Nik Software gone the way of Adobe

[devilla101]

It looks like Nik Software has began implementing country based sales ie. You can only buy and download the software from Australia. Pretty much like Adobe. We are now paying differently on the same 1's and 0's

No idea when they began implementing this but I tried to purchase HDR Efex Pro with a coupon code. After doing the checkout process they said there was a problem and that they had to review the order.

2 days later my order was rejected with an email stating:
"The incorrect country was selected for your sales area. Orders are processed based on geographical location. Using the "Choose your country" drop-down menu located in the upper right hand corner, please select the correct country based on your location. For further international sales information, please visit our International Support page"

I've had no problems when I purchase Silver and Viveza last year so I guess this policy is pretty recent.


Man I would love to just tell them to f**** off

[Raskill]

Tell them go get f###ed and down load an illegal copy. They wonder why people resort to this, but then charge through the nose because we are in Australia. Screw them.

[devilla101]

I agree. Once I get a chance I'll draft a letter and tell them off.

I would like for them to justify why this is the case all of a sudden.

For the record, I tried using different coupon codes in the Australian site but all were invalid whilst the US sites were registering just fine.

[aim54x]

Ouch....this is bad news....

[devilla101]

Here is the email I sent

-------
Hi,

I have recently tried purchasing HDR Efex Pro after trialling the product. However upon my disappointment It was rejected due to my region (Australia).

I find this direction that Nik Software took rather disappointing as you are now on par with how Adobe does business. Basically Australians purchasing the software at a higher price to download the same 1's and 0's.

I do find this business practice rather baffling as other software companies do not do this (eg Alien Skin, OnOne Software, Imagenomic). Why do it?

I guess Nik Sofware does not care about its loyal customers and its all strictly business to appease the resellers.

I've informed some of my fellow photographers about this strict policy as they themselves are users of your software as well. Fair to say, they are not too happy about this.

In the meantime I'll be happily using Silver Efex and Viveza however I'll be looking at other alternative software for my HDR needs.


----

[sirhc55]

Tell them go get f###ed and down load an illegal copy. They wonder why people resort to this, but then charge through the nose because we are in Australia. Screw them.

[gstark]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone actually compared their US$ pricing with AU$ pricing yet?

[devilla101]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone actually compared their US$ pricing with AU$ pricing yet?

Same pricing for HDR Efex.

[gstark]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone actually compared their US$ pricing with AU$ pricing yet?

Same pricing for HDR Efex.

Bearing in mind that US pricing is always quoted as being ex-tax (varies from state to state) while Oz pricing always includes GST, what's the problem here?

I'm not defending them; just want to understand the issue.

[devilla101]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone actually compared their US$ pricing with AU$ pricing yet?

Same pricing for HDR Efex.

Bearing in mind that US pricing is always quoted as being ex-tax (varies from state to state) while Oz pricing always includes GST, what's the problem here?

I'm not defending them; just want to understand the issue.

Previously I've been able to purchase Nik Software with using a coupon code from their US site (eg Silver and Viv). Before the Australian surpassed the US dollar, it was cheaper purchasing from the US. Now all of a sudden we have to use the Australian site. Why?

I've purchased other software from US site (Alien Skin and OnOne) and they don't have this type of region sales implemented...yet.

If I can buy the software for US$80 (with coupon) why should I pay AU$99 for exactly the same thing?

[ATJ]

If I can buy the software for US$80 (with coupon) why should I pay AU$99 for exactly the same thing?

I guess because the coupon is US specific. While not identical, it would be a bit like going into a DSE and trying to use a coupon from JB HiFi.

There may also be some legal issues about selling to Australia without GST being collected, if the company has an office in Australia.

If the prices (sans coupons) are about the same between the US and AU sites, that's actually pretty good. With Adobe, you pay up to 50% more for exactly the same product. That's not a difference of the GST, but Adobe Australia taking the cream for no added value.

[devilla101]

If I can buy the software for US$80 (with coupon) why should I pay AU$99 for exactly the same thing?

I guess because the coupon is US specific. While not identical, it would be a bit like going into a DSE and trying to use a coupon from JB HiFi.

There may also be some legal issues about selling to Australia without GST being collected, if the company has an office in Australia.

If the prices (sans coupons) are about the same between the US and AU sites, that's actually pretty good. With Adobe, you pay up to 50% more for exactly the same product. That's not a difference of the GST, but Adobe Australia taking the cream for no added value.

DSE and JB Hifi are 2 totally different stores. I don't see how this ties with Nik Software US and Australia which are the same company.

There may be legal issues, but as an 'uneducated' consumer who really takes this into account and cares to understand? For us its like "Wait, its cheaper in the US. Why should I then buy it in Australia?

$100 is nothing but its how these type of companies does business that irks me.

