sb@pro-generic.cts.com (Stephen Brown) (05/28/89)
I am not trying to condone piracy.... BUT to those who speak about prices
being inflated... you're right.
I have seen the dealer markup on software, and its 40 to 60% (in Canada at
least). This is consistent across the board. Now, I haven't seen lists of
distributer costs, but I can only suppose that THEY make 40 to 60% too. This
makes a cheap package FAR more expensive. Perhaps if there were fewer handlers
in between publisher and end-user, prices would be a bit more reasonable. No
one quibbles about the prices of Diversi-stuff and ProSEL, both of which are
marketed directly.
People would not bother to pirate if prices were more reasonable... of course
some packages take a lot of time (=money) to develop, and cannot be priced
inexpensively. I have no problems with that. Of course, the vast majority of
II-line programs aren't great.... I'll go further: Most programs for ANY
computer are crap. The good ones stand out, but for every good one, there are
dozens (in Canada, tens) of bad ones. These programs were developed with the
hope of making a fast buck with as little quality and support as the market
will bear. And though I may not pirate them, I have no sympathy when I hear
about someone who does.
Stephen Brown
>>> sometimes you feel like a nut.
sometimes you don't <<<SEWALL@UCONNVM.BITNET (Murph Sewall) (05/29/89)
>I am not trying to condone piracy.... BUT to those who speak about prices >being inflated... you're right. Your conclusion does NOT follow from the facts you offer. >I have seen the dealer markup on software, and its 40 to 60% (in Canada at >least). This is consistent across the board. Now, I haven't seen lists of >distributer costs, but I can only suppose that THEY make 40 to 60% too. This Assuming that distributors (wholesalers) make the same mark-up as dealers (retailers) is unwarranted. Dealers have to absorb the costs of unsold inventory and inventory "shrinkage" (shop lifting) and the overhead for the store rental, clerks, fixtures, etc. Your local department store marks up your sports coats 100% and the markup on the engagement ring you bought (or someday might buy) for the love of your life was 400% if you purchased from a quality jeweler. Even hamburger has a retail markup of 25%. >makes a cheap package FAR more expensive. Perhaps if there were fewer handlers >in between publisher and end-user, prices would be a bit more reasonable. No If you want to eliminate a lot of the overhead cost, buy by mail (the reason mail order software is so much less expensive is that the markups are lower). >People would not bother to pirate if prices were more reasonable... of course Prices would be a lot more reasonable if everyone paid for what they have. Diversi-DOS is (was) one of the most pirated pieces of software in existance; so, your logic doesn't hold at all. Murph Sewall Vaporware? ---> [Gary Larson returns 1/1/90] Prof. of Marketing Sewall@UConnVM.BITNET Business School sewall%uconnvm.bitnet@mitvma.mit.edu [INTERNET] U of Connecticut {psuvax1 or mcvax }!UCONNVM.BITNET!SEWALL [UUCP] (203) 486-5246 [FAX] (203) 486-2489 [PHONE] 41 49N 72 15W [ICBM] -+- I don't speak for my employer, though I frequently wish that I could (subject to change without notice; void where prohibited)