Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ncrlnk!ncr-sd!hp-sdd!ucsdhub!sdcsvax!ucsd!ucbvax!UCONNVM.BITNET!SEWALL From: SEWALL@UCONNVM.BITNET (Murph Sewall) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: Re: Piracy, etc. Message-ID: <8905281428.aa11113@SMOKE.BRL.MIL> Date: 28 May 89 19:21:35 GMT References: Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The Internet Lines: 39 >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)