Adobe international pricing sham for software downloads

Why does Adobe continue the ridiculous international pricing sham for software downloads?

I am a fan and regular user of Adobe software products, and was looking to upgrade some of my Adobe software suites from CS4 versions. However, after a bit of research on the Adobe US and Australia web stores, I have been left with a bitter taste in my mouth.

e.g Comparing the Adobe US and Adobe Australia web stores and specifying my upgrade options, the pricing I was given is:-

• Captivate upgrade = $319US or $487AU
• eLearning Suite upgrade = $644US or $988AU
• Photoshop Extended upgrade = $349US or $532AU
• Photoshop Design Premium upgrade = $649US or $987AU

The current exchange rate is $1.06US=$1AU, and there is no sales tax on internet purchases in Australia.

My past products have been brought through the Australia web store, so the Adobe website forces me to purchase using this option at the much  higher price.

Even if you eventually give in to the extortion and purchase the product in the Australia webstore, you get a message on the screen “You will receive an email within the next US business day confirming the status of your order”.

There is absolutely no reason for the extravagant pricing difference for downloaded products.

Due to my disgust at the situation, I have chosen to only update the one program absolutely required, so Adobe has missed out on more of my dollars for at least a couple of years.

Adobe needs to wake up to themselves in the globalised economy and sort this problem which is harming their business. Internationally standardised pricing will ultimately mean more people buying more products.

Carl Chapman