Poll: Why are US game developers ripping off the UK

[twiceworn]

i was recently serching amazon.com when stumbled across a game that i had recently purchased from amazon.co.uk and i was kinda shocked at the price $40, It may seem resonable on a glance but the uk price was £40 so i checked http://www.xe.com/ucc/ and found that £40 is $64 but that $40 is £24.99 and while i dont know just how accurate http://www.xe.com/ucc/ is i do know that the pound is worth more than the dollar and i had expected the US prices to reflect UK ones or the other way around. What i DID NOT EXPECT was for there to be such a big difference in the prices we in the UK pay for games the US get for a WAY cheeper price and i was wondering if there was a good reason for this some way to excuse the amount we pay so my points are two:
are we in the uk being ripped off by US game developers?
is there a good reason we pay so much more
any thoughts are welcome.
the game url if you want to check
http://www.amazon.co.uk/JoWood-Gothic-4-Arcania/dp/B002FGT59O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1297590226&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/ArcaniA-Gothic-4-Xbox-360/dp/B003BU3ZIU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1297590198&sr=8-2

 

[Traun]

You should check the guys in Australia, boy are they getting a deal.
Publishers aren't balancing prices, for them $=Euro/Pound, depending if the currency in question is higher than the $.

 

[Omegatronacles]

Dude, it's not just the UK.

The Aussie dollar has been floating around parity with the US dollar for the last couple of months, yet a new release game here still costs between $80 - $120.

It's far better economically to purchase a game direct from the US rather than buy it here. Even with postage I come out ahead anywhere from $20 to $60 better off.

 

[Dimensional Vortex]

I think Australia is being ripped off worse and the Australian dollar is about the same as the American one right now.

I guess since America is the big super power of the western world they get to monopolize prices to Australia and all that. Also it seems most people are quite oblivious that they are being ripped off and will blindly accept it, if it became a larger issue I think it would be changed.

 

[MrGalactus]

Everything is more expensive in England. It's not the devs, it's just average prices (And Amazon, if you want.)

 

[More Fun To Compute]

I knew that this thread was going to be full of whinging Aussies.

1. Gothic 4 wasn't made by US game developers.
2. That game has more of a discount in the US which implies that demand isn't as high in the US.
3. In the UK we have much higher VAT/Sales tax, although if you buy from Amazon they try to get around that...
4. The retail prices of games are not set per title normally and are not adjusted when exchange rates change. If you want real bargains then try importing PC games from Eastern Europe and Russia. I don't know how game prices are "fixed" by currency but there is bound to be some sort of level of greed and incompetence built into the process.

It is possible to save money on games by ordering them from North America directly but it often isn't that worth it.

 

[Squilookle]

I knew that this thread was going to be full of whinging Aussies.

Well Sor-ry. Who would have known that people protesting a legitimately stupid pricing system in another country would upset someone's delicate sensibilities?

Had you actually read the thread, you would have noticed that importing from the US has been brought up as a solution already. And by a 'whinging' Aussie, no less.

 

[Legion]

The cost of living in the UK is much higher than the US in general, not just games are affected. The average cost of petrol over here is almost double the amount Americans pay.

On the other side, is that the average wage in the UK is higher than America and so the prices don't seem quite as high to us as they would to an American.

 

[MrEnigami]

Maybe the prices are different because the UK or Australia needs to import from the US? And then there are things like VAT, and whatever other taxes shops/customers are slapped in the face with. Just saying. :/

(I'm from the UK, by the way)

 

[Wicky_42]

i was recently serching amazon.com when stumbled across a game that i had recently purchased from amazon.co.uk and i was kinda shocked at the price $40, It may seem resonable on a glance but the uk price was £40 so i checked http://www.xe.com/ucc/ and found that £40 is $64 but that $40 is £24.99 and while i dont know just how accurate http://www.xe.com/ucc/ is i do know that the pound is worth more than the dollar and i had expected the US prices to reflect UK ones or the other way around.

I discovered the same thing with PC hardware - and in fact most electronic goods; basically UK prices use the same numbers as the dollar irrespective of the actual exchange rate.

