It sure bites to be a US-based Amigan these days...

[Matt_H]

Semi-Rant follows :-D

With most development occuring in Europe lately, getting Amiga goodies from across the pond is sending my bank account into the red! I can't sustain active investment in the Amiga much longer if the crappy exchange rate doesn't improve.

British Pounds are now worth twice as much as US currency! Pretty much my whole life, until this year, it was always 1 quid to 1.6 dollars. And don't get me started on the Euro...

Whoever says the US economy is good is either:
A) Living in the past,
B) Lying,
or
C) Delusional

Makes me mad!

Although I suppose our European friends aren't too upset when ordering stuff from here ;-)

[leirbag28]

@Matt_H

Hey! I am in the USA and I am Having a Jolly time with my Amiga :-)

What is it that your buying from UK?  I buy all my stuff from eBay.......I let other American buyers buy stuff from there. And I get it all cheap!  ocassionally I will buy a few items from the UK if I am desperate enough or I need the Thing.

But yeah.........even here in USA prices are More than RIDICULOUS!  I hardly ever buy from vendors because of it.its just the plain truth. Us Amigans are poor...........why the heck are we paying Triple! for  cheaper crap???

Not me............not unless I want it bad.  I think Amiga vendors Shoot themselves in the Foot by selling so high.  Better to sell for less, and sell much more items.

There are a few places I will buy from though.  Like Eyetech, AmigaKit and Software Hut.

Anyways........don't get me started. :-)

[Argus]

@leirbag

I second the notion that Software Hut is a quality vendor.  Really not sure how they have survived all these years but when I really need something, they usually have it and the prices are not so bad.

I think if you want A1200 stuff Europe is of course the better place to go.  But there are an aweful lot of 4000s, 3000s and 2000s in the US market still working.

Development for the classic 68K series has been pretty dead for a few years now, even in Europe, imho (exceptions: e3b, Individual Computers and Elbox).

Although I suppose our European friends aren't too upset when ordering stuff from here ;-)

I'm loving it!  £1=$1.93 Who said a war stimulates an economy? ;-)

It's actually cheaper for us in the UK to buy stuff off EBay USA than it is to get stuff from the UK EBay most of the time these days.

[Azryl]

Geez!! you guys/gals got it easy.. try getting Amiga stuffz in Oz !

Exchange rates and high postage :-(

[artman]

Another thumbs up for Software Hut here!  They not only sell stuff, but they have some pretty knowledgable people to give advice when needed.

[beller]

I'll second the recommendation for Software Hut...I'm a very happy customer!

I've gotten most of my Amiga things from EBAY US.  I even found a slightly used flicker magic for my A4000 which I couldn't buy anywhere.  I'm also lucky to live very near Antioch, CA, the home of 4Jays Classic Video Games.  They have a web site at: www.4jays.com.

I stopped by to get a nearly new Commodore 64C and 1541-2 and got a tour of the store's storage area.  I've never seen so many A3000s in my life.  Stacks nearly to the roof of every other Amiga.  If you need parts for a classic Amiga I'd check  4Jays.  Heck, I even saw a black painted A3000 keyboard which were the from the AAA development systems.  Apparently they sold a complete "black" A4000 in a 3000 case a month or so back.

The only thing I'd like more choice of is NEW software....other than that I'm a happy US Amiga user.  As for the $$ vs pound discussion, I was stationed in England in 1969.  The rate was 1 pound = $2.40.  I was thinking the exchange rate looked good!  Guess it's all in your perspective...

Bob

[DonnyEMU]

Could this have to do with our world situation that the economy is doing soo poorly? I think next time we all vote we should think about these things and a president and government who thinks enough about this situation to fix it..

But hey I am getting off the soapbox..

I agree on software hut (softhut.com) they are the best..

[Doppie1200]

In europe not all is perfect about amiga prices. You still pay alot of money for most things. Sure it's cheaper but still alot of money.
Maybe I'm spoiled but my FlickerFixer cost about 90 euro's. My 68060 cost me 120 euro's. Sure I got the 060 relativly cheap, but come on. It is still old computer material. Seeing it from processing power and graphical performance point of view it is complete madness to spend so much on your 13 (!) years old computer. The only reason I do it anyway is because it's my hobby. And that may cost some money. I just don't buy everything at once. That makes it more conveniant.

[adz]

Azryl wrote:
Geez!! you guys/gals got it easy.. try getting Amiga stuffz in Oz !

Exchange rates and high postage :-(

I'd like to second that motion. Nobody has it worse than an Amiga user in Oz, unless of course your from Tasmania :-P

[Darklight]

Well, Tasmania isn't part of Australia anyway  :lol:  :-P
But yeah, low Aussie dollar and high postage prices make it hard to get stuff here.  Gotta pity the Kiwis though, their dollar's even worse  :-D

[dammy]

by Matt_H on 2005/3/9 20:46:42

With most development occuring in Europe lately, getting Amiga goodies from across the pond is sending my bank account into the red! I can't sustain active investment in the Amiga much longer if the crappy exchange rate doesn't improve.

It will eventually come down as the Euro bubble deflates as it's starting to do now.

British Pounds are now worth twice as much as US currency! Pretty much my whole life, until this year, it was always 1 quid to 1.6 dollars. And don't get me started on the Euro...

Whoever says the US economy is good is either:
A) Living in the past,
B) Lying,
or
C) Delusional

Basically, it's not our economy's fault of the USD vs Euro.  US economy steam rolled along last year at a 4.4% GDP growth.  Its the US' low interest rate that is makes the USD so low.  Euro is high because of the much highier European interest rates.  Considering what we are paying for auto/home loans at very low interest rates, be very very happy to pay more for a rare Amiga part.

For those of us who are AROSians, these prices rock in the US!  I'm hoping for a sub $600 laptop running AROS native by the end of this Summer. :evilgrin:

Dammy
BTTC

[cecilia]

DonnyEMU wrote:
Could this have to do with our world situation that the economy is doing soo poorly? I think next time we all vote we should think about these things and a president and government who thinks enough about this situation to fix it.

i warned people before the "election". some people refuse to listen.
and it won't improve. :-(

we have to figure out how to work around it.

[redrumloa]

Granted my stock is limited atm, but I carry Individual Computers and Cloanto products

Oh, another thing. The exchange rate blows ATM. I hope it comes back to reality soon :pissed:

[K7HTH]

A weaker dollar overseas is a boondoggle for the U.S. Market this year because increased exports shrinks the trade deficit. Over 25% of the S&P market is in international securities and that is a major plus as well. Unfortunately, the Euro will not hold steam for long since all this is cyclical.