Why Is Skyrim So Much More Expensive in the US? : V - Skyrim

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:47 am

Well, us Europeans have normally gotten the short stick when it has come to a lot of other games, in both release dates and prices

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:58 am

For an advlt (above the age of 20) the minimum wage in Australia is $15.15, according to Fair Work Australia anyway.

Depending on the industry. I worked in a metal factory for 3 years (2008-2010) and i was getting paid between $11.15 (when i was 19) to $14.35 (22 when i left)

i knew some people my age that weren't even getting THOSE rates, like my mate who was 21 and getting $12.75.

And yes, i live in Australia, Adelaide in fact. Did you also know that Wages vary from State to State. Like in my Company, A Laborer from Melbourne will get just shy of $30/hour while i'm getting $25.75/hour.

Basic principle is, Avoid Award Rates (They can lower your hourly rate for things like Annual Leave) and IMPORT EVERYTHING FROM AMERICA, much cheaper in the long run.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:09 am

Brits get it cheap. The rest of Europe gets to pay €60 usually, which is $80. So you have nothing to complain about.

» Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:16 pm

Why are prices on the steam store numerically identical between the U.S.A. and Europe, meaning that due to exchange rates Europeans have to pay a significantly higher amount?

It's the way the world works :shrug:

» Sun Oct 16, 2011 11:51 pm

Skyrim is an exception to a trend of charging everything in Europe more than it costs in U.S.A.

Check this out: iPhone 4S price for the U.S. is 199 dollars while in Europe it costs 630 euros.

American price:
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=MTc3NzA1NTU
German price:
http://store.apple.com/de/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone

With the exchange rate,630 euros are worth 874 US dollars.

Does that makes any sense to you ?

» Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:58 pm

It's swings and round'a'bouts. We pay a lot more for consoles and the like. It also has a lot to do with the economy and the rate of the Dollar. I don't know what it was back then but I bet that $60 back in 2006 (when the 360 was released) is completely different to what it is now in ￡'s yet games will always be $60 for you and ￡40 for us.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:29 am

Competition certainly helps. Amazon.co.uk in particular has to compete with Play.com- a rival, internet sales company based in Jersey (a veritable http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey#Taxation). Because there is no VAT to be paid, only a minimal sales tax, and import duties rarely apply, prices for British consumers can be markedly lower and other companies will often sharply reduce their prices to remain competitive.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:46 am

Look at this.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004G5YW5Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

now look at this.

http://www.amazon.com/Elder-Scrolls-V-Skyrim-Pc/dp/B004HYIAPM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1318744597&sr=8-3

Both are the PC versions of Skyrim. Yet, why is the American version so much more expensive?

UK version = ￡27.89
If you convert the pounds to dollar value, the UK version comes out to $43.8514. What gives?

Why do Americans have to pay $59.99 for this?

Probably because every US citizen have a dept of proximity 50.000 USD? You guys have a [censored] economy right now. I cant think off an other answer. http://www.usdebtclock.org/

I just buyed Skyrim for 299 SEK. Thats about.. let me see. about €33 and $49

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 5:33 am

Well, unless we're comparing minimum wage employees. An Australian making minimum wage has to work about 13 hours in order to make $200. An American making minimum wage has to work about 20.5 hours to make $150.

The cost of living in Australia is greater than the US.

» Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:13 pm

It has less to do with value of currency and more to do with distribution. Distribution and import/export taxes determine the prices of everything in the world. Bethesda doesn't have a printing/distribution center in Australia therefor it has the highest prices due to import taxes and foreign distribution to individual retailers. Europe is small enough to be covered by a single printing/distribution center and all shipments can be done on the ground so it's the cheapest.

» Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:30 pm

No, we're not a colony anymore. We haven't been a colony for over 100 years. We are a sovereign nation.

Also, to all of you americans, just because i feel I have to make this point. Some of my friends went to california a while ago, and it shocked me what they thought about canada. Canadians do not have a weird accent, and we live pretty much the exact same as americans do, we just have a little bit more space and cleaner air. I'm only saying this because once an american actually asked me if Canadians lived in log cabins...