However, if I remember right it's not the developer or distributor's fault, it's the government's for imposing a high tax rate on electronic goods. Take it up with your MP

 

[Kashrlyyk]

...
are we in the uk being ripped off by US game developers?
is there a good reason we pay so much more
any thoughts are welcome.
...

That is true for all of Europe.
Why? Because we are used to pay more for everything.

 

[Bobbity]

Boo hoo.
The Australian dollar is pretty much level with the American dollar, and yet we pay over a hundred dollars for each new release. While the pricing in your region/country may suck, rest assured that you're not being ripped off as badly as we are.

 

[supersilva]

Tax is higher in england but at smaller items it should not be noticeable as easly as a larger item. Tax on something that is 25 quid should not bring it to 40. Thats around a 60% increase and i know Import fees etc etc but they still overcharge. At the same time, law of bussiness is supply and demand if you buy it they dont care. Simply put companys spend millions on working out the best price point for their product. In the sense that usually they work out the optimum cost so if they were to sell the game for lower it would increase sales but not to the point where it would be better. They would rather sell less games at a higher price for a large return, then more games for a lower price with less return or just breaking even. If consumers keep buying the product it will stay at that price which is a bad postion to be in. It leaves 2 options buy it to play, they will keep things at that price. OR dont buy it hope millions of other people dont and stop playing games until they lower the price. More people will go with sucking it up and buying it so no changed will ever really happen.

Also i moved from England to Canada about 4 years ago, simply put a move from England-US/Can is alot easyer for us then if the americans/canadians want to live in England/Europe

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Well Sor-ry. Who would have known that people protesting a legitimately stupid pricing system in another country would upset someone's delicate sensibilities?

Oh, the ironing. The topic is about UK game prices. Not about if it upsets Aussies to hear people in other countries complain about game prices.

 

[Tony2077]

well that the way thing work around here some stuff in Canada has higher price just check out softcover and hard covers book prices can is higher. even if the dollar is close to the same i haven't checked in awhile but its still nuts what going on we're getting screwed six ways from Sunday old worn out but it works

 

[SwimmingRock]

Mainland Europe doesn't fair any better than the UK. New games cost 65 euro, which works out to about $90. Add to that the fact that there are no videogame rental places in Holland and I do so very much miss the old days of US prices and rentals. My budget only allows for about 5 games a year now.

I used to love renting games I would absolutely not buy either due to lack of length or because I had never heard of it. I found some great games and series that way. Now I just can't play them. 65 Euro for a game I'll beat in one afternoon is just not acceptable even if it would be a fun afternoon.

Regarding imports, a friend of mine has a US PS3 and imports his games via Amazon.com. It took some extra wires and a bit of effort to get everything to work, but he does save money in the long run and he gets to play all those games that don't get released in Europe, which is another topic that makes me sad.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

It's a relatively new game, all UK stores have new games locked at £40 for a good few months before there's a price drop. It's just the way the market goes, if people want the game then they'll pay the £40 if they don't then they'll wait. By having it at £40 for longer it not only gives people a longer wait but also more time to get that £40.

US customers might be different which is why the price is different. Maybe be US customers don't buy games at full price as much, maybe the game isn't selling well. It's not a rip off, it's just the way the market works.

 

[WildFire15]

Unless I'm mistaken, typically American prices don't include tax (which is added when purchased). UK prices DO include tax, but I think there's still a mark up after tax is added.
I think the main reason also that America tends to get the 'better deal', is 'cos they're perceived to be the 'biggest market'

 

[Eiv]

The cost of living in the UK is much higher than the US in general, not just games are affected. The average cost of petrol over here is almost double the amount Americans pay.

On the other side, is that the average wage in the UK is higher than America and so the prices don't seem quite as high to us as they would to an American.

This is the reason, cost of living in the UK is stupidly high. The fact that the £ is still one of the strongest currencies makes me think that the games should really be a lil bit cheaper here. But hey ho, at least we aint in Aus. In regards to the person who says "import from the US"....well, we would just get hit with a crapload of tax as soon as it gets here. Thats why you make friends with a Yank (i know, not the greatest of prospects), ship the item to their place. Let them open whatever it is and package it as a gift.