Macmillan is Australian for Even Bigger Ripoff

Blue Tyson · 12-22-2011, 08:48 PM

Several days ago I wrote an article about the astonishing price hikes inflicted on Australians by French usurers Hachette Livre. So large, in fact, that the average of the prices samples was: 164%. Macmillan’s hike? Much larger.

Astoundingly, believe it or not, there are even bigger ripoff merchants at work. Most ebook readers will easily be able to guess the villain here. In fact, Macmillan jacked up their prices not long before xmas – ONLY IN AUSTRALIA.

Unlike Orbit, Macmillan’s websites are absolutely terrible from a reader point of view, without even an obvious book list, except in the case of the Australian site, where they have links to ebooks – but every single one returned a ‘page not found’ message. One wonders at such incompetence in their biggest sale season. Merry Christmas MacScroogmillan.

To have a look at their pricing I decided to search for Tor UK books while logged into my Australian Amazon account. There were 50 or so book listings available quickly, which is a good sized sampling for comparative purposes, in this case, I used a the UK logged-in price.

For comparison, the Orbit sample had these averages:

USA – $8.42 and Australia – $13.82

The Macmillan/Tor UK sample

UK – $8.66 and Australia – $16.42"

Full article at teleread :-

http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/ma...by-blue-tyson/

wannabee · 12-22-2011, 10:50 PM

Yep.
Hi Ho, Hi Ho
It's overseas I go.

. . . . to shop!

sabredog · 12-23-2011, 12:15 AM

Just reinforces my choice of purchasing online for almost everything I buy now.

Blue Tyson · 12-23-2011, 12:18 AM

Hey, one place I did well at was rivers online - they have clearances with some good deals - only free shipping if you spend 100, but hey. Found shoes for $15 earlier in the year (3 different varieties) - and I find it hard to find them to fit, here.

So they are worth a look, speaking of locals.

rkomar · 12-23-2011, 12:57 AM

Here in Canada, we've always had about a 25% markup on the price of goods vs the USA. Most of our population lives near the border, and cross-border shopping isn't rare. I wonder if we too wouldn't see the same ridiculous markup on goods as seen by you Australians if we didn't have such ready access to the American market. It must be something in the colonial waters (or Commonwealth waters, since the Brits don't seem to be immune either).

Fbone · 12-23-2011, 01:33 AM

A second publisher? I'm beginning to think these price increases are the result of legislation or taxes/duties.

Blue Tyson · 12-23-2011, 01:37 AM

Certainly nothing like that happening in Australia. Buying a foreign product from a foreign retailer in a foreign country = no taxes payable.

firefox · 12-23-2011, 02:07 AM

Adding to what Blue Tyson said, GST (Government Sales Tax) isn't charged for all purchases under $1000 imported or bought from overseas. Has to be under $1000.

Blue Tyson · 12-23-2011, 02:10 AM

And not relevant to digital purchases anyway, that has nothing to do with customs.

sabredog · 12-23-2011, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

A second publisher? I'm beginning to think these price increases are the result of legislation or taxes/duties.

Nope

The end taxes do NOT increase prices the amount they are currently.

I would recommend you check out some of the local news sites and do a search. Plenty on articles and reports regarding rip-off prices here in Australia.

Protectionism of Australian based industries plays a small part, but only small.

sabredog · 12-23-2011, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firefox

Adding to what Blue Tyson said, GST (Government Sales Tax) isn't charged for all purchases under $1000 imported or bought from overseas. Has to be under $1000.

Even if it was a viable option to charge GST for those said same goods, they would still be far cheaper than retail here.

BTW, that is Goods and Services Tax

Fbone · 12-23-2011, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabredog

Nope

The end taxes do NOT increase prices the amount they are currently.

I would recommend you check out some of the local news sites and do a search. Plenty on articles and reports regarding rip-off prices here in Australia.

Protectionism of Australian based industries plays a small part, but only small.

No need for me to search the web. I experienced the prices while I was there. While some things were rather pricey ... like a bottle of salad dressing ... other things were incredibly cheap like the weekly rent on a 1 bedroom flat.

sabredog · 12-23-2011, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

No need for me to search the web. I experienced the prices while I was there. While some things were rather pricey ... like a bottle of salad dressing ... other things were incredibly cheap like the weekly rent on a 1 bedroom flat.

Rent?

Not any more. Not now.

tompe · 12-23-2011, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

Certainly nothing like that happening in Australia. Buying a foreign product from a foreign retailer in a foreign country = no taxes payable.

