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    <title><![CDATA[Discussion on Rip off software pricing in UK by USA companies. ]]></title>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Files]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2134044]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Usually the problems ones are Microsoft Project, Visio and sometimes CAD. On the odd occasion we've had problems with some of the bit and vector graphic formats as well, where version to the proprietory software will fix the problem.We have to balance the cost of  time spent fiddling to fix a problem against the proprietory software costs.]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[cs@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 07 Dec 2006 08:57:24 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Thanks!! :-)]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133958]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133958]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[TechExec2]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 07 Dec 2006 06:24:19 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[No, you're right...]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133534]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Just plain Greedy. That just about sums it up.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133534]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[dawgit]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 2006 10:01:08 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Your post]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133460]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[...is one of the best if not the best post I have read about an assessment of Microsoft. You seem to be giving credit and criticism where they are doing.If only I could mark your post or give points to you....]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133460]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[onbliss]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:30:48 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[If they are not shipping anything physical]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133475]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Then the costs in theory should be lower since they don't have to fill out paperwork.I don't discount the idea that they could just simply be greedy, but there are other possible scenarios as well.James]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133475]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JamesRL]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:17:21 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[what formats]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133282]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[require proprietary software?with my all open source systems I can create files in any format.MS orifice formats only older versions.heck, even most CAD files are plain text format with the data following a specific specification, and open source has piss poor cad support yet I can create all file formats for cad applications with open source software for cad work.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133282]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jaqui]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 2006 05:13:45 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Not so silly!]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133299]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Jaqui,We know - what software do you think we use whenever we can  . Sadly though there are circumstances when we have to use proprietory products. This usually is when one of our clients needs a particular file format.We know all about the joys of exporting and currency exchange as the majority of our clients are not in the UK. They would quickly dispense with our services if we did not give them fair pricing.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133299]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[cs@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 2006 02:42:16 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[you know what's really silly?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133264]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[every open source operating system, and every commercial unix including osx, has software included that will &quot;print&quot; ANY document into pdf.from any editing software.it's built into the printing software, not the editing software.even if they made their apps run on the open source operating systems, they wouldn't have a market for them.[ why buy a product to do what you can already do for free?  ]]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133264]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jaqui]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 2006 01:32:34 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Export costs]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133219]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[JamesRL,In the case in question I was using the supplier's own on-line shop for potential software download.  Change the country and watch the prices zoom.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133219]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[cs@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:17:22 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[No need]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133218]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I don't need to name and shame. Someone else already has on this thread. The supplier is well aware of the problem, because within the past 6 months they specifically raised the question on one of their customer satisfaction surveys.On the boycott side of things, we have 10 PC's and we used to keep current versions of their software on each one. Now we only keep one PC stocked with the minimum of their products. If someone has an unavoidable need to use the products they go log onto that PC. Otherwise we use alternative products. That way we avoid piracy, but the supplier loses out on income from the other 9 PC's.More importantly for the supplier concerned, we used to have a development strategy that involved their products. That is no longer the case and we have moved on to alternative supplier products.If these people don't react they will wake and find a Chinese/Indian product performing a close analogue at a fraction of the price.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2133218]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[cs@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:08:08 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[No]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132979]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I highly recommend using XE.com for your currency calculations.If you use today's rate, that T shirt would have cost you $23.99. So your credit card company is charging a premium for conversion, and a pretty hefty one too.James]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132979]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JamesRL]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 12:13:02 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Number of reasons possible]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132916]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[One is existing agreements with third parties in the UK. There may be an agreement with a third party to market it in Britain, so they put punitive pricing on the website to force you to buy from the third party - could be part of an