toythatkills
Member
If you're in the UK, spend it (or shift it) before it converts into cash.
If you're in the US it's okay, Microsoft loves you.
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Microsoft's move to real cash hurts UK buyers, helps Canadian buyers
- Thread starter Gowans
- Start date
If you're in the UK, spend it (or shift it) before it converts into cash.
If you're in the US it's okay, Microsoft loves you.
What's the conversion rate of people's MS Points compared to cash values?
For example, say I have 400msp on my XBL account. When 400msp games become £4.49, would I then get £4.49 for the 400 MSP on my account, or a lower value?
If I get lower, aren't MS practically taking money from British people?
For example, say I have 400msp on my XBL account. When 400msp games become £4.49, would I then get £4.49 for the 400 MSP on my account, or a lower value?
If I get lower, aren't MS practically taking money from British people?
toythatkills
Member
One point is 0.85p, that's what they're converting at, within 1 or 2%
Samurai_Heart
Member
Apparently they are using the old conversion rate so £3.40
http://www.tmeyer.de/mspointsconverter.html
Lower. The 1200 point downloads became £11.99 and my 1200 points converted to £10.20. Feel pretty robbed at this point
mangochutney
Member
There's no difference between points cards and money cards, though.Yup. You could sometimes find sales on points cards. Now you won't be able to. It really sucks and I'm disappointed but the louder group won.
So an 800 points card still has a real money value to it. It just happens to say 800 points on the front.
It still has a retail price. It still has a wholesale price and points still have a real money value in terms of how it defines what MS pays out to publishers for purchases.
A shift to real money changes nothing in that regard, only the ability to shaft you with increased pricing.
Oppo
Member
I thought victim blaming was frowned upon on GAF.
Listen this is entirely Microsoft's self-inflicted problem.
- they created the MS Points system to obfuscate price levels and exchange levels, while also having control over bundled denominations (the "left over" points they could collect interest on)
- they failed to keep prices consistent over the lifespan of the 360 between different countries
- they obfuscated the "deals" you could get on so called discounted points by manipulating those points bundles; that was the reason they could offer the "deals" at all
- and now that they've switched back to Real World Money like every other service the obvious holes in the older scheme are revealed, even as they are corrected
The funny part is, UK buyers will be mad because stuff seems to cost more now, whereas Canadian buyers like myself will probably ruefulyl acknowledge that we are no longer being overcharged. Hardly a PR win.
edit - mangochutney up there gets it
Samurai_Heart
Member
Ah crap I have 2250MSP, recommend some arcade games.
You realize this makes no sense regarding an NDA right? Lol, I don't care what you guys do personally, but just saying, MS is known to drop the hammer on NDA breakers. It won't be me breaking any NDA though, I'll stick to the appropriate forums on Xbox.com to discuss it. I'm just trying to give you a heads up. The likelyhood of anything happening is slim, but like I said...just saying.
Personally, I live in the US and always buy my 4000MSP cards for $20. I've been making out like a bandit, so conversion won't hurt me a bit personally.
Delusibeta
Banned
Too late now. Contracts have been signed, funds have been converted and Microsoft points has been deleted. This is the one thing that's set in stone.
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
Not for me!
I pressed cancel to the conversion and will make any purchases on Xbox.com in the mean time.
It most certainly does. You might want to re-read it, specifically this topic: http://forums.xbox.com/xbox_forums/beta-2013/f/3980/t/1457713.aspx
Well fuck. Thanks for letting me know. I haven't been on Xbox for a while and I think I only have about £2.40 on my account, but I know some friends who are still invested in the ecosystem. I'll warn them.
They can always credit points (dollars now) to your account. Not sure if they would, but it's a possibility.
That's absurd. Unless other prices are going up to match (even that is hardly justifiable) - what's their excuse for not being able to convert points to GBP properly? Incompetence, greed or both?
For it to end .99
AuthenticM
Member
As a canadian, here's my thoughts on the matter:
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LOL
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LOL
Miles Quaritch
Member
Incompetence smothered in greed.
I guess they really don't care if they start losing ground in the UK. First the absurd One price and now they've seemingly screwed people on digital content pricing too.
I say seemingly as this is a beta, there's still time for them to look into this and change the conversion rate accordingly. I'm hopeful they'll at least look at it otherwise they've just completely fucked over their platform in the UK.
