The Australia tax: More examples of overcharging by tech vendors come to light

Staff Writers
16 May 2012, 9:18 PM

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The list is growing: more examples submitted of global tech vendors charging Australians more for tech products than consumers in other countries.

With the recent announcement of a parliamentary inquiry into why Australians are being overcharged for technology compared to overseas customers, more and more examples of companies that change Australians significantly more than their US and European customer are coming to light.

In this month's APC magazine, we've listed one blatant example: the cost to Australians of some games in the Steam Store.  In one example identified by APC (now updated with latest pricing), the game Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 sold in the Steam Store costs AU$99.99 for Australians. The very same game, on the same order page is US$59.99 (around $63 Aus) for American customers. Even British customers pay less at 39.99 pounds, which is the equivalent of AU$67.87.

APC wants to help the parliamentary inquiry into overcharging of Australian customers. Please send in examples of overcharging and we’ll create a directory of the worst excesses. It’s time to truly expose the overcharging rorts. 

Give us your example of overcharging. We'll verify it and then publish it. It will help us if your submission meets the following requirements:

• The product whose prices are being compared has to be EXACTLY the same product: same brand, same model. It can't be almost the same, or similar technically but a different brand or model, as these will invalidate any direct price comparison.
• Products sold in Australia and outside Australia by the same company can have subtle differences, so check the model number.
• Please provide a URL for the Australian and US sellers linking directly to the product page showing the prices.

Examples from readers below, listed in the order they were received.

SEND US YOUR EXAMPLES USING THE FORM BELOW