110 bucks.

So don't cry me a river about the US getting stuff cheap WE DON'T

Believe me, I've lived in both countries.

(sorry, told you , pet peeve - it might be 'cos I live in CA and we're getting s*****d up the back end).

MemphisJo


because Cakewalk is in MA I can get it tax free for 99 (but I am actually supposed to report it on my tax returns and PAY the sales tax but no one ever does). If I live in MA then I probably have to pay 15 % or so tax on top making it around 110 bucks.

As I said buying from the US from a European Union state requires that the seller charge VAT on the purchase
 
http://www.out-law.com/page-2579
 
If you buy it tax free (and you are not a business who is vat registered), then effectively its considered the same as if you had bought the goods and smuggled them into the country to avoid paying the tax.
 

Its not just VAT, but import duty as well.

I suspect most people who don't live in Europe or the UK will have much reason to look at the prices. Why would you? We do. And they change prices like the wind. Sometimes outrageously high and some times competitively. It's got nothing to do with the Tax or Import Duty and all that. Most of us know about that. It generally happens when then they think you're prospering or you're not. During boom periods, we get particularly screwed. We are not getting hit as bad lately because they know we'd never buy stuff in this recession. The health of economy is what cripples us and not the stealth taxes.

bunkaroo


Nice avatar Wood.

Well yes - I noticed yours as well!  Changed mine in celebration of the new album released on monday which has kept me plugged in at work all week. Very happy.

MemphisJo

So don't cry me a river about the US getting stuff cheap WE DON'T

yer ya do.. you make it up in other ways though.. Although it's funny.. pair of Levi's here £70.. there £30 or so ...

but even in the EU.... my friend from Italy was over with his wife.. Croc's here £45.... back in Italy £90 the joke is they are made in Italy.. and these were bought in the west end of London for her... so were probably £35 elsewhere

I'm just curious if it's available via shops DV etc.. as if that was the case and it's the same price. I'd rather give a UK company a cut of the money as well

grumble, but them being in CA might have something to do with it, also the fact they have a UK based division / company.. just a thought... if you look at the address

http://line6.com/company/contact/

was it coming via the UK or the states?!? although obv.. cake has roland here..

OK just to clarify

99$ /1.69 (customs current exchange rate) = ~59
Import duty at 3.5% =£2.07 with a minimum charge if £7
VAT @17.5%= £77
Cakewalk will have to build in an admin fee for the additional paperwork for this.
Add in a buffer for fluctuating exchange rates. Doesnt leave much extra.

grumbleweed4162


I got it straight from the States. No fuss, no bother.
 
I'm now in a bit of a pickle as £61 is a no-brainer but £89 is a pee-take.
I think I may just use 8.3 for my VSTs (and tricky audio edits) and get Propellerhead's Record for day to day music making.
 
Grum.

Just to make this clear, bypassing the VAT and import duty of goods, is in effect, smuggling and is treated as such by HM Customs and Excise, and is punishable by fine. By purchasing in this way you are in effect making yourself responsible for paying the vat and duty direct to HM C&E
 
From the following link
 
However, by law you are the importer of the goods and are legally responsible for the information on the Customs declaration made by the sender and for any charges due.
 
Source:http://customs.hmrc.gov.u...;propertyType=document
 
Not that I think you would be prosecuted, but you never know these days.

grumbleweed4162


I'd say it is Line 6 doing something "wrong" rather than me trying bypass anything! I just clicked on a link and paid.
 
Back to Sonar 8.5: 
I've contacted my mp and there will be a motion tabled on the first day of Parliament to sort this out. Gordon Brown has already shown an interest - even though I've heard he is a Logic user. 
Don't watch this space....  

EU law Im afraid, as an importer the responsibility lies with you to make sure that the duty and vat are paid. Line6 arent in the wrong.