How much is HP LOGO worth?

[szamot]

Well, it depends who you ask and where you look. Let's talk about SD cards and the affixed logo that makes them shine. Apparently if you elect to buy a run of the mill Kingston (http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?DPNo=295990) SD card for example then it is very cheap, but if you want to buy “quality” like HP (http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=382387) then you will pay a mint, and I mean a mint. Can someone explain this pricing phenomenon to me like I am 2 years old. I only wish we could get Kingston pricing on handhelds instead of HP's. Imagine if you could pick up the new HP6515 for say $100. WOW. This sort of thing just angers me to no end, so I had to vent. Looks like HP has not given up on trying to gouge its customers, nope they did not even skip a beat. :evil:

[Jason Dunn]

This is pretty typical - you have to understand that a vendor like HP probably isn't buying the memory directly from the factory like Kingston is - HP is probaby buying from a second tier vendor, and yeah, they're going to gouge their customers who don't know any better. HP might make 10-15% markup on the Pocket PCs themselves, but a 50% markup on the cases, cables, and accessories.

The simple answer to why HP does this is "Because the day" - it's the peril of a free market economy. Buyer beware, and shop around.

[Jonathon Watkins]

The Inquirer looked at memory prices a while back, here (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=1320), here (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=6502) and here (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=1491) (though there are more links to similar articles in the posts).

Bottom line? Shop around & buyer beware. The big boys will try and charge what they can get away with. :?

[ignar]

I will get a hPod only if it is cheaper than iPod. So, in this case, HP logo actually has a negative value. :)

[gt24]

Some memory cards have manufacturer records too. I believe it is the Kingston cards that have a tendancy to have a reformatting issue with some models (as in, they REFORMAT every now and again). Also, there is another brand (or is it the same one) that lacks adequate shielding and thus reformats if it is near a cell phone when it rings or otherwise transmits...

Those are the only "yikes" factors in relation to memory cards. Otherwise, go for a brand that is cheap yet still a quality card. Kingmax was selling a 256 MB SD for around $33 at Newegg not too long ago, which reviews as a solid card which is blazingly fast... that is what I have and I agree with the reviews, it is a nice and fast card.

I don't think too highly of HP and alike memory cards mainly because HP obtains the card from another source and upcharges the device. Also, I'm not sure if they do extra quality checking to ensure that you are getting a quality device.

Just my 2 cents though...

[KimVette]

Actually the reason may be even more rooted in greed:

HP is on most state or federal bid lists (such as GSA for example), and by winning those contracts they can sell DIRECTLY to state agencies without having to go to bid. State and Federal officials love this because they can then buy DIRECT from contract holders (such as GSA, etc.) without having to put an item out to bid. It's disgusting.

I just got on one of the bid lists for a certain industry - beat out the manufacturers by offering FAR steeper discounts (they offered a pitiful 2% off of MSRP. This is supposed to SAVE the taxpayers money?!).

The price is driven by greed not because they cannot buy direct (they CAN), but because of the government contracts they hold which enable them to legally bypass bid requirements.

[szamot]

I don't know about HP quality and please don't get me started on the quality of HP's 3850. That aside I thought it was funny to see both cards listed on the same side with such gross price difference. Naturally I would never buy HP branded SD card, I bet SandDisk makes it anyway or worse. But at least the price is good for a laugh on a lazy Saturday morning.