I didn’t get charged any taxes and I’m in the US. Bought the sim by purchasing $120 of credit in the Microsoft Store using both a prepaid debit card and a real debit card, and I used that balance to buy the sim (for exactly $119.99). Didn’t realize that there are usually taxes on digital items or that anyone else had to pay taxes. Weird.

2 minutes ago, FlyingInACessna said:

I didn’t get charged any taxes and I’m in the US. Bought the sim by purchasing $120 of credit in the Microsoft Store using both a prepaid debit card and a real debit card, and I used that balance to buy the sim (for exactly $119.99). Didn’t realize that there are usually taxes on digital items or that anyone else had to pay taxes. Weird.

They tax everything now. You even get taxed buying USED items off ebay now. 

14 hours ago, EmaRacing said:

Also I tried (as an experiment) to buy on the Brazilian or Egyptian market but there are obstacles, I'm not sure that buying store credit on the Brazilian marketplace will let me buy the game...

Won't work on Steam:

https://www.guru3d.com/news-story/steam-implements-new-measures-to-avoid-purchases-with-vpncurrency-needs-to-match-country.html

Likely the same on MS Store.

 

42 minutes ago, rickjake said:

Microsoft Flight Simulator: Premium Deluxe - Preorder

$159.99 CAD

1

$159.99 CAD

 

Subtotal $159.99 CAD Tax $20.80 CAD Total $180.79 CAD Payment $180.79 CAD Payment sent to [email protected]

You forgot to include your credit card details to prove that was a genuine purchase.🤑

 

😉

9 hours ago, Farlis said:

And only 2.5% on groceries. Still groceries are way more expensive than in Germany.

What does that tell us?

Germans don't value their food enough.

That‘s why half of Switzerland do their grocery shopping in Germany😅. There are many reasons for the high prices, eg. high production costs and high wages.

I would like to know who exactly pocketed the difference?  Its not MS. They got the full price.  The VAT was added.   Currency exchange done.  So someone got the extra 18Fr

2 minutes ago, HighTowers said:

I would like to know who exactly pocketed the difference?  Its not MS. They got the full price.  The VAT was added.   Currency exchange done.  So someone got the extra 18Fr

What example are you referring to?

 

Edited August 17, 20205 yr by travelabroad

Hang on to your hat`s the EU want`s to bring in a Digital tax.

Compared to the the money we have to spend for a good hardware, 10 or 20 € +/-  for the sim platform does not play such a big role imo.

Edited August 17, 20205 yr by Nemo

Make a fake US address on amazon.com, buy it for the US price, redeem it on your local MS Store, hey you just saved yourselves some money. Then you can have that fight with your inner morals later. 

1 hour ago, travelabroad said:

What example are you referring to?

 

The Swiss price. It is 74CHF for the standard edition when it should be 58CHF.

Another user asked Microsoft about it and the answer was basically that they charge more because the swiss have a higher average income.

So they DO pocket the difference.

2 hours ago, travelabroad said:

What example are you referring to?

 

Well everyones who has a different price than just straight up exchange + Tax. 

I bought the Premium.   Advertised as $120USD.   Converted to CHF as of today = 109 Swiss Francs.  + 7.7%VAT= 117.39 CHF. 

Yet both MS Store and Steam it can only be bought for $134 CHF. I was invoiced 124.42CHF + 9.58VAT.   This means that MSFS Premium in Switzerland was sold for 135USD. 

So someone is pocketing that extra 15bucks

1 hour ago, Farlis said:

The Swiss price. It is 74CHF for the standard edition when it should be 58CHF.

The cheapest offer I‘ve seen is 66.90CHF. But honestly, I personally don‘t care. I‘ve already spent an unreasonable amount of money on peripherals🙈.

22 hours ago, 2reds2whites said:

In the biggest EU markets (France, Germany, Spain) the standard VAT rate is 20%. 

Pre-VAT the price would be €59. 

Doesn’t include any other taxes/fees/EU data compliance costs, nor the fact that it’s not Microsoft’s native market for a relatively niche product for them. 

23% in Ireland, so don't complain too much. The govt. here even charge duty on delivery charges for products outside the EU. 

34 minutes ago, Shack95 said:

 , I personally don‘t care. I‘ve already spent an unreasonable amount of money on peripherals🙈.

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