iPod cheap in Hong Kong, but a Brazil bank-breaker

Australia's Commonwealth Bank has used latest iPod Nano to compare global currencies and purchasing power in 55 countries.

The story "iPod cheap in Hong Kong, but a Brazil bank-breaker" published October 4, 2007 at 10:51 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[mbenedict]

Extremely flawed study

Unlike Big Macs, iPods are not manufactured then consumed in each country of study. <br /><br />Instead iPods are made in China and must be shipped then imported to the rest of the world, taking into account freight costs, customs brokerage, import taxes, luxury taxes in some countries, etc. Not to mention the cost of distribution, sales and marketing in each country.<br /><br />All of the above factors are strong influences which has little to do with "purchasing power parity" or even the relative value of the USD compared to each country's local currrency.<br /><br />If Big Macs were only made in Illinois then had to imported to Sao Paulo or Tokyo for consumption. Imagine how skewed the Big Mac Index would be?<br /><br />Let's recognize the "iPod Index" for what it is: a marketing tool by the Commonwealth Bank. Don't be fooled.

[Taipei24]

flawed comment

My MacBook Pro was built in china and shipped to me... In Ohio. I <br />think you might want to do a little more research.