Andrew's ramblings

Response from Microsoft

Tags: General

I got a response from MS today on the issue I raised with them over the price difference between all the countries, it appears that unless you are in the USA everywhere else is overpriced.

Anyway here is M$'s response, followed by some comments buy me.

Dear Andrew,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Customer Service. My name is Johan and I will be addressing your enquiry

As I understand it, you are curious about the price difference between the Windows Vista Ultimate in the United States compared to the price in Australia. If I have misunderstood, please let me know.

Andrew, the recommended retail price (RRP) for Windows Vista on the Microsoft price list is a guide to the retail channel only. The final price at retail is determined by the channel and the dynamics of the local market. The Australian RRP for Windows Vista reflects the cost of doing business for our channel in the Australian market. It has been compiled using the same pricing models employed to determine the Australian RRP for Windows XP. The Microsoft base price for Vista is the same all over the world once exchange rates have been applied.

Also, please note that while the US ERP (estimated retail price) is listed excluding tax, the Australian RRP (recommended retail price) is listed including the Australian equivalent, GST.

There are many benefits to buying from local retailers including local product exchange, local market warranty conditions, local returns and added-value services

Andrew, I hope I was able to address your enquiry to your satisfaction, should you have further questions relating to this enquiry or any additional enquiries, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Alternatively, for immediate assistance, you can contact Microsoft Customer Service on 13 20 58 (Select Option 2 then 1) from Monday to Friday, between 8am - 8pm.

Kind regards, Johan Adam

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Ok there is a few problems with this, first of the market who decides Microsoft and how do they decide. Let me add one thing to this that I did not cover before hand, and maybe microsoft would like to reply here one day as they have been given the oppurtunity to do so in my response back to them.

What microsoft have not realised is that they are spending huge amounts of money to combat piracy, and yet the problem lies in the price of the product. I have always been and I will always be of this opinion.

I have been around computers for 26 years, been programming since I was 12 years old. And in that time the companies and its not just software, its hardware and music.

But it is all the same no matter what, the company is in it to make money and yet the best thing thet can do is make the product more affordable. And why is this, because instead of spending more moeny to combat the problem they spend nothing, and reduce the costs and you know the next thing thet know they would be making more profit by adopting this.

But there is also a bigger issue, crime is high and it gets higher, and piracy will never go away until the likes of M$ wake up to the true problem and stop trying to rip us off.

But crime is another story and issue as there is more involved in that, that you do not what to get me started on. But one thing microsoft are doing is what some countries have been trying to stop for a long time, and this is a case where it will just grow.

Blackmarket.

So what are M$ doing, they are allowing those who will take advantage of the weak to come and steak our money. M$ do not care that they are creating a whole new world of crime and decepting. So what do I mean by this, well lets consider the economy for a minute.

The economy feeds of the community spending money within to make it grow, I guess thats economy 101. But M$ (and no its not jsut them) are creating a new market, that has been growing now for a number of years its been around since I was just getting into programming and its grown fast and hard.

But m$ has allowed for the blackmarket to bring in software from overseas, and resell it here in Australia cheaper but still make a huge profit. Now here is the killer, the retail sector suffers, because they see it cheaper over at stall X, but retail store A can't compete.

I could go on forever, but companies like m$ have created a market that they are guilty of and they spend massive amounts of money to try and stop their own creation, go figure.

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