Inspiring

Question

do adobe actually want us to buy?

Forum|Forum|16 years ago
May 27, 2009
6 replies
5419 views

I've been having a nightmare trying to purchase Lightroom2. It doesn't appear to be stocked by resellers (dispite customer support on the phone saying it is - although they couldn't tell me by who!!), so I have tried via the adobe web store.

After several attempts it seems that I cannot purchase from the US site because I'm in New Zealand. (even though I have a US address, a US login - but I'm in NZ so therefore...) okay....so, after several attempts to buy from the adobe NZ store and repeatedly being linked back to the US site...which I can't buy from...I finally reached the ASIA site (I know a lot of Asians come to nz, but really...we are our own country) where I could purchase Lightroom...but at a MUCH higher price...64 percent more....WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

got to be a mistake, so do it all again....and yep, almost NZ$300 dollars more for the exact same software.

After eventually getting through on the phone to customer support I was told it was because of the exchange rate....errrr....both prices on the web are US dollars, one is significantly higher then the other biut both are US dollars - nothing to do with exchange rate. Then I was told to go to one of the resellers....ur, Adobe don't ship lightroom to anyone in NZ, well not the resellers they list on their website, and I havn't found anyone else who stocks it, so...

Do I pay a massive penalty because of my location...or do I go to another company?

Really Adobe, how much do you actually want our business? Phase One don't charge more because of your location, infact of the many programs I have purchased from software companies, NONE....I repeat NONE have charged more because of my location.

I'd really appreciate someone from Adobe explaining why the massive price difference.

This topic has been closed for replies.

J

Jeffb2009Author

Inspiring

Well, I put my questions to Adobe - seems they didn't want to answer other then to say 'exchange rate' then they closed the case

Here's the good news, I found a reseller that actually had a copy, at not too much more then the US price ($150 more instead of the $300 from Adobe) and in less then 5 Mins....yep, 5 mins, the software was bought and being sent across town to me.

And just in case anyone from Adobe reads this forum.....

Adobe, it's taken 5 days to find out you either won't sell to me or if you will but with a huge price penalty. Another company who stocks your product could do it in 5 minutes, and did a deal and got the sale.

Yes, Adobe, you do get your money in the end, but my goodness it's left a very bitter taste.

Oh, and please, don't send me any more emails promoting sales, or prices - It's total BS - you won't sell to me from the US so don't tell me about the US specials etc.

J

JayJhabrix

Inspiring

Jeffb2009 wrote:
Here's the good news, I found a reseller that actually had a copy, at not too much more then the US price ($150 more instead of the $300 from Adobe) and in less then 5 Mins....yep, 5 mins, the software was bought and being sent across town to me.

Good to hear that Jeff! Glad you got it!!

Cheers,

JJ

A

Anonymous

the store(s) do an ip lookup to determine where you're coming in from and will either not sell to you if you're out of the area or will redirect you to a local store. that may also be why prices look one way to one user and anotehr to someone else.

J

JayJhabrix

Inspiring

dave milbut wrote:
the store(s) do an ip lookup to determine where you're coming in from and will either not sell to you if you're out of the area or will redirect you to a local store. that may also be why prices look one way to one user and anotehr to someone else.

This is crazy... what, are Adobe now playing Internal Revenue / Income Tax / Whatever Tax Officials? For Christ's sake, what gives? I could be from X and looking up prices in Y for a friend or even myself. Some people do travel around and even live and work in diametrically opposite sides of the world. If someone goes to the store for that country / region the prices displayed should be for that country / region... not Adobe's effing interpretation.

The more they carry on with this kind of arrogance, the more i'm reminded of those immortal words from Mr Zimmerman... "A hard rain's a-gonna fall..."

A

Anonymous

This is crazy...

i think it's pretty standard operating procedure for an international corporation with a web presence. lots of places won't let you watch a certain video or hear a streaming song if you're out of the area, for example (bbc, the USA big media network sites and youtube come quickly to mind).

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

The European discrepancies are probably caused by the simple fact that some countries have the common European Monies whereas others keep their own. A few years back, the £ and € amounts would match. Presumably, Adobe set the prices back then, and therefore it may be worth going to UK from the continent, if not to the US of A. Is it not possible for an EU customer to buy from the UK?

Curt Wrigley

Inspiring

I saw the following thread listed in the "More like this box". Lots of discussion about non-USA pricing that may be interesting to you...

price policy Adobe

J

Jeffb2009Author

Inspiring

Thanks Curt, interesting indeed.

Interestingly, the Adobe argument surrounding resellers is rather mute when they appear not to supply it to resellers in NZ. . Still, I'm glad I'm not in Australia - they seem to be getting ripped off even more.

Curt Wrigley

Inspiring

Heres another thread. A bit newer and quite long..

LR2 Pricing in Europe

pwillener

Legend

Have you tried Amazon.com? You may even have a local store in NZ.

S_D_A_

Inspiring

Hi;

Surely in NZ you have Mac stores that sell almost exclusively to Graphic Design types no ? You'll probably be able to buy Adobe software at a place like that OR college bookstores (for those colleges that have animation or Graphic Design courses).

J

Jeffb2009Author

Inspiring

well, yes we have MAC stores here in NZ - so far I have yet to find one that can sell Lightroom - basically everything else, yes, Lightroom, no.

Plus, not all of us are on MAC, and as far as education stores go, they often don't stock commercial versions. Not much help for a business. I hope that it is different elsewhere but here in NZ this seems (as far as I have found so far) to be the norm.

Aside from where to buy it, I can't for the life of me understand such a price difference - US$299 vs US$420 (includes delivery cause we can't download it...)

DonRicklin-BKE8wc

Inspiring

Jeffb2009 wrote:
well, yes we have MAC stores here in NZ - so far I have yet to find one that can sell Lightroom - basically everything else, yes, Lightroom, no.
Plus, not all of us are on MAC, and as far as education stores go, they often don't stock commercial versions. Not much help for a business. I hope that it is different elsewhere but here in NZ this seems (as far as I have found so far) to be the norm.
Aside from where to buy it, I can't for the life of me understand such a price difference - US$299 vs US$420 (includes delivery cause we can't download it...)

Now that last part makes even less sense. You can downlaod a trial, can't you? That only lacks a serial number! Should be able to buy a legit serial number online, too!

Don

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