Price fixing on UK consumer electronics - investigating/reporting

ebyss

I've been looking at getting a new mp3 player.

I've done a lot of research and it seems that Cowon mp3 players get good press, so I've been trying to buy one in the UK.

I've discovered that all UK resellers of Cowon products mark their products up 100% compared with the exact same products in the US.

See, for example, the Cowon D2 as listed on amazon.com (JetAudio reseller, US$179.99) versus the exact same product listed on amazon.co.uk as sold by third party advancedmp3players.co.uk (UK£199.99, allegedly the "most competitive" of UK Cowon resellers).

The US$ price has effectively been converted into GB£ on a greater than 1:1 exchange rate, meaning that Cowon products can only be purchased at 100% the US retail price. I am aware that there are extra import/shipping duties, but I'll bet the resellers aren't buying units at retail price (I've tried contacting them and neither they nor Cowon will give me any information on their pricng policies).

This is not an isolated incident - all listed sellers on Cowon's 'Where to buy' section for the UK have the same (or higher) prices for UK consumers.

Other mp3 brands don't have this doubled price (e.g. Apple, Sony, Sandisk, etc), so would this be price fixing?

If it is price fixing, or UK consumers are getting a raw deal either way, who should I report this to or write to complain?

Please help - I'm really cheesed off!!! :mad:

Thanks!

Sui_Generis

You should write directly to the OFT. Go to their website and
there should be links to contact them there I did it a few years ago re. the price of telescopes.

While they probably won't launch an investigation based on one complaint the more people do this the more likely they will investigate if there are sufficient complaints about a given product.

ebyss

Sui_Generis wrote: »

You should write directly to the OFT.

Thanks ^ have already dropped them a line. Wasn't sure if there were other avenues I should try or not.

Am awaiting a response, which will probably take a little while...

Sigur_2

Yeah, that isn't price fixing....

It'd be idiotic for large firms to collude over such a small time product.

What you're seeing is differing prices for different markets. The dollar price is irrelevant to your claims of a "price fix". It may be in your opinion a rip-off, but that doesn't mean there is anything nefarious occurring.

It may simply be price leadership/follower syndrome.

dc

Most international firms have always just changed the $ sign to £ for as long as I know. Electronics and software are the the biggest offenders, (MIcrosoft et al :rolleyes: )

We are not called Rip Off Britain for nothing. It is mainly because we put up with it, becoming an easy touch:rolleyes2

PeteHerts

The cheapest I've found this is £159 delivered.

http://www.shop-com.co.uk/iAudio_D2_8GB_MP3_Player_Colour_BLACK_from_Cowon_iAudio-58413514-73771688-p!.shtml?sourceid=309

There is also a company on eBay in the US that will deliver to the Uk if you ask them. The buy now price seems to be around £105 and I've noticed delivery of other items to the UK are $39.99 so about £20 I reckon.
They have sold over 19,000 items with a feedback of 99.8% so must be ok.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cowon-D2-8GB-multimedia-Player-Black-color-Brand-new_W0QQitemZ310035223830QQihZ021QQcategoryZ73839QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

saintscouple

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]!!!!!![/EMAIL].

peter_the_piper

PeteHerts wrote: »

The cheapest I've found this is £159 delivered.

http://www.shop-com.co.uk/iAudio_D2_8GB_MP3_Player_Colour_BLACK_from_Cowon_iAudio-58413514-73771688-p!.shtml?sourceid=309

There is also a company on eBay in the US that will deliver to the Uk if you ask them. The buy now price seems to be around £105 and I've noticed delivery of other items to the UK are $39.99 so about £20 I reckon.
They have sold over 19,000 items with a feedback of 99.8% so must be ok.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cowon-D2-8GB-multimedia-Player-Black-color-Brand-new_W0QQitemZ310035223830QQihZ021QQcategoryZ73839QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Don't forget there may be customs duty, vat and RM charges on top of this. Best check before ordering.

Edit, OP just found this, don't know if its any help to you. http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product.php?lang=&submenu=&menu=&product_id=24769&session=f847cf8c7d80f1900a3ab2ae4879566a

ebyss

saintscouple wrote: »

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]!!!!!![/EMAIL].

Has the thread been moved? If so, where to?

I'm testing responding here as I'm not sure what will happen!

Thanks

ebyss

PeteHerts wrote: »

The cheapest I've found this is £159 delivered.

http://www.shop-com.co.uk/iAudio_D2_8GB_MP3_Player_Colour_BLACK_from_Cowon_iAudio-58413514-73771688-p!.shtml?sourceid=309

There is also a company on eBay in the US that will deliver to the Uk if you ask them. The buy now price seems to be around £105 and I've noticed delivery of other items to the UK are $39.99 so about £20 I reckon.
They have sold over 19,000 items with a feedback of 99.8% so must be ok.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cowon-D2-8GB-multimedia-Player-Black-color-Brand-new_W0QQitemZ310035223830QQihZ021QQcategoryZ73839QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

I think ^ that's without the DAB radio. I've seen similar prices myself to this.

Again, it's 100% markup on the US price!

Thanks for the eBay tip - I'll have a look. :T

custardy

the ebay listing is a USA seller,so £105 plus VAT,shipping and custom fee's would bring it into the same price region as other sellers in the UK

the UK is more expensive,you cant do a direct comparison with US/UK prices.
if you feel its a rip off then order from the USA direct and cover courier & custom charges