These prices are crazy!

[tolo]

Well, I'm from Germany and I don't get it why every mp3player (and other technical equipment too) has so astronomical prices over here.
Some examples:
Rio Karma: US Price: ~180$
EU Price: ~250€ !!!
Iriver h320: US: ~ 250$
EU: 300 €

Now its the same with the x5.
According to suntec the recommended us price are 299$ but the rec. eu price is 349€ (= 459$ !!!!)
Does anyone know where i can probably get this player for a reasonable price when it is released ??

mfg
Tolo

[Mosef]

This is mostly because of taxes, shipping costs and normal prices for similar product. Living prices (dont know if this is the right word) in Europe are higher than in the USA, so all other products are normally more expensive. Also the Euro/US-Dollar change is a reason.

[bradavon]

Get a flash player if you find them expensive. I agree but that's just the way it is.

[arielext]

Everything is better over here, but we have the price to pay for that.

[tkaliniouk]

supply and demand. People in europe are willing to pay more for quality. People in US would oftentime sacrifice quality for price. Thus US doesn't get a lot of cool gadgetry, but in return we get cheaper price.

Of course what is the % of the european price that is tax? Americans don't include taxes in their prices.

[Mikeguy]

I don't agree with alot of the above--I think it's what pricing "traditions" have been set up and what companies also can get away with. Local taxes no doubt also play a part in this.

Try to buy a super automatic espresso machine in the U.S. and you'll see the opposite--MUCH less expensive in the EU.

[TheNipper]

Aren't all of Cowon's products made in Korea? So I don't know if the euro/dollar exchange rates mean anything in and of themselves, just that because of the weak dollar, those of you who use euros might spend less money if you could buy electronic gear from US distributors. Although after postage and duty fees were paid you might not end up saving much money.

I think one thing that drives up prices in Europe are the VAT taxes. Depending on the country the VAT can be as much as 25%. U.S. sales taxes are much lower, and, currently, if you buy something on the Internet, most of the time you pay no taxes at all.

[bradavon]

Like what tkaliniouk? I thought the level of electronics was about the same in Europe to North America?

[Mosef]

The exchange rates makes the ratio between the prices optically different. Because of the weak dollar (not the strong Euro!!!) it seems that the things in the USA are cheaper. But when the dollar gets stronger it will be almost equal.

In Germany the VAT taxes are about 16% a little bit under the european average.

[tolo]

Well, I think that these prizes are so high due to the politics of some corporations like Iriver, Iaudio and Rio. The ipods or creatives for example have nearly the same prize over here. That means that these differences can't be caused by taxes or shipping costs. These prizes are so high because the firms want them so high. Maybe they think the people here a willing to pay more for the same stuff ???
oh, and maybe i should mention that flash players can be extremely expensive too
(iaudio u2 256MB 180€ vs. 1GB U2 for 160$ o.O but you can compare for yourself i think:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index%3Dblended%26field-keywords%3Diaudio%26store-name%3Dall-product-search/104-5705307-9543110
http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/028-3073594-6115762).
Thats why im so upset about the whole thing. Unless i'm willing to get a creative Zen (i don't like that thing) i have to pay incredible amounts of money for something that is sold in the US for an reasonable price

greetz tolo!

[itou]

I agree on the fact that prices are based on internal policies corporations... Australia is hit at 2 levels: beside the fact that all electronics is available well after everyone, it's also quite expensive...
Eg: HD5 Sony is coming on the market in Europe and the states and we still don't have the HD3 for sale. HD1 = 600 AUD

I don't really care about Sony but it's pretty much the same with all brands and players.
Wondering when Australia will see the X5...

[bradavon]

It really really hate how companies stagger releases/films/cds etc . . . It's particularly bad for Australia & New Zealand.

In Germany the VAT taxes are about 16% a little bit under the european average.
It's 17.5% in the UK.