On Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:29:15 +0000, Gordon wrote:
> I received this just now:
> Hello Mr Burgessparker,
>
> Many thanks for contacting Microsoft regarding the difference in
> recommended retail prices between the UK and the US.
>
> I was sorry to hear that you were not happy with the cost of the purchase
> price of product here in the UK, in comparison with the cost in the US.
>
> The pricing model was developed using careful evaluation of the required
> infrastructure, associated costs and industry standard pricing models.
> Purchase prices are consistent and fair within geographic bands and
> calculated using GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita.
>
> I hope this helps you understand the pricing structure.
>
> Kind Regards,
>
> Clint McCarthy
>
> Response Management Team UK
>
> Microsoft Ltd
>
> Can anyone tell me WHAT, precisely, has GDP per capita got to do with
> product pricing? I have NEVER, when employed as a Group Management
> Accountant, been in ANY organisation that factors in GDP as part of it's
> pricing structure.
>
> SNAKEOIL!
In short, M$ think that UK windoze sucker....er....users will pay more
for their product. Consequently they will shove the price up to what they
think the market will stand. In other words, they stick with their old
motto "Never give a sucker an even break". They're using (IMHO) flowery
language to disguise what they're up to.
If you recall, the automotive industry used to do the same thing in the
UK, which they called "Treasure Island". It was cheaper to buy a car in
Belgium pay the VAT, then ship it to the UK. You still paid the difference
in UK VAT, but it still turned out *cheaper* than buying it in the UK.
However when the EU brought in rules which allowed you to buy a vehicle
*anywhere* in the EU & ship it back to the UK (& that dealers were
*obliged* to service the vehicle regardless of where it came from) the
prices quickly dropped here.
IMO, M$ are trying to pull the same stunt.
--
Contrary to popular belief, trolls *can*
tell the difference between their arse
& their elbow.
They can't talk out of their elbow.
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