Has anyone tried to renew their Microsoft action pack lately? This kit is a valuable kit with pre-release software so we can use it, know it & support it. I love it and eargly await each quarters kit. ( I have no life.)

Today i went to renew our pack and was told it was €320 for the year. I have no problem with this until I noted the following: ( Everything in red is from Microsoft.)

320.00 EUR
199.00 GBP
295.00 USD
2200.00 ZAR
2890.00 SEK
2640.00 NOK
2380.00 DKK
499.00 CHF

Please be assured that the Action Pack is available exclusively to Registered Members at the lowest price we can offer while ensuring that we are providing you with the highest quality.

If I pay in USD it works out €100 cheaper. I rang the subscription team who said.

" Yep it is more expensive. Nothing to do with us."

I replied " I want to pay dollar"

"Nope not allowed " they said.

I have emailed Microsoft - -No Answer.

This is not acceptable as a business practice or a practice carried out by a partner. "One price for all except the Irish" is not good. And my opinion is grounds for divorce

Unfortunately we are not the only country to suffer from this, one of Microsoft's biggest areas, Australia suffers a similar situation to ourselves. It seems that the prices are not checked an updated on a regular basis to keep the pricing within acceptable differences.
It should be acknowledge that shipping costs to Ireland would be higher then other countries but not to this level.

But tis brings up another point on the Irish market, as MS are not the only company charging higher rates for products solid in Ireland than in other EU states such as the UK.
The difference in pricing of Dell equipment, for example, it has proven to be cheaper to purchase from Dell UK, have them deliver to a UK address and then have a seperate courier company ship to Ireland, and still make a greater margain than purchasing direct from Dell Ireland.

It is worth looking at alternative means of getting your products, and possiblely looking across the water, and help you find the right product at the best possible price for you and your clients.

Regards,

David