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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Price differences for CS3 and Lightroom
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 11/10/2007 01:14:56 PM · #1
My trial of Adobe Lightroom has just run out, and so I looked into buying the software. In the UK the price is £205.62, whereas in the States it is just $299.00 - around £155. The difference between the UK and the US price of Photoshop CS3 is even more marked: £575 (somewhere in the region of $1,160), but just $649 if brought in the US. Why is this?
 11/10/2007 01:19:52 PM · #2
This is because in the UK, we are generally mug punters as far as retailers are concerned. We soak up appalling service at inflated prices and come back for more without the merest hint of a complaint. Sorry, this is a bit of a hobby-horse of mine.
 11/10/2007 01:27:08 PM · #3
I assume your prices include VAT, which is not charged in the U.S. We do have a sales tax, but generally not on internet items.
 11/10/2007 01:27:32 PM · #4
US retailers probably order 100 times as much of it so they get a better deal on the price. That's one reason that comes to mind.

Download the trial and then order the box copy off adobe's web site. I would think with exchange rates you would come out of the deal far better off than $299 even.
 11/10/2007 01:29:38 PM · #5
Originally posted by routerguy666:
US retailers probably order 100 times as much of it so they get a better deal on the price. That's one reason that comes to mind.


Would that excuse the huge price differential even when buying through Adobe's site? The language is the same, after all, it's just the final destination for the product that's different.
 11/10/2007 01:30:50 PM · #6
Originally posted by Mr_Pants:
Originally posted by routerguy666:
US retailers probably order 100 times as much of it so they get a better deal on the price. That's one reason that comes to mind.


Would that excuse the huge price differential even when buying through Adobe's site? The language is the same, after all, it's just the final destination for the product that's different.


Oh so they charge you different if you order from the UK? I wasn't aware of that. Why don't you lie and have it shipped to someone in the states who can then ship it over to you.
 11/10/2007 01:36:24 PM · #7
Because usually you need a US credit card with a US billing address. The minute you try to use a credit card with a European address, you run into problems. I have a US credit card (from when I lived in the US), but even that doesn't help as the address registered to my US bank account is in Europe. Same for iTunes and other stuff (photobooks, prints etc from Apple/Adobe). Seems they are one step ahead!

ETA. The only work around is to have someone in the US pay for it and have it shipped in the US. And then reimburse the person who was kind enough to help.

Originally posted by routerguy666:
Originally posted by Mr_Pants:
Originally posted by routerguy666:
US retailers probably order 100 times as much of it so they get a better deal on the price. That's one reason that comes to mind.


Would that excuse the huge price differential even when buying through Adobe's site? The language is the same, after all, it's just the final destination for the product that's different.


Oh so they charge you different if you order from the UK? I wasn't aware of that. Why don't you lie and have it shipped to someone in the states who can then ship it over to you.


Message edited by author 2007-11-10 13:39:28.
 11/10/2007 01:40:28 PM · #8
Wow that really sucks. Maybe Adobe is still holding a grudge from the revolution or something lol.

Message edited by author 2007-11-10 13:40:39.
 11/10/2007 01:40:40 PM · #9
Originally posted by routerguy666:
Originally posted by Mr_Pants:
Originally posted by routerguy666:
US retailers probably order 100 times as much of it so they get a better deal on the price. That's one reason that comes to mind.


Would that excuse the huge price differential even when buying through Adobe's site? The language is the same, after all, it's just the final destination for the product that's different.


Oh so they charge you different if you order from the UK? I wasn't aware of that. Why don't you lie and have it shipped to someone in the states who can then ship it over to you.


We live in 'rip-off Britain'. As an example, can you imagine spending £250 on a weekend ticket for a Formula 1 grand prix (nearly $500 at the moment) and still not having toilet facilities that are clean or, indeed, available most of the time? That's what happens here and we keep coming back for more.
 11/10/2007 01:42:25 PM · #10
In the Uk we seem to be in the crazy situation where it is actually cheaper to take a flight to New York, buy the software and fly back, and still have some spare change.
 11/10/2007 01:44:33 PM · #11
Originally posted by SaraR:
In the Uk we seem to be in the crazy situation where it is actually cheaper to take a flight to New York, buy the software and fly back, and still have some spare change.


