Curse

Midnight08 · Aug 14, 2007, 03:35 AM // 03:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue I Sidel

This is a download though, no box, no shipping, no taxes, NO EXCUSE

Incorrect. Even virtual items sold to a location have to pay taxes to the government in question. There are many legal issues which prevent them from selling the items at a lower price in their online store. Why do you think they put the effort into adding bonuses for it? They want the shop to succeed, but they also cannot gouge prices so normal stores feel losses.

dawnmist · Aug 14, 2007, 04:36 AM // 04:36

Doesn't change the fact that in Australia, we're charged in Pounds too - which since *none* of the options are local currency they've chosen to apply the most expensive here.

We *don't* get paid significantly more than the US - 1 AU$ = 0.84 US$ at the moment (and that's around the highest it's been for about 15-18 years), and far less for pounds, so it does add up.

Nor does the 'taxes' argument apply - we certainly don't pay English taxes.

Takeko Nakano · Aug 14, 2007, 06:34 AM // 06:34

One could write to the European Union Commission in regards to competition. But it's not illegal generally to charge different amounts of money for a product in different countries.

Mr.Deflok · Aug 14, 2007, 07:18 AM // 07:18

You should write a letter. But address it to yourself.

kaheiyeh · Aug 14, 2007, 07:48 AM // 07:48

Ha, you think that's scamming then you can just about report every single global business in the world for scamming! It's the way business works mate, deal with it!

Prices vary from country to country due to may reasons. It can be income, standard of living, disposable income, family structures, etc.
ie. Australia pays about US$85 for a full game where the USA pay only US$49. Scam? You decide.

Sue I Sidel · Aug 14, 2007, 08:31 AM // 08:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain_carter

In what way is stating exactly what the price is in all three regions a scam?

And from the looks of things the minimum wage for adults in the UK is much higher than that in America, which kind of justifies this. If you exaggerate then it would be quite unfair if it cost an entire year's wages in one country and about 1 hour's wages in another...

That is some seriously twisted logic, I am sure you would be over the moon if you went to your grocery store to buy the weeks shopping and you had to pay more for your basket just because your wage was a little higher than lazy trailer trash in front of you who was on benefit

My bad, send me your name and address and I'll post you any spare change I have, I really didn't think the US was so poor

bilateralrope · Aug 14, 2007, 09:24 AM // 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawnmist

Doesn't change the fact that in Australia, we're charged in Pounds too - which since *none* of the options are local currency they've chosen to apply the most expensive here.

We *don't* get paid significantly more than the US - 1 AU$ = 0.84 US$ at the moment (and that's around the highest it's been for about 15-18 years), and far less for pounds, so it does add up.

Nor does the 'taxes' argument apply - we certainly don't pay English taxes.

Same for New Zealand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takeko Nakano

But it's not illegal generally to charge different amounts of money for a product in different countries.

It is when you deliberately design it so that people are unable to buy it in whichever country they chose and then import it. Charging more is fine, especially if there are higher transport costs, but if its cheaper for the end user to buy overseas and import it yourself then there might be legal issues if the distributor tries to stop them.

For instance you know region coding on DVD's which is supposed to restrict them to only being playable in certain countries ?
I can't see any way to justify this other than studios wanting to charge some countries higher prices and/or force some countries to have to wait longer than other countries. The same goes for a lot of people so not only is it perfectly legal here in New Zealand for retail stores to sell a DVD player that ignores the region coding, it might actually be illegal for stores to sell players that obey region coding.

For people in the EU if sales taxes are an issue then I can see why they are forced to pay more, because ANET would be breaking the law otherwise. But for us here in New Zealand the EU taxes don't apply, so I feel we should be allowed to chose which currency we get charged in.

In fact I think I'm going to try and find someone to ask if forcing us to pay a higher price than Americans for an identical product (I'm only considering copies bought in the on-line store here) breaks any NZ laws.

Cebe · Aug 14, 2007, 09:37 AM // 09:37

*shrugs*

Those of us who want GW:EotN will pay....those of us who don't, wont.

Now I'm not student any more I tend not to care what things cost...if I want it, I buy it.

Tijger · Aug 14, 2007, 10:10 AM // 10:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue I Sidel

This is a download though, no box, no shipping, no taxes, NO EXCUSE

Oh, and you think because its a download its exempt from taxes or other economic factors? Guess again.

Quote:

That is some seriously twisted logic, I am sure you would be over the moon if you went to your grocery store to buy the weeks shopping and you had to pay more for your basket just because your wage was a little higher than lazy trailer trash in front of you who was on benefit

My bad, send me your name and address and I'll post you any spare change I have, I really didn't think the US was so poor

Way to miss the point. Try taking some economics classes, maybe things will become a bit clearer for you then.

Etta · Aug 14, 2007, 10:26 AM // 10:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver

*shrugs*
Those of us who want GW:EotN will pay....those of us who don't, wont.
Now I'm not student any more I tend not to care what things cost...if I want it, I buy it.

QFT x1000.

If anyone is ripping you off, it's the goverment.

