Staples, HP France offering TouchPad for early pre-order 32
Fri, 17 Jun 2011 5:39 pm EDT 
Pre-ordering for the HP TouchPad is due to kick off in two days on the 19th, but don’t think that pesky things like “dates” are going to stop the enterprising retailer or two. Today we’ve found out that both the United State’s Staples and HP’s French store are both offering the TouchPad as available for pre-order, with delivery timetables that line up nicely with the anticipated July 1 (US) and “few days later” (selected countries in Europe) dates already announced.
While we don’t know if Mr. Jubal Early is to be dispatched to take care of these early sale offerings, we can tell you that the pricing offered by HP France on their pre-order TouchPads is both new and unsurprisingly painful. They’ve priced the 16GB tablet at €479.60 and the 32GB version at €578.86. Those work out to US$692.30 and US$835.58, right around a 40% premium over the US cost, and France’s VAT can account for only about half of that. Sorry, Europe, but we guess you’re used to this by now. And no, it's not fair.
Source: Staples, HP France; Via: PalmPre-France; Thanks to nagalia and John for the tips!
32 Comments
Been telling everyone those sales reps are full of it....
LOL, Nice Firefly pic! Jubal Early was one of the scariest villains out there.
I was pleased to see the Firefly reference.
Yes, that is so cool!
agreed!
Sweet.
Glad to see the way Staples is pushing this. Unlike Best Buy who is still using that old video with the creepy music reminiscent of the albino chick in the Palm commercials.
Depending on how much I would get from BB RZ, I may just go next door and support Staples...
My wife's Samsung Netbook cost 350 EUR for 10" / 160 GB and a complete OS/Keyboard at 2.5pounds... Guess they don't want to sell Touchpads...
I HATE using a netbook, a 10" netbook screen isn't 10inches usable.
What I mean by this, is widescreen eats up a lot of that useable 10"s. I use one for size, but would much rather use a true 10 inches on a tablet.
I'm on Staples Help Chat:
Initial Question/Comment: if i pre-order the hp touchpad, will it arrive by July 1st?
Nicole E
I am sorry but it could come as late as 14 business days (i.e., THREE WEEKS)and that would be past July 1st
16GB tablet at €479.60 = US$692.30
32GB tablet at €578.86 = US$835.58
Why? I thought about getting some Touchpads for my girlfriend an my mother, since these would fit them perfectly. Gave my girlfriend a Pixi Plus and she loves it.
But why is HP taking so much more for a Touchpad in Europe??
If you consider all this nice accessoires like keyboard, touchstone dock the total price is just to high.
I think 399,00 Eur for the 16GB tablet an 499 for the big one would be fine, both including the touchstone-dock :-)
I guess I'll just wait until prices drop and play arround with the WeTab tablet that can run Windows 7 and supports USB/Video Out/HSDPA for less than 350 Eur.
Taxes
Still higher than it should be... But as the article states: We are used to it and EVERY company is doing it.
I guess some of this is because all their business is done in Dollar (paying the production and all the parts and the transport in $) while they want to be secure of the fluctuation between $ and €.
I don't like it, but apparently there is no other company doing it better :-/
Just import them from the USA. This will drastically lower USA supplies (which will hopefully lead to an outcry and USA people standing up for us for once as well ;)).
Customs fees & import tax (only if you get caught) would still make this a better deal than getting one here :)
The euro is stronger than the dollar. We're too poor to spend that kind of cash :(
20% vat is a wee bit too much
According to the Googles, France's VAT is set at 19.6%
http://www.uscib.org/index.asp?documentID=1676
They just know they can ask them prices and after all we will pay for them. That's how it works. But it is stupid.
Nice. Compose a post, have no information about the Pre3 on Sprint and include a picture of my favorite sci-fi series that isn't in production anymore.
Why don't you just take a cheese grater to my arm and rub salt all over it while you're at it! :)
+1000 huge bonus points for the Firefly reference!! LOL That made my day!
Yup.
This series cancellation was one of the great crimes of the early 21st century.
Everybody calm down.
The prices are roughly the same as in the US.
First we have to remove the VAT to get to comparable prices. European consumer prices *include* VAT, while american prices *exclude* the equivalent sales tax (which varies a lot by state).
Without VAT the prices are ca 401 EUR and
483 EUR respectively.
As the PPP of the Dollar and Euro are much closer than the current exchange rate this turns out to be roughly the same prices. Or in other words - these prices will "feel" similar to a European as the american dollar prices "feel" to an american.
PPP = Purchasing Power Parity. That's the equivalent buying power of your money.
It can differ greatly from the exchange rate.
The exchange rate fluctuates a lot more and for various reasons. The PPP tends to be more stable as the underlying factors (local wages and prices, relative inflation, etc) don't change as much.
But the exchange rate would only be relevant if Europeans ordered from the US or vice versa.
Yes, still it makes sense (if a European travels to the US) to buy in the states instead of at home. Around August a friend of mine is going to New York, I guess I will just buy the 16 GB-Version and spare the 32 for later (and give the 16 GB to my sister ;) ).
Remember to get rid of package. If Customs check your luggage and see(thinks or looks at their 8ball) you have bought it from US (and you are resident of EU-country) they _will_ slab you import tax and vat to be payed. And quickly it ain't cheap anymore.
Also you need to pay VAT tax at US also.
Also how's the warranty? And you need chargers.
Just things to keep in mind :)
Of course. I did this already a few times in a few countries as I used to travel a lot *g*
I also would buy the Touchstone-Charger in Europe so that there is no problem.
Sure. I'll shortly be in the US for vacation and will happily buy stuff.
With the current exchange rate it's like getting a 25% rebate.
Too bad I'm not interested in a Tablet. The Wifi Touchpad from US has no disadvantage over a german one.
But the GSM Pre3 will have sub-optimal hardware for European use and above all the wrong keyboard layout.
So the exchange rate "rebate" doesn't help me with this stuff.
Sorry but the price doesn't feel right for europe.
578€? Hey the Laptop of my girlfriend with a i5-460 2,53Ghz 1gb ati card 4 gb ram integrated 3g modem costs the same?
I know I compare Bananas with Apples, but sorry a good Tablet is avaiable for 350€-400€. I really wanted the Touchpad, but since I'm a student I can't afford this price, especially when the equipment which makes the TP special also cost several hundret Euro (Case, Touchstone) Not to talk about a printer or a Veer/Pre3
So the 32gb TP with extras will be about 700€ plus a pre3 449? This is the price for a Netbook, a normal Smartphone and a normal business pc.
Sorry can't afford that.
And an IPad 2 + IPhone 4 + case is how much? And then either add an inductive charger for the IPad or compare without the Touchstone.
I see your problem of not being able to afford that because you're on a students very limited budget.
But that's a problem you have in general with any high end tablet (plus smartphone and accessories).
You either have to settle with less expensive hardware (Netbook, cheap Laptop) or find the money to get what you want instead. But that has nothing to do with the Touchpad and it's pricing (it's priced the same as comparable products).
Except for touch and a couple of other features Netbooks are much better bang for the buck. Noothing new about this.
What does it matter if the price is not "fair"? HP is not running a charity here...
FYI. The TouchPad has been removed from Staples site for the time being.
HP TouchPad is still on Staples.com, but no preordering available.
http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/technology-research-centers/tab...
That's what I meant to say. I guess that's what I get for writing before my morning coffee.
lol, I had mine before my post. :/