Do Americans have it better?

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

But why are the products on each of those sites different? I can understand (sort of) why some books won't be on sale here and not there, etc, but hardware!?!?!?

I have always thought that is because they do not want to handle all different rules in different countries for electronics. Also different countries have different laws about mandatory consumer rights. A smaller company can get away with selling to any country easier without too much risk of hurting their reputation.

[ladyjane]

Proud Canadian here, have been for ***ty some years, I don't want for anything I can't get here, good health, crappy weather,fantastic family and my sony reader loaded to the hilt. What more could a girl want.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tompe

I have always thought that is because they do not want to handle all different rules in different countries for electronics. Also different countries have different laws about mandatory consumer rights. A smaller company can get away with selling to any country easier without too much risk of hurting their reputation.

Another point to consider is that the USA has a "domestic market" of 300-odd million people. For many companies, that is a perfectly adequate customer base and they have neither the desire nor the need to go through all the hassles of dealing with international customers. This is, of course, annoying for us Europeans, who expect companies to trade internationally (because pretty much all companies in Europe do), but it is understandable.

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Kaz, I don't think it's a case of 'us versus everyone else.' I thinks it's 'us as we were versus us as we are now and as we could be.' I say this as an American. One who paid his dues in full during the mid 60's in Vietnam. I loved the US then and I love it now. This is why I want to see it reclaim the world position it once held before it sat back on its laurels and allowed #2, #3, and #4 to try harder and surpass it.

When I was 16 years old there were eleven American television manufacturers. Today there are none. When I was 16 years old, nine of the ten top world banks were American. Today there are none in the top ten. Amazon started as a book seller. Today it has diversified so far as to sell backyard water parks (which, by the way, they won't ship to my location,) medicines, sporting goods, clothing, etc. Diversification is needed in today's marketplace, but so is globalization. As we e-book buyers have discovered, there are plenty of other retailers out there willing and able to sell to us where ever in the world we are located. For every book we purchase from Fictionwise or the Sony Bookstore, that's one less book that Amazon has sold. Eventually that will have to enter into the thinking of the policy makers. If they want to maximize their advertising dollar, they must begin to think globally. Diversification isn't enough.

I'd love to see Amazon increase its business. But I'd like to see it do that by selling to a broader market.

Stitchawl

I couldn't agree with you more! I've seen the people in my country become complacent and uncaring on a number of fronts. The deterioration of the manufacturing industry upon which much of our economy was founded is, however, a direct result of globalization. I'm not against globalization, as long as it's done thoughtfully and with better business models than those that have been used up to this point. Frankly, I think much of the woes of our current economy can be laid at the feet of greedy CEO's who sold out their companies for their own profit and in so doing, sold out their workers. My husband used to work for AT&T Bell Labs/Lucent Technologies. Need I say more?!?

Sorry, now it's my turn to step off the soapbox.

Originally Posted by HarryT

Another point to consider is that the USA has a "domestic market" of 300-odd million people. For many companies, that is a perfectly adequate customer base and they have neither the desire nor the need to go through all the hassles of dealing with international customers. This is, of course, annoying for us Europeans, who expect companies to trade internationally (because pretty much all companies in Europe do), but it is understandable.

This is actually the point I would have made if I had not been so aggrieved by the "us vs them" feeling of the original question, although I would not have been as successful and as eloquent. Thank you, HarryT.

As to my initial statement, though, forgive my using "always", ficbot, you were correct to call me on that.

Oh, and slightly off topic, My family and I have excellent health care. My parents and my husbands parents have excellent coverage through medicare. I completely agree that there are problems with the system, but I wouldn't say that it is horrid.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Another point to consider is that the USA has a "domestic market" of 300-odd million people. For many companies, that is a perfectly adequate customer base and they have neither the desire nor the need to go through all the hassles of dealing with international customers. This is, of course, annoying for us Europeans, who expect companies to trade internationally (because pretty much all companies in Europe do), but it is understandable.

Yes, but that does not explain why Amazon UK is refusing to sell electronic items to people in Sweden.

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by tompe

Yes, but that does not explain why Amazon UK is refusing to sell electronic items to people in Sweden.

It's your Swedish-Made Penis Enlargers! They have RUINED this great country!!

[Cookie Monster]

Originally Posted by tompe

Yes, but that does not explain why Amazon UK is refusing to sell electronic items to people in Sweden.

Price discrimination. They can charge higher prices in different markets and what to keep it that way.

The American market may be large but the median American has a relatively low income compared to many other developed nations hence the lower price.

In other countries prices are higher because that is what the market there can bear. However, they don't want Europeans buying stuff on the cheap from America destroying their cash cow.

Look at DVD regions for another example of this.

[HansTWN]

I would put it this way -- Europeans are used to high prices. Gross incomes in a few European countries are a lot higher than in the US. Of course, that surplus goes to the tax man. The average German salary worker now hands over 49% for taxes, health insurance, unemployment insurance, etc. Add to that a 19% sales tax. While there has been a trend in recent years to buy cheaper goods, that has meant cheaper quality -- not cheaper prices for the main brands.

For many Americans shopping is a passion, comparing prices, etc. The competition is very cut throat. And the US market is much more transparent (comparison advertising, low price guarantees, etc -- all of which is illegal in much of Europe). Besides, internet purchases are taxed in Europe, so there is no incentive to buying on the net. If you have to pay shipment charges then you wind up paying more than in a store and you have to wait to get the goods.

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by Cookie Monster

...
The American market may be large but the median American has a relatively low income compared to many other developed nations hence the lower price.
....

Huh?

The median household income in the US is in fact rather hight (I believe in Europe only Luxembourg and Switzerland are higher.)

Come up with some other reason....

[Sparrow]

When we in Europe talk about 'Americans' we generally mean people from the U.S.; although anyone in South, Central or North America is also an American.

I often wonder - do non-U.S. Americans mind us using 'American' in that way?

(I'd be a tad disconcerted if the term 'European' was assumed to refer to a particular European country.)

[HarryT]

I generally say "North America" when I mean Canada as well. I think it's a lost cause to try to use "America" as anything other than a synonym for the USA .

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

When we in Europe talk about 'Americans' we generally mean people from the U.S.; although anyone in South, Central or North America is also an American.

I often wonder - do non-U.S. Americans mind us using 'American' in that way?

In Spanish we try not to use "American" for US-ans, "North-American" is also another term for US-ans that we try to avoid (when I say "we", I rather mean that it is actually often used, but conscious people frown it). We have our own word for US-ans ("estadounidense"), and "Americans" are from Chileans to Canadians, but quite often people from Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas.

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I generally say "North America" when I mean Canada as well.

What about Mexico?

[HarryT]

Isn't Mexico "central America" rather than North? My geography is a little vague .

[hidari]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Isn't Mexico "central America" rather than North? My geography is a little vague .

Mexico is part of North America. Seems that many a person is not aware of that when I speak to them in English or Spanish. My two Mexican friends say it is part of North America. However, I reckon it is a matter of maps, culture, or plate tectonics