Australian Pricing Inquisition

Well, Adobe is already quaking. If prices can be dropped 20% that easily and that fast, Australia may have a point.

Microsoft should increase prices throughout the world to match Australia's prices. Logically, that should also make Labor MP Ed Husic happy as well.

25 minutes ago, Proton2 wrote

Microsoft should increase prices throughout the world to match Australia's prices. Logically, that should also make Labor MP Ed Husic happy as well.

Which is what has just happened in Europe with driver's insurance -- some guy took the insurance companies to court because female drivers had lower premiums (presumably based on actuarial data) and the courts judged that this was unfair The insurance companies were told to make the premiums the same, to they've raised premiums for female drivers to match those of male drivers. 

Herbie 

10 hours ago, evildictait​or wrote

*snip*

Since MS, Adobe and Apple's products are in the majority not gaming software, I fail to see how the Australian government's alleged ban on gaming software makes any difference to the price of Visual Studio or an iPhone.

I know their crooked law to gaming industry may not translate to crooked laws elsewhere, hence, I have been using the word, "likely". In related topic, games are also a lot more expensive. Partially due to their high cost of distribution, sales team, accounting team, customer support team, and etc.

Sounds like some religious tribunal against heresy.

5 hours ago, magicalclick wrote

*snip*

I know their crooked law to gaming industry may not translate to crooked laws elsewhere, hence, I have been using the word, "likely".

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here, and assume that you are using the word 'crooked' incorrectly, and meant to say something else.

In related topic, games are also a lot more expensive. Partially due to their high cost of distribution, sales team, accounting team, customer support team, and etc.

http://au.gamespot.com/features/why-australian-game-prices-will-not-drop-6401518/

The future of physical games is very limited, and will be phased out as electronic sales become the norm. At that point, they will be in the same boat as the other players mentioned above, trying to justify higher prices for something that involves no significant cost difference.

13 hours ago, Bas wrote

Well, Adobe is already quaking. If prices can be dropped 20% that easily and that fast, Australia may have a point.

My Adobe subscription happened to renew last night, and it magically dropped by 25%

It's excellent that Adobe found 25% cost savings over-night and were able to pass them on

1 hour ago, elmer wrote

*snip*

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here, and assume that you are using the word 'crooked' incorrectly, and meant to say something else.

*snip*

http://au.gamespot.com/features/why-australian-game-prices-will-not-drop-6401518/

The future of physical games is very limited, and will be phased out as electronic sales become the norm. At that point, they will be in the same boat as the other players mentioned above, trying to justify higher prices for something that involves no significant cost difference.

are we talking about a product that provides customer service that is likely to have established an expensive office and employees in the local region, or are we talking about Microsoft Points being overpriced?

4 minutes ago, magicalclick wrote

*snip*are we talking about a product that provides customer service that is likely to have established an expensive office and employees in the local region, or are we talking about Microsoft Points being overpriced?

I have no idea what you are talking about, and I'm starting to suspect that neither do you.

17 hours ago, elmer wrote

*snip*

Personally, I have no issue with the short list (about 25?) of games that are banned.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_video_games_in_Australia

 

I do.  I grew up thinking all aussies were beer swilling rugged individuals with giant knives and a healthy respect for drop-bears.

Turns out they are just perfumed dandies....

 

7 hours ago, cbae wrote

Sounds like some religious tribunal against heresy.

Nobody expects the Australian inquisition!

34 seconds ago, Sven Groot wrote

*snip*

Nobody expects the Australian inquisition!

AUD has a relatively high exchange rate range against USD (the upper range is about 80% higher than the lower). When deciding price be sold to Australia that would last for some time and cannot mark price-up just because of exchange rate change, I'd probably choose a mid-way upper price level.

Although we can buy softwares through the internet, Microsoft has still need to care for local retail shops that are selling retail boxes for them, therefore cannot make the online option "too attractive".

Btw, I heard the internet connection speed was slow for most area in Australia, is that still the case there?

@cheong:AUD is currently around USD1.05 (i.e. stronger than USD) and has been above parity for a long time.

Australia is currently in the process of rolling out a nation-wide FTTP replacement of the existing copper network. Once completed, 97%+ of the country should have access to 100Mb+ broadband. Until then, anywhere outside the main metro regions (and even areas inside those) are limited by the poor condition of the copper network.

Oh, I see... well that OK then...