What's going on with book prices
-
Just a bit of a whinge about the cost of books here in Australia and wondering what the prices are like in the rest of the world outside of the USA. A couple of months ago I purchased Win32 Programming (0-201-63492-9) USD$59.99 for AUD$93.10 which I thought was a good price considering the exchange rate. Yesterday I enquired about Peopleware (0-932-63343-9) USD$33.95 and was quoted AUD$142.47 to which I said FUCK. (Hey whre did those asterix come from???) Anyone have any idea why the discrepency, I don't think it could just be the publisher looking for a higher profit from our little market, but I could be wrong. Which other countries get screwed so much for their books. Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018
-
Just a bit of a whinge about the cost of books here in Australia and wondering what the prices are like in the rest of the world outside of the USA. A couple of months ago I purchased Win32 Programming (0-201-63492-9) USD$59.99 for AUD$93.10 which I thought was a good price considering the exchange rate. Yesterday I enquired about Peopleware (0-932-63343-9) USD$33.95 and was quoted AUD$142.47 to which I said FUCK. (Hey whre did those asterix come from???) Anyone have any idea why the discrepency, I don't think it could just be the publisher looking for a higher profit from our little market, but I could be wrong. Which other countries get screwed so much for their books. Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018
Does the phrase 'capitalising scum' mean anything to you ? Did you try a few of those fine bookstores you have in Sydney ? If it were me, I'd check Fatbrain/Amazon first, go in and ask, and if given a quote like that, let the sales moron know how much it will cost you to get it from the USA in 5 days. I know Amazon have recently dropped all their shipping charges ( I guess part of their on going attempts to make a profit ). I just checked FatBrain, and even if you buy only one book ( multiple books saves a ton on shipping per item ) would cost you USD $27 for the book and USD $14 for shipping. That comes to about $40, and even if the echange rate drops to .50, you'd get the book for eighty bucks. Christian #include "std_disclaimer.h" People who love sausage and respect the law should never watch either one being made. The things that come to those who wait are usually the things left by those who got there first.
-
Just a bit of a whinge about the cost of books here in Australia and wondering what the prices are like in the rest of the world outside of the USA. A couple of months ago I purchased Win32 Programming (0-201-63492-9) USD$59.99 for AUD$93.10 which I thought was a good price considering the exchange rate. Yesterday I enquired about Peopleware (0-932-63343-9) USD$33.95 and was quoted AUD$142.47 to which I said FUCK. (Hey whre did those asterix come from???) Anyone have any idea why the discrepency, I don't think it could just be the publisher looking for a higher profit from our little market, but I could be wrong. Which other countries get screwed so much for their books. Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018
Sourced that book in New Zealand this week - $NZ180. So the price you give sounds pretty standard for this side of the world. Ordered it on Fatbrain today at half the price. I guess thats the price to pay for living on the other side of the world (and having clean air to breath)... pdeb Rugbycomp founder (oh, and Software Engineer) http://rugbycomp.orion.co.nz
-
Just a bit of a whinge about the cost of books here in Australia and wondering what the prices are like in the rest of the world outside of the USA. A couple of months ago I purchased Win32 Programming (0-201-63492-9) USD$59.99 for AUD$93.10 which I thought was a good price considering the exchange rate. Yesterday I enquired about Peopleware (0-932-63343-9) USD$33.95 and was quoted AUD$142.47 to which I said FUCK. (Hey whre did those asterix come from???) Anyone have any idea why the discrepency, I don't think it could just be the publisher looking for a higher profit from our little market, but I could be wrong. Which other countries get screwed so much for their books. Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018
I guess probably it is because of australian GST :) But seriously, when I was in australia I bought some teechnical books and they cost almost the same as the original quoted price in USD. It was around 1995-1998. And also from my experience, It was better to buy books on campus bookstore, because there is discount even for non student and they have book sale. I once found "Programming Windows 95" by Petzold in an australian campus bookstore for $ASD 10.00, which is far a lot cheaper than the original price at $USD 49.95.
-
Just a bit of a whinge about the cost of books here in Australia and wondering what the prices are like in the rest of the world outside of the USA. A couple of months ago I purchased Win32 Programming (0-201-63492-9) USD$59.99 for AUD$93.10 which I thought was a good price considering the exchange rate. Yesterday I enquired about Peopleware (0-932-63343-9) USD$33.95 and was quoted AUD$142.47 to which I said FUCK. (Hey whre did those asterix come from???) Anyone have any idea why the discrepency, I don't think it could just be the publisher looking for a higher profit from our little market, but I could be wrong. Which other countries get screwed so much for their books. Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018
-
Just a bit of a whinge about the cost of books here in Australia and wondering what the prices are like in the rest of the world outside of the USA. A couple of months ago I purchased Win32 Programming (0-201-63492-9) USD$59.99 for AUD$93.10 which I thought was a good price considering the exchange rate. Yesterday I enquired about Peopleware (0-932-63343-9) USD$33.95 and was quoted AUD$142.47 to which I said FUCK. (Hey whre did those asterix come from???) Anyone have any idea why the discrepency, I don't think it could just be the publisher looking for a higher profit from our little market, but I could be wrong. Which other countries get screwed so much for their books. Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018
Peopleware, good book, and funny too. Corridors around the outside of the room, so no-one can have a window seat...doh! Stephen Kellett -- C++/Java/Win NT/Unix variants Memory leaks/corruptions/performance/system problems. UK based. Problems with RSI/WRULD? Contact me for advice.
