Ripping off Australia

Roland Lock · 08-04-2011, 04:10 PM

Just pre-ordered both Rage and Skyrim delivered to my door for less than one of them is on steam. Would have happily purchased through steam at $50 USD each but if you continue to overcharge will just purchase elsewhere, and actually get a physical copy, with bonus physical copies, delivered from the other side of the planet!!!

So sick of this bull♥♥♥♥ and jarateed of at Bethesda in general. These guys along with a few other publishers are dogs and should have a good hard look at themselves!

Do the maths guys, would you have made more off me if I'd bought through steam at $50USD??? even $60USD??? at $90USD its a complete ripp off!

Now remember the following is in AUD not USD

Product Unit Price Qty Total Status
[PCG1190] Rage Anarchy Edition Game PC $39.99 1 $39.99 Processing
[PCG1183] The Elder Scrolls V 5 Skyrim Game + Premium Cloth Map PC $42.99 1 $42.99 Processing
Sub Total $82.98
Delivery Charge (FREE Delivery) $0.00
Order Total $82.98

Thats for BOTH!

Camerooni · 08-04-2011, 06:16 PM

It's a sorry state of affairs.. our retail prices are stupid. And instead of reducing prices to competitive levels (and selling more) our retailers would like to keep charging the prices that they used to (as the customer is 'accustomed' to it)..

So instead of becoming more competitive with international imports and online purchases they've decided they should lobby the government to ask for changes to import laws etc. to protect their currently unworking business model. This results in pressure from Australian retailers to Australian wings of International Publishers, and them hiking their prices up on Steam.. which is WRONG - as it's an import, and we have a FTA with the States which mean's that they can't lock us off from order from the US store.. but they do anyway.

For that to happen retail sales have to pretty much die in Australia - and people aren't going to do that.. I've already assessed my situation and decided that I will import all console games from the UK and PC a combination of UK retail and digital downloads - you know.. at least until they successfully break up the internet into completely separate regions - and big business would totally be up for that.. to 'better support their regional customers'.. which is just code for MOAR MONEY.

But yes.. no money to Bethesda from me on Steam.. I got fallout new vegas uk retail at launch (arrive a week after release) for < half the price of local retail which was cheaper still than the price on steam.. Good rule of thumb is to only buy games which have a usd price that matches the states.. and/or buy smaller independent games who could frankly do with the money more, and don't rip off their customer base because they sort of need them, and they remember what it's like to be a gamer buying games (not some marketing/finance weenie in a big conglomerate who has never and will never play games)..

slash rant.

happyhero1 · 08-05-2011, 12:08 AM

I agree $90 USD for a digital game on steam is a rip off. That's why I buy it elsewhere or just wait for the game to drop below $40.

New I was willing to pay $60 USD at the most. I could buy from G 2 Play or key store but I will get from overseas or wait for it to go on special and then steam loses money because I won't be paying new price.. Steam seems to be the dearest Digital distribution site around.

It has been almost 2 years since I stopped paying new release prices.

$60 max would be fair but $90 is over the top.

Bain · 08-05-2011, 12:58 AM

yea i just logged on and saw the steam adverts for these games. $90 is just insane and i dont know anyone on my steam friends list that would pay that much for it.
i know at least half the people on my list will get that game from other sources. thats a heap of lost sales.
i dont buy games on steam anymore unless they have a sale, and half the time the game is over a year old and can be found in the bargain bin in a retail store for the same or less than the steam price.

Roland Lock · 08-05-2011, 06:09 AM

Thats spot on! I saw New vegas on steam and went into a rant about not buying it until it was a bargain bin product. Guess what it was still USD $79 and I got it for $15 in a bargain bin in EB Games.

It was even a steam works game so I still have it in my steam works account! So they paid their share to steam, they paid their share to EB and I got it for $15! How much did they get from that? How much would it have been if I paid $50USD for it (which I would have been more than happy to on release!)

Per haps if these publishers removed their craniums from their postern cavities they could not only make some money but also create some positive brand recognition.

Making a good product is not enough when the product has a street dealer on every corner. Pull you head in guys!

Sublym385 · 08-05-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland Lock

It was even a steam works game so I still have it in my steam works account! So they paid their share to steam, they paid their share to EB and I got it for $15! How much did they get from that? How much would it have been if I paid $50USD for it (which I would have been more than happy to on release!)

