Why do gamers outside the U.S have to pay more?

In Austrailia, the United Kingdom and other PAL regions, generally when compared to the US, PAL gamers pay 40% to 50% more for the same product, games.

Why is this? Is this 'fair'? Or is not a matter of 'fairness'?

Use price comparison websites. Here's one. Shop around, do some research. It's not that bad if you utilise patience and look around. I get by and I buy all my games new.

Higher standards.

SW excuse. :P

Supply and Demand
Business Costs (shipping and other added costs)
Exchange rates
Etc

In Canada its the same thing in the US. but I have to pay a @#$% 15% tax :evil:

its mainly supply and demand and shipping but atm in australia our dollar is like buying 99 american cents so we are living the high life and give us 10 years and our dollar will buy 2 american dollars even more

we may be the most unpopulated country for our size but we have ALOT of mines that just keep on giving

Because we're dirty, squabbling peasants that don't deserve cheap games.

There are probably multiple things in play. Like average salary and the costs of other products. In Asia you can find countries where games cost about as much as socks. That probably has to do with those people having very low salaries.

On the surface it all pretty much comes down to this for the countries that you really meant: The governments regulate a lot more than in the states, so they need more money to do so.
If you are honest about it though, the governments are using the complicated systems in europe to extract as much money as possible from their citizens without causing an uprising.

The UK pays less not more. Also currency values affect cost.MoonMarvel

Exchange rates mate.

wouldn't a crappy us dollar make buying us games in other countries cheaper?comp_atkins

The cost of games in the UK is actually not much more expensive than the US at all. Particularly if you shop around.

I always assumed games were more expensive in Europe because they're socialists who tax the heck out of everything.

The cost of games in the UK is actually not much more expensive than the US at all. Particularly if you shop around.broken_bass_bin

[QUOTE="MoonMarvel"]The UK pays less not more. Also currency values affect cost.Hexagon_777

Countries with low wages and high piracy, such as India and much of Eastern Europe, tend to pay a lot less for games.

[QUOTE="Hexagon_777"][QUOTE="MoonMarvel"]The UK pays less not more. Also currency values affect cost.Overlord93

America gets pretty much everything cheaper. On a lot of items it's common to ignore the conversion rate between USD and GBP because of the higher UK prices, you just switch the sign.markop2003

every x360 game costs only 5 bucsk here where i live.

every x360 game costs only 5 bucsk here where i live.

VaguelyTagged

[QUOTE="markop2003"]America gets pretty much everything cheaper. On a lot of items it's common to ignore the conversion rate between USD and GBP because of the higher UK prices, you just switch the sign.Hexagon_777

[QUOTE="VaguelyTagged"]

every x360 game costs only 5 bucsk here where i live.

carrot-cake

[QUOTE="carrot-cake"]

[QUOTE="VaguelyTagged"]

every x360 game costs only 5 bucsk here where i live.

VaguelyTagged

I'm an Australian and I know pretty well why we have to pay more for products.

Firstly, currency conversion is key. If $1AU = $0.80US, then it will obviously cost more dollar-for-dollar. This problem is becoming a non-issue at the moment because $1AU = ~$0.99US, as close to parity as it has been since the float.

Secondly, everything in Australia includes tax, whilst it doesn't in America. The 10% GST means that roughly 1-11th of the price of a good goes towards the government and not the retailer.

Thirdly, costs in Australia are generally more expensive than in America. Whilst in the US they would hire people on ~$8 an hour, in Australia it's more likely $18 an hour. Electricity costs are roughly 12 cents per KWA in America, whilst they are roughly $20 cents in Australia. These little things all add up.

America usually has the tax added at the checkout, which people usually forget to take into consideration when comparing.hesel

[QUOTE="Overlord93"][QUOTE="Hexagon_777"]Exactly. Knowledgeable gamers throughout the EU order from the UK because of the weak pound. 1€ currently buys you 0.87£ and if my memory serves me correctly, 1€ used to only buy about 0.60£. If the UK joined the Eurozone, it would become apparent how much less the UK has to pay for videogames as opposed to every other EU state.Hexagon_777

[QUOTE="hesel"]America usually has the tax added at the checkout, which people usually forget to take into consideration when comparing.aransom

In Austrailia, the United Kingdom and other PAL regions, generally when compared to the US, PAL gamers pay 40% to 50% more for the same product, games.

Why is this? Is this 'fair'? Or is not a matter of 'fairness'?

[QUOTE="carrot-cake"]

[QUOTE="VaguelyTagged"]

every x360 game costs only 5 bucsk here where i live.

VaguelyTagged

you pay too much we pay 2.50,and lately 2.00:D:D:D

It's the same reason we in America pay more for almost everything that's imported.Xeros606

[QUOTE="VaguelyTagged"]

[QUOTE="carrot-cake"]
Yeah but are they legit?

M3ran

you pay too much we pay 2.50,and lately 2.00:D:D:D

That's why I'm voting for a party affiliated with the PPI in the next european elections.

We usually pay around £34 to £40 for brand new releases. That's about 54 to 60 dollars.

^ Wow, that's pretty low, where do you live? And what is INR?lizzie1238

Indian rupees.