UK Price Rises

As always needs to be said in these pricing threads, directly comparing the price in a country with a VAT calculated into the price vs. the US listing is quite unfair. Sales tax in the US is collected by the states, not the federal government, and the rate varies from zero up to nearly 10%. As such, it is never added to the list price, it is calculated at time of sale. So for a true apples to oranges price comparison, one must delete the VAT from the price before comparing to the US listing.

Plus 3.7% import duty to the UK.

Consumers are unhappy about seriously old technology being increased in price by 25%. As much as Sonos are entitled to put their prices up, their customers are entitled to bemoan it.

Deal with it.We are all entitled to be disappointed it's happened. We are all entitled to bemoan / lament this development. But we are also all entitled not to buy the product. If the product is overpriced it won't sell. If it still sells it isn't overpriced because people are still looking at what it has to offer and buying it. Why is that so hard to understand?

Whether something is overpriced is a subjective assessment. I personally think the PlayBar was grossly overpriced as it was, now it's just up there in la la land. Others I know think it's the best device available for what it does (granted I haven't yet met one who's heard anything else).

People will always buy Sonos, it's a luxury mass produced consumer item like Apple, many people buy for the brand not the product - you could stick a dog poop on a popsicle stick, shove an apple logo on it and people will buy it, Sonos is no different - it has it's loyal fans. That is how branding works.

It's like Beats headphones, most of us know they sound crap, and better headphones can be had for considerably less money but hey, lots of people on the beats forum will disagree until death.

But more to the point, why does this bother you? You are not the CEO, you are not a shareholder, you have nothing to defend. If you are happy with the price rise and think it's still wonderful value that's your right.

But don't bemoan people who think Sonos are taking the proverbial. You'd be better off just ignoring the thread (and the press).

For what it's worth, the price of Sonos products in Canada rose substantially when the Canadian dollar fell against the US dollar. The C$ was at par until late 2013, with its decline accelerating in mid-2014. However, if I recall correctly, Sonos held off on price increases for a while.

Fully agree with you all in the UK, Sonos what are you playing at?!! Sometimes price rises are inevitable, but what I see is a short sighted decision no doubt to increase prices on OLD technology (some comments have also picked up on this), BIG mistake!! The size of the rises is a joke and I'm sure consumers will research other brands and products more closely before purchasing. I bought into the Sonos eco system like you all and had planned to buy another Play5 and Connect:AMP to run a turntable through. Where is the innovation with Sonos like with Apple? It's too thin (update app and new Play5 in 2015, whoohoo) I would like to see a Play 1 with battery hot shoe to take anywhere (Bose have a battery powered Smart Touch speaker). The rises will hurt business I'm sure in the UK, rises are no way to attract new customers, keep loyal customers and see repeat purchases. Oh dear, own goal!

Fully agree with you all in the UK, Sonos what are you playing at?!! Sometimes price rises are inevitable, but what I see is a short sighted decision no doubt to increase prices on OLD technology (some comments have also picked up on this), BIG mistake!! The size of the rises is a joke and I'm sure consumers will research other brands and products more closely before purchasing. I bought into the Sonos eco system like you all and had planned to buy another Play5 and Connect:AMP to run a turntable through. Where is the innovation with Sonos like with Apple? It's too thin (update app and new Play5 in 2015, whoohoo) I would like to see a Play 1 with battery hot shoe to take anywhere (Bose have a battery powered Smart Touch speaker). The rises will hurt business I'm sure in the UK, rises are no way to attract new customers, keep loyal customers and see repeat purchases. Oh dear, own goal!

As stated above, the UK have been getting a huge price break for a few months compared to the US:

I've done a bit of math (can't post it here because it won't get past the Spam filters). Subtracting the difference for the VAT and given the exchange rate as of this AM, the Play:5 - VAT% x exchange rate gives the same price in the UK as the US. Same for the Playbar. Even starting from the US price and adding VAT yields only a £18-20 difference, which could easily be chalked up to shipping expenses, or just plain old "nearest hundred" price rounding.

