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Australia is getting screwed on game prices
- Thread starter bitbydeath
- Start date
- Drama
TYRiAX
Member
We do have sales tax in AUS (10% and its called GST) but it's included in the sticker price.
Stellar Blade is 124.95 AUD, without GST it's 113.59 AUD which converts to 74.18 USD.
So really, only $4.18 USD more expensive?
How much is sales tax generally (I understand it varies by state) in the US on a 70 product? I'm guessing more than $4
Stellar Blade is 124.95 AUD, without GST it's 113.59 AUD which converts to 74.18 USD.
So really, only $4.18 USD more expensive?
How much is sales tax generally (I understand it varies by state) in the US on a 70 product? I'm guessing more than $4
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Silver Wattle
Gold Member
Nah, we tend to pay slightly more but if you are able to buy physical you can get some insane discounts, overall the pricing has improved massively from a decade ago.
The fact that you actually made a thread about this shows how little you know about about regional pricing.
The fact that you actually made a thread about this shows how little you know about about regional pricing.
Elysium44
Banned
15 USD, UK minimum wage is similar.
Elysium44
Banned
I read on another forum recently that someone had their Xbox account banned for doing just that.
spons
Gold Member
Nasty. Haven't done it in a while though.
OuterLimits
Member
True. while many states have seen fairly dramatic minimum wage hikes in recent years, 20 states still go by the federal minimum wage requirement of 7.25/hr.(hasn't increased since July 2009).
Some surprising states I wasn't expecting are in the list of 20.(Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire)
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FunkMiller
Gold Member
Australia is really fucking rich. Dont worry about us/them. All those minerals they keep digging up the bush for are seeing us right for centuries.
Hell, the UK fucking sucks right now, and it’s still one of the most comfortable countries to live in.
I’d much rather pay a few dollars/quid more for stuff like video games, and have free/cheap healthcare and a high standard of living.
Hell, the UK fucking sucks right now, and it’s still one of the most comfortable countries to live in.
I’d much rather pay a few dollars/quid more for stuff like video games, and have free/cheap healthcare and a high standard of living.
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FingerBang
Member
I unironically don't understand how this country is still going. I get London (as much as it sucks), but the rest of the country? No idea.
On a side note, I don't know how EB Games can sell physical copies to people at full price with a straight face. It's a terrible practice. If you don't ask for a price match, or if your membership isn't a certain level, they don't ask you if you want to pricie match. They take advanage of so many people who hace no idea. $120 game, meanwhile down at Big W or JB the same game is $79 or $89. I despise them.
This is why all digital sucks, prices are insane without competion and discounts. Australians still pay too much on average compared to America and Canada at least.
This is why all digital sucks, prices are insane without competion and discounts. Australians still pay too much on average compared to America and Canada at least.
bitbydeath
Member
Nah, we tend to pay slightly more but if you are able to buy physical you can get some insane discounts, overall the pricing has improved massively from a decade ago.
The fact that you actually made a thread about this shows how little you know about about regional pricing.
Games were around $70 AUD a decade ago.
Edit: First party that is, third party were around $90-$100
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SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Don't blame your shit on us. Foster's is barely more Australian than outback steakhouse. We don't drink that piss
Don’t blame your shit on us. Americans no longer own that beer.
And the Fosters beer being sold in the 1800s sure as hell isn’t what’s sold now.
midasmulligan
Member
Yeah, but I have a $400/month health insurance premium and a $10,000/year deductible, so can I have my cheap(er) game?
StereoVsn
Member
Note that US side doesn’t include Taxes. We don’t have a unified VAT or anything and sales taxes are up to the State and even county/city sometimes.
So effective sales tax can go from 0% to 12% depending on the state. If AU price includes VAT like Europe, you would need to take that into consideration. If AU pricing doesn’t include taxes, this is plain crazy.
That said, prices are damn high anyways and it’s not like salaries grew like crazy in comparison to cost of living increases during the past 4 years.
