Ipaq upgrade to Pocket PC 2003 in UK

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

Did you ask your maker for the reason?


"Paul Branston" <apbran@rannoch.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:580b1798.0404170838.ca44962@posting.google.com...
> I am at a loss to understand why an upgrade to Pocket PC for an Ipaq 3950
> costs £42 in the UK and only $29.95 in the US (about £16.75).
>
> Why is it 2.5 times more expensive in the UK to do this upgrade ?

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

"Duncan Rounding" <duncan.rounding@insurancentlworld.com> wrote in message news:<unv03SRJEHA.3184@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl>...
> Because some people pay it - that there is no choice -
> arrogance - lack of competition - price fixing - the list goes
> on. It seems many products or services that are sold in the US
> more than double in cost when sold in the UK.

Just to play devil's advocate, could it be a quantity thing? Is the
ROM any different for US and UK versions? (Different flavor/flavour
of English language versions?) If so, the pricing might reflect the
number of units they project selling- the US market is 10 times the
size of the UK one, so fixed costs of the upgrade (programmer
man-hours, sales/distribution channels etc.) will be absorbed (and
divided by) many more US customers.

Of course, if the US and UK versions are identical, my entire argument
is tripe, and you're just being screwed... :-(

> The companies will tell you that their costs are higher - but
> more than two times!

If my argument is correct, I'd say two times might be reasonable- the
alternative for the company would be to save costs by not offering a
UK version at all.

> I don't want to start another 'rip-off britain' thread - but
> this really annoys me.....

I don't blame you. Even if my different versions theory is correct,
99% of them would be identical, and the argument could easily be made
that they might sell 3 times the number of upgrades at half the price,
and realize more revenue, not to mention building brand-loyalty. A
customer might consider buying his next PPC from a manufacturer who
_doesn't_ charge £40+ for an upgrade CD!

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

"AlanS" <news@remove.abyz.fslife.co.uk> wrote in message news:<c60hk8$dce$2@news7.svr.pol.co.uk>...
> "Todd Allcock" <elecconnec@aol.com> wrote in message
> newse37a2e0.0404181845.14e1cfc6@posting.google.com...
> > "Duncan Rounding" <duncan.rounding@insurancentlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:<unv03SRJEHA.3184@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl>...
> > > Because some people pay it - that there is no choice -
> > > arrogance - lack of competition - price fixing - the list goes
> > > on. It seems many products or services that are sold in the US
> > > more than double in cost when sold in the UK.
> >
> > Just to play devil's advocate, could it be a quantity thing? Is the
> > ROM any different for US and UK versions? (Different flavor/flavour
> > of English language versions?) If so, the pricing might reflect the
> > number of units they project selling- the US market is 10 times the
> > size of the UK one, so fixed costs of the upgrade (programmer
> > man-hours, sales/distribution channels etc.) will be absorbed (and
> > divided by) many more US customers.
> >
> > Of course, if the US and UK versions are identical, my entire argument
> > is tripe, and you're just being screwed... :-(
> >
>
> When you buy your PPC in US can you set it up as a UK version, or if a UK
> version can you set it up as US?
>
> On a PPC2003- Start, Settings, System, Regional Settings, choose English
> (United Kingdom) or English (United States). Or even Estonian, Uzbek. There
> are 13 English variants, 6 French, 5 German, 2 Italian and even 20 (!)
> Spanish language choices. And more ........
> The ROM is almost certainly the same for the various countries.


I have sent an email to HP asking them why and so far have no reply.
It just looks like the marketing people have decided that UK buyers
pay more than their USA equivalents.