Why are Sony laptops so expensive in the UK?

Hi,

Does anyone know why Sony notebooks are so expensive in the UK, as opposed to the US? There is almost a 200% difference in prices !!! And it seems like it's only for Sony - other manufacturers have more or less equal pricing policies.

Any ideas?

 

Because idiots like me pay the prices which justifies Sony keeping them so high.

I guess if we didn't buy them, they'd have to lower the RRP's...

 

Because electronic devices just take high tax rates.

 

UK is a smaller market so they want more, more and more

 

Because MI6 in general, and James Bond in particular, tend to blow up their gadgets, Sony simply can't ship enough to UK to satisfy their demand and keep the price down.

 

Economy difference really, when it comes to prices.
Read up on average income and average pay per country. You will notice why prices vary depending on which country you buy things from.

Everything is adjusted depending on your country's average pay. For example, in USA the average salary is like 30k, there as in UK its almost twice of that.
You will notice ya guys pay more for food also. I remember traveling to UK before, food prices were almost double.

Price difference is also has to do with the importation taxes the government imposes. This is to keep the domestic market stable and sustainable. I can give you a good example too, in Thailand a new release game (REAL LEGIT) costs like US$5-10. Because of their pay is so low there compared to other countries.

 

I mainly go with the larger market argument.

Btw, the average salary in the UK is £20k/$33k.
It depends on how you measure it but still it is not quite the 60K you mentioned Caudex.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8151355.stm

The average salary in the US looks like it is over $40K anyway.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/business/economy/26income.html

 

Maybe if countries that use the Latin alphabet used the same keyboard layout instead of them all being slightly different it would reduce the cost a bit, in europe every country has a different keyboard layout

 

If you visit Japan someday you will not belive what prices there are for electronic devices .. about half to compare UK

 

I'm usually buying my Vaio laptops when I'm in Japan e.g. on a business trip.

It is ubelieveable how much cheaper these things are there - even cheaper than in U.S.

I remember when I bought TZ for approx. 1600 EUR there few years ago, it was ~3000 EUR in Germany and almost $3K in U.S.

And not just that, in Japan the level of customization is usually higher, and things traditionally get introduced there first.

 

Because all these products are manufactured there ''at home''

 

Well, 99% of laptops, including most Sony's, are made in China, and only most high-tech and expensive ones are Made in Japan.

Personally I wouldn't buy a Sony laptop in the UK (though I like the FW series a lot!) just because of such a price difference, unless I find it under a huge sale. I don't want to feel myself ripped off.

The average pay argument doesn't work I think, since many other electronic devices, including laptops, have roughly same prices in the UK and US, sometimes UK being even cheaper.

Thanks for the tip: I'll certainly save to buy it during a business trip to US or Japan (as if).

 

Btw,

Pricing has nothing to do with the average pay - I am quite sure you won't save too much money if you buy the Vaio in Thailand or Russia - and average pay there is less than in UK.

Pricing is primarily a marketing decision, and - of course, smaller part is influenced by exchange rate and local taxes.

 

There is definitely quite a big difference for FW series! But if you compare the W series, there isn't such a big difference. UK W-series price is £349 (UK version has smaller HDD at the moment). USA W-series is $499.99. Let's say, for example, USA sales tax is 5%, then you get a figure of $524.99. At 1.6 dollar exchange rate, that's about £328. At 1.5 dollar rate, then it's around £349. The US price will be even higher in places with a greater sales tax rate.

 

Good one, but unfortunately it's an Atom powered low end netbook.