iPods Too Expensive in Australia?

According to a CommSec report published yesterday, Australia is no longer the cheapest place in the world to buy an iPod, and if local prices don't drop soon, more Australians will be shopping online overseas, to take advantage of cheaper prices.

The CommSec iPod Index is a global assessment of the impact of currency changes, on consumer spending, globalisation and retailer margins. The latest rankings of 66 countries, puts Australia in 14th place, which could suggest that the Aussie dollar is over-valued against the US dollar.

The US is the cheapest place to buy an Apple iPod 8GB right now, at just $149. In the Apple Store Australia, the iPod nano 8GB sells for $199, which is $182 in US dollars, making our iPod $33 more expensive.

CommSec concludes that value of the Aussie dollar is just about right, but prices of some imported goods like the iPod should be lower than they are now, especially considering that the Australian dollar is much stronger than it was 17 months ago.

Let's just hope that the prices of iPods and other imported goods start falling real soon, because the last thing our economy needs is more people shopping online overseas, for products available to buy online in Australia!

Verified Store Page: Apple Store Australia