Topic: The Super-Duper Cheap Bargains Thread

[JBS]

Presto US pricing shows the price without VAT
Is it possible that (for UK prices) VAT for physical CDs and VAT for DLs have different rates/different tax treatment?

[Roasted Swan]

Presto are currently offering the Naxos catalogue hi-res downloads at £3.95.  Given that the equivalent CD is now £10.00 and (theoretically!) this hi-res should be a better audio quality that is quite a good offer and as a consequence I have picked up some Naxos recordings out of curiosity in the way I used to when they were a genuine "bargain" label....

[absolutelybaching]

Presto US pricing shows the price without VAT
Is it possible that (for UK prices) VAT for physical CDs and VAT for DLs have different rates/different tax treatment?

In a word, no. The maximum VAT rate is around 20%. Even if downloads were free of VAT entirely (which they are not), you can't explain a price differential of almost 90% by a tax rate difference of 20%!

[MusicTurner]

I don't understand where you're getting these numbers from.  The flac set is $13 and the cd set is $39.25.

As of now, the Flac price in Denmark on Presto's site is roughly 70 Euros; the CD price roughly 45 Euros.

[ritter]

Two minutes after MusicTurner’s post above, the Presto price for Spain is 45.88€ for the CDs, and 63.02 € for FLAC. Pity that the market for this product probably isn’t deep enough to engage in cross-border arbitrage 

[classicalgeek]

The "Solti in London" box is on sale at Amazon US for about $55:

https://www.amazon.com/Solti-London-36-Box-Set/dp/B098RTYSKX/



I've seen it hovering around $100, so this is a pretty good deal.

[JBS]

The "Solti in London" box is on sale at Amazon US for about $55:

https://www.amazon.com/Solti-London-36-Box-Set/dp/B098RTYSKX/



I've seen it hovering around $100, so this is a pretty good deal.

Ordered, thank you.

In a word, no. The maximum VAT rate is around 20%. Even if downloads were free of VAT entirely (which they are not), you can't explain a price differential of almost 90% by a tax rate difference of 20%!

Then I am as confused as anyone else.

[Spotted Horses]

In a word, no. The maximum VAT rate is around 20%. Even if downloads were free of VAT entirely (which they are not), you can't explain a price differential of almost 90% by a tax rate difference of 20%!

Then I am as confused as anyone else.

It may be an error, or it may be that the publisher has decided to price downloads differently in different regions.

FWIW, I changed my location to United Kingdom and my currency to pounds and I got the same price (10.70 pounds for the FLAC download). I wonder if someone has a VPN which would allow them to view the presto site effectively from different regions and see if the price changes accordingly.

[DavidW]

I'm getting these numbers from the link that was included in the post I was replying to. Specifically, see below. Price of the CDs: £35; price of the FLACs: £69. Even the MP3s (shudder!) are more expensive than the physical product.

I realise I'm now (and was!) talking pounds Sterling; you're clearly talking left-pondian dollars. I assume Presto does geolocation magic and directs me to the bonkersly-priced UK site, and you to the much more sensible US version. Presumably shelves are bigger in the US and therefore the need to free up some shelf-space in the UK is more pressing.

Or something…

Oh that sucks!  You might as well have someone in the US buy the download for you and then send it to you!

[Brian]

I opened that Solti tab last night with the intention of sampling some of the box this morning and making a decision, but the price returned to $137. Good, I didn't need the temptation 

(Previously I sampled the Haydn in it and found it appalling, but that's unfair as Haydn is by no means his specialty repertoire.)

[DavidW]

(Previously I sampled the Haydn in it and found it appalling, but that's unfair as Haydn is by no means his specialty repertoire.)

That is exactly why I don't find those conductor big boxes appealing.  Excepting Bernstein, there is no conductor I can think of that produces moving performances across all eras.

[JBS]

I will pipe up to say I think that Solti Haydn set is one of the best modern orchestra versions (although Bernstein is the better Haydnist) of the Londons.

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

The "Solti in London" box is on sale at Amazon US for about $55:

https://www.amazon.com/Solti-London-36-Box-Set/dp/B098RTYSKX/



I've seen it hovering around $100, so this is a pretty good deal.

And the page that link takes me to prices it at $137.

[classicalgeek]

And the page that link takes me to prices it at $137.

The deal must have expired, probably this morning. Brian had the same issue above.

[Brian]

That is exactly why I don't find those conductor big boxes appealing.  Excepting Bernstein, there is no conductor I can think of that produces moving performances across all eras.

Markevitch, Szell, and although I consider him B-tier across all genres, he is good across all genres: Gielen.

[JBS]

The deal must have expired, probably this morning. Brian had the same issue above.

It's also now listed as coming from Amazon vendor Speedy Hen. My copy is coming from Amazon UK [Global Store] itself. Now Amazon UK is not mentioned at all.

When I ordered, it said there were 13 in stock. Possibly all the others were ordered in the overnight hours?

[Todd]

That is exactly why I don't find those conductor big boxes appealing.  Excepting Bernstein, there is no conductor I can think of that produces moving performances across all eras.

Kubelik.  Walter.  Monteux.  Hengelbrock.

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

The deal must have expired, probably this morning. Brian had the same issue above.

No worries, James, my wallet is a bit happier, anyway

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

It's also now listed as coming from Amazon vendor Speedy Hen. My copy is coming from Amazon UK [Global Store] itself. Now Amazon UK is not mentioned at all.

When I ordered, it said there were 13 in stock. Possibly all the others were ordered in the overnight hours?

I rejoice with you, that you nabbed one!

[Brian]

Kubelik.  Walter.  Monteux.  Hengelbrock.

Has Hengelbrock recorded any repertoire post Mahler 1?