Log cabins?! Ha! Every TRUE american knows Canadians live in igloos! :evil:

:hehe:

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:03 am

Also, to all of you americans, just because i feel I have to make this point. Some of my friends went to california a while ago, and it shocked me what they thought about canada. Canadians do not have a weird accent, and we live pretty much the exact same as americans do, we just have a little bit more space and cleaner air. I'm only saying this because once an american actually asked me if Canadians lived in log cabins...

:rofl: Similar experience: I met two Americans (nice guys, but a bit too loud for my tastes) while on holiday in Mexico. As soon as they heard my English accent they asked "Oh my God, do you know the Queen?". I wanted to say yes and play with them a little, but my girlfriend at the time (born in the US, living in Britain) wouldn't let me.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:54 am

The PC games are always cheap over here, its the console games that are expensive.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:31 am

:rofl: Similar experience: I met two Americans (nice guys, but a bit too loud for my tastes) while on holiday in Mexico. As soon as they heard my English accent they asked "Oh my God, do you know the Queen?". I wanted to say yes and play with them a little, but my girlfriend at the time (born in the US, living in Britain) wouldn't let me.

I hate people like that, because they make the whole thing work in reverse. They spout their nonsense, show their idiocy, and now one more foreigner thinks all Americans are dumbasses. I mean, the whole world already thinks it, might as well just wear the stereotype, right?

» Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:51 pm

it's a simple matter of exchange the american dollar is worth about half of the UK pound and less in some countries

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:12 am

Screw that, why do us Canadians always get shafted with American prices?!? Were a damn colony(still? I think), I want some UK game prices!

No you are not a colony.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:51 am

Here in Finland:

Ce (PC) : 129,90 € = 178,33971 USD
Normal (PC): 32.40 € = 44.48196 USD

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:21 am

uk money is worth allot more as i said before actually most things are cheaper in america than here in the UK

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:12 am

Skyrim CE in $ = $150
Skyrim CE in ￡ = ￡130

Conversion = $150.00 USD = ￡94.81 GBP
Exchange rate: 0.632100
Rate valid as of: 16/10/2011

Conversion = ￡130.00 GBP = $205.66 USD
Exchange rate: 1.582028
Rate valid as of: 16/10/2011

Explain that.

But it's so expensive cause the American economy is going down the crapper.

» Sun Oct 16, 2011 5:12 pm

I hate people like that, because they make the whole thing work in reverse. They spout their nonsense, show their idiocy, and now one more foreigner thinks all Americans are dumbasses. I mean, the whole world already thinks it, might as well just wear the stereotype, right?

I think it's better that people in other countries use stereotypes for Americans. It just allows me to figure out who the stupid/annoying ones are right away.

» Sun Oct 16, 2011 5:56 pm

I hate people like that, because they make the whole thing work in reverse. They spout their nonsense, show their idiocy, and now one more foreigner thinks all Americans are dumbasses. I mean, the whole world already thinks it, might as well just wear the stereotype, right?

Nah, I don't think all Americans are stupid. In fact I've met some incredibly intelligent and articulate ones. It's just that generally they are quite introverted and ignorant of what goes on in the rest of the world. Like the old joke says: How many Americans does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Just one. He holds it up to the socket and waits for the whole world to revolve around him...

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:51 am

Skyrim CE in $ = $150
Skyrim CE in ￡ = ￡130

Conversion = $150.00 USD = ￡94.81 GBP
Exchange rate: 0.632100
Rate valid as of: 16/10/2011

Conversion = ￡130.00 GBP = $205.66 USD
Exchange rate: 1.582028
Rate valid as of: 16/10/2011

Explain that.

That's easy. Disks and books can be printed in Europe but the statue is being made in the US and must be shipped overseas and they are not light.

» Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:19 pm

you people know.....you dont kave to order the game from your respective country, you can order it from where ever it is the cheapest....duh!

I ordered mine with a price of 32 € and no shipment cost

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:46 am

Reason is simple really. Lately prices for games have started to drop (and by quite a bit) in Europe overall, for the simple reason that people stopped buying as many games.

If demand goes down, so does the prices.

» Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:28 pm

I was born in the USA and raised in the USA and to say the least, I hate this country and am embarrassed to live here.

Then get out. I'm tired of all you whiny, unpatriotic, annoying kids living here. "hate america" "america svcks" I don't want to waste my tax money for people like you.