Buying Photoshop CS6 as a download from the USA

[Lyope]

I'm signed in at my computer at work (which exits onto the internet in the USA). I have Adobe US open in one browser and Adobe UK open in another. If I ask for a quote for a download of the full Photoshop CS6 product for Mac, Adobe UK says that this will be £660.51 If I do the same thing, for the same product on the US site, the quoted price is $699.

At the current exchange rate of $1.50 to the pound, that works out as £466.96. That's nearly 30% cheaper! How on earth can this be? Is it simply because I'm not paying VAT?

Given that my copy of LR4 is registered to myself, a UK citizen and I would very much like to keep all my registrations in one place, is there anything to stop me buying Photoshop whilst I'm at work?

How would I go about it? Install the trial version at home first and bring my Mac into the office?

 

[Merluza]

If you can buy it then good luck but I think Adobe take great steps to prevent non-US buyers using the US site. Amazon US are prohibited from selling Adobe software overseas. If you manage to download it you probably won't be able to register it and maybe not get it to activate.

 

[Rob L]

I would guess if you buy it, and manage to get it working then you would only be licensed to use it in the U.S. In which case you might as well not bother buying it and just download a torrent (which I do not advocate. :nono

 

[mho]

As your company's Intranet has access to the US internet, you should be able to buy it, I know Adobe goes to great lengths to stop us in the UK buying from the US, one possible problem you may have is buying it with a UK issued Credit Card, it may block it, only way to find out is to try it.

If you can buy it you will be fine with the licensing as its a world wide product.

 

[Lyope]

If you can buy it then good luck but I think Adobe take great steps to prevent non-US buyers using the US site. Amazon US are prohibited from selling Adobe software overseas. If you manage to download it you probably won't be able to register it and maybe not get it to activate.

I've just checked - you can download Photoshop CS6 for Mac from Amazon.com for $600.49 - that's £401.53. 40% cheaper.

The only problem? "Downloading: Currently, this item is available only to customers located in the United States and who have a U.S. billing address."

Gah!

 

[Kerioak]

I tried to buy it via US but could not find a way and ended up having to pay the extra to get and use in the UK - you are coming across the problem that probably nearly everyone here does but eventually has to pay their price if you want it

 

[markmullen]

$598 for a physical copy from B&H, plus $46 shipping.

I bought a copy from them at Christmas, it arrived no problem, and registered online with Adobe no problem.

 

[Merluza]

The only problem? "Downloading: Currently, this item is available only to customers located in the United States and who have a U.S. billing address."

They know where you live. After all if it was that easy we'd all do it. Mark's solution looks like your best bet.

 

[Lyope]

$598 for a physical copy from B&H, plus $46 shipping.

I bought a copy from them at Christmas, it arrived no problem, and registered online with Adobe no problem.

Now that's useful information Mark - thank you. Did you get hit for customs charges, though?

 

[Mystery57]

or you could look on Ebay - find someone who has reputable feedback though

 

[markmullen]

Now that's useful information Mark - thank you. Did you get hit for customs charges, though?

There was a small amount to pay, can't remember how much, but it still worked out cheaper than a UK purchase.