The European prices are really too high..
I don't understand how MAC makes these prices? I understand that in Europe products are more expensive because generally because we pay more taxes on them, but that doesn't justify this huuuuge price difference. And it's also funny how the palette in Italy is €147 and in the Netherlands €125, in Italy the VAT is 22% (correct me if wrong
) and in the Netherlands I think 21%, where does this difference of €22 come from?? As well for Austria and Germany... it really seems like they make their prices randomly.
I agree with the three posts above wholeheartedly! In no way in defense of MAC, the following is interesting to note (though I know lots of people already feel the same way): companies present in both the US and Europe tend to have weird pricing practices, really increasing the prices in Europe. L'Oreal, for example, is REALLY expensive in Austria (basically MAC prices) for certain products.
Example:
L'Oreal Touche Magique concealer (I think Magic Lumi in US)
~$9.64 vs 12.99EUR at Bipa (drugstore equivalent). That's $18.00.
Also, I buy a lot of Paula's Choice products, and on her Germany/Austria website, the prices are generally 1) the exact US price but in Euros (e.g. $25 becomes 25EUR) 2) or just obscenely high. A lotion I bought last time I was in the US for $20 is 29EUR on her site.
Because they're so random, it really makes me feel like companies think consumers are dumb. VAT and other taxes aside, charging literally double the equivalent USD price is insane. A lot of products aren't even imported, they're made right in Europe. I can't seem to find any information about this on the internet, but if anyone knows the reasoning behind the price discrepancy, I'd be interested.
