Price Rip-offs?

[MainTitle]

With the Aussie Dollar still performing at a steady rate (currently AUD$0.92) why are the major Video companies (Fox, Warners etc) charging what appears to be outrageously inflated prices for box sets?

Eg. The just released "Rocky" Box Set featuring all six original movies and a 7th Bonus disc. Here it costs $AUD115.00 and the U.S. equivalent is selling for US$49.98 (AUD 53.93)? Why such a huge difference? If converted the other way , Statesiders would be paying approx $106.40

If someone can explain the rationale behind this pricing I'd be happy to hear it!

[LordCrumb]

They have been doing that for years. Fox movies also take months (sometimes never) to drop in price too.

[Henners]

Originally Posted by MainTitle

With the Aussie Dollar still performing at a steady rate (currently AUD$0.92) why are the major Video companies (Fox, Warners etc) charging what appears to be outrageously inflated prices for box sets?

Eg. The just released "Rocky" Box Set featuring all six original movies and a 7th Bonus disc. Here it costs $AUD115.00 and the U.S. equivalent is selling for US$49.98 (AUD 53.93)? Why such a huge difference? If converted the other way , Statesiders would be paying approx $106.40

If someone can explain the rationale behind this pricing I'd be happy to hear it!

Might be because the cost to get it shipped to here for sale.. also the market probably increases the cost at the stores.. I guess the stores need to make some $$$ too....
Most things here do cost alot more than other places.. it's not unusual.. (off topic - look at the rising food costs)

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by Henners

Might be because the cost to get it shipped to here for sale.. also the market probably increases the cost at the stores.. I guess the stores need to make some $$$ too....
Most things here do cost alot more than other places.. it's not unusual.. (off topic - look at the rising food costs)

True, Oz is a very expensive place to live, thought the shipement cost deosn't really cut if anymore as we have are own plant for making blus.

[Zyclone]

is'nt there a much larger demend for blu rays in the states though compared to here

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by Zyclone

is'nt there a much larger demend for blu rays in the states though compared to here

Yes, but it still doesn't how explain how an individual consumer can buy one blu ray from America, ship it to australia, and still get it for less then if the individual went down to the local store. The prices will come down, but those who are to profit from the sales of blu rays will ensure they stay as high as possible (as long as profit maximisation is still bieng achieved) for as long as possible.

[Yautja]

Originally Posted by MainTitle

With the Aussie Dollar still performing at a steady rate (currently AUD$0.92) why are the major Video companies (Fox, Warners etc) charging what appears to be outrageously inflated prices for box sets?

Eg. The just released "Rocky" Box Set featuring all six original movies and a 7th Bonus disc. Here it costs $AUD115.00 and the U.S. equivalent is selling for US$49.98 (AUD 53.93)? Why such a huge difference? If converted the other way , Statesiders would be paying approx $106.40

If someone can explain the rationale behind this pricing I'd be happy to hear it!

Welcome to the real world mate, it's the same with all the groceries !!!
It's not wonder they make killer profits, it's the best time to buy from the U.S at the moment, been very busy with my e-bay purchases

[D-Blitz]

You guys are better off buying from people here or from eBay. I think Amazon ships internationally too. Even here in Canada, we pay 1.5X what our friends down south pay for most new releases.

[shireguy]

Originally Posted by MainTitle

With the Aussie Dollar still performing at a steady rate (currently AUD$0.92) why are the major Video companies (Fox, Warners etc) charging what appears to be outrageously inflated prices for box sets?

Eg. The just released "Rocky" Box Set featuring all six original movies and a 7th Bonus disc. Here it costs $AUD115.00 and the U.S. equivalent is selling for US$49.98 (AUD 53.93)? Why such a huge difference? If converted the other way , Statesiders would be paying approx $106.40

If someone can explain the rationale behind this pricing I'd be happy to hear it!

Supply and demand.

let's take DEMAND for Rocky Box Set Blu-ray :

- Demand in Australia - close to nil. Or maybe a handful
- Demand in the US - a little bit more than nil. And 100million people.

lets look at the SUPPLY or supplier :

- MGM via FOX. Fox is notorious for Region Locking its titles.
(* that is not to say that this will/will not be locked).
- Region locking reduces the capacity of (some) buyers to purchase outside their market.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc
As with the implementation of region codes for DVDs, Blu-ray Disc players sold in a specific geographical region are designed to play only discs authorized by the content provider for that region. This is intended to permit content providers (motion picture studios, etc.) the ability to support product differences in content, price, release date, etc., by region

This isn't news to anyone.

That they are cheaper in the US should give you sufficient reasons to purchase from there (given access to a modded player).


I look at my collection - and the majority of titles are from the UK - because they are cheaper to purchase from there than the few B&M stores in Sydney.

Again - its only history repeating itself - this is the same way that DVD more or less got cheaper in Australia. The ONLY difference this time is that REGION FREE players in DVD were much more easily accessible - unless there is a region free Blu-ray player from one of the major electronics companies, prices and sales in Australia will remain low.

[4styler]

It's good to see though newer releases are sticking around the $30 mark not $40. Don't want to sound like a JB fanatic, but they have some really awesome pricing

[linger63]

Originally Posted by MainTitle

With the Aussie Dollar still performing at a steady rate (currently AUD$0.92) why are the major Video companies (Fox, Warners etc) charging what appears to be outrageously inflated prices for box sets?

Eg. The just released "Rocky" Box Set featuring all six original movies and a 7th Bonus disc. Here it costs $AUD115.00 and the U.S. equivalent is selling for US$49.98 (AUD 53.93)? Why such a huge difference? If converted the other way , Statesiders would be paying approx $106.40

If someone can explain the rationale behind this pricing I'd be happy to hear it!

IT'S JUST GREED, Plain and simple

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by linger63

IT'S JUST GREED, Plain and simple

Well yes, but we would all do the same to maximize are utility. I think there may be a supply side monopoly of sorts in Australia as well (though we have more then one supermarket, are only two main supermarkets are coles and safeway, which is what I attribute to are extremely high groccery prices). I miss Tesco's.

[Celerony]

WOW, shocking difference!

Somebody seems to be really nuts...

Here in Holland, a lot of Fox back-catalog titles have really nice prices.
For instance; I bought The Day After Tomorrow for 15 euros at ''Saturn'', a big elektronics store, originating in Germany, jawohl!

[TERMINATOR T-800]

Originally Posted by MainTitle

With the Aussie Dollar still performing at a steady rate (currently AUD$0.92) why are the major Video companies (Fox, Warners etc) charging what appears to be outrageously inflated prices for box sets?

Eg. The just released "Rocky" Box Set featuring all six original movies and a 7th Bonus disc. Here it costs $AUD115.00 and the U.S. equivalent is selling for US$49.98 (AUD 53.93)? Why such a huge difference? If converted the other way , Statesiders would be paying approx $106.40

If someone can explain the rationale behind this pricing I'd be happy to hear it!

yes i can explain it..

it's because Australia gets their dvds from distributors on Planet Mars.
Shipping is expensive + dvd cases are made from Special Martian plastic
hence the expensive price...

Shipping is done by Nasa...instead of airmail,fedex,dhl etc,,,,

seriously i know all this..i myself buy overseas all the time.its much,much cheaper than Australian prices.
Its a Massive ripoff here.
but you also forgot that Australia always is last to lower prices even if Economy is good. not just dvds but Petrol,air travel and oil.
It's just an expensive place to live..thats the bottom line

[Zyclone]

high costs in living and lots of native wildlife to kill you things down under are good

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by Zyclone

high costs in living and lots of native wildlife to kill you things down under are good

There are some benifits at least.