AVG / Grisoft Charging UK Users More

Is another company ignoring EU competition law?

[Quadrille]

AVG is probably the best 'free' antivirus and security programs since CA went 'paid-for', and I've been happy with it for a year or three, so I decided to upgrade.

On their UK site they ask for GBP 39.14 inc. VAT

I checked the US site, selected US region, then 'Download', it brings up a page that quotes USD 54.99; select 'Download & Buy', and the cart states "USD 54.99 - European Union residents pay USD 63.24 (incl. 15% TAX/VAT)."

So it is available for $63.24, but UK buyers are asked for $78.

This appears to be illegal so I've written to them. I'll report back.

(BTW, non-UK users may not see what I saw; the site does seem to offer different content to local IPs)

[edited by: lawman at 1:01 pm (utc) on April 13, 2008]

[Lord Majestic]

I don't think this is illegal, almost common (but bad) practice really. UK is a very expensive country (VAT for example is 17.5%), lots of other taxes too, so in a way companies are forced to charge more in this market. It's not good, but I blame the Govt for raising taxes.

[Quadrille]

Well, the UK trading standards has referred other companies to the EC commission - who have yet to report - for charging different prices in different EC markets.

See this discussion [webmasterworld.com] which shows a similar situation.

The UK position is that EC law dictates that in the 'common market', prices must be the same to all member countries.

In this case, the price includes VAT at 15% - the extra 2.5% for the UK does not cover the difference (or come close).

But I shall report back.

[edited by: Quadrille at 2:15 pm (utc) on April 13, 2008]