solidworks shopping: Are there any cheaper outlets?

SW is sold at a fixed price. Unless you are buying training, hardware, etc. there is little flexibility unless the VAR wants to eat the sales tax.

Yep, theres nothing you can do but bend over and take it from your reseller. While SolidWorks itself is a very affordable price, other services from VARs tend to be way over priced. It always makes me wonder how a VAR can go home and sleep at night... :P