[ATJ]

DSE and JB Hifi are 2 totally different stores. I don't see how this ties with Nik Software US and Australia which are the same company.

How do you know they are the same company? Is Nik Software Australia 100% owner by the US? And even if the AU company is owned by the US one, that doesn't mean that they honour everything the US company does.

As far as I am aware, Nikon Australia is owned by Nikon Japan, but we already know that they don't honour the warranty on a camera body bought outside Australia.

There may be legal issues, but as an 'uneducated' consumer who really takes this into account and cares to understand? For us its like "Wait, its cheaper in the US. Why should I then buy it in Australia?

So you think Nik Software should ignore the law because some customers may not understand?

Also, you said the prices are the same (ignoring coupons) so it isn't actually cheaper in the US. If the coupon is issued by the US company and only for use in the US, isn't that their decision to make?

$100 is nothing but its how these type of companies does business that irks me.

If they were actually charging more (and significantly more like Adobe do), I'd agree. That doesn't seem to be the case here.

[devilla101]

How do you know they are the same company? Is Nik Software Australia 100% owner by the US? And even if the AU company is owned by the US one, that doesn't mean that they honour everything the US company does.

As a consumer do you really expect people to know this?

As far as I am aware, Nikon Australia is owned by Nikon Japan, but we already know that they don't honour the warranty on a camera body bought outside Australia.

Why use Nikon as an example? It's a poor example. Compare apples to apples not apples to oranges.

So you think Nik Software should ignore the law because some customers may not understand?

Again I'm just consumer here. Don't expect me to know the 'trade' laws. For the average Joe, it's about finding the best price.

Also, you said the prices are the same (ignoring coupons) so it isn't actually cheaper in the US. If the coupon is issued by the US company and only for use in the US, isn't that their decision to make?

Can you then please explain how it was possible for me to make 2 purchases at separate times using the coupons last year? Remember this is not the first time I've purchased from them.

$100 is nothing but its how these type of companies does business that irks me.

If they were actually charging more (and significantly more like Adobe do), I'd agree. That doesn't seem to be the case here.[/quote]

No it isnt, but what is the reason that they are now restricting their sales to the specific country. I went to their website and it seems CR Kennedy are the authorised distributor. So it seems to be a reseller thing?

[Remorhaz]

Playing devils advocate...

As far as I am aware, Nikon Australia is owned by Nikon Japan, but we already know that they don't honour the warranty on a camera body bought outside Australia.

NB: I'm not sure that quoting another company (in fact pretty much every camera company) with crappy region based anti competitive protection policies which do this is a winning argument - I'd say more that they are both "bad" rather than both "good"

Also, you said the prices are the same (ignoring coupons) so it isn't actually cheaper in the US. If the coupon is issued by the US company and only for use in the US, isn't that their decision to make?

It is - and I believe that's exactly what is irksome. If you're going to have coupon codes to encourage people to buy directly from the company just do it and allow us to buy it using the code from any of their worldwide stores (if they feel they must have region locked stores)

$100 is nothing but its how these type of companies does business that irks me.

If they were actually charging more (and significantly more like Adobe do), I'd agree. That doesn't seem to be the case here.

But effectively they are - if no-one needs to pay the "full" price in the US (because anyone from there can use a coupon code to reduce the price by 20, 25, 30, 50% or whatever) then effectively the price paid in the rest of the world is significantly higher for the same thing

[gstark]

I went to their website and it seems CR Kennedy are the authorised distributor. So it seems to be a reseller thing?

And there is the source of the problem.

There will probably be an exclusivity agreement between Kennedy and NIK (US), with a non-compete clause that actively prevents NIK from selling directly into the Oz market. The presumption is that Kennedy will invest funds into developing the local market for the product through promotion and education, and that their investment needs to be protected.

That's great in theory: hands up everyone who's seen seen all of Kennedy's local promotion of NIK products? Me neither.

Education?? oh dear; that's AWOL too?

Kennedy will be compelled to pay GST on their product sales, and any promotions that NIK (US) might instigate will have no bearing on the Oz market. Likewise, were Kennedy to introduce some local coupon discount offers, those would not apply to any of the other world markets.

What happened last year, or the year before, prior to the current arrangements being put in place, was well and good, and for the purposes of this discussion, totally irrelevant, I'm afraid.

While I can't say for sure, I'd hazard a guess that Kennedy's will also be trying, desperately, to cling to the old market and distribution model that has served them well for the last 50 or so years. That's the same model that is causing so many businesses in the channel to go out of business, because they're failing to move forward.

[devilla101]

Well that sucks donkey balls

[ATJ]

NB: I'm not sure that quoting another company (in fact pretty much every camera company) with crappy region based anti competitive protection policies which do this is a winning argument - I'd say more that they are both "bad" rather than both "good"

I wasn't suggesting it was "good" or "right" but just that it is not at all unusual.

