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upstairswullie · 03-20-03, 08:07 PM

OK, let's actually compare prices published, as you suggest but like for like, without additional taxes, delivery and such like, the price for a UK (or Eire) sourced Axim 400MHz is approximately US$20 dollars more than one sourced in the US, hardly a $ / £ swap. To be fair on Dell, this could, ehm, be a bit of a buffer to hedge their bets regarding exchange rates.

This is just a bit off topic but by way of an example, as you cited car prices, I recently took delivery of an MG ZTT which I bought from a dealer in the Netherlands. Your comment regarding up to 40% differentials in prices is not the case. After waiting for months for the car, possibly having to withstand price increases (which did not apply), additional insurance, import duties, VAT, etc, etc not to mention the hassle involved and having to get from Scotland to the Netherlands and then back again, all in all, I reckon the savings to have been in the region of £400 not including my time. The prices I cite are Dutch prices + all the damned taxes versus what I could have screwed out of ther local dealer. To cap it all, new cars in Europe tend to have equipment specifications much less than those in the UK.

I won't, however, argue *too* much regarding the rip-off attitude which exists in the UK but then again, the US is a much larger and more vibrant market and dare I say, they expect and get service which pales to the crap offered in the UK.

There is unfortunately, too much anecdotal evidence chucked around newgroups based on little truth or experience. Because someone says it doesn't necessarily make it so.

03-20-03, 08:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
upstairswullie Aximsite Prospect Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	OK, let's actually compare prices published, as you suggest but like for like, without additional taxes, delivery and such like, the price for a UK (or Eire) sourced Axim 400MHz is approximately US$20 dollars more than one sourced in the US, hardly a $ / £ swap. To be fair on Dell, this could, ehm, be a bit of a buffer to hedge their bets regarding exchange rates. This is just a bit off topic but by way of an example, as you cited car prices, I recently took delivery of an MG ZTT which I bought from a dealer in the Netherlands. Your comment regarding up to 40% differentials in prices is not the case. After waiting for months for the car, possibly having to withstand price increases (which did not apply), additional insurance, import duties, VAT, etc, etc not to mention the hassle involved and having to get from Scotland to the Netherlands and then back again, all in all, I reckon the savings to have been in the region of £400 not including my time. The prices I cite are Dutch prices + all the damned taxes versus what I could have screwed out of ther local dealer. To cap it all, new cars in Europe tend to have equipment specifications much less than those in the UK. I won't, however, argue too much regarding the rip-off attitude which exists in the UK but then again, the US is a much larger and more vibrant market and dare I say, they expect and get service which pales to the crap offered in the UK. There is unfortunately, too much anecdotal evidence chucked around newgroups based on little truth or experience. Because someone says it doesn't necessarily make it so.