What I meant with stores with a website is: pure internet retailers are scary to a lot of people I know (in their 30's). So they only want to buy online if they know it's a real (=physical) store.
Stores are expensive": labor costs, social security, environmental laws, safety laws etc etc. It's just very expensive. So those costs are reflected in the costs of the product. Well that stores is NOT going to cannibalize it's store prices.. with offering it cheaper online. Hence the same high prices online. And we've come full circle.
I think this is the MAJOR reason: RISK AVERSE.
If people are concerned by buying over the web, unless it's a store with a website, then costs will be higher. If they're too afraid to buy from Amazon all the way in America.. then they see the price differences but still won't make use of them.
It's an attitude issue. Not the attitude of "coolness" or early adopter.. but the attitude of taking risks. Better safe than sorry.
It is a fallacy to think Europeans WANT to pay more. Nonsense.. everyone here is angry about that and I am sure it's part of the general feeling of anger that's so prevalent in Europe right now: high prices.
Everyone looks at the prices in the USA and sees the difference. We're neither blind nor stupid. And it's not just software, it;s electronics, books, clothing.. lots of stuff.
So why ?
1) Well partly it's VAT (almost 20 %),
2) partly people want it in their own language: so no choice.
3) I have no alternative. If everyone sells it to me for the same high price, then where do I go. and with that a MAJOR reason:
3a) Europeans are not so comfortable with e-commerce. They prefer stores.. or a website where they know there's an existing store. That has impact on prices, and choice. Stores are expensive: rent, social security of personell etc etc..
But the anger is there nevertheless.. whether warranted is another issue.
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What I meant with stores with a website is: pure internet retailers are scary to a lot of people I know (in their 30's). So they only want to buy online if they know it's a real (=physical) store. Stores are expensive": labor costs, social security, environmental laws, safety laws etc etc. It's just very expensive. So those costs are reflected in the costs of the product. Well that stores is NOT going to cannibalize it's store prices.. with offering it cheaper online. Hence the same high prices online. And we've come full circle.
I think this is the MAJOR reason: RISK AVERSE. If people are concerned by buying over the web, unless it's a store with a website, then costs will be higher. If they're too afraid to buy from Amazon all the way in America.. then they see the price differences but still won't make use of them. It's an attitude issue. Not the attitude of "coolness" or early adopter.. but the attitude of taking risks. Better safe than sorry.
It is a fallacy to think Europeans WANT to pay more. Nonsense.. everyone here is angry about that and I am sure it's part of the general feeling of anger that's so prevalent in Europe right now: high prices. Everyone looks at the prices in the USA and sees the difference. We're neither blind nor stupid. And it's not just software, it;s electronics, books, clothing.. lots of stuff. So why ? 1) Well partly it's VAT (almost 20 %), 2) partly people want it in their own language: so no choice. 3) I have no alternative. If everyone sells it to me for the same high price, then where do I go. and with that a MAJOR reason: 3a) Europeans are not so comfortable with e-commerce. They prefer stores.. or a website where they know there's an existing store. That has impact on prices, and choice. Stores are expensive: rent, social security of personell etc etc.. But the anger is there nevertheless.. whether warranted is another issue.