I've never witnessed a company actively go out of their way to fuck over a userbase as much as MS have these past few months. It's really quite amazing.
Miles Quaritch
Member
You should still register your anger on the beta forum.
What's the link, ill try again.
I just joined via hitting a button on the dash tho
CharmingCharlie
Member
So the logic from some people on this thread is that Microsoft got rid of the points scheme because people complained about them right ?
It has nothing to do with the fact people were getting free points and cheap points all over the place and Microsoft did the sums and realised they could do a really god screw job by ditching the points system and shoving in a price hike at the same time.
I mean come on here guys use your noggin. Which makes more sense Microsoft listened or Microsoft discovered they could screw the consumer more ?
Price things properly? 400pts = £3.40 (so £3.49 then?) - not £4.49 - where's the extra £1 come from?
800 pts = £6.80 (so £6.99?) Extra £2 from... where exactly?
Family Fry
Member
Well the writing was on the wall when all the douchebags started whining about buying points and having 400 left over, OH MY GOD WHAT EVER WILL I BUY NEXT????
I'm just hoping this means developers may be able to price their games differently instead of having a blanket price to match the points value across formats.
Highly doubt it though.
I take it they are just matching the RRP of the points cards in the UK?
I'm just hoping this means developers may be able to price their games differently instead of having a blanket price to match the points value across formats.
Highly doubt it though.
I take it they are just matching the RRP of the points cards in the UK?
Miles Quaritch
Member
Here's the thread where people are venting.
http://forums.xbox.com/xbox_forums/beta-2013/f/3981/t/1470707.aspx
I definitely recommend everyone post their anger at this conversion, it might be enough to cause them to take another look at how they calculate the rates...
Can anyone in the beta update still buy things from the uk marketplace website in points rather than pounds after the "conversion"? May be a way around it....
edit: from here https://live.xbox.com/en-GB/Home
edit: from here https://live.xbox.com/en-GB/Home
No they take all the points from you. You could do it before the conversion.
This. Up to 350€ now.
Google Play and Windows Store aren't too bad either.
Miles Quaritch
Member
If they haven't sorted it by the end of the beta, they never will and it'll be time to call time on MS in the UK.
Hyperbole? I don't think so. £429, more expensive digital content, mandatory Kinect and generally not as appealing as the PS4 = DoA for the One.
HoodWinked
Member
i dont even understand..
800 pts (£6.50-£6.99) - ms converted to £6.80
so the cash value of your points has been preserved.
then you have the games which are obviously not going to sell at weird random denominations of and the pricing is now matched with steam and psn.
complaints just seem ridiculous at this point. what exactly are people wanting?
800 pts (£6.50-£6.99) - ms converted to £6.80
so the cash value of your points has been preserved.
then you have the games which are obviously not going to sell at weird random denominations of and the pricing is now matched with steam and psn.
complaints just seem ridiculous at this point. what exactly are people wanting?
So I'm thinking you could:
1) be in the beta
2) not do the conversion (i.e. not click on anything in the marketplace and accept the conversion on the xbox)
3) still buy things from the website store as you'd still have your old points
4) enjoy the beta and your points until it's forced on everyone at a later date
-COOLIO-
The Everyman
pretty sure people wanted fair real money prices
Yes that would work.
If I buy 800 points to buy a game that costs 800 points, I expect to be able to use the ~£7 to buy this game. What's so difficult to understand?
Black Republican
Member
is it something to do with the 17.5% to 20% UK vat tax increase?
To not be blatantly ripped off?
Honestly I see no problems with what they are doing. They are giving you retail value for the points you have. They just should have been charging more points for games in the first place which is what they are fixing.
Willy Wanka
my god this avatar owns
I couldn't have put it better myself. Thanks, whiny cretins.
Nothing new. Thats been happening to me with PSN purchases (except the free ones) and I think the last time I bought something digitally from Nintendo.
toythatkills
Member
Who's going to buy anything now?
As said earlier, do you really think MS changed this because of people complaining?
No, they saw an opportunity to make more money.
I expect you're of the believe that they changed the DRM on the Xbox One because "your feedback matters".
No, it doesn't mean jack shit. The pre-orders were terrible so they went back on their awful policies that they were so happy to initially force on you.
*shrugs*
Me. I just bought the Crysis 3 Lost Island DLC. I'm making bank on this shit. I get 50 for 36. Good deal if you ask me.