Outrageous Pricing

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by mrsp

I am not prepared to be gouged on price because I want the product - that would be silly. Uness there is an explanation that makes the pricing policy fair, such as the VAT thing, then there is a massive arbitrage opportunityfor someone in the states to buy these things from bookeen and then sell them on ebay to people like me and I will just wait to get a fair price.

Of course a prompt response to my email enquiry would help a lot...

If you bought the Gen3 from someone in the US, you'd at the very least have to pay for shipping from France to the US and from the US to AU. So basically, it would not really save you anything. Plus nobody on ebay would selling for just $350. So the only choice you have is to do what you are doing and try to get a hold of them and get it sorted.

[BKeeper]

Originally Posted by mrsp

I emailed them at 7.46pm on Sunday night local time and its now Tuesday 10.46am local time and as yet there is no reply.

I am not prepared to be gouged on price because I want the product - that would be silly. Uness there is an explanation that makes the pricing policy fair, such as the VAT thing, then there is a massive arbitrage opportunityfor someone in the states to buy these things from bookeen and then sell them on ebay to people like me and I will just wait to get a fair price.

Of course a prompt response to my email enquiry would help a lot...

I'm in the same situation.
I emailed them on Sunday, and I'm still awaiting their response. I supose it's normal, I'll give them 36h.
But you should get an answer in the next 15h hours.

I've also asked them to clear things up, given that by law the minimum legal warranty for consumer goods it's 2 years.

[mrsp]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If you bought the Gen3 from someone in the US, you'd at the very least have to pay for shipping from France to the US and from the US to AU. So basically, it would not really save you anything. Plus nobody on ebay would selling for just $350. So the only choice you have is to do what you are doing and try to get a hold of them and get it sorted.

Not really - if I use bongous.com's personal shopper service to buy the gen3 from bookeen in US dollars and have it shipped to the US and then forwarded to Australia I STILL come out 13USD or 9 euros ahead of buying it directly from Bookeen even with double shipping and the charge for the personal shopper service. And that assumes the parcel weighs 1kg (if its 2lbs or less then I am 21USD ahead).

[mrsp]

Originally Posted by BKeeper

I'm in the same situation.
I emailed them on Sunday, and I'm still awaiting their response. I supose it's normal, I'll give them 36h.
But you should get an answer in the next 15h hours.

I've also asked them to clear things up, given that by law the minimum legal warranty for consumer goods it's 2 years.

I was reading the FAQs on their website and found a second address - shop@bookeen.com as opposed to contact@bookeen.com. I forwarded my first email to the second address and asked which was correct and requested a read receipt. The read receipt came 12 minutes after I sent it but so far no actual response to the email itself.

[JSWolf]

The Sony Reader PRS-500 is less then 2 pounds and it includes the AC Adaptor. So I ould think the Gen3 is less then 2 pounds as well for the non-deluxe package.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by mrsp

and that's my point - if its 295 euro without VAT added then I am paying US$75 MORE than US customers which is not a fair pricing policy.

Presumably they've set the prices according to what they feel is best suited to each market and, like it or not, consumer electronics have historically been priced more cheaply in the US than elsewhere.

A company can set whatever price it wants - you have the choice as to whether or not to do business with them. Personally I think the product is worth the price, and have ordered one. If you feel otherwise, don't buy it.

[Barcey]

Teleread has an article on this. Check under "Currency Issues" http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=7427

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Presumably they've set the prices according to what they feel is best suited to each market and, like it or not, consumer electronics have historically been priced more cheaply in the US than elsewhere.

A company can set whatever price it wants - you have the choice as to whether or not to do business with them. Personally I think the product is worth the price, and have ordered one. If you feel otherwise, don't buy it.

But, Bookeen has set a price and they would get that price at less of a cost to the consumer. So I don't see any problem paying in whatever conversion rate is best for the consumer as long as Booken gets the money it has asked. If paying in US Dollars is cheaper for the consumer due to the exchange rate, then I don't see why not.

[tompe]

The price is different for different countries. It is not a question of exchange rate. Read the Teleread blog entry.

Regarding the EU directive mentioned in the blog entry. I thought this was three years nowaday (changed from two years a couple of years ago). Is my impression of this wrong?

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by BKeeper

I'm in the same situation.
I emailed them on Sunday, and I'm still awaiting their response. I supose it's normal, I'll give them 36h.
But you should get an answer in the next 15h hours.

I've also asked them to clear things up, given that by law the minimum legal warranty for consumer goods it's 2 years.

So you want it at the US price with a free 2 year warranty. Talk about having your cake and eating it too.

Dale

[JSWolf]

DaleDe is Bookeen is trying to be fair, then they'll have the same price all over and the same Warranty.

[BKeeper]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

So you want it at the US price with a free 2 year warranty. Talk about having your cake and eating it too.

Dale

Oh not at all, I have no problem with their pricing. (what made you think so?)
I'm ready buy.
I don't really care at all, a 2 year warranty is mandatory in the EU (for consumers). Whatever they say, I can assure you that.
(but let's not confuse legal warranty with commercial warranty)

In a nutshell, if all I get is 1 year and on top of that I have to pay for shipping to France for repairs no matter where I buy it, ...then I'll buy it in the US.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

DaleDe is Bookeen is trying to be fair, then they'll have the same price all over and the same Warranty.

Right now the warranty is different, VAT is different, US taxes are not in the price, and the current exchange rate on US dollars is depressed and is never constant compared to Euro's. I think Bookeen has to factor in a lot of stuff to compute the selling price since they can't change it daily as the exchange rates change. I do believe the tack they have taken is a good first cut but I am still looking around for myself.

Dale

[JSWolf]

But can't Bookeen give the price in Euros and US dollars and let the person paying get the money to Bookeen given what exchange rate works best for the purchaser?

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But can't Bookeen give the price in Euros and US dollars and let the person paying get the money to Bookeen given what exchange rate works best for the purchaser?

Only if the terms are the same. Warranty costs definitely impact the cost of doing business. Why limit to Euros and dollars? They could price in all know currencies I suppose. I think they are anticipating the demand and targeting the bigger markets without regard to onesy and twosy business at this point and they seem to be overwhelmed at the moment and not hungry to make sales.

Dale