Euro vs US download

[Piiska]

As an EU citizen, I’m confused about which download I should do.

Based on the number of threads, it appears that so are the others.

If I understood correctly from another thread, I would actually save money if I download from U.S, due to avoidance of VAT.

However, wouldn’t I be charged by the bank for currency exchange –even when paying with a credit card? Also, I would imagine that download speed from U.S is considerably slower than from EU.

What I would like to know is there considerable advantages in choosing one download over the other, and if so, what are they and in which cases they apply?

I would prefer an official answer; however, if anyone has personal insight to this matter, I welcome it with open arms.

Thank you in advance

[Grouchy]

EU (Nederland) citizen here that downloaded from the US store yesterday.
This is what I had to pay:

Stock Number Quantity Product Name Platform Unit Price Total Price VAT Rate
0 1 War In The Pacific $69.99 $69.99 17.5%
Sub Total: $69.99
Total Ex Vat: $69.99
VAT: $12.25
Total: $82.24

Since the dollar/euro value is approx. 1.2 I had to pay arund 68.5 Euro for WitP
Download speed yesterday was around 91Kb/s (can do around 320Kb/s), took me about 90 minutes to donload the 466mb package.

[52nd Lowland]

ORIGINAL: Piiska

As an EU citizen, I’m confused about which download I should do.

Based on the number of threads, it appears that so are the others.

If I understood correctly from another thread, I would actually save money if I download from U.S, due to avoidance of VAT.

However, wouldn’t I be charged by the bank for currency exchange –even when paying with a credit card? Also, I would imagine that download speed from U.S is considerably slower than from EU.

What I would like to know is there considerable advantages in choosing one download over the other, and if so, what are they and in which cases they apply?

I would prefer an official answer; however, if anyone has personal insight to this matter, I welcome it with open arms.

Thank you in advance

When i downloaded from the US my total invoice was the 69.99 + 12.25 tax giving a total of 82.24.Thats £45.23 in funny money.Im assuming that the download from Europe will be faster as it is a shorter hop but depends on your download speed.

[Arkady]

ORIGINAL: Piiska

As an EU citizen, I’m confused about which download I should do.

Based on the number of threads, it appears that so are the others.

If I understood correctly from another thread, I would actually save money if I download from U.S, due to avoidance of VAT.

However, wouldn’t I be charged by the bank for currency exchange –even when paying with a credit card? Also, I would imagine that download speed from U.S is considerably slower than from EU.

What I would like to know is there considerable advantages in choosing one download over the other, and if so, what are they and in which cases they apply?

I would prefer an official answer; however, if anyone has personal insight to this matter, I welcome it with open arms.

Thank you in advance

there is a VAT alwayas added to price (i think that there is a no difference in US or EU store selected - depends on billing/shipping informations), standard VAT for EU customers is 17.5%, if you are from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and UK then your national VAT will be applied

I think that DR use some fixed conversion rate for prices, depends on actual exchange rate what is better price for you.

I ordered from US store and paid $69.99 + $12.25 (VAT) = $82.24 (2147 CZK), from EU store the game should cost me €76.36 (2428 CZK) ...I save 281 CZK (it's around $10.8)

[Piiska]

Ok. Thanks guys for the info.

Has anyone from Finland downloaded the game yet? Which download you did, and how much was your final bill?

Also has anyone downloaded from the Euro store? Comments, suggestions?

Cheers

[Grouchy]

I think drwho Dl'ed the game testerday (from the US store). He paid the same as me.

[Hammer2001]

4 hours download at 35K/s at home, it spends all morning and I am playing now....well I should say learning now[:)]

[msaario]

ORIGINAL: Piiska

Ok. Thanks guys for the info.

Has anyone from Finland downloaded the game yet? Which download you did, and how much was your final bill?

Also has anyone downloaded from the Euro store? Comments, suggestions?

Cheers

I downloaded from the US store, it cost me that $82 and it is aroud 67e or so.

I am totally messed up as I am trying to transfer the game from my company laptop to my gaming rig, the CD burner sw did not recognize the CDs and network connections between the two machines did not work and now I am trying to use a Zip drive with split winzip files to move the beast over.

