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[AlphaProspector]

Thanks for all the travel info, I will definitely keep that in mind if I visit Argentina in the future! If I do, it would be Buenos Aires which I hear is fine.

No problem. I guess this place is no more dangerous than, say, New York.

Btw, I just got a mail about a Samsung Galaxy 4 prices at over $7700 pesos.

http://www.fravega.com/combo-samsung-celular-sin-linea-galaxy-s4-white-flip-cover.html

How in the name of god such a disposable device bound to be changed in less than a year costs this much. It's ridiculous.

 

[Mr. Robot]

Goddamn it, thank god for the NAFTA...

But then again, i live in the MEX/USA border anyway and everything is just a few miles away and have friends in the US to receive packages from amazon for me.

 

[Manu]

The story made it to Kotaku.

 

[Tecl0n]

The story made it to Kotaku.

Tell them our story, tell it truly...

 

[QuikZilver]

In Venezuela people buy consoles through Amazon.com which they have it send to a import/export company in Miami as shipping address. You have to submit your purchase in the company website before it arrives and that company ships your purchase to Venezuela.

 

[X05]

In Venezuela people buy consoles through Amazon.com which they have it send to a import/export company in Miami as shipping address. You have to submit your purchase in the company website before it arrives and that company ships your purchase to Venezuela.

I'm guessing those exist in Argentina (they do here in Uruguay), but the problem is customs as always. They likely see a package labelled "Amazon" and tax it to high heavens.

 

[doniewhalberg]

Is this jsut what Argentinian prices are like in general, or just within the console space? Feels like Sony is jsut throwing down the gauntlet for you to go get yourselves a pc, but if they are relatively as high too, it's a lose lose :/ at least you can import the ps4.

 

[QuikZilver]

I'm guessing those exist in Argentina (they do here in Uruguay), but the problem is customs as always. They likely see a package labelled "Amazon" and tax it to high heavens.

The company shipping from Miami to Venezuela takes care of that. Usually shipping comes out to a $100.

 

[FerDS]

In Venezuela people buy consoles through Amazon.com which they have it send to a import/export company in Miami as shipping address. You have to submit your purchase in the company website before it arrives and that company ships your purchase to Venezuela.

Only when the limited 400$ a year allow us to

 

[Alpende]

 

[dgenx]

That's makes me think how much this will be in Peru

 

[Dario ff]

Is this jsut what Argentinian prices are like in general, or just within the console space? Feels like Sony is jsut throwing down the gauntlet for you to go get yourselves a pc, but if they are relatively as high too, it's a lose lose :/ at least you can import the ps4.

I bought these for $550 at the end of the last year. All the components were sold in local hardware stores.

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($217.13 @ TigerDirect)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($112.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: AMD 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.54 @ NCIX US)
Total: $404.65 for buying on the US

It was an upgrade to one of my PCs, not building from scratch, but you can see the price difference is nowhere near as bad ($404 vs $550, make that $600 if you want because of inflation). It's what happens when you got a lot of different PC hardware stores/importers competing between each other and the mid-range components actually selling decently. In one case I couldn't buy the i5 2500k at a shop because the next day after I asked someone already bought it! (And they were restocking only Ivy Bridge, not Sandy Bridge)

They know how much they will sell. The PS4 would've likely been priced at $600-700 or so if it just stuck to customs... But they won't profit much out of that to make up for releasing it officially / providing warranty support I guess. Either that or there's some other tax going on for video game consoles that I'm not aware of.

 

[maty]

snip

Yes, there isn't a huge difference in CPU and motherboard prices (but there is of course the lack of variety in models).

GPUs are another thing, they are usually sold for double the US retail price.

 

[doniewhalberg]

I bought these for $550 at the end of the last year. All the components were sold in local hardware stores.
.

