EU naming and shaming MS, Sony and Ninty for rip-off UK

[boffo]

Originally Posted by Tag

I did, you just don't understand what I mean. It's not enough to compare prices even after theyre converted, but how much people are earning to. Prices might be higher in Europe because what they are able to buy with their wages be different then what we're able to buy with ours.

Then that would have nothing to do with what their currency is worth, that'd be a standard of living thing. And that's still technically irrelevant in this case. Just because someone in Europe makes more money, doesn't mean it costs Sony, or Nintendo or Microsoft anything more to make a console or a game, so they really have no reason to be charging them more for one.

[Juno]

Originally Posted by Tag

I did, you just don't understand what I mean. For instance, if bread costs 1 pound (~$2.00) in the UK, and $1.50 in the US, but the wage I earn in the UK or the US is approximately the same, then the UK is able to buy products cheaper than what we pay for. So if a PS3 costs 425 pounds ($850.00), and $600.00 in the US, it's the same idea. Sony et al. are just accounting for this difference. Is this making sense Boffo?

But we don't earn more than you. We earn the same in USD (approx depending on who you listen to) in fact the most reliable sources show that we make less than you and we are taxed far more than you too. Our disposable income is much less than yours but we must pay more. Also what Boffo said about charging us more for no reason is also very much to do with it.

[Tag]

Originally Posted by boffo

Then that would have nothing to do with what their currency is worth, that'd be a standard of living thing. And that's still technically irrelevant in this case. Just because someone in Europe makes more money, doesn't mean it costs Sony, or Nintendo or Microsoft anything more to make a console or a game, so they really have no reason to be charging them more for one.

Umm, currency definitely plays a factor along with purchasing power when your comparing two different nations. If the US and UK were both on the dollar, or if the dollar were stronger then the pound, theyd have a hard time getting away with it even if the UK did have greater purchasing power. In brief, it's relative to the nation you're in. If the common man earns more, they're likely to pay more and so a product will cost more. It's why I can go into Mexico and buy seafood and what not for a fraction of the price I would pay across the border. You can argue whether its right or not, but this extends to all parts of the world and into all parts of the economy, not just gaming systems.

But we don't earn more than you. We earn the same in USD (approx depending on who you listen to) in fact the most reliable sources show that we make less than you and we are taxed far more than you too. Our disposable income is much less than yours but we must pay more.

I see. Well I guess I fell into the misconception, people keep talking about how those from the UK could go to the US to "live like kings" or how people complain about vacationing in the UK because its so expensive.

[Juno]

Originally Posted by Tag

I see. Well the only reason I thought so was because people keep talking about how people from the UK could go to the US to "live like kings" or how people complain about vacationing in the UK because its so expensive.

It's just comparative. Although I'm pretty sure I could buy a house about 3 times the size of my current one in Britain if I went to America with the amount it's worth.

[boffo]

Originally Posted by Tag

In brief, it's relative to the nation you're in. If the common man earns more, they're likely to pay more and so a product will cost more. It's why I can go into Mexico and buy seafood and what not for a fraction of the price I would pay across the border. You can argue whether its right or not, but this extends to all parts of the world and into all parts of the economy, not just gaming systems.

Not even close to a relevant comparison. Going to Mexico to buy seafood, means you're buying Mexican seafood prepared by Mexicans for Mexican wages, whereas buying American seafood made by Americans for American wages is obviously going to be more expensive. You're changing the market that the product is coming from, so of course the price will reflect where you're getting it from. With gaming consoles it doesn't matter if you live in the States or in Europe, you're both buying a Japanese console, made by Japanese people for Japanese wages. The cost of the console is going to be the same to make regardless of where it's sent to. The only thing that would change the price is any sort of import taxes that are charged by the country it's going to.

[STARSBarry]

Originally Posted by boffo

Not even close to a relevant comparison. Going to Mexico to buy seafood, means you're buying Mexican seafood prepared by Mexicans for Mexican wages, whereas buying American seafood made by Americans for American wages is obviously going to be more expensive. You're changing the market that the product is coming from, so of course the price will reflect where you're getting it from. With gaming consoles it doesn't matter if you live in the States or in Europe, you're both buying a Japanese console, made by Japanese people for Japanese wages. The cost of the console is going to be the same to make regardless of where it's sent to. The only thing that would change the price is any sort of import taxes that are charged by the country it's going to.

which as stated in the artical do not make up for the difference in costs, UK has known this for years we just get along and try to ignore it

the worst is EA, all xbox games retail for £40 on launch.... EA games are all £50 geeeeeee nice.