Quote:
Originally Posted by Fbone
Because cost-of-living is different. If you want to compare goods and services properly between countries, this needs to be considered.
A quick search shows that minimum wage in Aus is $15.51 (USD 15.83). Very good.
In my state it's AU $7.10 (USD 7.25). Less than half of yours.
Everyone involved in publishing that book in Aus is earning higher salaries with free or low-cost health care.
What would you prefer $15.51/hr with free health care and $20 book or
$7.10/hr, no health care and $10 book?
Edit: A person is Aus would have to work 1.29 hours at min wage to pay for that book. In my state they would need to work 1.41 hours. Taxes not figured in.
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Read Blue Tyson's articles on Teleread and Mobileread.
A 140% markup is nothing to do with the cost of living.
The health care system is broken here and it is NOT free unless you are considered low income. Even then the wait for an operation could exceed TWO years.
Our dollar is over parity with the US dollar, imports are far cheaper now than before. Prices should have gone down, instead they are artificially ramped up by money grubbing publishing and entertainment industry companies to gouge Australian consumers.
I do not expect you to have the slightest understanding of how angry the Australian consumer currently is. The last report from the Australian Consumer organisation CHOICE was exceptionally damning towards retail and distributors.
Online purchasing is on the rise here and retail does not like it one little bit. Incidently. I can buy books, bluray movies etc from Amazon UK far cheaper than locally.
I refuse to believe that a almost double the price difference in a paperback price is caused by the cost of living. Don't patronise me or other Australians who are justifiably angry with how Publishers treat us beneath contempt with geo restrictions and price gouging policies.