Thanks for the insight man. That's crazy beans then. I mean, I know for alot of people a PC is just not going to be a replacement for what they love about consoles, I do appreciate that, but when you see that people are going to have to throw that down to get their hands on the PS4, it does just come across as a challenge in my eyes, given what you could get for the same in pc hardware, and it's own unique experiences in terms of software, and highlights as a piece of hardware. Even if GPUs are expensive, at least you can see the sentiment in what I'm saying. Alot of the timep eople don't want to get a PC jsut because what you have to invest upfront to get it, which I totally agree with and understand. If they want you to put down about $1200 though, and you've got that cash together...even if the PC ends up that much with GPU on it, your going to get a much more powerful, and importantly robust, scaleable experience to suit yourself. I'll stop yammering now because this is about the PS4's price, not pc gaming, but it's jsut a good parallel. Basically: Jesus, that price ha.

 

[Tecl0n]

Medium end hardware is not as expensive cause there actually is a market for it and, albeit very few, importing companies offer them.

.

May i ask what PSU you have?

 

[LSauchelli]

It's really expensive. But one thing these stories don't take into account is that the 5.50 pesos to a dollar is just the 'official dollar', and at the same time there's a 'dollar blue' that's going for roughly 10 pesos.

If you actually have dollars (not a whole lot of people do have them, but then again, from those who buy a console at launch, I'd say that many do have dollars) you could just sell those dollars for this 'unofficial price' and buy a PS4 for $650.

 

[Dario ff]

GPUs are another thing, they are usually sold for double the US retail price.

I'd say it's more about a 40-50% extra for AMD and 70-100% for Nvidia or so (for some weird reason). I just checked online a Titan for the most ridiculous price I could try to find, and it was just 70% more surprisingly. Kinda depends on which ones sell the most I guess.

May i ask what PSU you have?

This one. I don't really remember what price I bought it at, but I've had it for quite a while. More than enough for my current system, but I might have to get a bigger one depending on the power consumptions of the next GPUs.

 

[Elchele]

I'm guessing those exist in Argentina (they do here in Uruguay), but the problem is customs as always. They likely see a package labelled "Amazon" and tax it to high heavens.

I would like to know if those companies exist in Argentina currently. I recently moved here, and I'm afraid I won't be able to buy a PS4 this year :-(

Imports are basically blocked, while it's a pain in the ass, I understand why the protectionism is very important for the economy.

 

[Northeastmonk]

For that much you might as well send your kids to college, buy a car, or invest in a new home.

 

[sestrugen]

In Guatemala USD $613 for preorders and USD $688 after release, not too bad considering the PS3 was USD$ 1125 when it was released

 

[zero shift]

This is how it is in a lot of South America and just south of the border in general. They have very high tariffs. Whether they work or not is up for debate, though I doubt in a thread of people complaining about the Playstation 4 that you'll get a diverse opinion.

Spoiler

If I was in Argentina I'd probably be the same.

 

[Elchele]

In Guatemala USD $613 for preorders and USD $688 after release, not too bad considering the PS3 was USD$ 1125 when it was released

Really? wow. In Argentina is actually around 700$USD, with the real conversion rate. Still way too high in my opinion... 600$ would be the max I would pay to have it on launch day.

 

[Manu]

Bump for great justice.

This week dollar price went from 6 pesos to 8 pesos. And guess what?

So yeah, it's official. Goodbye next gen. It's at the point where I would feel bad about spending that much money on a console.

So fuck you taxes, fuck you import laws, fuck you Sony for still charging u$s 1100 for a console that's $400 everwhere else.

 

[emiranda061288]

If I want to pay my retail price it would be 500*1.07=535 but I imported one from amazon ang got it at 460 in total so a 75 save. I live in Panama.

 

[Chobel]

Bump for great justice.

This week dollar price went from 6 pesos to 8 pesos. And guess what?

So yeah, it's official. Goodbye next gen. It's at the point where I would feel bad about spending that much money on a console.

So fuck you taxes, fuck you import laws, fuck you Sony for still charging u$s 1100 for a console that's $400 everwhere else.

This is ridiculous!

 

[Frank Jaeger]

"SE ANUNCIA EL PRECIO DE PLAYSTATION®4 (PS4™) Y SU PRE-VENTA EN LA ARGENTINA

Qué: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. (SCEA) anuncia el comienzo de la preventa del sistema de entretenimiento PlayStation®4 (PS4™) en la Argentina. El precio de la PS4™en el país será de $6.499.- (pesos argentinos)."