Here's a thing, though, CS3 is cheaper through Amazon than it is through the Adobe website.
 11/10/2007 01:46:56 PM · #12
Get a Paypal account and buy through B&H or another store that uses Paypal?
 11/10/2007 02:44:44 PM · #13
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Get a Paypal account and buy through B&H or another store that uses Paypal?

...or maybe thru eBay and pay w/PayPal? Many folks will ship overseas if you pay for it.

11/10/2007 02:56:27 PM · #14
Originally posted by Mr_Pants:
As an example, can you imagine spending £250 on a weekend ticket for a Formula 1 grand prix (nearly $500 at the moment) and still not having toilet facilities that are clean or, indeed, available most of the time? That's what happens here and we keep coming back for more.


Yeah but that ain't just the UK with F1..... matter of the circuit only making admission $ cause Bernie has the rest locked up for the next 90 years or something. When the US still had the race they got a good deal while the rest of the places cost a lot more dosh.... although Silverstone is worse then most as far as...er... um... facilities unless you have a paddock club or something :-/ I stopped going to races as you got further away and paid more :-( Ever been to goodwood? I believe it's still a bargain as far as getting to see stuff.... not a race obviously...

Message edited by author 2007-11-10 14:57:42.
 11/13/2007 11:13:56 AM · #15

So, just to confirm, if I were to get a US copy of Photoshop CS3 is it identical to the UK version in that it will install and validate itself ok on my UK PC? May seem a silly question but I wanted to be sure Adobe couldn't restrict validation based on location.

Just as importantly, is the US versions license valid on my UK PC? And so would it be totally legal to get a copy bought in the US shipped over?

It just seems like too big a saving not to take that route if it's not going to cause me any problems.
 11/13/2007 11:54:42 AM · #16
Kevin, I looked into this a bit more - the post office are likely to collect any duty due on delivery. VAT is at 17%, but there may also be Import Duty to pay too (I haven't been able to find out if it is payable on software, but if it is will be somewhere between 5-12%) - still cheaper than in the UK, but not quite the same level of savings. If anyone has gone down this route I would be interested to hear the outcome.
 11/13/2007 12:35:38 PM · #17
just buy the download ?

register an account with adobe, and if you need to you can just download it again - your registered products are saved with them, along with the SN#'s that corespond.

Message edited by author 2007-11-13 12:36:15.
 11/13/2007 12:50:18 PM · #18
If you're importing goods from the US into the EU you could be hit with the following charges;

- Base Price
- Shipping
- Import Duty % (on Base Price + Shipping)
- VAT % (on Base Price + Shipping + Import Duty)

So be careful, as this 'double taxation' of import duty + vat on the whole cost including shipping comes into effect.

IMO, it'd be much easier to download and get a license code emailed to you, and avoid the VAT and Duty.
 11/13/2007 01:13:38 PM · #19
I have a US bank with a US card but couldn't buy a copy of CS3 and get it shipped to me in Germany. So I had it shipped to my mom in the US, who shipped it to me, and it worked fine on my computer in Germany - registration, validation and all.
 11/13/2007 02:42:16 PM · #20
That's really helpful thanks.

I have some friends in NY that would purchase it for me and then post it over as a gift and so get around the VAT and Import Duty issues.

I will look into downloading but wouldn't there still be the same purchase restrictions?

Edited to add: If I wanted to run a copy of this on my Desktop and Laptop is this possible under the license restrictions? Is it possible using the same license key for validation or would this be a problem?

Message edited by author 2007-11-13 14:43:56.
 11/17/2007 02:07:05 AM · #21
just an update to say I ordered CS3 and Lightroom together for 790USD that's almost half the price of buying it over here!

It was shipped from amazon to my friend in NYC and he's coming over on the 26th Nov so he'll bring it with him.
 11/17/2007 03:02:41 AM · #22
Just for the interest of some. I was at the shops looking at Elements 6 to see what was different and asked how much CS3 cost. I was told it was $1200AUD but if I have a student card I can buy the student edition (which is exactly the same but you can't claim it on tax apparently)and it only cost $499AUD. Hmmmm my son has a student card - thinking he might need CS3.
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