139 réponses à ce sujet

[Gill Kaiser]

It's not just that we have to pay more than the US (which we kind of expect, although not usually to this extreme). It's that the pricing isn't even internally consistent.

The PC standard edition costs less than the console standard edition, as is the norm, yet the PC Collector's Edition costs the same amount as the console CEs... for no reason. How do they justify the markup being greater for the PC version only?

[Wulfram]

Gill Kaiser wrote...

It's not just that we have to pay more than the US (which we kind of expect, although not usually to this extreme). It's that the pricing isn't even internally consistent.

The PC standard edition costs less than the console standard edition, as is the norm, yet the PC Collector's Edition costs the same amount as the console CEs... for no reason. How do they justify the markup being greater for the PC version only?

Shhh!  If you pursue that line of argument they'll put up the PC standard edition price.

Modifié par Wulfram, 25 juillet 2011 - 09:46 .

[EternalPink]

Gill Kaiser wrote...

It's not just that we have to pay more than the US (which we kind of expect, although not usually to this extreme). It's that the pricing isn't even internally consistent.

The PC standard edition costs less than the console standard edition, as is the norm, yet the PC Collector's Edition costs the same amount as the console CEs... for no reason. How do they justify the markup being greater for the PC version only?

Since collectors will pay for it is the justification.

Although the people that are saying its due to shipping i think are less than bright, they do not send each copy here seperately they send them by the pallet so while there would be a cost for shipping (assuming they don't just find a european producer rather than ship) it would not be that much.

At the end of the day though, vote with your wallet if you feel its overpriced don't buy it, enough people do that the price will drop.

[Shadesofsiknas]

I wont be buying the CE at these prices so my vote is cast. Standard edition of ME3 and SWTOR for me.

[CaptainHydra]

We in the UK get it so bad, first London is ripped apart by Reapers and now we have to pay more to see London get ripped apart by Reapers.

[Estelindis]

Ympulse wrote...

There is a tax that taxes your import tax. You should know these things, living in the UK

We should know no such thing, since it is false.  If this was the case, it would apply to all games.  Clearly, from the fact that you don't see UK customers making this complaint for every release (unlike Australians, whose game prices seem to be universally ridiculous), it does not.  In fact, in my experience, games are usually cheaper in the UK.

Anyway, some quick compare and contrast: ME3 PC regular edition is $60 (£36) on Amazon.com but £28 ($45) on Amazon.co.uk.  Reasonably, UK customers should expect to pay about £45 for the collector's edition of the PC game, instead of £70.

Modifié par Estelindis, 25 juillet 2011 - 11:34 .

[Paulinius]

jollyorigins wrote...

It's times like this I hate living in England.

At least your food is good.

[Gill Kaiser]

[spam post removed]

Modifié par Stanley Woo, 26 juillet 2011 - 12:29 .

[kaotician]

The principal reason for the high UK price is that the Game group have it as an exclusive, so are free to charge any extortionate fee they want to. In my view, this is blatantly anti-competitive and probably illegal, though someone needs to challenge it in Court - not the price, but the idea of retailer-exclusive product, since it blatantly works only for the retailer, and solely at the consumers expense, thus denying market forces and consumer freedom of choice.

I've still ordered it, mind, because I've bought the CE editions of the first two releases, (though this one seems the poorest in terms of actual content). For me, the only way I can challenge this sort of practice is to make sure that, in the circumstance where Game or its affiliates offer the equal price to another retailer, that I go to the other retailer for future purchases, and in that way penalise Game financially by denying them future profits that they could have earned off me.

[Blarty]

It is surprising that when Game isn't the only supplier the prices are cheaper and comparable with the prices that we've come to expect from Collectors editions and the such ( Gears of War 3, and Assassins Creed Revelations, for instance (chosen because their CEs seem to be comparable in content to ME3 CE) are both under £60 ).
Now whilst I'm willing to pay up to half as much again for a special/limited/collectors edition ( whichever is most appropriate to you ), without being bothered too much about it, as I can explain/justify that as limited in supply, greater shipping costs, a little bit more in VAT, I can't honestly see why there's yet another £10 added on.

Now this either has something to do with Game having exclusivity, or other retailers aren't so brazen as to put a price against a game that they've not had pricing advice for from the publishers,

[Stanley Woo]

Lots of spam removed, bans handed out. Let's try to stay on topic, please, everyone.

[redneckwonderland]

Should have ordered through the uk.
129.00 AU = 85.9823 GBP for the collectors in australia.

[Hathur]

The answer is elementary, my dear Watson..

They will charge whatever they believe people are willing to pay. Don't like it? Don't buy it. If enough people do the same, they might get the message (though in reality people won't do this.. they'll just buy it anyway).

It's the same reason PC game prices have jumped $10 in the past year. PC games used to be $10 cheaper than console games because there was no licensing fee to pay to release a game on PC (unlike releasing a game on Nintendo, PS3 or Xbox, publisher is charged a licensing fee by the maker of the console).

