JVC and rip-off Britain

JVC's HA-FX1000 has been gaining some attention lately as being a Sennheiser IE 8 killer, what with its use of wooden diaphragms and stuff. But suspicion has emerged that it is merely a renamed version of the old cheaper FX500 model. Unfortunately there hasn't been any proof and all evidence so far were circumstantial, until now.

Today a fellow Head-Fi'er Soozieq decided to call JVC UK and spoke with someone called Richard who confirmed that the FX1000 is indeed a rebranded FX500 and has been renamed specifically for the UK release. Now here's where it gets all nasty. The FX500 only costs £70 at Amazon.co.jp whereas it is sold here (under the FX1000 moniker) for... wait for it... £250! That is 3.5 times the price in Japan! Nothing wrong with that as at the end of the day it is the prerogative of the company to price their product whatever they want, but the deliberate attempt to mask the version by doubling the product numbering to make it appear as a new version or an upgrade really takes the piss. Odd my arse.

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it is mighty tempting to import the FX500 from Japan as they appear to be good value for money. But on the other I am pretty darn pissed off with JVC and/or Apple for deliberately attempting to mislead and price gouge its potential customers. I know us in the UK are no strangers to being ripped off, but this is a whole new level. If JVC thinks that they can get away with this then they can duly fuck off. My money will instead go towards other (less evil) companies.