Xara are forcing Brits to subsidise their American customers?

**Splodger** · 05 June 2009, 09:33 PM

$89 for XX but £69

There hasn't been an exchange rate that justifies that price since.. well, I don't know. Years, decades, I'm not sure. Is there a good reason for this?

At today's rate xx would be £56.

**handrawn** · 05 June 2009, 09:44 PM

tax?

**Splodger** · 05 June 2009, 09:47 PM

Yeah, could be, I don't know what they pay over there, but it would need to be zero to justify it.

**handrawn** · 05 June 2009, 09:51 PM

on UK site prices include VAT and on US site they exclude it

whether local taxes are added on purchasing in US or elsewhere I do not know...

**Splodger** · 05 June 2009, 09:59 PM

As ever, our ravenous government needs feeding.

Still, I'm used that; at least there's not another finger in the pie.

**Odat** · 05 June 2009, 10:15 PM

For what it's worth, as a Canadian I paid $69 USD (Upgraded from Pro 4 to Pro 5) and was not charged tax, just $8 for shipping.

At the current exchange rate of 1.61 USD, $89 USD is approximately £56 as you mentioned. The lowest rate so far this year was 1.36 USD (January 23), in which case $89 USD was £65.

It's fairly close. I guess it all comes down to how often they synchronize their prices.

**zaphodeist** · 06 June 2009, 03:34 AM

Adobe seems to think us Brits are rich, or stupid, or both, charging equivalent of £500 more for CS4 than in the US! And that's because of the Euro they reckon!

**ankhor** · 06 June 2009, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by neodeist

Adobe seems to think us Brits are rich, or stupid, or both, charging equivalent of £500 more for CS4 than in the US! And that's because of the Euro they reckon!

Well, I have seen that with many prices, in dollars it is way cheaper
then ordering in euro's, so somethimes I just order in dollars and they still send me the goods happily. ;o)
And they use all kind of excuses, for if you pay in euro's you always pay too much compared to prices abroad.

**zaphodeist** · 06 June 2009, 04:03 PM

A couple of years ago I tried to pay in dollars. Adobe support staff are still laughing! Sent me a long mail eventually lecturing on their 'extra overheads' in the UK.

**akubbeng** · 07 June 2009, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Splodger

There hasn't been an exchange rate that justifies that price

My advice would be to shop around first before purchasing. It may sound strange, but buying directly from Xara doesn't necessarily mean you're paying the lowest price.

Regards, Albert