It is - and I believe that's exactly what is irksome. If you're going to have coupon codes to encourage people to buy directly from the company just do it and allow us to buy it using the code from any of their worldwide stores (if they feel they must have region locked stores)

But effectively they are - if no-one needs to pay the "full" price in the US (because anyone from there can use a coupon code to reduce the price by 20, 25, 30, 50% or whatever) then effectively the price paid in the rest of the world is significantly higher for the same thing

I guess it comes down to, "What was the source of the coupons?" Were they gained "legitimately", or was it a case of someone sharing the coupons they got on the Internet?

If it was the former, it seems odd that a person in Australia was able to get hold of these coupons if they aren't valid here and there'd be a case to answer.

If it was the latter, the real problem appears to be how the coupons were acquired rather than them not being honoured.

The same thing happens all the time when US based companies have "cash back" offers which are only valid in the US.

[gstark]

The same thing happens all the time when US based companies have "cash back" offers which are only valid in the US.

Exactly.

And, I expect, when a local organisation offers a cash back deal here, that's not available OS.

I'm not defending anyone nor any particular practice. Just saying that this is how some businesses operate, and that we, as consumers, have very little say in the matter.

FWIW, there are services in the US that offer a local (US) deliver address for US purchases. You can subscribe, order, pay, and have the goods delivered to the US agent, who then sends the goods to you here. With those services, you need to subscribe (pay a joining fee) and of course pay for any delivery costs for the on-forwarding of the goods from the US to Oz.

And you also need to pay local (US) taxes on the products being acquired.

And yes, I know that there's no physical delivery of any product in this instance, but the point is that these services do provide you with a US delivery address, which may be useful.

Well that sucks donkey balls

Talk with CRK. I'm sure they'll be responsive.

[Remorhaz]

I guess it comes down to, "What was the source of the coupons?" Were they gained "legitimately", or was it a case of someone sharing the coupons they got on the Internet?

Done to death now I know but coupon codes are regularly promoted by many of the companies themselves (including Nik) where they "advertise" in various public Internet mediums (on Podcasts, Blogs, Forums, etc).

Here's one on Trey Ratcliff's site from NIK - apparently for "all" readers to use:

http://www.stuckincustoms.com/nik-coupon/

and another from an HDR blog site:

http://www.hdrit.com/nik-software-coupon-code/

of course these now probably only work on the US store - but they are openly publicaly advertised by the companies themselves so one could not say gaining them is somehow illegitimate.

[ATJ]

Here's one on Trey Ratcliff's site from NIK - apparently for "all" readers to use:

http://www.stuckincustoms.com/nik-coupon/

That one was from 2009 so probably a tad old...

and another from an HDR blog site:

http://www.hdrit.com/nik-software-coupon-code/

of course these now probably only work on the US store - but they are openly publicaly advertised by the companies themselves so one could not say gaining them is somehow illegitimate.

This latter one is certainly current. If it was me and I found it didn't work for Australian purchases, I'd be complaining directly to hdrit.com as they are the ones that have negotiated the coupon (seeing as it is "HDRIT"). They may be typically US centric and not care or they might do something about it.

[Mr Darcy]

Here is another one.
http://blog.martinbaileyphotography.com/mbpkk-affiliates/
Ironically Martin works from Japan, but he acknowledges that the coupon does not work there. He does say that it works in most other countries but

Note that some countries don’t automatically use this code, so if you have any problems, please call Nik to place your order, and tell them that you want to use the discount code MBP15, for your 15% discount.

[devilla101]

Tried to call Nik Software Australia office to see if they can do me a similiar US offer but no phone numbers or even a postal address listed on the 'Contact Us' page.

http://www.niksoftware.com.au/nik/index.php?q=node/26

[Matt. K]

NIk software?.....................Who needs it?

[radar]

Try BetterPhotography as the coupon code, that's from the Better Photography magazine. Just tried it for SEP2 and it would apply a $30 discount and for HDREfexPro it applies a $15 discount. So you are down to $85AUD.

[sirhc55]

NIk software?.....................Who needs it?

[stubbsy]

NIk software?.....................Who needs it?

Me for one. It's an essential part of my workflow. It does things much quicker than I can manage with photoshop and it plugs directly into lightroom to do stuff I'd need a round trip to Photoshop to do otherwise. In fact with LR4 and the Nik suite I'm close to not needing Photoshop at all.

As for the purchase experience. I've always bought via the International (US) site (listed separately to United States)and had no issues. My last purchase was to update to ColorEfex 4 and that was in October last year.

I'll be interested to see what Nik have to say if/when they reply to your email.