Credit Suisse regularly compares pricing for selected consumer electronics at large Australian retailers. Its most recent comparison unsurprisingly pegs Harvey Norman as the most expensive retailer and notes that online retailer Kogan undercuts all its bricks-and-mortar rivals. Perhaps a little more surprisingly, it pitches Dick Smith as slightly cheaper than JB Hi-Fi.
Credit Suisse analyses four main categories of gadgets: tablets, cameras, MP3 players and accessories. The chart above shows average pricing trends across the three physical retailers and Kogan. Despite tough competition in those segments, the store prices are becoming higher compared to online, the newly-issued report suggests:
Despite slight improvements in the price competitiveness of JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman in the latest observations we note their price differentials to Kogan are increasing. The discrepancy in the prices offered by listed retailers relative to their online competitors has expanded since June 2012.
One factor the research didn’t cover: the ability to bargain down prices or get extra accessories at JB Hi-Fi. We’ve noted in the past that Harvey Norman has poor service; the combination of that with higher pricing certainly doesn’t make it an appealing option.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.