Video Cards - why are we ripped off in NZ?

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samdouglas

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Topic # 96988 8-Feb-2012 18:29

So recently upgraded my PC with a mobo/cpu/ram recently from pc force (great service - recommend highly),
but ive noticed that the price in NZ for video cards is outrageous compared to the US, especially when the NZD is so high.

Just wondered if anyone else has purchased video cards from amazon/newegg and what their experiences are?

For example a Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 is $161NZD from Amazon yet the cheapest one i can find in NZ is $240!

Just wondered if its worth the hassle if something goes wrong? is it cheap enough to return etc? at this price it seems a no brainer to buy from the US?

freitasm

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Reply # 578860 8-Feb-2012 18:35

I bought a cheap HD5450 for my Lenovo desktop as a second video card (the built-in one is HD3000). Very happy with it, and came from Amazon at a very good price (about US$40 for the card, plus shipping). Had to buy this one due to low PSU output and half height profile on the desktop. It's 100% more power than the HD3000 though, so was well worth it.

Also, shameless plug: if you are buying anything from Amazon, please use our Amazon Kindle order page to get there - we will get a small commission on sales, any sales (not only Kindle).

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Ragnor

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Reply # 578868 8-Feb-2012 18:42

samdouglas: t the price in NZ for video cards is outrageous compared to the US, especially when the NZD is so high.

The difference comes down to....

1: Lack of purchasing power and economies of scale due to the small size of the NZ market.
2: Extra compliance costs in NZ eg: having to honour Consumer Guarantees Act etc
3: Tax ie: GST is universal in NZ but in the US there are all sorts of loopholes that online stores like NewEgg & Amazon use in order to not have to collect/add sales tax.

old3eyes

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Reply # 579083 9-Feb-2012 08:44

freitasm: I bought a cheap HD5450 for my Lenovo desktop as a second video card (the built-in one is HD3000). Very happy with it, and came from Amazon at a very good price (about US$40 for the card, plus shipping). Had to buy this one due to low PSU output and half height profile on the desktop. It's 100% more power than the HD3000 though, so was well worth it.

Did Amazon ship these to you in NZ or via a US remailer service??

Regards,

Old3eyes

freitasm

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Reply # 579084 9-Feb-2012 08:44

Shipped directly to NZ.

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Kyanar

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Reply # 579097 9-Feb-2012 09:06

freitasm:
Also, shameless plug: if you are buying anything from Amazon, please use our Amazon Kindle order page to get there - we will get a small commission on sales, any sales (not only Kindle).

Does that work for Amazon.co.uk where we get free shipping too?

freitasm

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Reply # 579113 9-Feb-2012 09:29

Nope, sorry...

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NZtechfreak

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Reply # 579140 9-Feb-2012 10:07

This isn't confined to just video cards, lots of other things are like this for a variety of reasons.

Example: got a set of Sennheiser HD25-1 headphones from Ebay, ~$300NZD all up (and that's including $48USD of shipping costs). Same headsets here? $500NZD. Found out that Sennheiser maintain prices by only offering warranty repairs if you purchase from an official seller, and those sellers are obliged to toe the recommended pricing line from Sennheiser. Before Sennheiser did this many retailers were significantly reducing the cost of the headphones (for example in NZ by offering them for the equivalent $300 price instead of the Sennheiser recommended $500 price). Reminds me a little of Adidas really...

Bottom line: it's not all economies of scale and compliance costs as suggested earlier.

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samdouglas

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Reply # 579160 9-Feb-2012 10:39

I dont mind paying an extra few bucks to support a local NZ company - but when the difference is as much as this then its just not worth buying locally.

another example - the HD6870 which is supposedly the best value video card on the market right now - retails on amazon for NZD$190. with shipping thats about NZD$230.

The cheapest I can find it in new zealand is $292 including shipping... $62 difference when you're on a tight budget and hoping the wife doesnt notice/complain is huge ;)

marmel

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Reply # 579965 10-Feb-2012 20:57

freitasm: I bought a cheap HD5450 for my Lenovo desktop as a second video card (the built-in one is HD3000). Very happy with it, and came from Amazon at a very good price (about US$40 for the card, plus shipping). Had to buy this one due to low PSU output and half height profile on the desktop. It's 100% more power than the HD3000 though, so was well worth it.

Also, shameless plug: if you are buying anything from Amazon, please use our Amazon Kindle order page to get there - we will get a small commission on sales, any sales (not only Kindle).

Wish I known that, I would have gone through the link to order my projector. US$1100, might have been enough commission to run the server for a few hours.

old3eyes

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Reply # 580095 11-Feb-2012 10:11

freitasm: Shipped directly to NZ.

Thanx. I've never been able to get them to ship hardware to my NZ address, only CD, DVDs and books.

Regards,

Old3eyes

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Reply # 580202 11-Feb-2012 16:58

I had video cards, memory, Kindle, shoes shipped to New Zealand...

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ricky1981

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Reply # 580242 11-Feb-2012 19:38

With the exchange rate it's worth looking at www.overclockers.co.uk as their shipping rates to NZ aren't too bad and they have some good deals on graphics cards. I bought a 7970 in NZ because once you get over a few hundred bucks you get badly stung for import duty (anything below that and you don't pay anything).

Atomica

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Reply # 580315 11-Feb-2012 22:33

I guess there is also the risk that a card you purchase from overseas might have an issue, and I can imagine that trying to sort out warranty claims for an overseas product that may or may not be from an authorised seller could possibly be problematic?

I have purchased a lot of sports gear/clothing from overseas and have had a couple of items that didn't fit me or suit me at all. I effectively lost my $$ on those items, but I have more than made up for it with other purchases, and I think it's an acceptable risk due to the benefit gained when our dollar is strong.

I relation to the OP though, the volume of cards that are sold in NZ may not be enough to get decent pricing for importers, as retailers here can't always shift all their stock - especially compared to larger countries. I have seen a few places trying to sell outdated graphics cards for similar prices to newer ones which might imply that dealers can't afford to drop their prices to clear old stock.

mattwnz

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Reply # 580337 12-Feb-2012 00:06

Atomica: ?I guess there is also the risk that a card you purchase from overseas might have an issue, and I can imagine that trying to sort out warranty claims for an overseas product that may or may not be from an authorised seller could possibly be problematic?
?
?I have purchased a lot of sports gear/clothing from overseas and have had a couple of items that didn't fit me or suit me at all. I effectively lost my $$ on those items, but I have more than made up for it with other purchases, and I think it's an acceptable risk due to the benefit gained when our dollar is strong.

I relation to the OP though, the volume of cards that are sold in NZ may not be enough to get decent pricing for importers, as retailers here can't always shift all their stock - especially compared to larger countries. I have seen a few places trying to sell outdated graphics cards for similar prices to newer ones which might imply that dealers can't afford to drop their prices to clear old stock.

Although you can sell on trademe and get you money back on those non fitting clothes.

Azzura

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Reply # 580380 12-Feb-2012 09:22

Well in Canada, the Canadian Dollar has been darn near parity or more vs the US Dollar for 5 years. Yet Canadians on average are still paying 20% more for goods when compared to US prices.