EU shaming MS, Sony and Ninty for UK console prices

T3kNi9e · 01-31-2008, 12:20 AM

Quote:

EU hopes exposing price discrepancies will shame companies into action.

The EU is gunning for Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft as it begins a crack down on rip-off Britain.

The European Commission believes companies are ripping off UK gamers by charging more for game consoles and other consumer electronic goods than in the rest of Europe and in the US and Japan.

This is nothing new of course. British gamers have been paying more for their games and consoles than the rest of the world for years. However, the EU is banking on a new naming and shaming policy, which it hopes will shake things up a bit.

According to the Daily Mail newspaper, the British launch price for the 60GB PlayStation 3, which was £425, was 27 per cent more than in the U.S. and 68 per cent more than Japan.

The price was also higher than the £399 charged in France and Germany and the £397 in Australia. As we all know though, these prices have come down.

Pricerunner.co.uk has published some research conducted in October 2007 and come up with some average games console prices across a number of territories. Their results show that an Xbox 360 Premium was £269.66 in the UK, £250.53 in France, £178.63 in New York and £161.73 in Japan.

Pricerunner.co.uk has also revealed the average prices for the Wii and the 60GB PS3, which is nearing extinction as Sony phases it out. The research shows how much more UK gamers have to fork out for their game consoles compared with the rest of the world. According to Pricerunner.co.uk, England is the second most expensive country compared to the international average.

Console manufacturers have repeatedly answered questions over higher UK prices by blaming Government imposed tax. It remains to be seen, however, if the EU's latest initiative will do anything to bring video game console prices down in the UK.

A senior Commission official told the Daily Mail newspaper: "We are screening the markets, taking into account levels of complaints about prices, pricing patterns across Europe and customer satisfaction. We are looking for the kind of retail patterns which raise questions.

"Just exposing the real price of certain goods in different parts of the EU can have the desired effect if undue markups are being placed on items."

And if found guilty of price rigging, companies could receive fines equal to 10 per cent of their turnover. That could mean big bucks for the likes of Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.

Source

261311 · 01-31-2008, 12:25 AM

I'd be interested to find out how much of the price the consumers pay over there actually is tax. That's insane that you guys are paying in and around £400. That's 1.5 more than what it is over here and our prices are about $350-400.

Who knows, maybe they don't realize what currency is

FRuMMaGe · 01-31-2008, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 261311

I'd be interested to find out how much of the price the consumers pay over there actually is tax. That's insane that you guys are paying in and around £400. That's 1.5 more than what it is over here and our prices are about $350-400.

Who knows, maybe they don't realize what currency is

Yep.

£400 = $800

261311 · 01-31-2008, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRuMMaGe

Yep.

£400 = $800

Well, the British Pound is about x2 of the CAD, the Euro is actually 1.5 of the CAD currency.

CAD = Canadian Dollar.

Squall7 · 01-31-2008, 12:34 AM

Well, I have to say, I don't like the Daily Mail at all, and wouldn't trust them as far as Pikmin could throw them.

We have been on the raw deal for prices, but I think people will find that we generally do pay most of it in tax. We seem to have this big whole where the govenment should be, where our money seems to be lost in the abyss.

Personally, since none of those companies are based in the EU, and the current attitude towards Europe from console makers, I doubt anything will result of the "naming and shaming".

Pelgor · 01-31-2008, 02:23 AM

I feel the UK's pain. As a Canadian I have been suffering from inflated prices for years now. Even still most items are marked up 20-30% as compared to our niebours to the south. To put things into perspective for those of you who are not acquainted with the Canaidin dollar's worth the Canadian dollar has been worth as much as the american dollar for the better part of the last 3 months and has been in the $0.90 USD range for the past 6 months. I live in Alberta so you can't blame the markups on taxes because we only pay 5% GST and thats it. No PST(take that Ontario).

261311 · 01-31-2008, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelgor

I feel the UK's pain. As a Canadian I have been suffering from inflated prices for years now. Even still most items are marked up 20-30% as compared to our niebours to the south. To put things into perspective for those of you who are not acquainted with the Canaidin dollar's worth the Canadian dollar has been worth as much as the american dollar for the better part of the last 3 months and has been in the $0.90 USD range for the past 6 months. I live in Alberta so you can't blame the markups on taxes because we only pay 5% GST and thats it. No PST(take that Ontario).

In the $0.95-1.10 range against the USD for the past 4 months. Why hasn't the rest of the world realized prices similar to Japan? This just makes me almost want to put up with a region lock and the need for a English-Japanese dictionary.

And yes, Ontario and it's high taxes suck you oil-rich Texan province :P

beamolite · 01-31-2008, 04:03 AM

"Hello beamolite it appears that you have not posted on our forums in several weeks, why not take a few moments to ask a question, help provide a solution or just engage in a conversation with another member in any one of our forums?" I saw this message on top of my forum today so I guess I'm not allowed to just come in and just browse the forum. So I engaged in a conversation. Are you happy now?

T3kNi9e · 01-31-2008, 04:38 AM

By the sounds of it, im pretty sure its automated -.-

Sovieto · 02-01-2008, 02:22 AM

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/848/848537p1.html
a step forward?

jimbo · 02-01-2008, 01:11 PM

lol my second post always has something about this.i dont think it gonig to change.

nice find