And this is not even figuring in the 3.7% import duty. So you are welcome for the price break, while we here in the states were paying what you are finally paying now!

Fully agree with you all in the UK, Sonos what are you playing at?!! Sometimes price rises are inevitable, but what I see is a short sighted decision no doubt to increase prices on OLD technology (some comments have also picked up on this), BIG mistake!! The size of the rises is a joke and I'm sure consumers will research other brands and products more closely before purchasing. I bought into the Sonos eco system like you all and had planned to buy another Play5 and Connect:AMP to run a turntable through. Where is the innovation with Sonos like with Apple? It's too thin (update app and new Play5 in 2015, whoohoo) I would like to see a Play 1 with battery hot shoe to take anywhere (Bose have a battery powered Smart Touch speaker). The rises will hurt business I'm sure in the UK, rises are no way to attract new customers, keep loyal customers and see repeat purchases. Oh dear, own goal!

As stated above, the UK have been getting a huge price break for a few months compared to the US:

I've done a bit of math (can't post it here because it won't get past the Spam filters). Subtracting the difference for the VAT and given the exchange rate as of this AM, the Play:5 - VAT% x exchange rate gives the same price in the UK as the US. Same for the Playbar. Even starting from the US price and adding VAT yields only a £18-20 difference, which could easily be chalked up to shipping expenses, or just plain old "nearest hundred" price rounding.

And this is not even figuring in the 3.7% import duty. So you are welcome for the price break, while we here in the states were paying what you are finally paying now!

Aren't Sonos products made in Malaysia? Why would shipping expenses to the UK from Malaysia be much different from shipping expenses to the U.S.? I doubt that Sonos is shipping its products to the U.S., then reshipping to the UK. If they are, they could certainly reduce costs by not doing so.

Aren't Sonos products made in Malaysia? Why would shipping expenses to the UK from Malaysia be much different from shipping expenses to the U.S.? I doubt that Sonos is shipping its products to the U.S., then reshipping to the UK. If they are, they could certainly reduce costs by not doing so.

Talk about missing the forest for the trees.

Regardless of the disparity (or not) in shipping costs, I'm sure the 3.7% import duty can explain most of the £18-20 difference between US/UK prices, that is if one is prone to quibble over a £18-20 difference between units costing £500 and up. :8

Personally, I chalk it up to rounding.

Aren't Sonos products made in Malaysia? Why would shipping expenses to the UK from Malaysia be much different from shipping expenses to the U.S.? I doubt that Sonos is shipping its products to the U.S., then reshipping to the UK. If they are, they could certainly reduce costs by not doing so.

Talk about missing the forest for the trees.

Regardless of the disparity (or not) in shipping costs, I'm sure the 3.7% import duty can explain most of the £18-20 difference between US/UK prices, that is if one is prone to quibble over a £18-20 difference between units costing £500 and up. :8

Personally, I chalk it up to rounding.

I'm not "missing" anything. You mentioned it, so I'm questioning it. If it isn't important, why bother mention it in your post? Also, my research shows a lower import duty on speakers from Malaysia into the UK.

Where's Ratty & Jgatie to celebrate the price rise and say how good it is? Lol. ;)

Didn't take to long for the answer to that question to surface, lol.

I'm not "missing" anything. You mentioned it, so I'm questioning it. If it isn't important, why bother mention it in your post? Also, my research shows a lower import duty on speakers from Malaysia into the UK.

I mentioned it as speculation. If I was wrong, so be it, you caught me. Alert the internet police!

But in reality, it has about the significance of a gnat's behind on a £18-20 price difference on items costing £500+, and complaining about it is the very definition of missing the forest for the trees. My main point about comparing prices which include VAT with prices which do not include state sales taxes still stands, regardless of the nits you choose to pick.

Didn't take to long for the answer to that question to surface, lol.

Did I date your sister or something? At least the other complainers knew when to give up after being shown the current UK pricing is right in line with US pricing.