Book Prices - Yes We All Know But This Is Really Ridiculous

[jonocarroll]

Just to add a slightly finer point, although BD promote 'free delivery' what they actually do is determine the price you pay based on your location (via your IP). Look at the site with a UK IP and you automagically get an even cheaper price. h34r: I'm not necessarily recommending you do this, however.

Of course, they're entitled to charge more to post further, but then that's not actually 'free' postage, it's just covered by the total price. Still, a country mile cheaper than buying locally, even considering that you aren't paying GST on that O/S item.

I've had queries regarding this. I'm not going to post further details on *how* since it's technically cheating them out of postage [and the method itself is quite simple], but here is some proof nonetheless

Viewed with an Australian IP:



Viewed with UK IP:



I do have this book, and I've purchased it legitimately from BD at a good price. I don't mind it for what it is - a nice look-up for some classic styles.

 

[felten]

BCS is a bit thin if you're an experienced brewer, but it is catered towards beginners. All of the recipes are given primarily in extract and they detail the processes required for that pretty well. I bought it solely for the recipes, if you want more info just read how to brew and yeast.

:icon_offtopic: After reading brewing classic styles I dont think its even worth the cheap rate. It will probably never get opened again.
Very disappointed after all the talk up the BN gives it. Style specific books are much better.
GB

 

[white.grant]

Market size will always determine profitability and Australia has always been behind the eight ball as far as publishing goes.

When the federal government caved in on the parallel importation of books (which may have given the retailers some chance) they cruelled the local book retail industry as they can only sell books licensed for Australia in the Australian market.

While everyone else, ie Bookdepository can post stuff in over their heads and under their margins.

The government listened to the wrong pressure groups and now the australian book retail chain and subsequently the publishers and authors that feed them are farked.


cheers

grant

BTW, Brewing classic styles really helped me when I was getting into AG, between that and the pod casts you can learn a lot!

 

[Bribie G]

I realise that BCS is extract based, but can put the all grain version into beersmith and tweak as necessary - I bought it because it's BJCP oriented so it's possibly going to be a useful guide to some of the beers I have never brewed such as American Brown whatever.

 

[staggalee]

Wasn't it both A&R and Borders who went into receivership last week, blaming online global sales and the internet for their demise?

I recently bought from KMart "The Wonderful World Of Dogs" for $9.99, the same book at Angus and Robertson 20 metres away was $21.99.
On the same day. 2011 edition of "Guiness Book Of Records" was $22.00 at KMart, A&G price was $51, yes $51 !!!
Same books, same days......and they bleat about doing it tough

 

[Ecosse]

I recently bought from KMart "The Wonderful World Of Dogs" for $9.99, the same book at Angus and Robertson 20 metres away was $21.99.
On the same day. 2011 edition of "Guiness Book Of Records" was $22.00 at KMart, A&G price was $51, yes $51 !!!
Same books, same days......and they bleat about doing it tough

Good old fashioned loss leading. Kmart were selling both titles for less than A&R paid for them, hoping that when
you picked up your copy, that you also bought a pair of undies, or a Mars Bar or a tin of Coopers goo

 

[Goofinder]

I realise that BCS is extract based, but can put the all grain version into beersmith and tweak as necessary - I bought it because it's BJCP oriented so it's possibly going to be a useful guide to some of the beers I have never brewed such as American Brown whatever.

BCS is a good starting point to get you in the ballpark for any style. That's what I use it for.

 

[DanRayner]

BCS is a good starting point to get you in the ballpark for any style. That's what I use it for.

+1 BCS is a nice little recipe book tidily presented and aimed at providing you with a recipe for every single BJCP stye which should do you well at BJCP comps. It is an excellent book for beginners cos each recipe is not too OTT, great for intermediates who want to explore new styles without going into too much detail and good for the experienced brewer who is just plain lazy (I sit in the last two categories )

Designing Great Beers is a book that forces you to think about and design your own recipe, it does not cover every single BJCP style or even half of them but it does cover a nice, broad diversity of styles. It is pretty heavy going in parts and is excellent for those who want to do their own grain bill and hop utilisation calculations but it is not exactly an easy books for a beginners or for quick/lazy reference.

Both are excellent books for what they set out to achieve and both are focussed on helping you make beers that win comps and as such I have used both books to create beers that have done well at local and national comps. (Cali Common from DGB, Kolsch & RIS from BCS)

Cheers!

D

 

[bear09]

BCS is a bit thin if you're an experienced brewer, but it is catered towards beginners. All of the recipes are given primarily in extract and they detail the processes required for that pretty well. I bought it solely for the recipes, if you want more info just read how to brew and yeast.

+100 - could not agree with this post more. I own all of these books and love them all for their differing content. Bang on.

 

[bear09]

I agree. For years we were told its "shipping costs" or exchange rates, but with the internet, its blown those myths apart. And I don't buy the whole "retailers pay GST" thing either. We pay the GST, they pass it on to us.

