I've checked the US costs an they're even more expensive;

The cheapest UPS Mountain View -> Sydney service which takes a couple of 
days is 123.27 USD, which means that BrightStar would get about 30 USD 
which I can see as being a commercially viable amount.

Al.

Al Sutton wrote:
> Eric,
>
> I've just priced up a package of a $399 item weighing 1Kg from Googles 
> US office (*Mountain view, 94043, U.S.A.) *to it's Sydney office  
> (*Sydney, 2000, Australia) with FedEx using a scheduled pickup and I 
> get 107.88 USD as the cheapest price with $112.03 as their two day 
> service, so the profit to brightstar is more like $50 USD which is 
> still over the top in my view.
>
> Al.
> *
> Eric wrote:
>> Justin,
>>
>> If Google is not making money out of this, then your distribution
>> partner must be making unreasonable profits out of all the poor
>> developers.
>> At the RRP US$399 price, there is already substantial margin and
>> overcharging for the shipping is NOT acceptable.
>> The current shipping tax fee, ex tax too high, for example, Australia
>> have free entry of up to AU$1000 which means the shipping to Australia
>> is NOT taxed, yet someone reported the shipping fee to cost ~US$160.
>> Last time I check, the cost to post about 1kg worth of item from US to
>> Australia via USPS's courier service only cost like <$50, so there is
>> at least $100 excess profit here..
>>
>> Too bad our device isn't ready yet, otherwise, it will definitely be
>> sold for much less incl shipping.
>>
>> Cheers
>> Eric
>> Portable Electronics Ltd
>> www.hdmp4.com
>>
>> On Dec 12, 5:30 am, "Justin (Google Employee)" <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>  
>>> Peekay,
>>>
>>> Thanks for the feedback, you can be sure that we're learning from our
>>> experience with this developer device program. Google isn't making any
>>> money from the Android Dev Phone 1, since we are not selling them. We
>>> are working with our distribution partner to make the process better.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> Justin
>>> Android Team @ Google
>>>
>>> On Dec 10, 11:23 am, Peekay <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>    
>>>> Thanks Justin for the response.  I did place an order right after
>>>> starting this thread, despite the cost.  Just some suggestions since
>>>> clarification / changes are apparently on the way:
>>>>       1.  Please do itemize the costs.  $264 shipping is seriously 
>>>> out-of-
>>>> whack for a $399 phone, even accounting for actual shipping costs,
>>>> brokerage fees, and import taxes.  The import taxes should only be
>>>> around $55.  Brokerage fees are usually already included with UPS's
>>>> Express or Expedited levels.  So that means Canadians are paying about
>>>> $200+ in "shipping and handling" which seems really steep to charge
>>>> indy developers.
>>>>       2.  If we're going to pay that much for shipping, be 
>>>> transparent about
>>>> the shipping method.   When I ordered, only *after* I paid that a
>>>> message appeared stating that shipping could take up to three days.  I
>>>> felt like a total chump for paying $200+ for three day shipping on a
>>>> phone (when our US cousins get free shipping apparently.)  Really, I
>>>> felt like I've been had.
>>>>       3. Again if we're going to be charged so much for shipping, 
>>>> please at
>>>> least give us a tracking number.  I got a confirmation email with an
>>>> "order number" but no obvious way to see the status of that order
>>>> anywhere.  I ordered a couple of days ago, and I have no idea if the
>>>> phone has even shipped yet!!
>>>>       4. As you know there's a lot of negative press already on this
>>>> shipping issue, on Engadget, CNET, PC World, etc.   I know the last
>>>> thing Google wants is being seen as nickel-and-diming indy developers,
>>>> but that's the perception out there right now.  $264 buys a lot of
>>>> Ramen. :-)  So please really consider cheaper shipping options in the
>>>> future.  (It's too late for me, but I'm sure my fellow international
>>>> coders would appreciate it.)
>>>>       I'm a believer in Android and that's why I placed my order 
>>>> right away
>>>> even with the outrageous shipping cost.  I know Google will take care
>>>> of us developers, despite these initial issues.
>>>>       
>> >>
>>   
>
>


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