-
I guess probably it is because of australian GST :) But seriously, when I was in australia I bought some teechnical books and they cost almost the same as the original quoted price in USD. It was around 1995-1998. And also from my experience, It was better to buy books on campus bookstore, because there is discount even for non student and they have book sale. I once found "Programming Windows 95" by Petzold in an australian campus bookstore for $ASD 10.00, which is far a lot cheaper than the original price at $USD 49.95.
In years past I have purchased technical books from this same store (Dymocks Pocket and Technical) where the price in AUD was the same as the USD. Generally I find prices are no more than 50% more, but Peopleware at over 300% dearer just pisses me off. Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018
-
Just a bit of a whinge about the cost of books here in Australia and wondering what the prices are like in the rest of the world outside of the USA. A couple of months ago I purchased Win32 Programming (0-201-63492-9) USD$59.99 for AUD$93.10 which I thought was a good price considering the exchange rate. Yesterday I enquired about Peopleware (0-932-63343-9) USD$33.95 and was quoted AUD$142.47 to which I said FUCK. (Hey whre did those asterix come from???) Anyone have any idea why the discrepency, I don't think it could just be the publisher looking for a higher profit from our little market, but I could be wrong. Which other countries get screwed so much for their books. Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018
Here in India, the best and the most expensive books cost some thing like Rs. 500 - 800 (That's about US$10 - US$20) :). Most books are less than Rs. 500 :-D - except for Microsoft Press books. MS imports them all so those prices may seem a little more 'normal' - about US$50 and above. "A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one." - Senator Palpatine
-
Here in India, the best and the most expensive books cost some thing like Rs. 500 - 800 (That's about US$10 - US$20) :). Most books are less than Rs. 500 :-D - except for Microsoft Press books. MS imports them all so those prices may seem a little more 'normal' - about US$50 and above. "A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one." - Senator Palpatine
Technical books in India are very cheap, between INR 200 to INR 1000(i.e US$4 to $20). The reason is most of the book publishers get the right and reprint the same book in India, rather than importing directly. However, if a book is directly imported rather than reprinting, it costs the same US$ amount. --------------- Dan Ammasai ---------------
-
Just a bit of a whinge about the cost of books here in Australia and wondering what the prices are like in the rest of the world outside of the USA. A couple of months ago I purchased Win32 Programming (0-201-63492-9) USD$59.99 for AUD$93.10 which I thought was a good price considering the exchange rate. Yesterday I enquired about Peopleware (0-932-63343-9) USD$33.95 and was quoted AUD$142.47 to which I said FUCK. (Hey whre did those asterix come from???) Anyone have any idea why the discrepency, I don't think it could just be the publisher looking for a higher profit from our little market, but I could be wrong. Which other countries get screwed so much for their books. Michael Martin Pegasystems Pty Ltd Australia martm@pegasystems.com +61 413-004-018
In my Country, Argentina, the book more cheaper is close to 80U$S..... And is very hard to find good books, in English, because the books in Spanish are not good.:(( Now I live in Florida (USA), I don't need to worry about this anymore. Cheers!!! Carlos Antollini.
-
Does the phrase 'capitalising scum' mean anything to you ? Did you try a few of those fine bookstores you have in Sydney ? If it were me, I'd check Fatbrain/Amazon first, go in and ask, and if given a quote like that, let the sales moron know how much it will cost you to get it from the USA in 5 days. I know Amazon have recently dropped all their shipping charges ( I guess part of their on going attempts to make a profit ). I just checked FatBrain, and even if you buy only one book ( multiple books saves a ton on shipping per item ) would cost you USD $27 for the book and USD $14 for shipping. That comes to about $40, and even if the echange rate drops to .50, you'd get the book for eighty bucks. Christian #include "std_disclaimer.h" People who love sausage and respect the law should never watch either one being made. The things that come to those who wait are usually the things left by those who got there first.
I've always liked www.bookpool.com. They seem to consistently have the least expensive prices. I don't know if they ship outside the US though. -Sean ---- Whatever your troubles with mathematics, I assure you mine are greater. -- Albert Einstein