They could also simply just charge the US prices.asnor wrote:The problem is, if they don't do this, you could buy Cubase from a country with a weaker currency, importing it cheap, and undercut Steinberg in Europe,which may severely effect their bottom line.
So, like I said, they could simply charge everyone the EU rate, or they can GEO tag the software so that they can stay competitive globally without having people importing and undercutting them at home.
Just as you wrote, limiting buying options to customers result in smaller sales. We've got a global pseudo-free market. Thanks to services like Paypal, Ebay and international delivery companies, you can buy anything from anyone easily and quickly. If that means the 3rd of sales for European customers comes from outside the EU, that will mean that Steinberg doesn't need 3rd of the current European distribution network and could limit it, which would result in less spending and more income, because at lower prices more people could afford it.
I believe Steinberg does get more or less the same money from selling a single unit of the software in Europe and the US, but in Europe you have to pay Value Added Tax and the costs of doing business are higher, which results in higher prices.
Steinberg forces EU customers to support the socialist policies of Europe instead of worrying about it's income, which should be it's primary concern.
I think there are ways to fake your IP in your OS's anyway.
Cubase 6 with an upgrade to 7 + Halion 4 costs 369$, which is around 1225 złotys and is on average 1,5 week pay in Poland.
Full Cubase 7 costs 2450 złotys in Poland (around 737$), which is an average 3 week pay. Thanks, but no thanks.
