2009年9月18日 星期五

樂高公司對於各國售價不一且昂貴的回覆

前一陣子樂高大使的討論區出現了許多關於各國樂高售價不一的討論,大使們紛紛列出了各種不平等的待遇。

經過了幾天,樂高公司終於有了回應,不過很遺憾的是,恐怕沒辦法令各位十分滿意。

簡單來說,就是樂高公司在替產品定價時,可不是學Apple公司,美國定價多少,台灣就賣多少,幾乎沒什麼差價(換句話說,跑單幫的實在是沒辦法從中賺錢)。他們很謹慎地觀察各國市場狀況,來決定當地該賣什麼價格。而且他們也不學IKEA,如果產品賣得好,就會想辦法將產品降價...LEGO 是LEGO,不是 Apple,也不是 IKEA。

說一句實話,就是越多人買,LEGO 的定價只會越來越高。這好像不應該是樂高大使該說的話(Suppose我
應該要替他們美言幾句,不過但很遺憾的,這就是實際狀況。)

以下是全文翻譯:
===============================================

okay guys, while I understand things being expensive is frustrating, there is a very hard reality that you guys need to understand. When setting prices in various countries it is doen based on the entire market in that country for EVERY product from EVERY company. The pricing is set when a team of people look at everything in a country and decide that this is a fair price for us to charge in this country where we're able to make the proper margin on our products (which are very expensive to make mind you). Its for this reason why every country has different pricing.

好了各位,我知道昂貴的物價的確是很令人沮喪的。但是你們也得瞭解一些現實上的狀況。當我們在為每個國家設定產品定價時,是根據那個國家當地市場上,「所有」公司的「每一個」產品來決定的。我們有一組人,負責來決定看在當地的定價,是否能讓我們公司獲得足夠的利潤(當然,你們覺得定價太高了)。這也就是為什麼,我們的產品在每個國家定價都不一樣。

If Hasbro is going to charge $30 for a product they charge $20 in the US, and $25 in Canada. If a dishwasher is $100 more expensive in Great Britain than it is in Germany. These trends don't generally limit themselves to just one brand or one type of product. The entire market of a country is set at certain levels and within these levels we set our prices accordingly to fit into what we're able to fairly charge in that country when compared to every other company out there. This is why 'Cost of Living' is higher or lower depending on what country you're from.

舉例來說,孩之寶(Hasbro)原本一個原價30美金的東西,在美國只賣20美金的話,在加拿大卻賣25美金。在英國,一台洗碗機要價超過100美金,比它原本在德國還貴得多。這些情勢並不會改變他們本身成為一個品牌,或是一種產品。一個國家的市場會落在某個等級上,而我們就是想辦法,在能夠獲得合理的利潤前提之下,定下在該市場能與其他公司競爭的價格。而這也是為什麼生活費再每個地方都不一樣的原因。


This is just the reality of global economics and its not something that is going to change, and honestly its not really as unfair as you guys think it is, its just the way it is. Its also an argument I'm NEVER going to win with fans, and I can't blame fans for not liking it.

這就是目前全球經濟的狀況,不會有什麼改變。而且老實說,我們真的不像你們所想像的那樣不公平。其實,情況就是這樣。這也是一個我永遠無法辯贏樂高迷的爭論。當然,我也沒辦法責怪你們抱怨這些價格的問題。

When I was at BrickWorld doing my Q&A one of the questions I got was "why doesn't LEGO clearance products anymore?" my answer was "because you only clearance products that aren't selling and we're having no problem selling our products." Later this same person complained that they can't afford LEGO unless its on clearance. The hard answer there becomes that LEGO is a Premium product no matter where you are and its also expensive everywhere.

當我參加 BrickWorld 的「問與答」活動時,有一個傢伙問我「為什麼樂高現在都不再出清產品了?」我的答案是:「你只有在賣不掉商品時,才會來清倉特賣。而我們目前在銷售上,可是一點狀況也沒有。」稍後,同一個人,再度向我抱怨,除非有清倉特賣,不然他買不起樂高的產品。最後只能說:樂高作為一個領導性的品牌,其實不管你在哪裡,它都是一樣昂貴的。

Prices will go up or down based on how well LEGO sells. If we're selling LEGO based on the market in a country and we're having no problem selling the product, it would be foolish to lower our prices. in many countries if we ever lowered our prices we wouldn't get any value from doing business in that country and would start losing money. this is where different import taxes, regulations, etc. come into play.

價格究竟會定得高,還是定得低,其實都是看樂高公司到底賣的好不好。如果我們在某個地方已經賣得很好了,卻還去把價格調低,那我們豈不是傻蛋。在很多國家,如果我們再把價格調低,就會開始賠本。這主要是因為進口關稅、法規等等的關係。

Someone commented that we're slow to answer this question, its mostly because its the toughest question to answer because I know no matter how I answer it, you're not going to like.

有人跟我說,我們回覆(大使們)問題的速度太慢了。其實這主要是因為有些問題實在是很難回答,而且我知道,不管我怎麼說,你們都不會高興的。

Anyways, here you are and I'm happy to follow up on this.

不管怎麼樣,我還是希望大家討論這個話題時都是心情愉悅的。

Steve
(樂高公司負責與樂高迷互動的員工)

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