I might, there has been a whole story behind this. I have ended up making contacts at Logitech subsequent to an email exchange they are making a special offer to me... Read my exchange below. Names have been changed to protect identities. Any similiarities to any persons living or dead is strictly accidental....:bleh:
I had written the following email to Logitech Country Head:
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Hi Sir,
I am a computer enthusiasist who is a part of the budding Indian community that are increasingly becoming computer geeks. Part of several technology forums like
www.technenclave.com I have owned several logitech products. That include:
1) Logitech Z5500
2) Logitech MX 5000 (latest edition)
3) Logitech Formula Force Steering
4) Logitech VX revolution
I want to bring to light the great aparthied (step motherly treatment) metted out by Logitech to its Indian consumers. I am interested in buying the Logitech G25 steering wheel, which has a MSRP of 300 USD and can be easily found for a little over 200 USD. The same steering is for 17,400 INR. or roughly 425 USD in India. By the time the steering comes down to acceptable prices in INR Logitech probably would have launched a new steering worldwide and again junk would be thorwn at us when its no longer at the cutting edge of technology. I had decided to buy Logitech G25 for review at our forum being an active member there, and I am aware of the excise, taxes, duties etc. However I still find the Indian price qouted to be totally unjustifiable.
I would really appreciate if Logitech can make such high end products more accesible to middle class Indians. Kindly note that there are many potential buyers like me that are put off by these exhorbitant prices. I am willing to buy this steering at 15000 Rs INR or lower. Kindly inform me when the prices reach those level so that our community can have a review for this product.
Thanks for your kind attention.
Regards,
XYZ (Names Changed)
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The Logitech Country head had replied with following:
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Dear Mukesh (names changed),
Thank you for your mail and feedback. And, of course, thank you for your
patronage of Logitech products. We are delighted and very fortunate to have
customers like you.
Actually, in most of our entry level products (in mice, keyboards, speakers
and webcams), the India price is the lowest in the world (by far) - as we
do recognise that India is a high volume market which is very price
sensitive.
Regarding the G25 - a truly remarkable product for which no replacement is
planned currently - the MRP (and its closer to INR 20,000) is unlikely to
come down in the near future unless the Govt levies come down.
Different countries have different pricing structures - even Singapore has
a SRP of Sing $ 529 which is around US$350 - despite the fact that there
are ZERO duties in Singapore. The duty structure is India for Gaming Wheels
is 10% Basic + 16.48% Countervailing Duty (levied on price post basic duty)
+ 4% Special Additional Duty (levied on price post Basic and CVD) - thus an
escalation of approx. 33% with all the "compounded" duty effects. And then
there is VAT as well!
Let me assure you that Logitech takes the Indian market very seriously -
but we have to operate keeping in mind country profitability which is
sometimes a function of the layers in channels as well as Govt levies.
For your specific case, I will work with the India office and distributors
to ensure you are able to get it at closer (though not exactly same) to
your expected price - with a similar lead time.
Once again, we really appreciate your feedback and loyalty.
Cheers.
Manisha (Name changed)
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My final reply was:
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Hi Manisha (Names Changed),
Please first let me express my gratitude for your timely response. You have made it abundantly clear to me that Logitech cares for its growing market share in India. I really appreciate your response and want to ensure you that this will bring Logitech a lot of good press to Logitech in our community.
There are a few concerns that I wanted to highlight to you now that I have your ear:
1) Logitech India has none/or very few shops where one can actually go and demo your high end products. In my specific example, I bought Logitech Z5500 without even listening to them just based on the reviews I had read on the internet. Rashi and other distributors failed to entertain any request to actually demo the product. I live in New Delhi so the situation in smaller towns will be even more dissmal.
2) Whereas I buy your argument that Logitech aggresively prices its low end products in Indian market. The reverse is true for your high end products. I dont fully agree that its just the 33% compounding interest that is responsible for the unfair pricing, as sometimes the difference is over 200% for the same products being sold in European countries. For eg. Sweden which too has a high tax policy, has more aggressively priced high end products as compared to India, simply as it enjoys the European status.
3) The price-revision/correction of your high end products in India is slower than International counterparts.
4) There is no clear pricing structure of dealer margins for your products in India. I have had G25 qouted to me anywhere from 24k to 15.7k. The difference is huge. I realize there are not many potential buyers of such products, but uninformed dealers scare any potential genuine buyers.
Having said all this, I realize that as our governement relaxes its tarrifs and as Logitech India sees Indian market in renewed light, these things are going to change.
Again I really do appreciate your customer responsiveness and your reaching out to me. You have won me as a loyal customer, as I realize that the top management at Logitech cares and sooner or later it will trickle down to the consumers.
I look forward to your offer for G25, I cant wait to get my hands on it to test it for the benefit of our community.
Thanks and Regards,
Kamla (names changed)
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Today I got a call that the steering will be made available to me by 1st for 16k + VAT and the street price is Rs.19400 as confirmed by InfoAccess. I have seen some Indian sites qoute it for 24k. But as per the Logitech folks this is the best price they can give me and this would be directly billed from the distributor.
Of course this has helped me establish channel with Logitech India. If there are products you are interested in and we can have good numbers. I am sure we can use my goodwill to get the best possible deal.
Needless to say as apparent from my emails, Logitech India does care and at least responds to consumer emails in a timely responsive manner.
. Maybe even a bit better. Wish I had the cash to buy one