Interesting trend in America, that applies to DVDs as well?
10-28-03, 06:29 PM
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Interesting trend in America, that applies to DVDs as well?
Buying textbooks overseas can save a bundle
Did you know that you can buy all of the textbooks you or your child need for college outside the U.S. for much less. Why is the U.S. so much more? We’ve been willing to pay the high prices. Apparently, people in Eastern Europe and other developed countries have refused to pay those prices, so the publishing houses have had to lower their prices. It’s not unusual to pay $120 for a textbook these days in the States. That’s ridiculous. So, there are now overseas outfits setting up Web sites that find the book you need and then ship it to you. Amazon.com’s British site amazon.co.uk is one of the participating sites. One textbook mentioned in the Wall Street Journal story costs $146 in America. The same book at the British Amazon site costs $63. Another site is bookcentral.com. The Supreme Court has even weighed in on this one, saying it’s perfectly legal to buy from other countries. Just make sure you check the shipping prices first. You can make up the difference on shipping costs if you're not careful.
Did you know that you can buy all of the textbooks you or your child need for college outside the U.S. for much less. Why is the U.S. so much more? We’ve been willing to pay the high prices. Apparently, people in Eastern Europe and other developed countries have refused to pay those prices, so the publishing houses have had to lower their prices. It’s not unusual to pay $120 for a textbook these days in the States. That’s ridiculous. So, there are now overseas outfits setting up Web sites that find the book you need and then ship it to you. Amazon.com’s British site amazon.co.uk is one of the participating sites. One textbook mentioned in the Wall Street Journal story costs $146 in America. The same book at the British Amazon site costs $63. Another site is bookcentral.com. The Supreme Court has even weighed in on this one, saying it’s perfectly legal to buy from other countries. Just make sure you check the shipping prices first. You can make up the difference on shipping costs if you're not careful.
Does anyone have access to the actual wallstreet journal article?
10-28-03, 07:21 PM
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I don't think this translates well into a dvd discussion. My experience is that dvds are more expensive in Europe than here in the US.
10-28-03, 08:07 PM
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I agree with Purplechoe. Sometimes you can get a better deal in Canada because of the exchange rate, but it's not huge.
I know that Anime is much more exspensive in Japan than it is here.
I really don't think that DVDs are exspensive. When I started collecting the MSRP was $39.95 on a lot of titles, and $29.95 was the norm.
-Videophile
I know that Anime is much more exspensive in Japan than it is here.
I really don't think that DVDs are exspensive. When I started collecting the MSRP was $39.95 on a lot of titles, and $29.95 was the norm.
-Videophile
10-28-03, 08:53 PM
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And here in Japan DVDs are amazingly high priced. Saw an ad for Indiana Jones Trilogy yesterday (to be released on 11/7) - the price is going to be 9,800 yen, or at today's exchange rate, about $89. That's why I buy my R-1 DVDs from the USA! Can't say anything about Europe though. In addition, unless you have an all region player, you don't know what you'd be getting if you bought DVDs from Poland or somewhere?!?!?
10-28-03, 11:35 PM
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The two aren't comparable.
Textbook prices (like all higher education costs) have been and will continue to skyrocket well above their value simply because of what is basically a monopoly. Students have little choice but to spend whatever they ask for the books.
DVD's on the other hand, seem to be getting cheaper each quarter. Not only do most of us consider $15.99 for a new release to be perfectly reasonable, but you always have the option to either buy a cheaper dvd or no dvd's at all.
Textbook prices (like all higher education costs) have been and will continue to skyrocket well above their value simply because of what is basically a monopoly. Students have little choice but to spend whatever they ask for the books.
DVD's on the other hand, seem to be getting cheaper each quarter. Not only do most of us consider $15.99 for a new release to be perfectly reasonable, but you always have the option to either buy a cheaper dvd or no dvd's at all.
10-29-03, 07:02 AM
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The real trend (unfortunately) is that important items such as textbooks and prescription medecines are cheaper outside the U.S., while entertainment items are cheaper here.
10-29-03, 04:10 PM
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Originally posted by purplechoe
I don't think this translates well into a dvd discussion. My experience is that dvds are more expensive in Europe than here in the US.
I don't think this translates well into a dvd discussion. My experience is that dvds are more expensive in Europe than here in the US.
10-29-03, 05:52 PM
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It can be cheaper to get dvd's outside the US, especially Canada. However, recently I got the R2 limited box set of 24 Seasons 1 & 2 from amazon.co.uk for less than the Best Buy sale on both of them.
10-30-03, 10:03 AM
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Originally posted by marty888
The real trend (unfortunately) is that important items such as textbooks and prescription medecines are cheaper outside the U.S., while entertainment items are cheaper here.
The real trend (unfortunately) is that important items such as textbooks and prescription medecines are cheaper outside the U.S., while entertainment items are cheaper here.
10-30-03, 10:06 AM
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Originally posted by Kakkarat
It can be cheaper to get dvd's outside the US, especially Canada. However, recently I got the R2 limited box set of 24 Seasons 1 & 2 from amazon.co.uk for less than the Best Buy sale on both of them.
It can be cheaper to get dvd's outside the US, especially Canada. However, recently I got the R2 limited box set of 24 Seasons 1 & 2 from amazon.co.uk for less than the Best Buy sale on both of them.
