Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!ukc!strath-cs!ex-dcs!exua!exua.exeter.ac.uk
From: SAMcinty@exua.exeter.ac.uk (Scott McIntyre)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: NeXT in the UK, update, and thanks!
Message-ID: <1305@exua.exeter.ac.uk>
Date: 8 May 91 10:32:49 GMT
Sender: SAMcinty@exua.exeter.ac.uk
Organization: C.A.I. plc.
Lines: 37


About a week ago I posted to this group asking for advice and
information about getting a NeXT...and have been drowned in email
ever since...to each and every one of you ThAnK YoU!
 
What I have discovered is that on the average, the UK NeXT prices,
for any machine, are about 13% higher than the US prices, this
is based on a 1.72 dollars to pound exchange rate, so obviously
the percentage flickers about.
 
I have also discovered that NeXT UK is grossly understaffed, and don't
seem to know much about Educational discounts, so I am still working
on that side of things.  What I have found out is that some distributing
company here has a 15% discount, which is a bit piddly compared to the
over 60% I have heard reported from US sources.  It also dwarfs in 
comparison to the 17.5% VAT (sort of like Sales Tax) that we have
on top of everything...
 
The way to get a NeXT for me seems to be to have a mate doing PostGrad
work in the States to use his discount to get me the machine, the monitor,
laser printer, sound box, and toner cartridge...I then will get the
#145 (pounds, dunno what a # looks like over there, a # no doubt.) keyboard
and power cables from this end...as far as I can see, there should not
be any problem, UNLESS the power system for the Laser Printer needs to be
specifically wired in...anyone know?

If I were to import it to the UK, I will still have to pay about 20%
in various taxes (VAT and Customs), but that is still drastically lower,
especially when you take into account that our prices are still 13%
higher in the first place!
 
Anyway, thanks for all your help, with any luck in a few months I
should be a proud owner of a NeXT (sooner, if someone volunteers to
get me a really spiffy price).
 
Thanks again,
Scott