Am 20.03.2008 um 13:53 schrieb Matthias Ringwald:
I didn't follow up on all the previous mails, but 399 EURO = 624 USD
which looks like a > 50 % rip off compared to the mentioned 399 USD
here.
So I would have to buy it in the US and even get rid of the sales
tax..
Well, if you consider sales taxes, extended warranty (24 months),
recycling (WEEE), localized manual, support hotline, lower shipment
cost, shipment within 1-3 days etc. as not neccessary, it might look
like "ripping off"... But note that you get more than a plain device
when ordering from a reseller than ordering directly in Taiwan or the
US. My impression is that people have the tendency to compare low US
prices without any add-ons with the EU prices which must include every
price component.
So, please read the previous mails where it has already been explained.
BTW: if you order in the EU from Switzerland, you can reduce the price
by the reseller's country VAT (e.g. 19% in Germany). But you may have
to pay your Swiss import tax. This may also apply if you order
directly from the US depending on your country's customs rules. So I
am not sure that you can legally get rid of any sales taxes.
Finally, what I really find strange is calling this "ripping off". You
could also say the same for any product, because they do not sell at 0
USD. There are people who work hard to get devices from Taiwan into
your hands. Do you really expect them to be altruistic to do that work
for free? Free and Open does not necessarily mean "Free Beer".
Another area of freedom: we also have free trade in most parts of the
world so you are free to choose the best location to buy.
Nikolaus
http://www.handheld-linux.com
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