at 249 AUD, it works out to 215 USD, which is still more than
199, you were getting exchange rates from the fellow at the mama
shop ? or you were comparing 4 gigs and 8 gigs models ? ....
so back to the uncomfortable question ....
why is the price still higher than the US ? ... if by your
corollary, bad governance, bad monetary policies caused you to have
to pay more for an ipod in Singapore ... why are the ozzies, and
the other countries l listed, paying more as well ? ...
and since we are at australia, kindly respond to this sentence
here too .... copied from above
" and i find it contradicting that you can associate high
standards of living with high costs in the UK, but can whine about
how neccessities are cheaper in australia than in Singapore in this
thread " ....
I think it really boils down to your attitude ... stop blaming
others and circumstances, and strive more for yourself, you'd be a
happier person ....
USD 199???
I think you are the one getting your rates from mama shop.

USD 1 = SGD 1.60
I have lots of USD to trade.
I am willing to accept USD 1 = SGD 1.55.
Do you want to trade? 
A spread of 5 cents from your quote, a gain of 5 cents for you.

Maybe, just maybe you are mathematically challenged like most
P4P followers. 
At the rate you are going, you will soon be on par with Gazelle
or lionnoisy. 