Cebe · Aug 14, 2007, 11:18 AM // 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tijger

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue I Sidel

This is a download though, no box, no shipping, no taxes, NO EXCUSE

Oh, and you think because its a download its exempt from taxes or other economic factors? Guess again.

Not to mention the fact that to a certain extent there is also a value on the convenience aspect of buying it online. In the UK right now there are a mass of Postal Strikes, I've decided to buy GW:EotN from the online store this time because, knowing my luck, on the weekend of the EotN release there will be a strike and noone will receive any mail. The fact that you don't have to rely on a courier to deliver your game also has a value in itself.

Think about pizzas. You can buy one from a shop for £3.99 and cook it yourself. Alternatively you can buy one from a take-away for £9.99. You're paying more for the convenience of not having to cook it yourself.

Mmm... Pizza ftw.

Darkobra · Aug 14, 2007, 11:25 AM // 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue I Sidel

This is a download though, no box, no shipping, no taxes,
NO EXCUSE

I have the box RIGHT in my hands. Yes it was shipped, yes it was boxed, yes I got it for free. And yes, that's salt for your wounds. While we're at it, let's ASK some one who's "overpaying" how they feel about it: I DON'T CARE! WOO! I'm paying in pounds, not dollars. I don't care about conversion rates after that.

Tijger · Aug 14, 2007, 11:28 AM // 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkobra

I have the box RIGHT in my hands. Yes it was shipped, yes it was boxed, yes I got it for free. And yes, that's salt for your wounds.

Hold on, thats not the same thing, the Anet online store is the bone of contention here and that does not ship a box.

Darkobra · Aug 14, 2007, 11:48 AM // 11:48

Either way, you're getting the same product at the end of the day. If people feel they're getting ripped off and scammed, they'd not pay for ANY game. Games always sell for a little more here just so others can make a profit and gamers will always buy them if the game is good enough.

Tijger · Aug 14, 2007, 01:57 PM // 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkobra

Either way, you're getting the same product at the end of the day. If people feel they're getting ripped off and scammed, they'd not pay for ANY game. Games always sell for a little more here just so others can make a profit and gamers will always buy them if the game is good enough.

Well, thats not quite true.

If I buy EN at a random online store, say Amazon, I'll get a box with a dvd, book, etc and sometimes they give discounts on the recommened price. If I buy it at the Anet store then I get neither the box, dvd or book but I get the bonus mission pack and I get the cost of the pre-order discounted from the price of EN plus we have instant access the second we buy the game, no need to wait for the box to ship etc.

For Anet its much better if you buy at their store, it saves them the production costs of the box, dvd etc and they dont have to give a cut to the retailer.

Darkobra · Aug 14, 2007, 02:04 PM // 14:04

I personally will never trust online shopping though. I'd rather give money in hand to the retailer and walk out with that box in hand. Anyway, what disappoints me the most in this case is that so far, the only way to get the soundtrack for GW:EN is to buy online. I have the soundtrack from the past three GW games and even rebought Prophecies just to get that soundtrack.

As you said yourself, Anet are rewarding people for using their online store with things I can't get access to BECAUSE I don't trust online shopping. So while I get box in hand and probably no soundtrack, the people that will buy it from the online store gets repeatable bonus missions.

Sue I Sidel · Aug 14, 2007, 02:40 PM // 14:40

Just for all you saps that agree with anets online shop pricing policy

amazon.co.uk buy the game now at £17.98 (roughly $36) free delivery and you get the pre order bounus pack free

order via amazon.com and it's $39.99

Sue I Sidel · Aug 14, 2007, 02:47 PM // 14:47

Just for all you saps that agree with anets online shop pricing policy

amazon.co.uk buy the game now at £17.98 (roughly $36) free delivery and you get the pre order bounus pack free

order via amazon.com and it's $39.99

Cebe · Aug 14, 2007, 02:53 PM // 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue I Sidel

Just for all you saps that agree with anets online shop pricing policy

amazon.co.uk buy the game now at £17.98 (roughly $36) free delivery and you get the pre order bounus pack free

order via amazon.com and it's $39.99

If you're intent on getting the game for as little as possible what about www.sendit.com?

You may not be willing to pay the online store's prices, but other people, myself included, are. The game, and the guaranteed immediate availability of it, is worth the price in my opinion. That's clearly not your opinion, and that's fine. When I was a student I would look for the cheaper places to buy games. However, if you look around at many other products out there, you'll find the manufacturer sells it at the "recommended retail price", even though other places sell it for less.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkobra

So while I get box in hand and probably no soundtrack, the people that will buy it from the online store gets repeatable bonus missions.

Well this contributed a little to my deciding to buy the game from the Online store. Either, you buy the game from their online store, or you buy, say, 3 character slots to get the "free" missions. I decided I could live without the pretty box...and I don't need more character slots. If I had have decided to buy the boxed version, I would probably have bought some extra character slots anyway...I can't miss out on Guild Wars content...I just can't

The problem with the bonus missions is it's all well and good saying "they're free when you spend £X in-store"...but they really should offer people more to buy in the online store.

Xx_Sorin_xX · Aug 14, 2007, 02:54 PM // 14:54

report this "scam"? anet can charge whatever hell they want. its their product.