However, publishers realized they could jack the price of PC games up by $10 to match console game prices. Why? Because they know PC gamers will pay it regardless.. even if we b!tch and moan about it, we still buy it.

Modifié par Hathur, 26 juillet 2011 - 02:04 .

[Destroy Raiden_]

It's about your money's value brits pay more because they're money is worthless compared to US dollar but don't worry "our dear leader" is going to make sure our's is worthless! We'll be right up there with Zimbabwe soon so go change!

[pabd13]

Dragoonlordz wrote...

I doubt they use any higher mathematics or economic financial debates. They probably have three people in a room guessing random prices. A bit like..

Mr A "What about $50?"
Mr B "Hmm I think we can get more from them so lets try $60?"
Mr C "$60 sounds about right but lets throw in one more downloadable DLC or something trivial and push it to $80"
Mr A "Agreed ok so moving on what about the UK?"
Mr B "Well we always have managed to snatch more money from them and they keep lapping it up so add £20 on top of original $80 amount"
Mr C "Oki doki, sounds good to me what about you Mr A are we agreed?"
Mr A "Sure why not, I'm hungry so now thats settled whats for lunch?"

I think this is the most likely reason.

[kosame]

I think more about luck of you guys there and still complaining. Neither BioWare or EA don't even count on Southern EU, Eurasia and MEA countries anyway. No matter price, "we must download it" and you can buy a physical package.

Marketing issues, guess nothing more. I won't criticize it. BioWare's doing great but targeting very specific communities.

- thanks.

Modifié par kosame, 26 juillet 2011 - 05:11 .

[LilyasAvalon]

Supply and demand. Britain has a much smaller population than America, therefore, a much smaller demand, to make up for losses, prices are raised. Blame marketting, not Bioware, it's what happens.

The cost of CE for Mass Effect 3 in Australia is $108. =/

Modifié par LilyasAvalon, 26 juillet 2011 - 05:12 .

[rwilli80]

Isn't that the exchange rate?

[Vicex]

LilyasAvalon wrote...

Supply and demand. Britain has a much smaller population than America, therefore, a much smaller demand, to make up for losses, prices are raised. Blame marketting, not Bioware, it's what happens.

The cost of CE for Mass Effect 3 in Australia is $108. =/

I think that it is that, and that the economy in the US is doing a lot poorer than the one in the UK, so it would be reasonable for the marketing division to charge more in the UK (and elsewhere) where the economy is not quite as bad and people are more likely to be more liberal with spending money on non-essential items (ie. entertainment), than to charge more in places such as the US where the economy is troublesome and people would be more reluctant to pay for the product because they are likely having difficulties paying for the essential items.

I could very well be wrong though.

(No offense is intended to any one person or country)

[lloyd87]

I wouldn't necessarily say games are cheaper based on population.

Im sure its just the extra cost of shipping + lots of lovely UK tax on top.

As for pc games vs consoles, its alot easier for pc users to download games illegally than console users therefore they have to make it attractive for the pc market.

[kaotician]

There are lots of rationalisations here for the pricing in the UK, but the fact is post-EA's takeover, the cost of an ME CE has risen from max £50 (ME1) to min £70 (ME3) in just 4 years, a hike of 40%, and arguably this 3rd iteration has less in it than previously too.

[Lumikki]

What there is to say, economy in different countries are different. It's not just supply and demand only, but also what you can get. Example if you sell apple, in some countries you get higher price than others, because they have more money to spend. So, while it's also supply vs demand, it's also economic differences in countries. Some countries supply sertain stuff more than others, so those product prices are there lower than else where.

Example in my country situation is so bad with sertain product, it's cheaper for people mail order those product from 5000-10000Km ways from other countries. Because people can get they products from other countries even with extra cost from mail, a half price than in our own country.

If I use games as example. When new game hits in our shops, it will cost about 40-60€. Same time I can buy that same game in mail order from other countries with 20€ (that includes delivery). After year the same game cost in our shops as bargain 10€. Example I can buy Mass Effect 2 or Alpha Protocol at the moment in local market shop at 10€.

Modifié par Lumikki, 27 juillet 2011 - 09:20 .

[SirDoctorofTARDIS]

Why do Australians have to pay $108 for the normal ME3?

[FDrage]

3 issues:

a) ME has become a lot more popular then before ME1 came out ... so people will be more willing to pay more fro a CE then for an yet unknown / untested game. Just like e.g. the MW2 you paid quite a bit more fro a standard edition then an average standard edition FPS would cost. So publishers / shops will charge what they think they can get away with

prices vary by region as you'd have to pay local staff to do things etc. "cost of living"

c) in the UK the CE is exclusive to the Game UK Company owner due to a contract with EA. So no competition & high expectations for ME3 means they can charge more as they know they can get away with it. Both Publisher and Sales ...