Dixons, the UK consumer retailer and ISP, is considering legal action against Intel Corp and Fujitsu over comments that Dixons charges unfairly high prices for PCs. Intel CEO Craig Barrett made his comments at Comdex last month and Fujitsu has made a number of statements saying that Dixons’ high prices are resulting in fewer PC sales in the UK. Dixons Group Director of Corporate and Public Affairs, Lesley Smith told Computerwire that Dixons is currently talking to Intel and requesting that Barrett withdraw his comments, but no resolution between the two companies has been reached. Smith also said that Fujitsu sent Dixons a legal letter making the claims at the beginning of last week, which Dixons responded to last Friday, but would give no details about what was said in the letter. Smith defended Dixons’ pricing, saying the higher UK prices were a result of market factors and were no higher than the prices charged by other high street retailers. Smith cited higher sales taxes in the UK than countries like the US and Germany, and economies of scale enjoyed by US retailers. She also pointed out that most PCs in the UK are bundled with pre-loaded software. She claimed the pricing was proportionate to the cost of components, saying that Intel and other suppliers should consider lowering their prices. The comments have led to the UK Trade Secretary, Peter Mandelson, writing to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) expressing concern over the high prices of PCs in the UK. The matter has so far not resulted in any official action by the OFT. รก
