Gadget firms 'ripping off' Britons with high prices
British consumers are being ripped off by gadget-makers who charge higher prices here than anywhere else, it is claimed.
An Evening Standard investigation found British buyers of the latest computers and games consoles are being charged hundreds of pounds more than shoppers in the U.S.
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Industry watchers said the electronics business has a history of charging UK shoppers the most.
"British consumers are forever being ripped off," said Tom Dunmore of gadget magazine Stuff.
"Every electronics company thinks it can get away with charging the UK more for an identical product.
"In many cases, people may well be better off investigating whether it would be sensible to buy in the US when they are next on holiday."
British buyers were stung in 2004 when Sony's PlayStation Portable hit the market at £179 - a 40 per cent mark-up on its U.S. price. Just before Christmas Nintendo's Wii console went on sale here for £180, 38 per cent more than in the U.S.
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vincent Cable said: "Rip-off Britain seems to be alive and kicking.
"This has been going on for years in the electronics industry and there is no question that consumers are being ripped off here. The question is whether it is happening deliberately or not. I think it is something the Office of Fair Trading should be more active on."
This week, Microsoft boss Bill Gates was forced to defend his company's pricing plans after it launched the new version of Windows for £127 in the U.S. but up to £249 in Britain.
He said: "We try to keep our prices largely in line from country to country.
"But with price you do generally get some things that get a bit out of alignment as currencies go up and down.
"Our goal across our product line is to largely have a global way of looking at things."
• Sony Playstation 3: UK £425, U.S. £305
• Nintendo Wii: UK £179, U.S. £127
• Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade: UK £249, U.S. £127
• Apple iPod 80Gb: UK £259, U.S. £178
• Apple iMac 20in computer: UK £999, U.S. £765
• Dell XPS notebook PC: UK £798, U.S. £663
• Microsoft Xbox 360 premium: UK £279, U.S. £203
• Philips 42in Ambilight plasma TV: UK £2,624, U.S. £1,786
