HappySqurriel on 18 July 2007
Some of the added cost is due to the increase in the cost of doing business in many countries; things like minimum wage, standard benefits, and business taxes are quite a bit different in many European countries as compared to North America and Japan.
Beyond that, companies like selling products for nice 'round' prices so when the expense of delivering the product passes a 'price point' they just increase the price to another good 'price point.'
