I'm trying to understand the pricing of GPUs in Norway. For instance, if a GPU like the 9070 XT has an MSRP of $600 in the US, does that mean it would be around $750 here after considering our 25% VAT? Or is there more to it? I'm confused about how all the taxes and pricing structures actually work across different countries.
5 Answers
Keep in mind that Norwegian retailers also have to account for extra fees related to consumer protection laws, which stack onto the prices. It's a bit of a bummer, but it’s part of the package here.
I suspected as much! Guess we just have to deal with it.
Prices can be unpredictable overall. Manufacturers sometimes set MRSPs for every country that already cover taxes and costs, but the final price you see can surge due to exchange rates and local demand. I bought my graphics card for €712 here, and I know it’s significantly more than in other regions.
That’s crazy! I wouldn’t have guessed it would differ that much.
Wow, so the US price isn’t even close.
It's a good idea to check prices in Germany. They often have better deals on GPUs. I recently snagged my ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 from Amazon Germany for only €521!
That’s awesome! I might try that.
Or Switzerland could be a good bet too, given they have lower VAT, though international shipping might be a hassle.
Actually, in Europe, most prices you see already include VAT, unless you're a business buying them. So if a GPU has an MSRP of $600 in the US, the price in Norway likely also incorporates the 25% VAT. However, do keep in mind that MSRPs can vary by region. For example, the same GPU could be priced around 699€ in Germany, which is quite a bit higher than its US price!
Got it! Thanks for clearing that up.
Does that mean the US price before tax isn't directly comparable?
In the US, MSRP doesn’t include sales tax, which varies by state. So, when you're comparing prices between countries, it's trickier than just doing a simple conversion. To estimate what you’d pay in Norway, you’d add VAT to the US MSRP to visualize it with your tax system.
That makes sense, thanks for the insight!
Is it true that some sellers can charge whatever they want, regardless of MSRP?
Ugh, that really does complicate things. Thanks for sharing!