And my wife wants to go to sleep (the PC is in our bedroom now)[>:]

--Mikko

[kaleun]

17%VAT!!!!!!
God am I glad to live in the US![:)]

[ZOOMIE1980]

ORIGINAL: kaleun

17%VAT!!!!!!
God am I glad to live in the US![:)]

Well, the Euro's have to pay for those Welfare states and 35hr work weeks somehow.......

[kaleun]

And the vacation time, and the paid holidays....
My Dad and Mom worked a doctors over there, before they retired, and I always wondered how any work got done.[&:]

[Panzermann]

Yeah,

and we retire with 50+ [:D]

Cheers,

Panzermann

[kaleun]

and we retire with 50+

Imagine: All that time for uninterrupted WITP play[X(]

[Didz]

ORIGINAL: Grouchy

EU (Nederland) citizen here that downloaded from the US store yesterday.
This is what I had to pay:

Stock Number Quantity Product Name Platform Unit Price Total Price VAT Rate
0 1 War In The Pacific $69.99 $69.99 17.5%
Sub Total: $69.99
Total Ex Vat: $69.99
VAT: $12.25
Total: $82.24

Since the dollar/euro value is approx. 1.2 I had to pay arund 68.5 Euro for WitP
Download speed yesterday was around 91Kb/s (can do around 320Kb/s), took me about 90 minutes to donload the 466mb package.

So, If I read this correctly you got the game for a price of $82.24 from the US site.

Whereas the price current price quoted for the EU is 66.96 EUR which at the current exchange rate (Wednesday, July 7, 2004 1 Euro = 1.22940 US Dollar) is $82.32 plus 11.71 EUR VAT ($14.39) TOTAL EU PRICE= 81.35 EUR ($96.71)


So, you seem to have saved a massive $14.47 by ordering from the US. (about a 15% saving)[8D]

The UK price is shown as £45.81 which with VAT @17.5% = £53.82 ($99.93)

So, thats an even bigger saving to UK customers of $17.69 (about 18%).

So, its definately better to order from the US.

[ian77]

RE UK price

I down loaded from UK on Wed 7 July, cost was £39.99 inclusive of VAT and took me about 1 hour to download, why would I want to pay $69.99 plus our Vat? or am I missing something??

[Didz]

ORIGINAL: ian77

RE UK price

I down loaded from UK on Wed 7 July, cost was £39.99 inclusive of VAT and took me about 1 hour to download, why would I want to pay $69.99 plus our Vat? or am I missing something??

Thats interesting[&:]

I have just checked the UK Download price a few minutes ago. (see below)



As you can see the price is now clearly shown as £45.81 and the blurb underneath is still confusing but seems to be suggesting that all digital products sold into the EU will have additional VAT applied so UK customers will be charged a further 17.5% VAT making the total cost £53.82.

Quote from blurb:
[Please note that all prices listed in the United Kingdom and Euro stores DO NOT include any VAT charges that may apply. An estimated VAT charge will be shown in your shopping cart as you select items to purchase. At the time of purchase, the exact VAT will be applied based on the customer's ship-to country.]

You were very lucky to get hold of it at a VAT inclusive price of £39.99. Well done.

P.S. If you can still do so please let us know quick.[;)]

[ian77]

Well b*gger me! I just checked as well and a pop up advised that VAT wasnt included! I have never seen that before.

I actually ordered by telephone because the online link wasnt working on Tuesday night, and I was charged £39.99 inc vat, dont tell me I have managed to get a "discount"!!!

Ian

[Didz]

ORIGINAL: ian77

Well b*gger me! I just checked as well and a pop up advised that VAT wasnt included! I have never seen that before.

I actually ordered by telephone because the online link wasnt working on Tuesday night, and I was charged £39.99 inc vat, dont tell me I have managed to get a "discount"!!!

Ian

Looks like it. Have you got that telephone number handy perhaps the guys on the phones don't know about the price increase yet and we might all slip in under the radar.[:D]

[ian77]

0870 4432150


Goodluck!

Ian

[WhoCares]

No that was no discount, they changed the prices in Europe and UK.

btw: The main discussion about this is in this link: Main Euro Billing thread