X3 upgrade price discrepancy ***ANSWERED*** Thanks Andrew.

I just read in another thread.... No   :)
 
I believe they took in to consideration the euro and the $

Yes, Blighty is getting ripped off, as per usual.
Cakewalk should charge international customers in USD.

Hi Steve-
 
It looks like there is about an $9 difference due to currency fluctuations.
 
If you take $149 and add 20.5% VAT, it would come out to a little over $181. If you did 119GBP and converted it straight, it would be $190. 
 
We set these prices a month ago for retailers so it will vary in either direction. We did try to make themm fair.
 
Surprising, EURO is dead on. $181 either way you do it.

 
Thanks Andrew.
 
But whichever way you slice it, we're actually paying nearer 29% more.
 
And as to conversion rate fluctuations, yes, I understand that, but we actually paid exactly the same 29% more last year for the X1→X2 upgrade.
 
And how come US customers don't pay any tax on their purchase, your tax laws are making me want to emigrate.
 

Online purchases + no taxes is a wonderful thing!  But I believe that may be changing, at least in some states.   I guess we shall see...
 

SteveStrummerUK
 
Thanks Andrew.
 
But whichever way you slice it, we're actually paying nearer 29% more.
 
And as to conversion rate fluctuations, yes, I understand that, but we actually paid exactly the same 29% more last year for the X1→X2 upgrade.
 
And how come US customers don't pay any tax on their purchase, your tax laws are making me want to emigrate.
 

We are required to include VAT in price per EU law. US tax laws are different. Can't do anything about that. Regarding this release though, the price is close but not exact as you mentioned.

paulo

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]
 
 
It looks like there is about an $9 difference due to currency fluctuations.
 

There it is !!!
 
Charge everyone in $$ and currency fluctuations will not be a problem for you. Other US retailers seem to manage this.
 
BTW X3 looks great. :)

Something we have considered. It's on the table down the road but not right now.

 
Andrew, please don't misunderstand my motives in starting this thread - I'd quite happily stump up £150, £200+, whatever... for the goodies on offer in X3. The price is what it is, and I'm absolutely delighted to be able to continue to support Cakewalk.
 
But let's be honest, we've been having the conversation about this discrepancy, and whether or not you are going to start charging everyone in US dollars since I first joined these forums.
 
And I don't understand how you can charge the rest of the world exactly the same price as you do to US customers. Don't countries in South America, Japan, China, Africa, Russia etc. have the equivalent of VAT/Purchase Tax that you should be adding?
 
It's not like it's a one off, in just my short time as a Cakewalk customer (from Guitar Tracks 2 onwards), I feel like I've easily overpaid more than enough to pay for an upgrade.
 
Anyway, I appreciate your answering my concerns, I'm happy that my concerns have been addressed, and I'm pleased to hear that this anomaly might be addressed in future.
 
I'm happy to let the matter lie and I'd go as far as suggesting that you remove this thread (if you weren't going to anyway). I certainly don't want to be seen as a party-pooper on such an important day for you guys' future.
 
Long live Cakewalk, and all who sail in her.
 
 
 
 

 
Will do, and thread title changed.

I would guess that something would prevent you from doing that or everyone would just select USD store and pay the cheapest price of all.

SteveStrummerUK
And how come US customers don't pay any tax on their purchase, your tax laws are making me want to emigrate.
 

It is the United States of America, and for historical reasons a hodgepodge of often irrational and conflicting laws. Your VAT is a nationwide tax, our sales taxes are levied by states, counties and municipalities. So the store across the street may be collecting a different tax than the one you are shopping.
 
One thing all of the states are pretty much agreed on is that they should collect tax on purchases wherever they are made. Hence in addition to sales tax on items bought locally, most states require you to pay a use tax on items bought outside of their jurisdiction and brought into the state. The buyer is supposed to keep track of all the foreign items he buys and file a form with payment each year for what he owes. Collection of that tax is spotty, as not all citizens do as they are supposed to do. So states tend to investigate and enforce it at the level of say yacht sales, but not at the level of candy bars or software downloads. 
 
Because they have very good federal government lobbyists, online companies were able to exempt online sales from collection at the point of sale, and the states lose billions of dollars in revenue because of this.
 
A businessman acquaintance once looked into the tax requirement of his work travel, and found that in addition to the thirty odd state income tax forms he was legally required to file (in some cases being subject to tax on the same income in more than one state), he also was required to file property tax forms on the value of his laptop computer, prorated by the number of days he had stayed in a hotel, in dozens of jurisdictions for the city county and state where the hotel was located.
 
Still want to move here to get better tax laws?