Zebra misleadingly priced.

[firepile]

This is why I have decided (as many others) no to buy any product that charges VAT as we don't have to pay it not being part of the EU.

If you're not in the EU you shouldn't be paying VAT. Are there sellers who charge VAT to non-EU residents?

Both Native Instruments and Cakewalk "charge" VAT to non-EU residents if the price is in Euro (actually, they probably do not actually charge VAT, but the price is the same).

[yellowfever]

mmmm. Interesting findings. I just went on the web site and did the 'buy now' process for Zebra in US Dollars, Euros and GBP. Results thus:

GBP = £165.01 = $256.72 US Dollars.
US Dollars = $236.81 US Dollars = £152 GBP.
Euros = 189.72 = $256.72 US Dollars.

Conclusion - pay for something in US Dollars, as the dollar is currently weak, which means you'll save money.

(I'd still like the site to be clearer that tax will be added.)

[thecontrolcentre]

This is why I have decided (as many others) no to buy any product that charges VAT as we don't have to pay it not being part of the EU.

If you're not in the EU you shouldn't be paying VAT. Are there sellers who charge VAT to non-EU residents?

Both Native Instruments and Cakewalk "charge" VAT to non-EU residents if the price is in Euro (actually, they probably do not actually charge VAT, but the price is the same).

Don't they have a (cheaper) US dollars price for those outside the EU?

[firepile]

This is why I have decided (as many others) no to buy any product that charges VAT as we don't have to pay it not being part of the EU.

If you're not in the EU you shouldn't be paying VAT. Are there sellers who charge VAT to non-EU residents?

Both Native Instruments and Cakewalk "charge" VAT to non-EU residents if the price is in Euro (actually, they probably do not actually charge VAT, but the price is the same).

Don't they have a (cheaper) US dollars price for those outside the EU?

They do, if you live outside Europe. But not for European countries not part of the EU.

[snigelx]

- crossgrade a home made cake that looks like a minimoog (use M&Ms or macaroones for knobs etc.), you can later on use it to celebrate, or to compensate girl friend for the time you're going to spend with Zebra Cheers,
Urs

ROFLMZAO

[oldbrian]

Sorry for the confusion, afaik it's quite common to exclude VAT from labels on Buy-Now buttons all over the internet, as it's also common to exclude shipping costs, credit card fees and what not. I do include VAT on the EUR-labels though, e.g. ACE is 69€ including VAT and 85$ excluding it, as labelled. For the very important US market it seems mandatory to exclude VAT from price tags, while Europeans commonly seem happy either way. I might consider the idea of an asterisk with a hint about the possibility of VAT for the next overhaul of the website.

Actually, if your company is located in the EU and you are doing business-to-consumer type of sales, you should display VAT-inclusive prices too in your shop and ads. With virtual instruments, it might be more of a grey area whether you are doing business-to-consumer or business-to-business sales, but I haven't seen any major virtual instrument shops that are located in the EU and do not display VAT-inclusive prices. Easiest would be to put on a VAT disclaimer (like on the Uhbik page) and call it a day

Just for the record, and for those who didn't understand why the OP was surprised by the VAT-exclusive price, the earlier "should display" in b2c is not a question of practice, it's a law in all EU countries.

[Urs]

Just for the record, and for those who didn't understand why the OP was surprised by the VAT-exclusive price, the earlier "should display" in b2c is not a question of practice, it's a law in all EU countries.

Well, it certainly *is* a grey area. But then again, it's not me selling anything. I do B2B with ShareIt, they do B2C. They Buy-Now-button redirects to their shop.

If anything, I might remove the price tag alltogether (like many other shops do), which I personally hate. One would have to find out about the actual price by clicking the button.

If I had to put the inclusive price on the label I would have a major disadvantage on the American market - because as you can see by the example of a previous poster, many think they have to pay for the VAT and find that offensive. If I had to do so, I would relocate my business to the US or Australia without a blink.

