Quote:
Originally Posted by jusmee
That's weird, because it's the Asian manufacturers that are driving the cost lower and lower. Cheap clones of anything the Western companies come up with flood the market, and when they approach the functionality of the real thing (and they frequently do) they are one of the main reasons the Amazons and Apples start to drop prices.
It's also not just the el-cheapo clones, it's also respectable Asian companies that bring our very competitive products at lower prices. In fact, Astak selling the Jinke readers is just one example of this. When I bought my V5 at $199, that was way cheaper than Nooks and Kindles. Maybe you guys started the price wars? That'd be ironic, but as a consumer, I'm glad you did.  |
Dear Jusmee:
Yes, I see 1-2 new E-Ink El-Cheapo every month here. Maybe $117-$125 COST TO US. Sounded good until we looked into it. Almost no formats. No DRM at all. Sealed-In battery. Class "B" screen.
Yes, they are flooding the market... with crap. Most consumers are not at all informed like MR people. They would not know E-Ink from FInk! They buy it, hate it, and never want another eBook Reader.
Yes, when you bought your V5 from Astak we were the low price leader for quality devices. Essentially nothing has changed. Amazon's cost to make the Kindle 2 is still at that point where the right price is likely $279. There were no savings in manufacturing cost and they are advertising like mad... but they are willing to lose $130 per device just to gain Market Share. It is not fair... but it is reality.