Tech prices in Australia

Adobe, Microsoft, Canon & Sony Face Price Gouging Probe By Federal Government: http://smarthouse.com.au/Home_Office/Industry/U7N2T8T6

Finally something might be done about the insane prices we get on some goods over here. I've always wondered why we have such high prices, even when there is no logical reason, other than greed for doing so. Hopefully something actuully comes of this :D.

Your thoughts on the matter?

Please summarise the link in the OP.

Thanks.

All American companies do the same thing to a lesser extent in Canada but it's usually a 20-30% mark up rather than 100% (though I've seen as high as 100%). It's extra insulting when it's software, considering that there's hardly anything to manufacture and ship.

If they can get away with it, they can, because only Adobe makes Adobe software, so really what choice do you have? Unless Australians start buying Australian wares or just get the free stuff. One thing that I think may be tangentially related is that Australia has probably the worst internet controls, especially over piracy, of Western countries, and that likely is an upward pressure on software prices.

edited 29th Apr '12 12:07:13 PM by breadloaf

a 30% markup? Damn. Photoshop is bad enough at US prices.

Probably because they've learned that they can do so without suffering any decrease of sales. People will still buy it.

Well what are you going to do? There's only one Adobe Photoshop and if you are banned from buying internationally through DRM and government internet controls, you're screwed.

edited 29th Apr '12 6:53:35 PM by breadloaf

Well, Canada used to get the markup due to the fact that the Canadian dollar was worth less than the US dollar, but since it's about the same now, it's just that they can get away with it.

edited 30th Apr '12 3:10:50 AM by Balmung

1 AUD is worth more than 1 USD at the moment. I know it's unlikely, but I hope something will be done about it, it's frustrating seeing the price of online downloads like games are more expensive over here than anywhere else.

What could be done about it anyway?

Well. Does Australia get shafted because it has less buying power in general? Is Australia a really worthwhile market?

I guess that has little bearing on fair prices.

edited 30th Apr '12 6:46:32 AM by UltimatelySubjective

It's software, what does that matter? Any extra sales is more money and incurs nearly no extra production costs.

So Australia has less buying power and so I still my stuff at a higher prices there so that even less people are going to buy them.... what?