It largely depends on where you live in the US. Here in CA (but also in NY, WA, HI etc.) our taxes are just as high as in western Europe, with property taxes actually being even higher. The real problem is that while Europeans get something back from their government (low-cost education, health care etc.), we get almost nothing, at least compared to what we spend. But I agree that businesses pay less taxes here. Or none at all, in some cases…
I bought some of the last updates from Steinberg as download and didn’t like the hassle with ask.net only storing files for a short time (yes, I do normally keep a backup but I had a particular issue at the time). so I went for boxed version for Cubase 7 and now 7.5. p.s. backwards cousins was simply a comedic reference to our historical domination of the colonies. nothing to get worried about! Ed
BTW, Why is it cheaper for America. Shouldn’t it be opposite, cheaper here in Europe and more expensive in America?
In opposite, American things are cheaper there, and more expensive here. I don’t get it why Americans pay less for the same product. Any ideas?
The 7.5 update will be available from December 4, 2013, from Steinberg dealers worldwide as a boxed version and in the Steinberg Online Shop as a download version. While the boxed update includes 3.5 GB content and requires a 500 MB application installer download, the download update version available through the Steinberg Online Shop requires the download of the content as well as the application installer (4 GB download). The Cubase Artist 7.5 Update is available as a 4 GB download only.
Um because my health insurance/out of pocket costs were $13,000 last year? How much was yours? Because your tax rate is higher? Because of Capitalist rules of supply and demand and what market value is in any given area. I could continue but the point is every market is different. I am guessing here, as I am no economist, that the companies that sell product make higher return off product at lower price point in USA than in Europe.
So I am sorry you pay more and I am sorry that we make less and pay more for essential services
So many factors… In some cases it can be as simple as a lower demand driving prices down. It could be tarrifs, trade agreements, corporate taxes, etc. In some countries the cost of doing business is just higher due to regulations and legal procedures, etc.
Different countries have different social entitlements such as maternity leave, health care, retirement pensions. You can’t just look at the price alone. You have to look at the entire economic picture.
Bottom line is that things cost different amounts in different areas for different reasons. Look at cable TV and internet service. Prices can vary quite a lot between areas only a few miles apart.
We Americans pay for internet more than any developed country and yet we get third-world speeds (pretty much like health care: we pay up the wazoo and we get very little in return.) It’s because there is no free market here. In reality there are a few conglomerates that collude to fix the prices and divide up the territory. In Korea or Japan, you can get 100 mbps for as little as $25/mo. Here in the US, the average price for internet cable is $50/mo. for an average of 10-15 mbps.
Would you switch to the “other” system to save $25 a month?
Not sure I would say it is out of control. After all, there is no perfect system.
p.s. I know this discussion doesn’t belong on the forum but why do people keep “going there” with the capitalist greedy corporation talk? Maybe we can all agree that companies exist to earn a profit and they should do just that to the best of their ability. And if one is not happy with the price or principles of a company, then be happy you have the choice to seek other options.