So... yeah. 6500 pesos. That's roughly 1200 US Dollars.

Or, to put it in another way, that's about 25% over my current monthly salary.

I guess that's it for me as a gamer.

 

[Platy]

So yeah, it's official. Goodbye next gen. It's at the point where I would feel bad about spending that much money on a console.

=O

...but do you know that there are 4 other consoles on "next gen", right ?

 

[Captain Tuttle]

Bump for great justice.

This week dollar price went from 6 pesos to 8 pesos. And guess what?

So yeah, it's official. Goodbye next gen. It's at the point where I would feel bad about spending that much money on a console.

So fuck you taxes, fuck you import laws, fuck you Sony for still charging u$s 1100 for a console that's $400 everwhere else.

Goodbye? Build a PC, there's an amazing gaming life outside of Sony exclusives.

Edit: So Sony's MSRP starts at $1100!?

 

[ymmv]

Bump for great justice.

This week dollar price went from 6 pesos to 8 pesos. And guess what?

So yeah, it's official. Goodbye next gen. It's at the point where I would feel bad about spending that much money on a console.

So fuck you taxes, fuck you import laws, fuck you Sony for still charging u$s 1100 for a console that's $400 everwhere else.

How is it Sony's fault that your Argentinian currency lost value and your government has crazy taxes for imported goods?

 

[Manu]

How is it Sony's fault that your Argentinian currency lost value and your government has crazy taxes for imported goods?

Because even with the taxes and the inflation the price shouldn't be nearly close to $1100.

And to those who asked, I'm not interested on an Xbox 1 or a Wii U.

 

[Cloud Strife]

How is it Sony's fault that your Argentinian currency lost value and your government has crazy taxes for imported goods?

MSRP

 

[BruiserBear]

I have a very hard time believing Sony just randomly decides it wants to gouge South American customers. Someone also created a thread about the PS4 price in Brazil.

There has to be another explanation, other than "omg Sony is so greedy in South America".

 

[RoboPlato]

I feel so bad for South American gamers. They get screwed left and right with pricing.

 

[Game-Biz]

I can understand the price if each PS4 unit has to individually catch a commercial flight to buenos aires.

 

[S¡mon]

MSRP

What is your point? Their MSRP is 400 in US dollars without any taxes. In Argentina, if you count in sales tax, import tax, highly unreliable currency, than it is only logical that their MSRP is higher.

It sucks... but your government is to blame.

I have a very hard time believing Sony just randomly decides it wants to gouge South American customers. Someone also created a thread about the PS4 price in Brazil.

There has to be another explanation, other than "omg Sony is so greedy in South America".

The Argentine peso is very unstable. Imagine that €1 = $2 today, tomorrow €1 = $1, the day after €1 = $1.50, the day after that €1 = $0.50.

That's basically what is going on with the Argentine peso. Sony takes a huge financial risk if they go for a lower MSRP. Oh, and there are incredibly high taxes in lots of South-American countries.

 

[Platy]

I have a very hard time believing Sony just randomly decides it wants to gouge South American customers. Someone also created a thread about the PS4 price in Brazil.

There has to be another explanation, other than "omg Sony is so greedy in South America".

LONG STORY SHORT

Developing countries hate imports because they want their own industries to grow

Usualy the smallest the industry, the more taxes and things like that a comapany need to go to import their products.
Besides Zeebo, what was the other south american related game console you heard ? =P

Thies week also saw the news about the Argentinian goverment wanting to drasticaly reduce imports (like buying things from foreign sites) by not allowing the post oficce to deliver imported good directly to homes anymore

 

[Dario ff]

What is your point? Their MSRP is 400 in US dollars without any taxes. In Argentina, if you count in sales tax, import tax, highly unreliable currency, than it is only logical that their MSRP is higher.

It sucks... but your government is to blame.

