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  • #31
    Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

    Originally posted by 585E4942585F47452C0 link=1305923402/29#29 date=1306123584
    it boiled down to "because they can" 
    I disagree.

    There were points regarding set up of productions lines to suit 110v vs 240v and the numbers produced at each.

    The cost of establishing distribution and warranty/support networks where there is a lower volume of sales (i.e. cost per unit could be much higher to establish).

    Advertising costs.

    Dont get me wrong, it annoys me too - especially when we are talking EXACTLY the same product. I.e. no factors of modified production line due to different specs for different markets etc to push the price per unit up. And there are certainly aspects of both at play (economies of scale, AND "because they can").  The fact is, were a fraction the size of the USA or Europe.  Somehow I dont think a big global brand would lose too much sleep over losing the Aussie market.

    In fact, even Breville (an Aussie company) has launched the best product in their history (coffee related, anyway) and stated the fact that the Australian market isnt their #1 priority.  Theyre chasing the US and Europe.  Good for them, but proves how highly valued, or otherwise, the Aussie market is...

    For me, the biggest shame is that it will continue to drive consumers towards purchasing online for items that are practical to do so.  It will get to the point that we notice a significant impact on our local retail industry...  then well lament the lack of small businesses and competition in the retail industry, which in the end, could result in higher prices again.  All to save a few bucks on some clothes, designer perfume and a few blurays!

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    • #32
      Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

      Originally posted by 3F3A36323E35336C5B0 link=1305923402/30#30 date=1306124565
      it annoys me too - especially when we are talking EXACTLY the same product
      Last time I plugged in a 110V appliance at home, it seemed not to be EXACTLY the same.  :-?

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      • #33
        Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

        In order to add a little more complexity to this whole discussion, consider the following in the equation of who gets what cheaper.

        Financially, we are far better off than our USA counterparts. Not only is our minimum wage about 50% better, we get more annual leave plus a 17.5% bonus, enjoy universal healthcare, university fees are cheaper, and more Australians own multiple homes than our American counterparts.

        Yes, we are the lucky country, and yes, we, as well as other lucky countries, do and will continue to subsidise others for a myriad of reasons.

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        • #34
          Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

          Think about it Trentski, why does a 2 door sports Commodor renamed a Buick and exported to the USA cost more in Oz, Oz doesnt subsidise exported goods, and if you were to export the same car from USA to Oz youd pay a lot more for it than those in the USA.

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          • #35
            Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

            Originally posted by 5E4F5A5C411B2E0 link=1305923402/33#33 date=1306133121
            Think about it Trentski, why does a 2 door sports Commodor renamed a Buick and exported to the USA cost more in Oz, Oz doesnt subsidise exported goods, and if you were to export the same car from USA to Oz youd pay a lot more for it than those in the USA.

            Yes economies of scale do exist in production of some goods where there a differences between markets. left and right hand drive cars, as per your example, 110 and 240 volt electrical goods.

            What about 12 volt goods with switchmode power supplies? What about camera lenses? Clothes?

            No difference between markets but the cost differences can be considerable.

            By selling these items in more markets the economies of scale of production improve, sell to Australia and the unit price goes down, but they still charge more in Australia (more than the tax and freight difference), because they can.

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            • #36
              Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

              Thats my point exactly, because they can, what ever the market will bear, due to population if you have 1% of the USA market in anything you are a millionaire, if you have 1% of the Oz market you go out of business, pure economics doesnt always explain everything.

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              • #37
                Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

                I can appreciate how physical goods can be affected by various vagaries ultimately leading to price fluctuations that are on first glance, difficult to explain.

                What really gets on my goat though, is software companies charging up to 80% more for downloaded software to purchase from an Aussie IP than it does to purchase exactly the same thing as a USA resident. That is nothing more than clear-cut extortion...

                If you want to test this out, head to the Adobe website for example, and go to purchase something as a US resident and then as an Aussie. This is but one of many examples of this sort of thing.... >

                Mal.

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                • #38
                  Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

                  Originally posted by 123F3B373A560 link=1305923402/36#36 date=1306138823
                  What really gets on my goat though, is software companies charging up to 80% more for downloaded software to purchase from an Aussie IP than it does to purchase exactly the same thing as a USA resident.
                  Mal.
                  I agree - a classic case of because they can.

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                  • #39
                    Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

                    Originally posted by 0F3A37300418343D3D3E3E5B0 link=1305923402/31#31 date=1306125363
                    Originally posted by 3F3A36323E35336C5B0 link=1305923402/30#30 date=1306124565
                    it annoys me too - especially when we are talking EXACTLY the same product
                    Last time I plugged in a 110V appliance at home, it seemed not to be EXACTLY the same.  :-?
                    Agreed, I wasnt talking about the Breville there!  In fact Id offered that as one of the very reasons we might pay a but more here in oz in my previous post. As a drummer and hobbyist musician, I was thinking of cymbals, and other musical instruments... Cymbals are one that would travel pretty well, and Ive often considered buying from the states!

