RickJP909
That's a great suggestion 200bpm.  However, we'll be subject to import duty doing that and could get a slap from our inland revenue office.
 
I'm not sure how they'd find out though.  Anyone up for that challenge?  Can UK customers log-on to the US store and buy it at $99?
 
200bpm, I'm not sure about the "bad mouthing", making a point though is a different matter and I think you'll find that Sonar users are a very verbal and passionate bunch which is why this forum is probably more active then most other DAWs!

 
There is no way they could track it.  Log onto the US store and pay in dollars.

LOL. Maybe we should buy a laundry as well (this is a Breaking Bad joke). Maybe I'll just stuff the cash in an envelope and send it to Boston.

http://untraceableman.blo...ddress-and-how-it.html

Stockport
"The discrepancy between prices on our US Web Store and the GBP Web Store is due to the fact that all prices on the GBP web store include VAT. The additional amount above VAT is there to make up for potential exchange rate fluctuations and to avoid directly competing with local dealers. As a resident of Great Britain, the web store will require you to make a purchase in the Great Britain store."

Disclaimer: I don't speak for Cakewalk. However, I have had much experience in this industry and have seen the view from the retailer's, manufacturer's, and customer's side.
 
First, the amount of legalities that all three have to go through (although it tends to be hidden the most from the customer) is immense. That alone influences price.
 
But overall, a quick search showed that the prices for all American software tends to be higher in European countries. If you think Cakewalk is bad, Apple Logic Pro X - which is download only, sold only by Apple, and doesn't involve physical packaging or shipping - sells for $240 (all prices are quoted at today's exchange rates) in the UK compared to $199 in the US. MOTU Digital Performer is $616 at Thomann compared to $499 at Sweetwater. Reason 7 is also $616 at Thomann and $399 at Guitar Center in the US. Cubase 7.5 is $839 in the UK and $499.99 at Sweetwater.
 
I could go on, but I think the point is obvious: It costs more to buy American software in England, and given the Cubase price, I suppose German software as well. And in comparison, Sonar is generally much kinder on your wallet than some other programs.
 
Why is this? I don't know, but I assume it has to do with the cost of doing retail business in the UK. Software companies cannot undercut their dealers without basically putting them out of business, which is no way to reward companies that promote, sell, and support your products. 
 
If you want to get to the root of the problem, I think it probably lies with the British government, retailers complying with the regulations of the British government, and software companies accommodating the retailers.
 
I think the answer received from Cakewalk was quite direct, which is why I highlighted what I considered the most pertinent part in bold. Blaming Cakewalk for a problem that apparently affects all software manufacturers is, IMHO, misdirected.
 
 
 
 

Anderton
If you want to get to the root of the problem, I think it probably lies with the British government, retailers complying with the regulations of the British government, and software companies accommodating the retailers.

 
We are no longer slaves of the British Govt Craig, we are slaves of the European Union (meet the old boss, same as the new). Correction we are all slaves of large corporations who control Governments.
 
Let's not forget about good old fashioned American Protectionism, you really don't hear much about that on Fox (hoho). The so called US free market system (controlled by the globalists in reality, just like in the EU) works mainly within your own borders (although the big lie is that the free market doesn't seem to work particularly well right now, unless you are a large globalist company where you can move your profits around to avoid tax, but let's not talk about banking and it's failures, it gets depressing).
 
From that statement I know exactly who you voted for in the last election Criag LOL!!!! .

CakeAlexS
From that statement I know exactly who your voted in the last election Criag LOL!!!! .

 
I highly doubt you could infer who I voted for from that statement. When I moderated the Political Forum on Harmony Central people often debated whether I was a liberal or a conservative. They never did figure that out, because I haven't.  I take things on an issue-by-issue basis.
 
Besides, I don't think that statement was an opinion. I really do get the sense the cost of doing business in the UK is higher than in the US. Which means retailers charge higher prices. Which means to avoid undercutting them, direct sales from manufacturers are higher too. I don't think it's rocket science but then again, I've never launched any rockets. Maybe it's not as hard as people say. 

Purely tongue and cheek Craig about how you are voting .
 
We have a right wing govt here who is doing everything it can to avoid spending much like the Republicans did, and push in deregulation so companies can reek havoc.... at the same time it's printing money like no tomorrow and has reached the stage where it can no longer print any more, just because unregulated bankers screwed up the economy. USA is no different.
 
Massive corporations are given tax breaks and are allowed to redirect money on an international basis to where it suits them for tax purposes. Small businesses are finding it almost impossible to compete and fantasize that they may get swallowed up by large companies, rather than build up a sustainable business to sustain the economy.
 
OK time to jump off my pedestal. Not a political forum....

But to get back to the topic, is there anything incorrect about my logic as to why all software I surveyed, not just Cakewalk, is more expensive in the UK? Do you think it's that all UK retailers are price-fixing to keep prices artificially high? And if so, what would prevent Thomann from coming in as an outsider, undercutting everyone, and taking over market share?
 
Fact: All the software I mentioned costs more in the UK. I advanced one theory...any others?

Pretty much all major software originates from American distributers when being sold in the UK (OS's, app stores, Microsoft, Apple, Google etc). It's always much more expensive when sold in the UK than in the US. There is definitely something artificial going on as always seems to be the case with large globalist companies. In this case all of these companies are US based.
 
If I buy hardware totally different story, it's almost always cheaper to import from the states into the UK, that's mainly because there are smaller business making a living out of it in the US which are competing (for the moment). The hardware that is more expensive often has inbuilt DRM like games consoles (again from large globalist companies).
 
It's not regulation, it's monopolies and globalists.
 
I'm not personally complaining about the situation with Cake right now and the price difference (although the price of postage definitely need reviewing, trivial for me though), the exchange rate is quite good right now. An extra £10 for software does not bother me, however in the past there have been much larger margins.
 
It's the large cooperation's... they manipulate, and once they have a foot in the market they are free to do what they like. They pay off the govts, keep the prices high and the wages low.