The rich and the stupid

[rolrech]

I don't know if you have ever noticed that EA thinks that we here (in Europe) are either pretty rich (which is not completely true) or pretty stupid (which may be true). Or both.

The NBA Live 08 prices here compared to the prices charged in the US are a joke.

Just in case nobody at EA has a business diploma and knows what currency exchange rates are and how they work I figuered it out for you. It is quite interesting:

As of today (Oktober 18 2007) the USD (that stands for US Dollars)/EUR (that stands for European EURO) exchange rate of the bank of america in New York is 1.4918. That means for 1 EURO you get 1.4918 US Dollars. That is very much (In fact thats 49.18% more).

But the guys over at EA might have never heard of economics. The just take the US prices and sell them at the same price in EUROs. Or more.

Here are the prices of amazon.com and amazon.de (Germany)

PS3..............USD 60...............EUR 55 (= 82.05 USD)
XBOX 360.....USD 60...............EUR 58 (= 86.52 USD)
PS2..............USD 40...............EUR 45 (= 67.13 USD)
PC................USD 40..............EUR 45 (= 67.13 USD)
Wii...............USD 50...............EUR 58 (= 86.52 USD)

Dear people at EA: Why do you want 7 Dollars more for the old gen PS2 version in Europe (67.13 USD) compared to the new gen PS3 Version in the US (60 USD)????

The WII price in Europe (86.52 USD) is very nice when you consider that its also old gen, has no dynasty mode and the gameplay does not work as it should.

Love,
a former European NBA Live fan

[The X]

yeah, I've wondered that too....but it is a good business ploy from EA....EA's customer base is use to paying a set price for a product (55 Euros for PS3 version)....it you drop the price to align with currency (to say 45 Euros including shipping costs etc for PS3 version), then once US currency strengthens down the line, EA's customer base is not going to want to pay any more than 45 Euros for the same regurgitated piece of shit....

[Andrew]

If it's any consolation rolrech, it's the same in Australia when it comes to video games (and often DVDs and CDs for that matter).

[Matt]

indeed....but when you consider Australians make $55k per/yr on average against Americas ~ 35k....it aint so bad.

[benji]

it you drop the price to align with currency (to say 45 Euros including shipping costs etc for PS3 version), then once US currency strengthens down the line

Yeah, don't worry about that for a while.

I have noticed often US companies just change it to the local currency, especially in the UK. $50 becomes £50. Never works the other way though, unfortunately.

[DoubleA]

$50US = $99 AUD here, even though the currency is so strong now, theyre telling us the game is worth $85US

[OldFoolStyle]

Just curious, what is the cost of shipping overseas?. does EA ship using airplanes or boats, and would the difference effect cost?. What if any tariffs or taxes do your countries charge on US goods, does the US government charge any export fees on goods sent to your country?.

Edited to add: EA appears to have a CD pressing/packaging factory somewhere in Europe(uk?, germany?, my half-assed serch didn't confirm where), so add trucks as a form of costly shipping. Though, consumers in that country are undoubtibly getting ripped off.
Also, some countries do tax software and specificly video games, I'll leave it up to you to research which ones, you'll be supprised.

[t00ny]

Dude, thats a big NOTHING!
Bulgaria:
NBA Street Homecourt 120 levas/60 euro Xbox 360
Judge this yourself...
Oh... and P.S.
That's why i download games
Oh... and let's see... An average bulgarian salary is 400-500 levas... Thats 200-250 euro. Funny, right? We're outta this world...

[diddy]

t00ny, man, i hought Russia's salary fucked upfor real, but in your country - it's unbelievable!

[ThaLiveKing]

I hear Australia has the worst prices in Everything North America. . .

[Bsktblking25]

But this is true for everything, not just EA video games. People living in London who buy a laptop can buy one for about half the cost by travelling to the US and ordering from Dell. The exchange rate is totally in their favor and not only that, the US is the assembly country for much of the electronics.

Not only that, a dinner in a London restaurant costs 2x that of a NY restaurant.

[emre]

I don't know if I am stingy or something but giving 70-90-110$ to a game seems ridiculous to me. Shipping + cumstoms' taxes blow the price so much.

[The X]

If Aussies have a problem with prices, then they can just import....

NBA 2k8: $119.95 (Australia), $73.16 + shipping (Imported US Version; Asian Version is only $56.25 + shipping)

NBA Live '08: $99.95 (Australia), $73.16 + shipping (Imported US Version; Asian Version is only $56.25 + shipping)


Buy both 2k8 & '08 together: $219.90 (Australia), $141.80 + shipping (Imported US versions; you save about $15 if you get Asian version of Live '08)


So yep, prices are inflated....but since PS3 is region free, it's not so bad after all....I'll probably wait for College Hoops &/or March Madness to come out & just get that & another game or two at same time imported....