Sony Reader price markup for Australia

[AprilHare]

Originally Posted by playful

Calibre conversion too slow for you?

Warmest wishes,

Andy

Are you suggesting doing something illegal, Andy?

[Solicitous]

Originally Posted by AprilHare

I've been checking out Sony Readers and looked at the price comparison with the United States.
Given that Australia is currently pegged approximately equal to the loonie and near enough to the US dollar not to matter, I left out exchange rates.
The PRS350SC is advertised at $229 AUD inc. GST; that is, $208.18 AUD + $20.82 AUD GST.
The PRS650BC is advertised at $299 AUD inc. GST; that is, $271.82 AUD + $27.18 AUD GST.
On Sony US's website, the Reader Touch Edition is $229.99 USD and the Reader Pocket Edition is $179.99 USD.

That's a considerable price difference..

Actually I don't think it is that different. If we take (at current exchange rate of $AUD=$0.97US) then;

$179.99US = $185.33AUD

Now there is an import tariff/duty, which would be either 5% or 10%, so working off 10% that is $18.53. So total now is $203.86AUD. Add 10% GST and we're up to $224.25AUD. So $229 is there about right.

BUT!!! and this is a big BUT, those prices are based off retail price for Sony in the US. Sony would not import those units at their retail price. I think overall we are paying a little extra in comparison but not too much.

I had a discussion with Ectaco (unsuccessful) about the Jetbook and Australian prices. I could buy a Jetbook from Ectaco in the US and have it shipped at the high $45US price to Aus cheaper than I could buy it direct from Ectaco here in Aus (and showed the price difference taking into consideration GST and customs duties).

Now my argument is that the price in the US includes free local delivery, so this price is built into the selling price of the unit (and this was a while ago when the Aussie dollar wasn't as strong). By me buying from the US, that built in price is not needed to be expensed because I have paid the total sum for international shipping, hence a little extra $$$$ for Ectaco.

As the world is a global market now, sellers need to price geographically their goods for sale at comparable prices. Saying the world is global yet charging different amounts depends on country is defeating the purpose of a global market. Now don't get me started on the $650AUD Bebook Neo........

[playful]

Originally Posted by AprilHare

Are you suggesting doing something illegal, Andy?

Do you mean that converting a free EPub book to mobi in Calibre is illegal, AprilHare?

Or are you suggesting something else, something illegal altogether?... LOL...

Joke aside, point taken: I hadn't thought of the case where you'd want to buy an epbub. So much of what I read on the DX is PDF articles that I sometimes forget that people buy books!!!...

Warmest wishes,

Andy

[Chris Crouch]

Originally Posted by Solicitous

Now there is an import tariff/duty, which would be either 5% or 10%, so working off 10% that is $18.53. So total now is $203.86AUD. Add 10% GST and we're up to $224.25AUD. So $229 is there about right.

The GST replaced import duties and tarriffs on most things, so a final total of $203 is about right.

BUT!!! and this is a big BUT, those prices are based off retail price for Sony in the US. Sony would not import those units at their retail price. I think overall we are paying a little extra in comparison but not too much.

You're right, that is the big but.

At the moment, I can't find anyone selling the new sony readers in the US at a significant discount from list price, but I'm sure that will change.

That being said, at some point they'll be sold below RRP here too.

[playful]

Hi Chris, hi Solicitous,

When I looked on the customs site recently, I thought I read there's no duty for imports below AU$1000.
And when our second DX came in, there was no duty.

But maybe I'm misunderstanding.

Smiles,

Andy

[sherman]

I've just done a few rough calculations of the price of the 650 in NZ compared to the US price.

The Sony website has the Touch Edition listed for 399.95 NZD incl GST.

GST in NZ is now at 15%.

Therefore the price of the 650 sans GST is 339.95 NZD.

At todays exchange rate of 1 NZD = 0.75 USD, the price of the 650 in NZ sans GST is ~255.70 USD.

The price of the 650 in the US is 229.99 USD. US buyers will probably have to add ~6-8% sales tax to that price.

IF US buyers had to to pay sales tax of 15%, the US price would be 275.99U SD, which works out to 366.90 NZD.

In conclusion, we are probably getting a fairly reasonable deal in NZ, considering that we are a tiny little country of ~4 million, and ebook reading devices are almost unheard of.

[MrPLD]

What? Everyone's heard of NewZealand... it's the land where Elves, orcs and hobbits live! Surprised the population hasn't tripled in the last 10 years... I know I want to move there (despite the earthquakes)

[Adjust]

You want to move there because, half the population of New Zealand live in Queesland...

[AprilHare]

I've heard darker rumours regarding New Zealand.
They usually are with regards to sheep..

[Adjust]

Originally Posted by AprilHare

I've heard darker rumours regarding New Zealand.
They usually are with regards to sheep..

That's just common knowledge here in Australia...

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by Adjust

That's just common knowledge here in Australia...

[sherman]

Rumors are just that, rumors, and therefore should not be taken with serious regard. We (Humans and Sheep) have perfect, harmonious relations between the two species.

It is a peaceful relationship that is to the mutual benefit of Human and Sheep alike.


*** This post was written under supervision of a sheep "PR Guidance Councilor" ***

[Solicitous]

Originally Posted by playful

Hi Chris, hi Solicitous,

When I looked on the customs site recently, I thought I read there's no duty for imports below AU$1000.
And when our second DX came in, there was no duty.

But maybe I'm misunderstanding.

Smiles,

Andy

For personal purchased items under $1000 there is no customs duties, but items imported for the purpose of resale do attract regardless of their value, customs duties.

[AprilHare]

Originally Posted by sherman

Rumors are just that, rumors, and therefore should not be taken with serious regard. We (Humans and Sheep) have perfect, harmonious relations between the two species.

It is a peaceful relationship that is to the mutual benefit of Human and Sheep alike.


*** This post was written under supervision of a sheep "PR Guidance Councilor" ***

Peaceful? That's not what the sheep told me!

[speakingtohe]

As the world is a global market now, sellers need to price geographically their goods for sale at comparable prices. Saying the world is global yet charging different amounts depends on country is defeating the purpose of a global market. Now don't get me started on the $650AUD Bebook Neo........

Too funny. In Canada we pay different prices from major stores depending on what area we live in. Major retailers make you enter your postal code before they will even think of giving you a price on an item. Price differences can be quite dramatic (as high as 300% although that is rare)and they have nothing to do with taxes or import duties.
Shipping to remote areas can be costly, but rarely justifies the price difference.
The most annoying aspect is being able to order a Canadian manufactured item from the US and pay less including shipping and import duties.