Oh nice I didn't know Vegas was a Steam works game, I will have to check out Game and EB as they are both having big sales around my area.

However I am still looking for a way to either buy Skyrim and Rage from the US Store or get someone to gift them to me.

happyhero1 · 08-05-2011, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sublym385

Oh nice I didn't know Vegas was a Steam works game, I will have to check out Game and EB as they are both having big sales around my area.

However I am still looking for a way to either buy Skyrim and Rage from the US Store or get someone to gift them to me.

If I end up buying Skyrim from steam I will use VPN, so I pay USA prices and not Australian Steam Store price of $90. I have never paid more then $60 for a game on steam

Sublym385 · 08-05-2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyhero1

If I end up buying Skyrim from steam I will use VPN, so I pay USA prices and not Australian Steam Store price of $90. I have never paid more then $60 for a game on steam

Wow banned for that

DrMon · 08-06-2011, 09:41 PM

Agreed. This price is nuts. People pay this price at stores because they don't know any better. We literally see both prices on the net right next to each other on any forum - and they expect us to just pay the difference.

Not now, not ever.

Roland Lock · 08-14-2011, 07:06 PM

I just dont know why the steam team lets it happen. They allow the publishers to fix the price to keep retailers happy then the retailers drop the price almost straight away and steams prices end up being 40% dearer (or more).

Steam must be losing massive sales because of this. If they can kick games out like crysis etc for DLC purchase issues then I cant see why they don't just tell publishers same price for everyone or we pull the game.

scott1974 · 10-06-2011, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sublym385

Wow banned for that

The mods here ban people for kicks and giggles I think. They ban people that mention sites that you can get the game legally for half price that steam sells for for double the price.

Booke · 11-22-2011, 06:37 PM

This is a good read.

It basically boils down to publishers getting as much cash as they can due to draconian laws and practices regarding digital media in Australia. Is it fair that you have to pay nearly double to download the exact same data that I am, in Canada? No. Neither is it Valve's fault as they're bound to the price the publishers give them.

sjvan0 · 12-05-2011, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Booke

This is a good read.

It basically boils down to publishers getting as much cash as they can due to draconian laws and practices regarding digital media in Australia. Is it fair that you have to pay nearly double to download the exact same data that I am, in Canada? No. Neither is it Valve's fault as they're bound to the price the publishers give them.

This is quite an interesting read too

magmarock 2 · 01-04-2012, 04:58 AM

This should be illegal. I feel like I've walked into a store and am being charged more because I am black. (I'm not actually black but you get the idea.)

08-04-2011, 04:10 PM	#1
Roland Lock Join Date: Jun 2009 Reputation: 10 Posts: 201	Ripping off Australia Just pre-ordered both Rage and Skyrim delivered to my door for less than one of them is on steam. Would have happily purchased through steam at $50 USD each but if you continue to overcharge will just purchase elsewhere, and actually get a physical copy, with bonus physical copies, delivered from the other side of the planet!!! So sick of this bull♥♥♥♥ and jarateed of at Bethesda in general. These guys along with a few other publishers are dogs and should have a good hard look at themselves! Do the maths guys, would you have made more off me if I'd bought through steam at $50USD??? even $60USD??? at $90USD its a complete ripp off! Now remember the following is in AUD not USD Product Unit Price Qty Total Status [PCG1190] Rage Anarchy Edition Game PC $39.99 1 $39.99 Processing [PCG1183] The Elder Scrolls V 5 Skyrim Game + Premium Cloth Map PC $42.99 1 $42.99 Processing Sub Total $82.98 Delivery Charge (FREE Delivery) $0.00 Order Total $82.98 Thats for BOTH!

