Sony to cut 8,000 jobs

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

maybe they are buying it in a currency different from their own, and it costs them more because of the fluctuating exchange rates, so they have to raise their selling prices to reflect that.

But still. When I go to Canada they don't have US prices on stuff that was imported from the US. I pay in the Canadian $ price and since my credit card is in US $'s the price is converted to $ by my credit card company.

When you buy stuff in France that was imported from the US... don't you pay in Euros and price set in Euros?

BOb

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I don't understand why stores/products sell in currency specific values. Price the thing in the local currency for the store and my credit card company will do the exchange at the current exchange rate. Wouldn't this also be easier on the sellers too. Constantly adjusting prices with the fluctuating exchange rates must not be fun.

BOb

One reason is that Americans are famously bad at dealing with any currency other than the US$. I have separate US$ prices on my web site simply to stop the e-mails I used to get saying "What's that in real money" (or words to that effect) when I only used to display prices in Pounds Sterling.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by HarryT

One reason is that Americans are famously bad at dealing with any currency other than the US$. I have separate US$ prices on my web site simply to stop the e-mails I used to get saying "What's that in real money" (or words to that effect) when I only used to display prices in Pounds Sterling.

So "real" money did they mean gold?

Well, as an American I don't have that problem. Also, I have delt with buying stuff from over there. A few places were able to display the price in US$ using a dynamic web page. There was usually an asterisk next to the US price that stated it was based on current exchange rates and your CC/Bank may use a slightly different rate.

BOb

[vivaldirules]

Originally Posted by HarryT

One reason is that Americans are famously bad at dealing with any currency other than the US$. I have separate US$ prices on my web site simply to stop the e-mails I used to get saying "What's that in real money" (or words to that effect) when I only used to display prices in Pounds Sterling.

My experience is that we are generally so isolated from other nations and cultures that we simply lack the exposure and experience that would remotely compare to that in other countries. So knowledge or even the simple appreciation of different currencies, languages, governments, societal differences, etc. are lacking not from neglect or disregard but mostly because there is little need. We're just ignorant.

[HarryT]

Oh yes, I fully appreciate the reason why. As Europeans, we are used to dealing with people in other countries and with other currencies (especially in pre-Euro days), and that's something that just doesn't happen in the US. My comment was intended as a factual statement, not in any way as a criticism!

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

My experience is that we are generally so isolated from other nations and cultures that we simply lack the exposure and experience that would remotely compare to that in other countries. So knowledge or even the simple appreciation of different currencies, languages, governments, societal differences, etc. are lacking not from neglect or disregard but mostly because there is little need. We're just ignorant.

We are also arrogant (present company excepted). So far as I can tell we are the only country in the word that requires reading the native language to deal with currency. If you look at our coins we always write out the numbers in words rather than using numbers like the rest of the world. Not very tourist friendly.

Dale

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

We are also arrogant (present company excepted). So far as I can tell we are the only country in the word that requires reading the native language to deal with currency. If you look at our coins we always write out the numbers in words rather than using numbers like the rest of the world. Not very tourist friendly.

Dale

Nope - a number of British coins do likewise. The £1 coin says "ONE POUND" on it. I don't happen to have a £2 coin on me at the moment, but I think that it also has the amount in words.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Nope - a number of British coins do likewise. The £1 coin says "ONE POUND" on it. I don't happen to have a £2 coin on me at the moment, but I think that it also has the amount in words.

Ah, another thing we have in common. I guess I failed to notice when I was there since it didn't stand out. But as I recall, not all coins are that way in Britain.

Dale

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Ah, another thing we have in common. I guess I failed to notice when I was there since it didn't stand out. But as I recall, not all coins are that way in Britain.

Dale

No, indeed. Most of our coins have both words and numbers. Eg, a 20p coin has both "TWENTY PENCE" in words around the edge, and a number "20" on the "body" of the coin.

The only coin which fooled me when I first visited the US was the 10c coin, which simply says "ONE DIME" on it, but nowhere tells you what this mysterious "dime" is. I didn't have a clue what it was worth until I asked someone .

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, indeed. Most of our coins have both words and numbers. Eg, a 20p coin has both "TWENTY PENCE" in words around the edge, and a number "20" on the "body" of the coin.

The only coin which fooled me when I first visited the US was the 10c coin, which simply says "ONE DIME" on it, but nowhere tells you what this mysterious "dime" is. I didn't have a clue what it was worth until I asked someone .

I guess English isn't English after all. We also have a nickel which is what everybody calls it but the coin itself says "five cents". At one point in history I think the word nickel was actually on the coin itself but maybe it is progress of a sort.

Dale

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, indeed. Most of our coins have both words and numbers. Eg, a 20p coin has both "TWENTY PENCE" in words around the edge, and a number "20" on the "body" of the coin.

The only coin which fooled me when I first visited the US was the 10c coin, which simply says "ONE DIME" on it, but nowhere tells you what this mysterious "dime" is. I didn't have a clue what it was worth until I asked someone .

I never thought of that.