Originally posted by John Summers:
does stuff like mobile phones and software really cost the same in China?
Mobile phones used to (10 years ago) be very expensive, especially when compared with the average Chinese's salary. The one time cost (phone plus activation fee etc) was about Yuan 10000.00 (1 USD = 8.28 Yuan ??? at that time), and the service fees were even more horrible (many people complained that they could afford buying a mobile phone, but could not afford using it). 10 years ago, owning a mobile phone (the old fashion big Motorola junk) is almost the symbol of social status, somehow like owning a car in China today. It must not be that expensive right now (sorry, I don't know the current price), since my unemployed younger brother who lives with my parents now has one
. The current two big things are: automobiles and computer chips. Let's see how things will be going.
Software is totally another story. What can I say
? Even the domestic Chinese companies suffer too...
I want to know how many people in UK really paid Pound 200 just for buying Windows XP alone? I bought an official Windows 98 disk from Microsoft for $5 when I was still in graduate school several years back (because my school got a deal with Microsoft), and two years ago I bought a laptop and it came with the Windows XP (so I don't know how much I actually paid for it).
BTW, I have experience living in both a developed country and a developing country. What I can tell you is that not everything in a developed country is more expensive in a developing country.
Originally posted by JiaPei Jen:
It is due to the tariffs that are imposed on the imported goods. The tariffs go to the Chinese Government. That kind of money does not go to the manufacturers.
Yes, that's true. 10 years ago, buying a Lexus at the price of Yuan 660K (including all the fees) in China was considered as a super cheap deal. Many people in southern Chinese provinces got rich by smuggling cars.
[ October 30, 2003: Message edited by: J. Yan ]
[ October 30, 2003: Message edited by: J. Yan ]