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                    • #40
                      Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

                      Originally posted by 0B26222E234F0 link=1305923402/36#36 date=1306138823
                      If you want to test this out, head to the Adobe website for example, and go to purchase something as a US resident and then as an Aussie.
                      from
                      http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/itunes-prices-strike-bum-note-with-music-fans/story-e6freuy9-1226059565559

                      Justin Biebers album My Worlds costs $10.99 on Australian iTunes compared with $US6.99 for American customers ($6.57) and £5.99 in Britain ($9.10).

                      Susan Boyles I Dreamed A Dream costs $16.99 from iTunes in Australia, compared with just £4.99 in the UK ($7.60), €6.99 across Europe ($9.40) and $US10.99 in the US ($10.31).

                      The price variations mean Australians are being charged more than double the price iTunes charges in Britain and 80 per cent more than European customers.

                      The Social Network, the Oscar-winning story of the founders of Facebook, costs $24.99 in Australia, compared with $US14.99 in the US ($14.10) and £9.99 in the UK ($15.26) - or 77 per cent more in Australia than in the US.

                      Hugely popular game applications are also more expensive. Street Fighter IV is £2.99 in Britain ($4.55), $US4.99 in the US ($4.68) but it is $5.99 in Australia.


                      Because they can :

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                      • #41
                        Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

                        Originally posted by 5355424953544C4E270 link=1305923402/39#39 date=1306145801
                        Justin Biebers album My Worlds costs $10.99 on Australian iTunes compared with $US6.99 for American customers ($6.57) and £5.99 in Britain ($9.10).

                        Susan Boyles I Dreamed A Dream costs $16.99 from iTunes in Australia, compared with just £4.99 in the UK ($7.60), €6.99 across Europe ($9.40) and $US10.99 in the US ($10.31).
                        I am gonna bet that few here would be prepared to pay a zac for either of them!! ;D

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                        • #42
                          Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

                          Originally posted by 74414C4B7F634F46464545200 link=1305923402/40#40 date=1306148211
                          I am gonna bet that few here would be prepared to pay a zac for either of them!!

                          A Zac Effron fan I see, well Im sure the High School Musical series are cheaper overseas as well

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                          • #43
                            Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

                            Originally posted by 485E5B5B4A48444D4D4E4E2B0 link=1305923402/7#7 date=1305959835
                            if they migrate to these lands of plenty.
                            I said young man, are you trying to tempt me?

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                            • #44
                              Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

                              Being a little selective with the quoting.....

                              Originally posted by 7E7D6E756F687D7A7A651C0 link=1305923402/9#9 date=1305964117
                              ....... it is almost never the retailer doing the screwing, rather the exclusive importer, wholesaler or middle man...... 
                              You do of course have specific FACTUAL insider knowledge of this. And do you of course have factual knowledge of the kind of costs & reponsibilities to be carried when offering these products through a dealer and service network (unlike the usual direct selling system for these products in the US) :

                              Putting my 3 cents on the table and in respect of the importing and business experience I have in the coffee machine business......which means I know what machines cost to purchase, ex manufacturer door, and the cost to import in number, & hold in stock for a period eating up interest on your overdraft so as to be able to offer retails clients choices and service.

                              Anyone in the US or here or anywhere, selling the equipment mentioned at the top of this thread, at the prices mentioned, is apparently losing real money for the privelege of being in business...the more machines they sell, the more money they lose, because there is no point selling equipment for less than your cost to buy, import, and open your door for business every morning (called "on costs" or the cost of doing business) BEFORE even making some actual back pocket type income. Income is something we are all entitled to make for our trouble

                              If someone in the US is suffering from the low economy and is offloading stock by all means buy it, bring it in, dont forget to INSURE IT IN TRANSIT door to door, pay all import costs, customs duty and GST, convert it to 240 volts, and add up the bill.

                              When it breaks down, add a bit more to the bill because there is no guarantee or support network.

                              And remember, DIY electrical conversions ALWAYS miss some of the most important stuff that stops you burning your house down.

                              I am certainly not trying to talk anyone out of DIY importing, as my own workshop will be happy to quote for a proper conversion and do the work if you approve of the price, and we will be happy to guarantee the work (and only the work) done for the usual service guarantee period of 3 months.

                              Please do account however for the parts that we supply to cost you more than you might buy them for directly, because when you buy a part you are responsible for the provision of all time spent. When we buy a part to supply to you in service and have to guarantee it and or the work for 3 months, we also have to consider adding a component for time to diagnose and repair or replace faulty parts and retest in the unfortunate event of a failure during the period of guarantee. IE there is extra cost to account for when extending the courtesy of a guarantee on parts & labour supplied in service. Its called carrying the ***responsibility*** and I think you will all agree that this is pretty fair as no one should be expected to work for nothing or lose money for the privelege of working for you.

                              Rgdz to all,
                              Attilio
                              very first Cs site sponsor.

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                              • #45
                                Re: Oz to USA Price Parity...

                                I recently went to replace a pair of shoes--made in Vietnam, exported all over the world as a "Brand-name".
                                Cost over the internet (Australia) $269.
                                From a real store (Australia)--Sorry, not made any more. The replacement model costs $259.
                                From a US website US$58 (plus US$30 DHL shipping--5 days delivery over Easter).

                                Greg

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