[Nobody]

Don't the Brits complain about everything, though/ :-) Just kidding. Actually, I do find it interesting that prices vary from one country to another, though. You'd think that mass bandwidth pricing would be similar in most European countries.
I wonder if there's an issue with different licenings costs for music in UK vs. France, Germany. It makes sense that there would be some differences in cost country to country, but 20-percent higher seems excessive.

[JackMac]

In reply to:

---

And indeed other music download services in the UK are charging more than iTunes does. Consumers' Association head of policy Graham Vidler told Reuters that the organization has no plans to investigate Apple's more expensive competition.

---

I suspect that the Beatles are behind this. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Nobody]

Ok, here ya go:
Best pricing in Russia. Buy a FULL CD for the price of a song. Or less... AND ALL ABSOLUTELY LEGAL!!!
Cheapest ever legal MP3 or AAC at
http://www.allofmp3....tml?r=958681351

0'01 to 0'02 cents of dollar per MB. A song costs betwen 5 to 10 cents of dollar or euro. Besides you can choose MP3 or AAC encoding without restrictions. Amazing! Note that a song at Apple iTunes Music Store costs 1 dollar or 1 Euro. That is 20 to 10 times more expensive!!! In other words, buy a full CD for the price of a song!

Other cheap russian MP3 sites:

http://www.mp3shits.com/
http://club.mp3search.ru/

http://www.mp3search.ru/
Full ambums for $0'89.

[dingonv]

I need an answer to this question, which may explain why price differences are there.
Does apple have to pay a different amount of money in licensing with the british music industry.
As far as i can remember, there may be a european union, but that doesn't mean that all the recording industry bozos in those countries have suddenly gathered together and become one body either.
Each area has a regional board, with which apple has to deal with. If the deal price that apple struck with the group that controls the UK is essentially a little higher, or NOT based on the euro, but pounds, then how can they offer the same price across the EU, especially if it is not tied to a common currency.
remember, it's the recording industry, in any region, that agrees to an acceptable price.
it's not the EU
it's not apple
it's not any specific country.
recording industyr scumbags are scumbags in ANY country!
let's make sure we remember who ultimately has control of the COSTS involved here, not the PRICES
the complaint shouldn't be filed against apple, but probably against the british equivalent of the RIAA

[d00d]

MacWorldUser, ever heard the phrase, "too good to be true."
Well, in this case, it is. Article on legality of allofmp3.com
Personally, I like supporting the artists I listen to. There is no strong evidence that this practice properly reimburses the artists involved or copyright holders.
If it makes you sleep better at night that someone has told you this is legal, more power to you. Don't delude yourself though. You're not paying for that artist's work.

[Nobody]

This piracy issue is so easy to overcome: just sell original CDs and DVDs for the same price as CD-R and DVD-R media sell.
Margins?
Well, producing an original CD or DVD is much cheaper than a CD-R or DVD-R.
And now you sell thousands of millions every day. There is the margin for artists and companies.
Now, that would cause a drop in CD-R and DVD-R sales of about 99%. Thus, CD-R and DVD-R media price will rise dramatically. Let's say, twice or three times the current price. Or more.
Thus, now music and video companies can also rise their prices to match.
It is crystal clear.
How long will take the RIAA to get it?
The alternative is the current situation: piracy is rampant and will keep on growing. No way to stop it. Unless they do what they must do, which is explained above.

[pcharles]

Actually, dental health in Britain is far superior to Americans, they just do not waste their money on vain cosmetic dentistry such as Invisiline braces, or bonding and whitening.

[pcharles]

It is not just Apple who is at fault here. EVERYTHING, except maybe vegetables, cost more in England. I was just over their for my honeymoon (was born in Nottingham) and the prices were astounding.
I would estimate that something costing $300 here, costs almost 300 there. Apples prices are actually quite reasonable in comparison to some items. You can get the eMac for about 500 including V.A.T.
Does anyone know how British import taxes are figured into this. I understand the UK has fairly stiff taxes for bananas, but how does it affect electronics and music. A lot would also depend on the deal negotiated with British record companies for their cut. If they wanted more, Apple has to charge more.
It is a problem that the publishers of Which, normally a reputable organization, would single out Apple rather than comparing all music systems.
Finally, why did I suddenly become a stranger?

[polishjoke]

"Under European law UK consumers are supposed to enjoy the same benefits of the single market as other citizens of member states."
Not to mention that, in fact, under European law also consumers from Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Italy, Greece, Poland, Czech Rep., Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, Hungary are supposed to enjoy the same benefits of the single market as other citizens of EU-member states.
Unfortunately, so far Germany, France and UK are the only EU states, where citizens are allowed to buy from iTunes Music Store. As far as I know, Apple really gives a shi....err, knows nothing about EU law, and, at one day, this could be a little painful to this company. If they will not offer their iTMS to the rest of EU, it is only a question of time when one angry citizen from Amsterdam or Torino will sue Apple for violating of EU laws (discrimination of EU consumers from others than these three countries).
If you remember Volkswagen case (VW tried to forbid to sell their cars from Italian dealers to German customers), EU Commission is really concerned about such a business practice. If a company in France sells something to French customers, it also HAS to sell the same product to Dutch or Spanish customers, if they want to buy. So far, in Apple's opinion, your right to buy depends on your nationality/citizenship. This could work in U.S. (sorry, Canadians; perhaps try to become part of UK again), but not in EU.
What is funny and little known - also citizens of those exotic, remote locations, like French Guiana (South America), Martinique (Carribean), Reunion, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Saint Pierre & Miquelon (SO CLOSE TO CANADA! ;-))), etc. - they SHOULD be able to buy from iTMS, since these territories are official parts (departaments) of France, and, well, members of European Union. Britons, unfortunately, lost Kenya, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Jamaica, so, no luck, these countries will have to wait a little longer for iTMS. On the other hand, Poles claim some rights to King George Island, especially Admiralty Bay region, Antarctica. If they will have right to buy from iTMS as an EU-member state citizens, they will have also the same right to buy it from this island; and again, even Antarctica will be able to use iTMS before Canada... ;-)))

[macFanDave]

Some here have said that the reason for the high prices is the British counterpart to the RIAA. Perhaps it is called the Recording Industry of Great Britain. Get it? R-I-G-B.
THAT'S what the Beatles are talking about in "Eleanor RIGB" cleverly disguised as "Eleanor Rigby." Another Beatles mystery solved! Now, I'm going to work on "I Wanna Hold Your Hand."

[Fixx]

iTunes-service should be global. I do not see any reason why it should be country specific. Set up the sales site once, sell everywhere.

[d00d]

In reply to:

---

iTunes-service should be global. I do not see any reason why it should be country specific. Set up the sales site once, sell everywhere.

---

Yes, screw running a legal service that honors local laws. Screw localizing the site to use the appropriate currency.
/forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[Stereo]

Well, I'm Canadian, and I could buy from Amazon.com before the advent of Amazon.ca; my credit card would make the currency conversion. I didn't expect to have the interface in French as I knew I was dealing with an american coroporation. So that's not the point.
It's really all about the legal differences between countries for selling some kind of copyrighted material. (I remember Amazon.com wouldn't sell software outside USA for a while.)

[Teo]

In reply to:

---

This piracy issue is so easy to overcome: just sell original CDs and DVDs for the same price as CD-R and DVD-R media sell.
Margins?
Well, producing an original CD or DVD is much cheaper than a CD-R or DVD-R.

---

Could you pls explain that last statement? You might be wrong here...
Thanx.