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08-04-2011, 06:16 PM	#2
Camerooni Join Date: Jan 2008 Reputation: 2 Posts: 132	It's a sorry state of affairs.. our retail prices are stupid. And instead of reducing prices to competitive levels (and selling more) our retailers would like to keep charging the prices that they used to (as the customer is 'accustomed' to it).. So instead of becoming more competitive with international imports and online purchases they've decided they should lobby the government to ask for changes to import laws etc. to protect their currently unworking business model. This results in pressure from Australian retailers to Australian wings of International Publishers, and them hiking their prices up on Steam.. which is WRONG - as it's an import, and we have a FTA with the States which mean's that they can't lock us off from order from the US store.. but they do anyway. For that to happen retail sales have to pretty much die in Australia - and people aren't going to do that.. I've already assessed my situation and decided that I will import all console games from the UK and PC a combination of UK retail and digital downloads - you know.. at least until they successfully break up the internet into completely separate regions - and big business would totally be up for that.. to 'better support their regional customers'.. which is just code for MOAR MONEY. But yes.. no money to Bethesda from me on Steam.. I got fallout new vegas uk retail at launch (arrive a week after release) for < half the price of local retail which was cheaper still than the price on steam.. Good rule of thumb is to only buy games which have a usd price that matches the states.. and/or buy smaller independent games who could frankly do with the money more, and don't rip off their customer base because they sort of need them, and they remember what it's like to be a gamer buying games (not some marketing/finance weenie in a big conglomerate who has never and will never play games).. slash rant.

08-05-2011, 12:08 AM	#3
happyhero1 Banned Join Date: May 2011 Reputation: 13 Posts: 125	I agree $90 USD for a digital game on steam is a rip off. That's why I buy it elsewhere or just wait for the game to drop below $40. New I was willing to pay $60 USD at the most. I could buy from G 2 Play or key store but I will get from overseas or wait for it to go on special and then steam loses money because I won't be paying new price.. Steam seems to be the dearest Digital distribution site around. It has been almost 2 years since I stopped paying new release prices. $60 max would be fair but $90 is over the top.

08-05-2011, 12:58 AM	#4
Bain Join Date: Apr 2006 Reputation: 7 Posts: 678	yea i just logged on and saw the steam adverts for these games. $90 is just insane and i dont know anyone on my steam friends list that would pay that much for it. i know at least half the people on my list will get that game from other sources. thats a heap of lost sales. i dont buy games on steam anymore unless they have a sale, and half the time the game is over a year old and can be found in the bargain bin in a retail store for the same or less than the steam price.

08-05-2011, 06:09 AM	#5
Roland Lock Join Date: Jun 2009 Reputation: 10 Posts: 201	Thats spot on! I saw New vegas on steam and went into a rant about not buying it until it was a bargain bin product. Guess what it was still USD $79 and I got it for $15 in a bargain bin in EB Games. It was even a steam works game so I still have it in my steam works account! So they paid their share to steam, they paid their share to EB and I got it for $15! How much did they get from that? How much would it have been if I paid $50USD for it (which I would have been more than happy to on release!) Per haps if these publishers removed their craniums from their postern cavities they could not only make some money but also create some positive brand recognition. Making a good product is not enough when the product has a street dealer on every corner. Pull you head in guys!

08-06-2011, 09:41 PM	#9
DrMon Join Date: Oct 2009 Reputation: 5 Posts: 42	Agreed. This price is nuts. People pay this price at stores because they don't know any better. We literally see both prices on the net right next to each other on any forum - and they expect us to just pay the difference. Not now, not ever.

08-14-2011, 07:06 PM	#10
Roland Lock Join Date: Jun 2009 Reputation: 10 Posts: 201	I just dont know why the steam team lets it happen. They allow the publishers to fix the price to keep retailers happy then the retailers drop the price almost straight away and steams prices end up being 40% dearer (or more). Steam must be losing massive sales because of this. If they can kick games out like crysis etc for DLC purchase issues then I cant see why they don't just tell publishers same price for everyone or we pull the game.

11-22-2011, 06:37 PM	#12
Booke Join Date: Jul 2011 Reputation: 52 Posts: 494	This is a good read. It basically boils down to publishers getting as much cash as they can due to draconian laws and practices regarding digital media in Australia. Is it fair that you have to pay nearly double to download the exact same data that I am, in Canada? No. Neither is it Valve's fault as they're bound to the price the publishers give them.

01-04-2012, 04:58 AM	#14
magmarock 2 Join Date: May 2010 Reputation: 0 Posts: 43	This should be illegal. I feel like I've walked into a store and am being charged more because I am black. (I'm not actually black but you get the idea.)