Urs

[zvenx]

Urs do you think anyone wouldnt' understand +VAT where applicable?
rsp

[Urs]

Urs do you think anyone wouldnt' understand +VAT where applicable?
rsp

Yeah, certainly. I just looked it up on Uhbik, and that looks okay.

[yellowfever]

Simple solution would be to advertise your prices as on Uhbik; that page is crystal clear. I don't understand why you don't be consistent?

[snigelx]

Simple solution would be to advertise your prices as on Uhbik; that page is crystal clear. I don't understand why you don't be consistent?

It is crystal clear on the Zebra page as well. It just depends on if you understand what you are seeing. When I clicked the Buy Now button the first time to buy this synth I SAW THE DOLLAR SIGN and I knew immediately BEFORE clicking the button that since I reside in Sweden within the EU chances are that 199$ is not applying to ME.

It also depends on your financial situation when you click the button AND DON'T understand what you are seeing. It can then be MUCH less disappointing to find that OH MY GOD a VAT of 19% (I should have expected that this could happen since I must pay VAT)

Urs is free to display his prices the way he wishes, as long as they adhere to certain laws and codes. There is nothing misleading about a price tag shown in DOLLAR amount having a VAT added AFTER ONE CLICK when one is not exempt from this taxation.

I think we have a case of a 'glass half empty' or 'half full' discussion in 'progress' here. For those of us who understand what we are seeing on that page to try to pressure Urs to change something, obviously against his will, is not showing much respect for someone who bends over backwards to make that product affordable with the easy crossgrade option.

- edit: Actually, I like your idea Urs. Remove all the prices and make those who are interested in the synth click the Buy Now button to get the price from ShareIt without any mysteries or disappointment.

[LeVzi]

I don't understand how people think just because something is priced in $'s that VAT Wouldnt apply. To me, when I see something priced in $'s I think thats the USA pricing, and fine, I just convert that to GBP £££'s I just assumed that the converted price already had VAT on it, so I was well happy and all set to have fun with Zebra then the VAT put an end to that. That was my only disappointment. Removing the price tag would solve that too tbh.

I burnt the 1st cake btw.

[elxsound]

Simple solution would be to advertise your prices as on Uhbik; that page is crystal clear. I don't understand why you don't be consistent?

It is crystal clear on the Zebra page as well. It just depends on if you understand what you are seeing. When I clicked the Buy Now button the first time to buy this synth I SAW THE DOLLAR SIGN and I knew immediately BEFORE clicking the button that since I reside in Sweden within the EU chances are that 199$ is not applying to ME.

It also depends on your financial situation when you click the button AND DON'T understand what you are seeing. It can then be MUCH less disappointing to find that OH MY GOD a VAT of 19% (I should have expected that this could happen since I must pay VAT)

Urs is free to display his prices the way he wishes, as long as they adhere to certain laws and codes. There is nothing misleading about a price tag shown in DOLLAR amount having a VAT added AFTER ONE CLICK when one is not exempt from this taxation.

I think we have a case of a 'glass half empty' or 'half full' discussion in 'progress' here. For those of us who understand what we are seeing on that page to try to pressure Urs to change something, obviously against his will, is not showing much respect for someone who bends over backwards to make that product affordable with the easy crossgrade option.

- edit: Actually, I like your idea Urs. Remove all the prices and make those who are interested in the synth click the Buy Now button to get the price from ShareIt without any mysteries or disappointment.

Great post.

I agree with everything said.

[pdxindy]

Simple solution would be to advertise your prices as on Uhbik; that page is crystal clear. I don't understand why you don't be consistent?

simple solution?? there is no problem, except you being pushing and demanding someone else do what you want...

[bk]

I don't know how it works in other countries, but in the US, the only price I see listed with the tax included is gasoline. Everything else, I have to assume state sales tax will be added to the listed price. When I go to buy a new car and it's advertised for $20,000 they don't specifically tell you that the tax will be $1400.00.

Are you people saying it should be advertised as $21,400?