Same Laptop, US $709/AU $927 but It Is AU $1120 Locally. Why Do We Always Get Ripped off? Anyway around It?

LBrotality on 12/11/2017 - 19:23
Last edited 12/11/2017 - 19:40 by 1 other user

Hey guys,

I was looking up the new 8th gen laptops on Amazon and came across this Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (8250U, 8GB, 256SSD)

On paper, it is everything I need in a laptop (maybe another 8GB stick for Chrome). But I can't ship it here, and the next cheapest available is $1400 on Dell website and Dell eBay. Even after the current 20% off, it would still be ~$200 more expensive than the US (after conversion)

Why do we get ripped off so much? Can I get it using Shopmate (or similar service) or do they have battery shipping restrictions?

If we wait for Amazon to operate here, will we be able to buy these things with US prices?

• 

  airal3rt on 12/11/2017 - 19:29

  +5

  It's almost like there is a tax in on everything for being in Australia… it's almost like we could call it The Australia Tax or something….

  • 

    ninetyNineCents on 12/11/2017 - 21:17

    +1

    Most of the time this is true, but in this case the Australian price is actually a better deal as Ruotian mentions we get at least 3 years warranty compared to just 1 in America.

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  spackbace on 12/11/2017 - 19:39

  +7

  US$709 = AU$927
  + GST (if sold within the country) = AU$1020

  Local stock - $1120

  Yes there's $100 difference… Not quite as dramatic as the original title would make it out to be.

  • 

    YRT on 12/11/2017 - 20:55

    +8

    Note Australian computers have a minimum of 2 -3 years warranty versus 1 in usa. The warranty is a cost to Dell which is likely the price difference.

    • 

      ninetyNineCents on 12/11/2017 - 21:16

      +1

      This is probably a very honest and accurate assessment. To purchase an extra year would typically cost something around $100 or more, so if you compare the 1 v 3 year warranty then $100 is actually a pretty good deal.

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  gmail92 on 12/11/2017 - 19:43

  I believe it is basic economics in the simplest terms - higher wage and salary -> more expensive goods. Then optimising supply and demand to maximise profit vs sales (ie. Potentially more profit by selling less at a higher margin then more at a lower margin). Also exchange rate changes can have a lagged impact.

  If you sold laptops, you would want to sell it at whay people are willing to pay (to maximise your profits).

  • 

    fantombloo on 13/11/2017 - 00:18

    higher wage and salary -> more expensive goods

    Not really. Many goods cost more in, for example, Eastern European countries than in USA. Eg: equivalent cars.

    sell it at whay people are willing to pay

    This is everything.

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  dcuksuop on 12/11/2017 - 22:11

  +2

  If you bought that in the US, you'll need to add sales tax which depends on the state. The price here includes GST. If you take it overseas you can claim GST back, which would then be close to the US prices + sales tax.