EXCLUSIVE: Logitech Australia, who is believed to have had a falling out with Harvey Norman over products being sold online, appear to be price gouging Australians with several products being sold up to 110% over the price of the same Logitech products in the USA.Research conducted by SmartHouse reveals that Australians are being locked out of buying a cheaper Logitech products in the USA by the use of IP address technology and the refusal by Logitech to recognise an Australian credit card transaction via their cheaper US web site. The Swiss company has instead manipulated their online operation so that consumers trying to go to the US site are redirected to the Australian site where prices are market up over 115%.
A Logitech 650 Harmony remote is selling online in the USA for $69.99. The same Logitech product is being sold online in Australia at $149.
 Click to enlarge |
A Logitech M305 Mouse that is being sold in Australia for $69.95 is being sold online in the USA by Logitech for $29.95. SmartHouse was able to purchase the same mouse from a local computer store in Sydney yesterday for $39.
The owner of the store said that he got the device from a supplier who was grey importing the product from Asia.
A Logitech Z623 sound system that is THX certified is selling in the USA for $127.49. The same product is being sold online in Australia by Logitech for $299 – a mark-up of $172.
If the current exchange rate is taken into consideration, the cost of the Z623 speaker system falls to $117 making the difference $182 which is $65 dearer than the purchase price of the same device in Australia.
Logitech has not returned Smarthouse calls for
 Click to enlarge |
an explanation to the price gouging.
Yesterday we posted a story suggesting that Logitech has had a falling out with Harvey Norman over their online operation. At this stage it appears that Logitech Australia, which is run by George Said, a former Harvey Norman employee, is prepared to pocket the US retailer margin, the Australian retailer margin and in some cases a distributor marging as they price gouge Australians.
See more price goughing images over.
|
