Macmillan is Australian for Even Bigger Ripoff

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

Yes, that is one thing that peeves buyers. When dollar goes the other way prices jump almost immediately. Reverse does not happen.

Abso-bloody-lutely!

[Pushka]

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

Yes, that is one thing that peeves buyers. When dollar goes the other way prices jump almost immediately. Reverse does not happen.

Indeed, prices are as likely to increase!

[Solicitous]

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

Yes, that is one thing that peeves buyers. When dollar goes the other way prices jump almost immediately. Reverse does not happen.

Some months ago I got a little curious about our local petrol price in comparison to our exchange rate, as I recall around 1-2 years ago price was around $200 a barrel. What I did was grab the daily price of crude oil and combine it with our daily exchange rate. When I graphed it the two lines were basically parallel, our exchange rate goes up, so does the price of petrol. Exchange rate lowers, so does the price of petrol. What I still hadn't worked out is why, when we produce most of the oil we need from our own rigs, yet our crude price is based off singapore. Anyhoo.

But many retailers here need to have a good think about their pricing. I needed a VGA-HDMI cable. Dick Smith thought it a good idea to have a $29.95 price tag. MSY in Melbourne thought $3 was good enough. Both identical in specs. So umming and ahhhing, do I spend $27 in markup to buy from a store where the staff know nothing about the products being sold and have no motivation to provide good customer service, or save the $27 and still get bugger all service and lack of caring?

So not only do we have pricing discrepency between us and overseas sellers, but also with just our local businesses. Makes me sick when companies cry poor but when you look behind the scenes they sell products with up to 300% markup.

I tell you, I still think Baen is one of the best ebook publishers out there. ebooks are set at usually $6USD. Live in the US, $6 thanks. Live in Australia? $6 USD please. Live in some remote part of the world with no running water, $6 from you too please. None of this "Ah Australia, land of Mick Dundee and throw another shrimp on the barbie mate....we'll charge you $12 for this ebook just because we're good people".

But at least we have a winner of a government controlled by a handful of independents....they'll save us

[Blue Tyson]

Or charge you 15, 20 and 30 now, actually. And be happy to have sales in other countries, and never yours.

A bit of browsing over the last couple of days I seem to have noticed Rupert Murdoch's peons have joined the ripoffery, too.

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by Solicitous

But at least we have a winner of a government controlled by a handful of independents....they'll save us

Righto, you breathed too heavily whilst writing this post. 'fraid you are going to have to pay a carbon (dioxide) tax...sorry....

On the cable side of things, I use Cable Chick. Great service with equally good product.

I have been buying ebooks from Baen for quite a while. Their webscriptions is a required monthly purchase from me. Any format any time, but only one payment needed.

[Blue Tyson]

Reading a webscription book at the moment, too!

[sabredog]

I am reading an excellent SF mil series (so far) by an indie author purchased through Amazon.

The Belt Loop.

[Blue Tyson]

Today I read the first two of Stephen Hunt's Sliding Void series similarly - he has another SF duology, too. So check that one out if you haven't seen it.

Military SF is not usually my thing, but I'll have a look. Haldeman's Forever War is 4.95 too, btw. Speaking of more anti-ripoffs.

[sabredog]

I have just started the first book in the Belt Loop series, so it is certainly promising.

Another book you might want to consider is the "Through Struggle, the Stars". Excellent read, excellently priced.

Unlike what some believe, there are a plethora of excellent authors out there whom you do not have to mortgage the house for.

[PKFFW]

Originally Posted by Solicitous

But many retailers here need to have a good think about their pricing. I needed a VGA-HDMI cable. Dick Smith thought it a good idea to have a $29.95 price tag. MSY in Melbourne thought $3 was good enough. Both identical in specs. So umming and ahhhing, do I spend $27 in markup to buy from a store where the staff know nothing about the products being sold and have no motivation to provide good customer service, or save the $27 and still get bugger all service and lack of caring?

See, at least you understand you aren't supposed to expect service from MSY! Why is it that so many people go to MSY and stand there for an hour asking every question under the sun about every different product and wanting the person behind the counter to baby talk them through their purchase?!?!?!?! All while 15 people stand in line behind them just wanting to go up and make a quick purchase. So fucking frustrating! If you want to spend time asking questions and having your hand held the whole way go to Hardly Normal or some other shop for computer idiots and let those of us who have a clue walk in, make our purchase and walk out!

Luckily there is now another independent computer shop just across the road from them here in Sydney that no one seems to know anything about and their prices are as good or better.