StereoVsn
Member
Wow, that’s insane compared to here in US. Even cheaper Public Universities are like $6-8K a semester if you are in-State student. Goes up to $15-30K a Semester for Private schools. That does NOT include Books, Room and Board so throw in another $25-30K a year.
StereoVsn
Member
Is there a decent local used market? Also non Nintendo games do often go on sale for pretty good prices on eShop, but not sure about your particular taxes/conversion.These are the prices that South America has to deal with since ever
I had to sell my Switch because it's impossible to pay nearly $100 in Switch Games with the income i have.
Our economy is too reliant on mining exports all going to China. If China goes down so do we.
Krappadizzle
Member
Don't worry, we'll all be on yuan currency sooner or later.
Draugoth
Gold Member
Yes, i started to buy used games before moving to PC
StereoVsn
Member
That makes sense. I often buy used Physical games if I can’t find reasonable price for new ones. And yeah, mostly Pc, but still collect some games (mainly for the Switch).
It does show though without proper competition in digital markets (aka PC), digital prices are shit till years later and even then only on sale.
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Elysium44
Banned
The grass isn't necessarily greener. I know a lot of people in the UK, especially young people think the UK is a hellhole and everywhere else in the world is great but the whole developed world has similar problems.
The year the Australian Dream died
The land of a "fair go" has become one of the least affordable places on Earth to find a home.
www.bbc.co.uk
Silver Wattle
Gold Member
NZ is even more expensive than Australia and has lower wages.
Fbh
Member
Create a US account with some address in Alaska.
You won't be able to use your credit card but you can find US PSN store credit cards all over the internet (sometimes for $1-2 less than they are worth)
Does the tax appear on the price in the PSN store?
My country has 19% sales tax (yay!) but for some reason prices on PSN still show up without tax until you add them to your cart
You won't be able to use your credit card but you can find US PSN store credit cards all over the internet (sometimes for $1-2 less than they are worth)
Does the tax appear on the price in the PSN store?
My country has 19% sales tax (yay!) but for some reason prices on PSN still show up without tax until you add them to your cart
LastBattle
Member
Didn’t those poor bastards in the trenches already go through enough? They were forced to drink Fosters as well??Don't blame your shit on us. Foster's is barely more Australian than outback steakhouse. We don't drink that piss
Maddux4164
Member
It’s always been that way for Australia
Their minimum wage for unskilled teenage drive thru McDonald’s workers is $24 per hour
Everything is expensive in Australia
People think higher minimum wages equals lower cost of living are delusional and don’t understand economics
Their minimum wage for unskilled teenage drive thru McDonald’s workers is $24 per hour
Everything is expensive in Australia
People think higher minimum wages equals lower cost of living are delusional and don’t understand economics
angrod14
Member
Can't you just create a US account and pay with US PSN Cards?
Everyone (included me) had to do that in my country since we didn't had official PS support until only a couple of years ago. Never had any issues. I still use my US account with no problems today as a secondary.
Everyone (included me) had to do that in my country since we didn't had official PS support until only a couple of years ago. Never had any issues. I still use my US account with no problems today as a secondary.
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German Hops
GAF's Nicest Lunch Thief
I blame the kangaroos
Mister Wolf
Member
Rocco Schiavone
Member
In Germany the normal retail prices are 79,99€ ~ 132,10 $ australian Dollars.
Shake Your Rump
Member
Roll back wages to $4.25 and watch the prices drop!
Maddux4164
Member
There’s a happy medium. Obviously $4.25 isn’t the answer either. One extreme doesn’t mean the other one will suffice.
Also the market determines wages typically (in America anyhow)
Minimum wage is $7.25 here. But I’ve never heard of or seen anyone actually hiring at that wage. It’s typically going to be $10-$12 for entry level unskilled workers (teenagers)
Exceptions as always. But generally speaking
However, forcing these small mom and pop shops to pay $25 for a cashier is asinine and the prices of their products will absolutely reflect those wages
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manfestival
Member
This is old news. Aus always gets screwed on pricing. Not saying that it is right or fair. It is just how it has been for as long as I can remember.