Geo-blocking unfair to Australians

[Rorschach]

Why is it that we here have to pay more for goods that are sold cheaper overseas... many goods when looked at on an equal footing cost Australians much more than say their US counterpart.
Why is it so.
Geo-blocking.

So you sit down in front of your computer to catch the latest episode of Doctor Who directly from BBC’s iPlayer, and you are greeted by an error message informing you that the program will play only in the UK.

So why are you blocked? How does the BBC website know you are not in the UK?

Geoblocking is the system used to limit your access to the internet, based on your geographic location.

So you sit down in front of your computer to shop online, you check the cost on 2 separate sites, the Australian site is more expensive than the US site, same company same overhead, but you live in Australia.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/a ... 6892558223

I hear the government is in favour of allowing this discrimination... in their TPP... I guess politics will be a good place to discuss that one then, when all the agreements are out in the open.

[freediver]

In most cases it is because the government taxes imports to protect inefficient local industries (eg cars, clothing until recently, CDs).

This one is a similar principle to giving a discount students and old people at the movie theatre. Geoblocking allows companies to charge what a sector of the market will pay.

[IQS.RLOW]

Actually, you will find that it is set up by manufacturers to protect their supply and distribution chains.

A lot of the time the manufacturer sells the 'rights' to sole distribution in a country or region and will make sure that other region A doesnt cross sell into other region B because region A and region B both paid either a significant sum or had to agree to certain stock levels, store fit out, other investment. It's not small biscuits either.

Most of the time Australia simply loses out because of economies of scale and high local costs for warehousing and labour. We simply don't have the turnover here to attract the volume pricing.

[Neferti]

Australia's problem is that the kids (who watch TV) think OBAMA is our President.

[Super Nova]

Australia's problem is that the kids (who watch TV) think OBAMA is our President.

We are he 52nd state (behind the UK) so that is a reasonable view to take. Our PM is just like a state governor in the USA's empire.

[Rorschach]

In most cases it is because the government taxes imports to protect inefficient local industries (eg cars, clothing until recently, CDs).

This one is a similar principle to giving a discount students and old people at the movie theatre. Geoblocking allows companies to charge what a sector of the market will pay.

Well that's a load of bullshit I and most people wouldn't pay it.

[Super Nova]

Why is it that we here have to pay more for goods that are sold cheaper overseas... many goods when looked at on an equal footing cost Australians much more than say their US counterpart.
Why is it so.

Clearly you are only referring to those goods and services purchased over the internet. so let's look at this.

Geo-blocking.

So you sit down in front of your computer to catch the latest episode of Doctor Who directly from BBC’s iPlayer, and you are greeted by an error message informing you that the program will play only in the UK.

So why are you blocked? How does the BBC website know you are not in the UK?

This is because in the UK everyone with a TV pays a TV license to fund the BBC. They argue that only those in the UK should benefit from this subsidised service and use Geo-blocking to block access from outside the UK.

UK based proxy servers are used to get around this until the BCC become aware and block those too.

is this fair, why not. Those who pay for the service should receive the service. User pays.

So you sit down in front of your computer to shop online, you check the cost on 2 separate sites, the Australian site is more expensive than the US site, same company same overhead, but you live in Australia.

If you buy something that has to be physically delivered, the cost base is completely different between countries. Australia is a small country with a large land mass. Local salaries are high. the cost to import, store, ship to your home is much more expensive and it does not have the volume that creates the same cost per unit efficiencies as compared to the volume sold in the US. That would be the main difference. Plus there is les competition in Australia for these services. Is Amazon in Australia.... NO... why not... it's not a big enough market and the costs would be too high.

For services purchased on-line.... it must be the lack of competition and costs to deliver these services in Australia as compared to the US.

I hear the government is in favour of allowing this discrimination... in their TPP... I guess politics will be a good place to discuss that one then, when all the agreements are out in the open.

They have to be in favour or no services like this will be delivered in Australia. Hell the population is just a little larger than Greater London with the landmass of main land USA minus Alaska.

[Rorschach]

I suggest you read the example in the article SN.
2 websites different prices... same article... cost of shipping doesn't come into the equation.

[Super Nova]

I suggest you read the example in the article SN.
2 websites different prices... same article... cost of shipping doesn't come into the equation.

Yep. Didn't read the article.

It appears it is about GST and tax differences plus some extra rip-off for Australia because we are used to the pain.

“It seems the ‘Australia tax’ is the new black in the rag trade, with major international manufacturers and distributors working to block Australians from getting a better deal.”

For example, this morning on the Australian version of the J. Crew website, a major US retailer who started shipping to Australia in 2012, a “silk chiffon sweet meadow dress” was listed at $AU323.90. Switch over to the American site and the same dress is listed at $228. Accounting for the exchange rate, it’s a $AU79 difference, or a 32 per cent mark-up. Ouch. And that’s just one example.

But why, you might ask? J. Crew has no Australian operations so no higher local wages to pay and shipping costs are a separate charge. Whole threads on forums including Whirlpool and Vogue have seen incensed shoppers gather to fume over the price difference.

A couple of posters included purported replies they received from J. Crew which said it takes into account the cost of doing business internationally and, “our prices are reflective of the value we deliver in the context of each local market.” In other words, J. Crew will charge Australians what it thinks local consumers will bear because we’re already used to high prices from local brands.

[IQS.RLOW]

It means J.Crew are still in the market for a local distributor and the price difference will be their selling point for anyone willing to pay the price for the exclusivity.

J.Crew are using the same model but simply working backwards from it to maintain the higher margin regions. The market will eventually sort them out, especially when you can VPN and use a freight forwarder/reshipper.
1. Buy shit from Amazon
2. Get it shipped to a sales tax free US address
3. Xxxxxx
4. Profit