Harvey Norman launches online game-seller site, in competition with own stores - Polidicks

[img]http://resources2.news.com.au/cs/newscomau/v2/_shared/base/css/images/icons/homepage-title.png[/img] Source: [url]http://www.news.com.au/technology/gaming/harvey-norman-launches-online-game-seller-site-in-competition-with-own-stores/story-e6frfrt9-1226228715224[/url] [img]http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2010/08/27/1225910/799020-aus-bus-pix-gerry-harvey-harvey-norman-chairman.jpg[/img] Consumers reacted badly to a campaign by Gerry Harvey to have GST applied to private imports under $1000. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: The Australian [release][B]HARVEY Norman has launched a direct import website to sell video games at cheaper prices evading the GST and warning game buyers they will pay "much higher prices" for titles in its own stores.[/B] The Australian retail giant officially launched [url=http://www.harveynormandirectimport.com/]harveynormandirectimport.com[/url] at 6pm AEDT in an effort to catch post-Christmas sales. The website is selling video games for consoles, with prices significantly cheaper than seen on the websites of leading Australian game chains. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for Xbox 360 is $35 cheaper on the new website than at EB Games, for example. Similarly, Batman: Arkham City is $20 cheaper. Shipping is charged at a flat fee of $3.95 per game and no GST will be charged for orders under $1000. The game titles are being sourced from overseas suppliers and sold by Harvey Norman Ireland, a company Australian chief executive Gerry Harvey said was separate to the local retail chain. Mr Harvey said the company had considered the audacious move for 12 months, finally launching it after the Australian Productivity Commission announced it would take a further six months to investigate adding GST to overseas purchases. He said bricks and mortar Harvey Norman stores would still sell games, but took the unusual move of warning Australian consumers not to purchase them. "If people want to buy games in stores they can, but they will be paying much higher prices," he said. "We're not doing this with a great deal of joy. We've been able to do this for a long time and we've held off and held off but you get to a stage where you just can't hold off any more." Mr Harvey said the company was considering offering the direct importation of other goods in future and "we'll let you know soon". Harvey Norman's move follows JB Hi-Fi's addition of a direct importation section on its website (jbhifi.com.au/direct-import) last month. The section offers big-name DSLR cameras and lenses at cheaper prices than those seen in Australia.[/release] Just for comparison sake: Assassin's Creed: Revelations AU$55.00 Non-Sale Price - [url]http://www.harveynormandirectimport.com/p/5/360-assassins-creed-revelations[/url] AU$88.00 Sale Price, AU$109.88 Non-Sale Price - [url]http://ebgames.com.au/xbox360-149486-Assassins-Creed-Revelations-Xbox-360[/url] This is a huge thing for us Aussie Gamers

You know you're seriously bored for competition when you start a website to rival your own stores.

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;33841334]You know you're seriously bored for competition when you start a website to rival your own stores.[/QUOTE] Competition is healthy, even if you make it up yourself.

"Fuck my store, I've got shitty prices, go to my store, where I've got way better stuff for way less."

wow, dxhr is only $28

Skyrim costs $60?! I know where I'm purchasing my xbox games now. This is actually extremely good for Aussies.

This is good, but it's such a backflip. He's spent the last five years having such a big cry about online stores.

Hope they add PC physical copies, my internet is really slow and buying games from steam sometimes takes up to 6 nights to complete (I sleep for 6-7 hours and my speed is 56kb/s) Go Harvey Norman

[QUOTE=fruxodaily;33841682]Hope they add PC physical copies, my internet is really slow and buying games from steam sometimes takes up to 6 nights to complete (I sleep for 6-7 hours and my speed is 56kb/s) Go Harvey Norman[/QUOTE] If you want physical copies go to ozgameshop.com or cdwow.com.au, both those sites are cheaper than this as well. This is still a big thing though, I'd love to see how places such as Big W, Game and EB will react to this.

I thought they sold furniture? Or was that Ikea?

[QUOTE=BCell;33841986]I thought they sold furniture? Or was that Ikea?[/QUOTE] They do, but they also sell all sorts of electronics as well (TVs, computers, MP3 players, games etc).

Pfft, still not cheaper than CD-key sites [url]http://cdkeyprices.com/[/url]

[QUOTE=Contag;33842420]Pfft, still not cheaper than CD-key sites [url]http://cdkeyprices.com/[/url][/QUOTE] These are console games, not russian product keys

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;33841334]You know you're seriously bored for competition when you start a website to rival your own stores.[/QUOTE] Harvey Norman's problem isn't a lack of competition, it's that the prices are high enough in stores that people are going the online shopping method instead, which is hurting his sales. This new site is less about competing with his physical stores, and more of a recognition that his physical stores can't compete with online stores.

love ya harvey [editline]22nd December 2011[/editline] First time I've ever sent a comapany compliment feedback. [B]FUCKING FINALY AN AUSTRALIAN STORE GIVING US THE PROPER PRICING[/B]

If he thinks GST is the main reason why Australians purchase online then he's an idiot. Stuff isn't 10% cheaper over the net, it's not even 50% cheaper. There's shit you can buy here that's 4x what it costs online, and it will still probably arrive just as fast if not faster. Retail stores in Australia are a fucking joke.

I love you Harvey.

[QUOTE=Noth;33842480]These are console games, not russian product keys[/QUOTE] oh well there's your problem

When I actually buy games I want them on time, so I won't buy from here. Unless they make a physical shop that imports them early.

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;33841334]You know you're seriously bored for competition when you start a website to rival your own stores.[/QUOTE] Best Buy bought out Future Shop in Canada, but still forbids Future Shop employees from shopping at Best Buy.

Some of these are cheaper than what I can get You damned Aussies and you're cheap games!!

Im still just going to buy all my games from Dungeon Crawl, the usually sell new releases for $40 - $60

[QUOTE=Zeke129;33844879]Some of these are cheaper than what I can get You damned Aussies and you're cheap games!![/QUOTE] Sorry what? [img]http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/WhatTheNovar/b21bf331e7ad048b91063d8940553a22.png?t=1324569816[/img]

[QUOTE=Novangel;33844995]Sorry what? [img]http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/WhatTheNovar/b21bf331e7ad048b91063d8940553a22.png?t=1324569816[/img][/QUOTE] Apparently Australians can't detect sarcasm even when it's slathered with multiple exclamation marks and spelling errors either

[QUOTE=Zeke129;33845239]Apparently Australians can't detect sarcasm even when it's slathered with multiple exclamation marks and spelling errors either[/QUOTE] Hard to read upside down text, jeez.

[QUOTE=Novangel;33845279]Hard to read upside down text, jeez.[/QUOTE] Shit, I forgot, sorry. How could I be so insensitive

[QUOTE=Zeke129;33845636]Shit, I forgot, sorry. How could I be so insensitive[/QUOTE] It's fine, most of us learn at a young age how to read upside down

I was born upside down, So im used to it.

Gotta love Harvey Norman. That's where I got my TV.

"PC GAMES -AVAILABLE SOON" I guess thats good for aussies.