Sony's not without blame either. PC Hardware that actually sells often doesn't have a big markup anywhere near as close as this. I bought a $300 dollars GPU (In the US) the other day for like $3000 AR Pesos (Dollar cotization was to a level that it ended up in $450-$500 US Dollars, which goes pretty accurately with the 50% Imports Tax), and that's locally from an actual, legal hardware store. How come the PS4 which is at $400 (In the US) gets bumped to 3x the price of that GPU? There's no tax in gaming systems either like in Brazil. So your second quote would be false in this case... they have to deal with the 50% tax only.

They know they'll only sell a few of these to people with more money than patience. Did I mention they apply this tax for no reason to games as well? They even price-match it digitally to a whopping $130 dollars. It's nonsense because PC Retail games don't have this markup either (Well, the only few ones that even exist anymore), and it's not like Steam is obligated to do it either.

 

[Jean Valjean]

Bump for great justice.

This week dollar price went from 6 pesos to 8 pesos. And guess what?

So yeah, it's official. Goodbye next gen. It's at the point where I would feel bad about spending that much money on a console.

So fuck you taxes, fuck you import laws, fuck you Sony for still charging u$s 1100 for a console that's $400 everwhere else.

 

[Blades64]

Not as bad as Argentina, but in Belize the starting price for a PS4 is $1800 BZD, which $900 USD. No way in hell I'm buying a PS4 here. Will have to import once I got the finances.

 

[Lovely Salsa]

Its only fair. People in US have shit salary, thats why they get it the cheapest. In Argentina you have a much higher salary, thats why its so expensive

 

[Kazuma Kiryu]

I have a very hard time believing Sony just randomly decides it wants to gouge South American customers. Someone also created a thread about the PS4 price in Brazil.

There has to be another explanation, other than "omg Sony is so greedy in South America".

One of the big reasons are taxes.

 

[Corronchilejano]

And here I was complaining about the USD$670 (give or take) it costs in Colombia.

 

[McLovin]

Seems pretty cheap in Chile(relatively), why not buy it there then drive back down to Argentina?

 

[Captain Tuttle]

What's piracy like in South America? If it's bad maybe Sony wants to make it's money up front and not rely on royalties from game purchases?

 

[Daedardus]

Its only fair. People in US have shit salary, thats why they get it the cheapest. In Argentina you have a much higher salary, thats why its so expensive

Not sure if serious.

And, yeah it doesn't help that the inflation rate is 10%+ and growing. Not long till real hyperinflation sets in.

 

[Dario ff]

What's piracy like in South America? If it's bad maybe Sony wants to make it's money up front and not rely on royalties from game purchases?

You can't pirate PS4 games.

The piracy situation is pretty much a cultural thing at this point, but it's not like it's gonna get enabled for piracy in a few years anyway. Services with region-specific prices or sales like Steam have been steering that piracy culture into the other direction.

Seems pretty cheap in Chile(relatively), why not buy it there then drive back down to Argentina?

And after that you have to buy games as well... which are expensive as hell because Sony price-matches them digitally and on retail to some fake tax like if it was Brazil for some reason.

 

[Asd202]

Bump for great justice.

This week dollar price went from 6 pesos to 8 pesos. And guess what?

So yeah, it's official. Goodbye next gen. It's at the point where I would feel bad about spending that much money on a console.

So fuck you taxes, fuck you import laws, fuck you Sony for still charging u$s 1100 for a console that's $400 everwhere else.

The thing is it's only $400 in US and maybe Canada everywhere else it's more expensive. US and Canada are by far the cheapest gaming markets. For example my country is in EU but we don't have Euro as our currency and after the price conversion the PS4 costs around 440 Euro while my countries average wages are below EU average.

 

[Platy]

Now the Argentine price went from 2400 reais to 2700 reais

edit :

google ^

 

[Ostinatto]

Seems pretty cheap in Chile(relatively), why not buy it there then drive back down to Argentina?

i think it's a 24-hour bus ride from Buenos Aires to Santiago.

 

[Demon Ice]

Good lord, are there actual pirates in those shipping lanes or what??