Okay so the price gouging isn't exactly news but I didn't join the iPod game until this Christmas when I picked up a 16 gb iPod Touch. All I wanted for accessories was a simple case but they all came at $25 upwards! I ended up throwing down $35, a price that could have fed a family of four at a Chinese restaurant!
Fortunately, I can take some comfort after being told about DealExtreme, a site that specializes in extremely inexpensive electronics and accessories. I wouldn't trust all my electronic needs to this site, but there are times when you really don't care about the brand. I purchased several items and it finally arrived today. Here's the scoop:
Cost: $25 includes shipping (free for all orders)
Talk about competitive pricing! There was almost no aesthetic value in the packaging and the products look even cheaper than the pictures on the website. In this case, the packaging is good news because it means all the costs have been used for the functionality and they do hold up! The crystal case is perfect. The ear phones don't quite fit right and the sound quality isn't great but it is perfect for the gym. The FM transmitter requires the car adapter to boost the signal and despite the bad sound quality, the iTrip isn't much better either. The power adapter was back ordered but when it arrives, I expect it to be ugly looking yet functional. This certainly makes my $35 case look like a designer brand!
This does, however, beg the question of how DealExtreme even makes a profits. International shipping isn't cheap and the product prices are probably close to the street price in China. I didn't pay any custom fees either so how they actually turn this into a working business model is beyond me. Smuggled goods anyone?