When you buy an ebook the point of sale is in your country. So it is not the same as buying a paper book from another country.

So what is the VAT for books in Australia?

sabredog · 12-23-2011, 07:52 AM

10% GST on all books, plus additional costs because the books are sold in Australia.

Read Blue Tyson's articles on Teleread. It will explain how Australians are held in utter disdain by publishers and certainly ripped off.

12-22-2011, 08:48 PM	#1
Blue Tyson Blue Captain Posts: 1,595 Karma: 5000236 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G,Huawei Ideos X3,Kobo Mini	Macmillan is Australian for Even Bigger Ripoff Several days ago I wrote an article about the astonishing price hikes inflicted on Australians by French usurers Hachette Livre. So large, in fact, that the average of the prices samples was: 164%. Macmillan’s hike? Much larger. Astoundingly, believe it or not, there are even bigger ripoff merchants at work. Most ebook readers will easily be able to guess the villain here. In fact, Macmillan jacked up their prices not long before xmas – ONLY IN AUSTRALIA. Unlike Orbit, Macmillan’s websites are absolutely terrible from a reader point of view, without even an obvious book list, except in the case of the Australian site, where they have links to ebooks – but every single one returned a ‘page not found’ message. One wonders at such incompetence in their biggest sale season. Merry Christmas MacScroogmillan. To have a look at their pricing I decided to search for Tor UK books while logged into my Australian Amazon account. There were 50 or so book listings available quickly, which is a good sized sampling for comparative purposes, in this case, I used a the UK logged-in price. For comparison, the Orbit sample had these averages: USA – $8.42 and Australia – $13.82 The Macmillan/Tor UK sample UK – $8.66 and Australia – $16.42" Full article at teleread :- http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/ma...by-blue-tyson/

12-23-2011, 02:07 AM	#8
firefox MR Gen Z Representative Posts: 67 Karma: 696 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NSW, Australia Device: Barnes & Noble NOOKclassic	Adding to what Blue Tyson said, GST (Government Sales Tax) isn't charged for all purchases under $1000 imported or bought from overseas. Has to be under $1000. Last edited by firefox; 12-23-2011 at 02:07 AM. Reason: Defining GST

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12-22-2011, 10:50 PM	#2
wannabee Media Bloke Posts: 2,382 Karma: 113956855 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NSW - Australia Device: iOS	Yep. Hi Ho, Hi Ho It's overseas I go. . . . . to shop!

12-23-2011, 12:15 AM	#3
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Just reinforces my choice of purchasing online for almost everything I buy now.

12-23-2011, 12:18 AM	#4
Blue Tyson Blue Captain Posts: 1,595 Karma: 5000236 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G,Huawei Ideos X3,Kobo Mini	Hey, one place I did well at was rivers online - they have clearances with some good deals - only free shipping if you spend 100, but hey. Found shoes for $15 earlier in the year (3 different varieties) - and I find it hard to find them to fit, here. So they are worth a look, speaking of locals.

12-23-2011, 12:57 AM	#5
rkomar Wizard Posts: 3,042 Karma: 18821071 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	Here in Canada, we've always had about a 25% markup on the price of goods vs the USA. Most of our population lives near the border, and cross-border shopping isn't rare. I wonder if we too wouldn't see the same ridiculous markup on goods as seen by you Australians if we didn't have such ready access to the American market. It must be something in the colonial waters (or Commonwealth waters, since the Brits don't seem to be immune either).

12-23-2011, 01:33 AM	#6
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,284 Karma: 101696762 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	A second publisher? I'm beginning to think these price increases are the result of legislation or taxes/duties.

12-23-2011, 01:37 AM	#7
Blue Tyson Blue Captain Posts: 1,595 Karma: 5000236 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G,Huawei Ideos X3,Kobo Mini	Certainly nothing like that happening in Australia. Buying a foreign product from a foreign retailer in a foreign country = no taxes payable.

12-23-2011, 02:10 AM	#9
Blue Tyson Blue Captain Posts: 1,595 Karma: 5000236 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G,Huawei Ideos X3,Kobo Mini	And not relevant to digital purchases anyway, that has nothing to do with customs.

12-23-2011, 07:52 AM	#15
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	10% GST on all books, plus additional costs because the books are sold in Australia. Read Blue Tyson's articles on Teleread. It will explain how Australians are held in utter disdain by publishers and certainly ripped off.