When I lived in the Phillipines I bought a new 5 string Ibanez bass for half the cost in Aus. I can live with freight etc, but that's just a blatant rip off.

What dont you 'buy' about the whole GST thing? Aussie retailers are required by tax law to pay the GST on their items, of course they pass this onto the customer which means they are 10% behind the 8 ball before the fighting even begins. Apparently Aussie retailers also have to pay a heap of other fees and tarifs (thats probably not the right word) on their items which can put them up to 20% behind the ball before the fight even starts.

All that said, when you can save 50% on something and have it delivered to your door you have to ask some serious questions about how long and hard we have all be screwed by the middle men for many many years....

 

[peas_and_corn]

Retailers also have to pay for a store front, and rent is outrageous, especially in the city and at Westfield centres.

 

[HoppingMad]

Style specific books are much better.
GB

Yes and no. If you're talking the 'Brewing Styles' series (the ones that cover individual beer styles) some of these are terribly out of date. I agree that the 'Pale Ale' book is good, but from what I gather 'Belgian Ales' is terrible, and much of its info is covered better in a title like 'Brew like a monk'.

Hopper.

 

[~MikE]

I've had queries regarding this. I'm not going to post further details on *how* since it's technically cheating them out of postage [and the method itself is quite simple], but here is some proof nonetheless

Viewed with an Australian IP:

View attachment 44243

Viewed with UK IP:

View attachment 44244

I do have this book, and I've purchased it legitimately from BD at a good price. I don't mind it for what it is - a nice look-up for some classic styles.

1. go to anonimitynetwork.com or other VPN provider
2. set up trial account (usually lasts a few hours, more than enough time)
3. view webpage with new IP

if the difference is $1.50ish, really not worth the hassle unless you already have an account and VPN connection at the ready.

i use this method for steam games myself. i've seen games on the .au store going for ~$55USD while at the .uk store going for what works out to be ~$10USD, and this is for digitally delivered content

EDIT: check it out
http://www.steamprices.com/au/topripoffs

 

[Bribie G]

:icon_offtopic: but wouldn't I.P. "cheating" be a means for people to access illegal content (i.e. illegal categories of porn) without being traced, and wouldn't the police / child porn task forces etc be right onto these companies and maybe trace you and wonder why you are masking your IP address? Wouldn't like to be fingered for ordering a book and end up getting raided and hard drive seized for examination whatever. Or doesn't it work like that?

 

[peas_and_corn]

:icon_offtopic: but wouldn't I.P. "cheating" be a means for people to access illegal content (i.e. illegal categories of porn) without being traced, and wouldn't the police / child porn task forces etc be right onto these companies and maybe trace you and wonder why you are masking your IP address? Wouldn't like to be fingered for ordering a book and end up getting raided and hard drive seized for examination whatever. Or doesn't it work like that?

I don't think you can have your property seized on nothing more than suspicion.

 

[jonocarroll]

1. go to anonimitynetwork.com or other VPN provider
2. set up trial account (usually lasts a few hours, more than enough time)
3. view webpage with new IP

if the difference is $1.50ish, really not worth the hassle unless you already have an account and VPN connection at the ready.

There's easier ways still, but yeah.

Sure, this difference was small, but I've seen much larger discrepancies from BD.

:icon_offtopic: but wouldn't I.P. "cheating" be a means for people to access illegal content (i.e. illegal categories of porn) without being traced, and wouldn't the police / child porn task forces etc be right onto these companies and maybe trace you and wonder why you are masking your IP address? Wouldn't like to be fingered for ordering a book and end up getting raided and hard drive seized for examination whatever. Or doesn't it work like that?

You're not hidden from being traced at all just by going through a VPN/proxy. Your IP is still recorded and traceable (though there are specific examples of what to use if you don't want this to happen, which I won't be mentioning), one just needs to go through the third party now.

This is why the 'protect-the-children' ISP-based filtering won't do anything - you can get around it very simply. The Pirate-Party Australia set up a one-day tutorial for the elderly in association with the voluntary euthanasia groups to show them how to avoid the filter, and *they* got past it.

As for the task-force tracing you *because* you've used a proxy/VPN, that's a little paranoid. First, if you're using a VPN, your traffic isn't visible. Second, VPN usage isn't illegal - it's actually what most good businesses use outside their offices. Lastly, if you think there's a task-force watching every internet connection that uses a proxy, well that's just silly. Most catches are from using honeypots or undercovers - much easier to prove guilt.


Anyway, back on-topic - was the main point 'someone is selling a product at a higher price than an overseas retailer'? No big surprises there. Why are we still paying AUS$1.19 for US$0.99 itunes purchases when we're at/near parity?

 

[JonnyAnchovy]

i use this method for steam games myself. i've seen games on the .au store going for ~$55USD while at the .uk store going for what works out to be ~$10USD, and this is for digitally delivered content

EDIT: check it out
http://www.steamprices.com/au/topripoffs

I've had my account suspended for this a few times, until I mastered the technique...