agreement. It could be the customs clearances, and the hassles and costs involved.I will go you on better. There are cars made in Canada that are shipped to both Canada and the US - identical cars (except for California). Guess where they cost less? The US of course. The reason is that baseline costs were established way back when the Canadian dollar was worth 65 cents US. Now that its worth close to 90 cents, no one seems keen to readjust the baseline. Now the majority of Canadians live within 100 miles of the US border. They could cross the border and even with clearance fees and such, they could still save hundreds or thousands of dollars. But the manufacturers strongly discourage (and even threaten) dealers in US border states from selling to Canadians. This is because profits from Canadian operations flow down to the US parent. I get satellite TV and see TV from Buffalo, Detroit, Seattle, as well as superstations in Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and Atlanta. My eyes boggle when I see the deals they get down south(and we often don't get the &quot;new&quot; extensions on warranties)James]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132916]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JamesRL]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 11:25:14 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[I just bought]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132950]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[A rock band tshirt from an oline website that listed the price as 17/18 what ever symbol is for europen currency.  After providing my credit card information, this turned out to be like 35 dollars american money.  Because of that, I do wonder if it wasn't exchange rate?Dan]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132950]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[DanLM]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 11:23:49 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[And for technology]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132932]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[there can be added taxes and paperwork requiring more personnell and costs.  I work in a large multi-national org, and to ship SW outside of the USA, even if it is a permitted application, I need to file 3 forms and answer in detail more than 100 questions.  This results in several hours of paperwork.The end result is that it is much quicker/easier just to order the product needed in the country that it needs to be in.  Or, share out a cd drive and give access to the person who needs it.  Although this is probably illegal, so I do not use it as an option (I never checked the legality of it).Then, if it is a physical item, there are extra shipping costs involved as well.  Has anyone checked the prices for a UK made package vs. US costs?]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132932]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[w2ktechman]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 11:06:24 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Sounds to me like]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132943]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[some one got the exchange rate back-wards, a common mistake in the US. (some actuall do think the US Dollar is worth more the the Euro or Pound Sterling, sad but true) if the rate was put in the wrong way you'd get the results that you see. It's just acepted dumbness, nothing personal.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132943]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[dawgit]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 10:53:50 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Here's a better way to get lower prices]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132860]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[.Create a competing product and sell it at a lower price!! There is nothing like some competition to drive prices down.The options are:1. Buy it from someone else2. Make it yourself3. Do withoutWhen you have a business, you must do two things:1. Create a product that your customer actually wants to buy.2. Eliminate as many of your competitors as possible so you can keep your prices and profits as high as possible.Microsoft is a good example of a company that has done both of these very well. It's their extraordinary effort on the #2 item that has gotten them into so much trouble.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132860]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[TechExec2]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:51:39 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Take Action]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132855]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[It seems to me that the omly answer is ro boycott when possible]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132855]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[thomas.moore@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:28:04 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[It's true...]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132853]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I checked one product.Adobe Acrobat 8, from the country-specific versions of Adobe's website:US: 449 US DollarsUK: 395 British pounds = $779.77 US DollarsAustralia: 774 Aussie dollars = $609.17 US DollarsCurrency exchange rates:http://www.xe.com/ucc/Sorry foreign friends...P.S. You know, many customers and manufacturers have a little game they play regarding pricing. Manufacturers claim prices are based on their costs plus a fair profit margin. Customers accept this lie in order to justify their purchases to themselves.The truth: The price is whatever the market will bear. Period. Every purchase you make is based on that. So, the best way to get lower prices is to get everyone else to stop buying the product. It's no wonder a lot of customers are often not happy with prices.It's nothing personal, it's just business.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132853]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[TechExec2]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:16:36 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[It's the same with books]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132852]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I have often picked up a book priced $30 or so in the UK with no stirling price, to be told it's ?39 to buy. Now (at the moment) ?39 is just short of $78 so is it the UK bookstore cashing in, or the US publisher? In your case CS, it's obviously the US publisher.I'm interested to know why you didn't Name &amp; Shame, especially as you're no longer buying from them.....]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132852]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Snak]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:15:40 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[It's not just software]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132812]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Let's be honest here, this is why there are so many British tourists in Florida, cheaper goods. It's not just software, many US car brands and models which are coming into Britain with very little variance in specs yet there is always a massive price hike for UK buyers. It's just another example of rip off Britain.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-205260-2132812]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[ben.rattigan]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 08:25:17 -0800</pubDate>
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