Price of games in Australia

[Clyde64]

Could someone please explain to me why games cost so much more here than they do in America?
Now I don't really know why but I can only think of to reasons so far.
I've always thought that it had something to do with shipping costs but an extra $40 dollars can't be right. Buying a TV from ebay has a lower shipping cost than that.
I also that that it was the exchange rate but that is pretty balanced. Here's the link so you can check yourself: http://www.xe.com/ucc/

Again, I don't actually know if this is right I'm just assuming.

 

[Mittens The Kitten]

If they are charging that much and noone's undercutting them, then they have no reason to charge you any less.

 

[The_Healer]

Screw games. They are the least of my worries.

How bout the price of everything here compared to in the US.
Example: A new Porche 911 (can't remember the specific model) costs $100000 in the US. Australia? $270000

Don't even get me started on property.

 

[Cool Welshy]

I feel you brudda.

I'm doing a bet with a friend of mine in America that, despite the conversion of his buck compared to mine, the price of the 3DS is going to be more expensive.

I checked the pre-paid. He owes me a comic!

 

[Goldeneye1989]

It's more the fact i think that, when the exchange rate was double that of america's (ie they would get 2$ for our 1$) it was priced at 80$, and well they see no reason to lower the price because people keep buying them

 

[TH3_D15HWA5H3R]

Could someone please explain to me why games cost so much more here than they do in America?
Now I don't really know why but I can only think of to reasons so far.
I've always thought that it had something to do with shipping costs but an extra $40 dollars can't be right. Buying a TV from ebay has a lower shipping cost than that.
I also that that it was the exchange rate but that is pretty balanced. Here's the link so you can check yourself: http://www.xe.com/ucc/

Again, I don't actually know if this is right I'm just assuming.

my solution was to get a job at a game store... the abillity to buy games and get games at discount prices is great... not to mention that purchases of games, game consoles and internet are all classed as tax deductable is great... even though im spending alot of money on games, im getting most of it back on tax. consider applying at game or EB...

 

[Saelune]

Because we do not share the same economy or same government or same country or even same landmass. "But his mommy let him have twooooo candy bars"...

 

[Meestor Pickle]

Id recommend http://www.ozgameshop.com/ they are based in the UK and I order from them on anything that isn't already cheap on steam. Takes a while to get here but its worth it I think

 

[jackpipsam]

because Australians tend to make more money than the US

 

[latenightapplepie]

Buy online. Just do it. Otherwise you're getting ripped off.

EB in particular, just rips you off because so many of their customers don't realise they get a better price elsewhere.

 

[Clyde64]

EB in particular, just rips you off because so many of their customers don't realise they get a better price elsewhere.

EB is the worst. they charge you $108.95 for a new game! I don't normally buy online because I'm not that patient, so I just go to JBHiFi.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Games shouldn't cost so much. EB is ripping you off.

If you happen to live in Melbourne, I can point you towards a store that will charge less than steam will, on launch.

 

[Trolldor]

EB in particular, just rips you off because so many of their customers don't realise they get a better price elsewhere.

EB is the worst. they charge you $108.95 for a new game! I don't normally buy online because I'm not that patient, so I just go to JBHiFi.

You guys haven't seen 'Game'?

EB might charge you 110, Game will charge you 130+
Also, JB Hi-Fi are not usually all that cheaper. In fact, most of the time they're the same price. You save money on older games there though.

 

[Jelly ^.^]

Kotaku has a post that goes in depth on this issue, but basically the government has banned "parallel importing" for retailers, which basically means that all Australian retailers have to buy from the same single registered, tax-paying distributor.

And with no competition, these single distributors have essentially fixed the prices for Australian games at around $100 for a new game. It also doesn't help that EB are price gouging arseholes, especially on used titles. *(check Fable 3 used prices as an example)

However, smaller distributors, particularly in Britain and Hong Kong have taken to wholesale importing and prices.

The Australian retail sector claims that this is bullshit and are calling for GST to be charged on all privately imported products, but as far as games go, we can import a NEW, SEALED game less than 3 months old for around $30. EB Games charges around $88 for a USED COPY the same game depending on popularity *(again, using Fable 3 as a comparison, but look at COD as well). The 10% GST would add a whole $3 to the cost of importing an item, so let's look:

IMPORTING: $30 + ~$10 postage = $40 for a brand new, sealed game with DLC

RETAIL NEW: $90+ for an opened, then re-shrinkwrapped game, with Australian DLC excluded

RETAIL USED: $80+ for an opened, not even re-shrinkwrapped game, possible damage, DLC definitely excluded.

The punchline of all this is basically that Australian retailers are getting fucked over by government regulation, and they're calling for more ineffectual government regulation as a remedy. NOBODY should be buying games at Australian prices. Even with the GST applied, only a moron would buy a game for $90 already opened when they could pay $33 and get it with the 'classic' definition of the word NEW.

 

[Valagetti]

Oooh stop your bitching, try living in New Zealand.

 

[Stavros Dimou]

Unfortunately the rest of the whole world has to buy games at more expensive prices than in the U.S.
I live in Greece,and it's too common in Europe to see prices more expensive than in the U.S.
Usually if a game cost 60$ in the U.S.,they sell it 60 euros in Europe.
But 60 euros are equivalent to 83 dollars. :/
In my country it's even more expensive because the IMF raised the VAT too high,and a new xbox360 game cost 75 euros (!) which is 104.63 dollars.

 

[Thrashgrinder]

in my hell hole of a country (Turkey) new ps3 releases are 160-180 liras it makes like 120-130 american dollars...

(not that it has anything to do with game prices in Australia but i needed to get it out of my chest.. sorry)

 

[MercurySteam]

Electronic goods have always been more expensive in Oz, that's just the way it is. However with the dollar at parody, buying from the US has never been cheaper!

EB in particular, just rips you off because so many of their customers don't realise they get a better price elsewhere.

I know right? Bloody kids... Try pricematching from JB HiFi, Kmart, Big W, Gametraders, etc.

 

[Timmibal]

Here is the Kotaku Article [http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/05/monday-musings-the-price-is-right/] And forgive me if it's against the rules, but for the sake of brevity, Here is my rant on the issue [http://arbitrarynerf.blogspot.com/2011/03/games-retailers-open-rant.html]

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

Because EB dominate most of the industry and are total money whores with retarded trade-in prices.