Adobe are Gems

[mjf]

I was interested in purchasing Lightroom 5. On the US website they had an offer of US$119 for the download (Aus$133). I technically can download and pay on an International credit card or Pay Pal but Adobe say prices vary from country to country!!! Instead I need to pay Aus$186 for the same download. This is a total price gouging scam.Oh well that's the level playing field global economy for you.

 

[ThrashZone]

Yea I used this to see if I liked it thanks to Keith,
https://creative.adobe.com/plans/offer/photoshop+lightroom?promoid=KHQFP
On another note I just got a look at the new u.s. 100 dollar bill,
It looks comical and it's worth is also comical

 

[mjf]

OOps I wouldn't want MS to feel left out
Microsoft, Adobe, wilt during Australian price gouge grilling ? The Register
I think The MS Managing Director came out with some gems herself.

 

[Layback Bear]

I don't believe it is the companies.
Different countries have different laws, regulation and or tariffs that add to the price. When companies have to comply to those things the cost is passed on to the customer and always will be.

 

[mjf]

I don't believe it is the companies.

In Australia and NZ it is blatant price gouging as revealed in the Parliamentary inquiry. The article explains this. Australia has no import duty for items under $1000 and for software there is no import duty on software regardless of value. There may be a 10% GST (goods and services tax). Add it all up taking into account exchange rates and the gouging gap is very significant. These companies apply regional protection which facilitates the gouging.
As far as tariffs go, Australia has a free trade agreement with the USA. So there are no tariffs and a free trade agreement makes gouging more disgraceful.
When I buy Photoshop plugins from the likes of Topaz Labs there is no gouging.

Mind you other countries get slugged as well to various extents (eg. UK).

For business MS and Adobe have virtually no competition. The business takeup of linux, LibreOffice, GIMP (for prof photographers) is really quite small.

 

[Layback Bear]

You obviously know more about the mater than me. I was just looking at the numbers.

A product cost of $119.00 plus 10% GTS = $130.90. Figure in exchange rate cost that very all the time that is pretty close to $133.00.

Don't confuse me with someone who trust all large companies.
I don't and do believe that many will take advantage of customers when that advantage is available and unrestricted.
Whether it's called a GTS or a tariff it's still 10%.
I will read the article again; maybe I missed something.

Well I read it again. I also read when it first come out in March of 2013.
Has the government made any changes in law or regulations that help the consumer sense the hearing?

Is their a break down some where that gives all the cost of why the price difference? I mean every thing.

Do you folks down under have internet download fees?

I know why big companies get their prices. (Because they can) is their method. I was wondering about little hidden fees, taxes or what ever they want to call them that governments hide.

Something like a freon tax when you fly. Yes this country has a tax on freon because it's used in the air condition on the air craft. It's added into the price of a ticket.
Another little goodie. Most if not all big cities in this country have a bed tax that is hidden. Every bed in a motel or hotel has a bed tax. It's hidden in the price of the room. Every bed that is used is taxed every time it is used. If you use the room for 5 days you pay 5 days bed tax included in the price of the ticket.
A product can be free of tariffs and import fees but still have hidden government fees and taxes.
I don't know if this is the case down under because I can't find a lot of information on the subject.

 

[whs]

Michael, did you ever try to work thru a US proxy address.

 

[mjf]

Michael, did you ever try to work thru a US proxy address.

No Wolfgang. I'd need to figure out how to do it. But I gather Adobe software is aware of your geographic location in normal operation (? maybe from your IP address in a "phone home") and blocks the software from running. I'm not sure if MS do the same.
I guess there is a principle here. These corporations have a very large market outside of North America and people don't like getting screwed.

 

[whs]

They are protecting the local organizations. Before we had the EU, that was also the case in Europe. But within the EU there is free flow of goods and services and companies are not allowed to block purchases from other countries. Some companies were still trying to do that (e.g. Mercedes) and got hefty fines from the EU. And the EU does not deal with change - it is always hundreds of millions. In another case, Microsoft was in for 732 Million.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/technology/eu-fines-microsoft-over-browser.html?_r=0

 

[Britton30]

From what little I know, prices in Australia in general are higher than in the US. I suspect one reason is the cost of shipping to what is basically a secluded island, albeit a continent.

OZ also has that consumer protection law which can make companies liable for a lot of things, even misuse in some cases, which I suspect would be added to costs. In the end I would expect to find the actual spending power of AUD and USD would be nearly equal.

 

[whs]

Taxes are another reason for higher prices. In Germany, US products cost 30% more to start with because the import duty is 11% and the sales tax is 19%. To that you have to add shipping cost etc.

On the other hand I can buy a Mercedes 40% cheaper than in Germany although they are made only 10 miles from my home in Germany. Go figure. Example: This car costs appr. $30.000 in the US but the exact same car is the equivalent of $50.000 in Germany.

 

[mjf]

I can recall prices in the US being substantially lower in many areas when I lived there. Cars, clothes etc were much cheaper. Maybe it was a larger and more discerning market. Now if another country tried to gouge in the US they would be sued due to US anti gouging laws.

I don't think consumer protection laws are the issue. The US has always been more litigious but we're following. When it comes to software it doesn't cost the supplier anymore for an Australian consumer to download bits than an Australian consumer from a US server. When I buy parts for a new PC some of them are US sourced and shipping costs are relatively small when shipped to an Australian distributor. We are as remote as anywhere in South East Asia were the US source many of its consumer products.

 

[Layback Bear]

It gets very difficult to figure out pricing for most of us because we really don't have all the information.

 

[mjf]

It gets very difficult to figure out pricing for most of us because we really don't have all the information.

You figure it out pretty quickly when you are on the receiving end.

 

[marsmimar]

Michael, I think another part of the "problem" is that Australia is upside down. It takes a huge change to the manufacturing process to keep products right side up when shipping to the land down under. And that adds to the overall cost.

If there are any skeptics who don't believe that Australia is upside down, why do they have upside down maps just for them? :roflmao:



NOTE: Before anyone takes offense, this is just some good-natured humor. Happy Holidays, everyone!

 

[Britton30]

Interesting map Lee, I've never seen one before.
Merry Christmas to you too.

 

[Wandering one]

Years ago I used Norton products. The last one that I used was their removal tool. Wanted to renew A/V on line. Download for Canada was close to 70% on top of US price.
Art.

 

[Britton30]

Years ago I used Norton products. The last one that I used was their removal tool. Wanted to renew A/V on line. Download for Canada was close to 70% on top of US price.
Art.

I still use and recommend it. There are many security suites which can be found sometimes free with a rebate or $90 for a year. The publisher's renewal process is usually high priced so I buy a whole new version and plug in the new key. Price shopping is needed with them.

 

[whs]

Years ago I used Norton products. The last one that I used was their removal tool. Wanted to renew A/V on line. Download for Canada was close to 70% on top of US price.
Art.

I just got NIS for 3 systems from Newegg. Cost me $20. Sometimes the brick and mortar stores advertise it for quasi free. Last time I paid $69.95 but got a $70 mail-in rebate. So I really only paid the 6% sales tax.

 

[mjf]

Following on from the above....
Most of the stores here don't seem to be offering NIS but rather Norton 360. I'm assuming 360 is NIS + a couple of things you probably don't need (backup, tuning)---am I right? I need to update in the next few weeks and a well known consumer electronics store here is offering me a 5 pack OEM 360 for $50. Should I take it?