Imported strollers sell for double original prices

Expensive strollers are on display at a department store in downtown Seoul in this 2011 file photo.

Seo Hyun-jin, 30, will become a mother in two months. She recently went shopping for a stroller at a department store but left empty-handed. She said she was shocked by the prices of imported strollers.

“They were much more expensive than I expected,” she said. “Strollers from well-known imported brands such as Stokke or Orbit cost over 1 million won, and accessories such as a parasols, foot warmers, cup holders and rain covers are all sold separately.”

But Seo is not the only one surprised by the price tags of imported strollers. A consumer group Wednesday said they are twice as expensive as in their original markets, citing recent research.

With the support of the Fair Trade Commission, Consumers Korea conducted a survey last month to compare the prices of 16 different imported strollers as well as nine local ones.

A total of six imported brands were surveyed, which are now sold in six different countries including Korea, Japan and the United States. They were Stokke, Orbit, Bugaboo, Maclaren, Inglesina and Quinny.

The results show baby carriages by the six brands are more expensive in Korea than any other country, with many of them costing over 1 million won.

The Trip product by Italian brand Inglesina showed the biggest price difference as it is sold here at 425,000 won while it costs about 176,000 won in Italy. In comparison, it costs about 245,000 won in the United States and Spain, 193,000 won in the Netherlands.

The Pulsar model by Italian brand Cam was the most expensive, selling at 1.98 million won, but costs about 979,000 won in Italy. Stokke’s Xplory is 1.5 times more expensive at 1.89 million won than in any other country and compares to 1.21 million won in Italy.

Dutch brands Bugaboo’s Bee+, Quinny’s Buzz and Maxi-Cosi’s Elea are priced at 1.05 million won in Korea, but their original prices in the Netherlands varied from 517,000 to 829,000 won. Bugaboo is imported by Boryung Medience while Quinny and Maxi-Cosi are imported by YKBnC and all three brands are distributed through Boryung Medience.

Consumers Korea said the monopoly in the imported stroller market is attributed to the distorted prices as well as blind faith that high prices guarantee high quality.

“The monopolistic import and distribution structure has resulted in the high price of luxury strollers. The profit margin is also high due to the exclusiveness. The importer takes about 30 percent, the distributor takes 20 percent and the retailer takes 30 percent, which contributes to the high price,” a Consumers Korea official said.

Consumers Korea said most parents nowadays have only one child and they want to only give that child the best.
“Such trends and blind faith in imported products resulted in overly expensive imported strollers. They should compare products extensively to make rational choices,” the official said. <Korea Times/Kwon Mee-yoo>

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