Why are consoles cheaper in the US? - BBC explains - Polidicks

[QUOTE=person11;41011998]Is it not understood that higher taxes are good as long as they are matched by better and more social services? I would be fine paying 700 for a console if I could get higher education and healthcare for free. It would be a fair trade off.[/QUOTE] Come down to South America and find out why giving the government a ton of tax money only works if they know how to use it! We have free college and healthcare. Everything else is shit.

[QUOTE=Lazzars;41011844][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/VwshyOT.jpg[/IMG] a little perspective[/QUOTE] I'm a little surprised at how close those numbers are, actually.

They got caught doing this with Windows 8 I think, charging the exactly the same price but just replaced a $ with a £. Frankly I'm tired of how they just get away with it, I want to complain to someone but I don't really know where to go about this.

There are a couple of factors in the high price: -Exchange rates are not 'precise'. You've all probably heard about how the cost of food is so high in the UK, that's one example of things that don't necessarily convert in cost according to the exchange. Electronics are one thing that is more expensive than the exchange rate would suggest. -UK VAT is unreal. Easily a 20% (or sometimes more) tax on importation. -If a system is being developed in the US, then even if the parts are being made in China, it'll cost more to send it anywhere but the US. -Because they can. And because people will buy it.

[QUOTE=RandomGamer342;41010446]Someone should compare norway's prices with this 50% VAT on electronics + 25%~ other tax payments is fun, and some things even get more than double the markup compared to american pricing :suicide:[/QUOTE] In Norway the PS4 costs 1039$ :v: Over twice the amount of how much it is sold for in the US.

[QUOTE=CommanderPT;41010457]The PS4 costs close to $700 in Sweden and that is very cheap compared to the $1000 the PS3 was. Then again we have 25% sales tax here. But on the other hand I don't have to pay any money to attend Uni and I have free healthcare so I don't mind. Also no gun violence. :v:[/QUOTE] Um, excuse me? Was that pointless cheap shot called for, or are you just wanting to be a jackass and make people mad?

Norway - 1039$ US - 399$ UK - 546$ [editline]13th June 2013[/editline] my merge

That's still an estimated price for Norway, don't think they've updated it yet. They're still waiting for price negotiations with Sony I believe.

[QUOTE=Xavith;41012992]That's still an estimated price for Norway, don't think they've updated it yet. They're still waiting for price negotiations with Sony I believe.[/QUOTE] Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 cost around the same thing when they were new. Hell, a brand new PS3 in Norway is the same price of a new PS4 in the US.

[QUOTE=PredGD;41013027]Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 cost around the same thing when they were new. Hell, a brand new PS3 in Norway is the same price of a new PS4 in the US.[/QUOTE] :v: Wow seriously? I mean I was considering checking out how much it would cost, to have someone buy the console in the US, with shipping + taxes for importing it. As it might have been cheaper than the 399€. If it'll be like 800-1000USD, then screw that :v:

Pretty much everything is cheaper in US, nuff said.

[QUOTE=person11;41011998]Is it not understood that higher taxes are good as long as they are matched by better and more social services? I would be fine paying 700 for a console if I could get higher education and healthcare for free. It would be a fair trade off.[/QUOTE] too bad it will never happen in America because everyone has to save up for their yacht to take to that lake they don't live near

[QUOTE=Lazzars;41011844][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/VwshyOT.jpg[/IMG] a little perspective[/QUOTE] Only 68 hours? I made some calculations and it turns out you need 300 hours in Poland. Yeah, gotta love living here.

[QUOTE=fishyfish777;41010361][img]http://imgkk.com/i/78-x.jpg[/img] TIL the US doesn't have sales tax [editline]f[/editline] Or does the UK have municipal / provincial sales taxes like the US does in most states?[/QUOTE] Sales tax is determined by the state I think, it's never very much though, my state is %7.125. South Dakota has no sales tax. Internet purchases also have no sales tax except in a couple states.

I always thought it had something to do with shipping and handling.

[QUOTE=ben1066;41011936]Yes but any skilled work is normally at more than minimum wage so...[/QUOTE] Noe everyone is capable of skilled work, and many of those who are cannot find it.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;41018051]Noe everyone is capable of skilled work, and many of those who are cannot find it.[/QUOTE] I live in a suburb with nothing but Retail, Restaurants, and other bullshit. I couldn't find an IT job to save my life. Best buy doesn't count because the bastards never call me.

[QUOTE=Lazzars;41011844][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/VwshyOT.jpg[/IMG] a little perspective[/QUOTE] Note that the minimum wage in Norway is around double the UK minimum wage, so if the console is double the price, the hours worked would be the same

It might be 68 hours at minimum wage, but you're not exactly going to put the entire 68 hours of wages directly into it, are you? You've got bills to pay and other things that need spending on.

[QUOTE=Reds;41018344]It might be 68 hours at minimum wage, but you're not exactly going to put the entire 68 hours of wages directly into it, are you? You've got bills to pay and other things that need spending on.[/QUOTE] Yes you are? even it takes a year to save it's still the equivalent of 68 hours work

[QUOTE=matt.ant;41018356]Yes you are? even it takes a year to save it's still the equivalent of 68 hours work[/QUOTE] I phrased it poorly. Meaning it'll still be a lot of saving. where was my point again

[QUOTE=Lambadvanced;41012121]Oh my, that's embarrassing.[/QUOTE] in comparison we have to work 167 hours at minimum wage in portugal

[QUOTE=Derp Y. Mail;41018043]I always thought it had something to do with shipping and handling.[/QUOTE] it all comes under logistics

whoa whoa whoa. hold the phone here. what the hell kind of an expression is "pieces of kit"

If the PS4 is how I've heard it is (same hardware worldwide, normal ATX cable for power and PSU takes in 100-240V), if I decide to buy the damn thing, I might look into importing one from the US.

The problem with importing is good old region lock. But since it's x86 architecture, I expect full hacks on everything quite soon after release.

[QUOTE=GoldenGnome;41019211]whoa whoa whoa. hold the phone here. what the hell kind of an expression is "pieces of kit"[/QUOTE] You've never heard that expression before?

At least it'll be the same price in Canada, $399 for the PS4, but then Canada has a 5% federal tax added on at point of sale, and the provinces have their own taxes, with Alberta and the territories having no provincial tax and Nova Scotia and Quebec having the highest at 10% additional taxes, for a total of 15%. Ontario has an 8% additional tax, for a total of 13%

[QUOTE=SEKCobra;41022328]The problem with importing is good old region lock. But since it's x86 architecture, I expect full hacks on everything quite soon after release.[/QUOTE] ps4 is region free

[QUOTE=AugustBurnsRed;41018000]Sales tax is determined by the state I think, it's never very much though, my state is %7.125. [b]South Dakota has no sales tax[/b]. Internet purchases also have no sales tax except in a couple states.[/QUOTE] As a South Dakotan, that's unequivocally false. Every transaction in our state has a 6% sales tax applied to it.