pricing anomalies

[V. Soma]

As we learned it, pricing of Civ5 is as follows:

normal edition: 50 USD / 50 EUR / 30 GBP

Deluxe ed.: 60 USD / 60 EUR / 40 GBP

Why is this inequality???

On equal terms, it should be sg. like:

Normal edition:
50 USD? then: 38 EUR / 33 GBP
50 EUR? then: 65 USD / 43 GBP
30 GBP? then: 45 USD / 35 EUR

Deluxe edition:
60 USD? then: 46 EUR / 40 GBP
60 EUR? then: 78 USD / 52 GBP
40 GBP? then: 60 USD / 46 EUR

Why do they make me pay more money in ca. 12-15 EUR value than the others???

 

[Dale]

Australia:

Std: $79.95 USD
Dlx: $89.95 USD

Explain why we pay $30 USD more? Not like they have "transport" costs.

 

[Ahriman]

Hey, who knows what the Euro/Pound/Dollar exchange rates will look like by ~October....

Look how they've shifted in the last 5 months. http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/EUR/graph120.html

 

[Trias]

Hey, who knows what the Euro/Pound/Dollar exchange rates will look like by ~October....

Look how they've shifted in the last 5 months. http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/EUR/graph120.html

And with the whole Mediterranean going bankrupt, it is likely to change a lot more.

Edit: I also assume that the European prices include VAT. (I think they have to in the Euro zone) This accounts for about 20% price difference. Although, it leaves the GBP price a complete mystery.

 

[ori]

I'd assume that they have independent distribution divisions for the €, UK and US market and that they set the pricing for each division separately.

 

[CTH]

But can I buy a US version and run it in europe?

 

[Mercade]

But can I buy a US version and run it in europe?

Yes, you can buy the game in US (e.g. from Amazon) and run it in Europe, but not through Steam. They have some IP tracking that doesn't allow you to switch currencies. How they expect to sell the game at inflated prices on-line while you can buy at regular prices from e.g. Mighty Ape is beyond me.

Fortunately there are many other ways to buy it in your local country. See this thread with preorder options where I'm collecting all confirmed preorder sites.

Mind you, as September approaches, we'll see plenty more sites offering preorders at favourable rates. Many don't start offering preorders until 1-2 months before the release.

 

[Old MacDonald]

Edit: I also assume that the European prices include VAT. (I think they have to in the Euro zone) This accounts for about 20% price difference. Although, it leaves the GBP price a complete mystery.

In my country, which is not a part of the EU, I am not supposed to pay VAT on digital purchases (according to law). But the price for me is the same. We don't use Euro in my country either, but I have to pay in Euro on Steam.

So I'll definitely not buy this on Steam. Retail copies are cheaper, and I'll get a manual as well.

 

[Chalks]

If the online currency conversions are problematic, I suggest buying at a retail outlet.

 

[barrythepirate]

i dont see why 2K should charge aussies more to get CIV V especially when there is up to a $20+ difference to the US when we are almost $1:$1 i can understand a few extra $ either way but we're getting a raw deal compared to the rest of the world. I have sent an email to 2K asking about it and i would recommend any aussies to bring it up with 2K as well!!

 

[HamTard]

Yes, you can buy the game in US (e.g. from Amazon) and run it in Europe, but not through Steam. They have some IP tracking that doesn't allow you to switch currencies. How they expect to sell the game at inflated prices on-line while you can buy at regular prices from e.g. Mighty Ape is beyond me.

Fortunately there are many other ways to buy it in your local country. See this thread with preorder options where I'm collecting all confirmed preorder sites.

Mind you, as September approaches, we'll see plenty more sites offering preorders at favourable rates. Many don't start offering preorders until 1-2 months before the release.

There are threads on many gaming forums that have Australians who gift USD$50 via PayPal to an American, who then buys a USD$50 game on Steam as a gift to that Australian, since Steam allows you to gift games across regions.

 

[PieceOfMind]

There are threads on many gaming forums that have Australians who gift USD$50 via PayPal to an American, who then buys a USD$50 game on Steam as a gift to that Australian, since Steam allows you to gift games across regions.

Something makes me doubt that is legal. Why wouldn't every person in Australia buy the game that way if they knew about it? Surely there is a reason for the price difference, however unfair that reason may be.

Still, handy to know so thanks for the tip.

 

[HamTard]

Something makes me doubt that is legal. Why wouldn't every person in Australia buy the game that way if they knew about it? Surely there is a reason for the price difference, however unfair that reason may be.

Still, handy to know so thanks for the tip.

As long as they allow cross-region gifting on Steam, I don't see how it could be illegal. It's not illegal to PayPal people money either.

The worst that could happen is they stop allowing cross-region gifting (unlikely to happen if they haven't bothered to stop it yet), but they can't retroactively punish people for a new policy so anyone who already did it should be safe.

 

[PieceOfMind]

The worst that could happen is they stop allowing cross-region gifting (unlikely to happen if they haven't bothered to stop it yet), but they can't retroactively punish people for a new policy so anyone who already did it should be safe.

Is there anywhere I can read more about this cross-region gifting? The fact it can happen surprises me. I still can't grasp why there would be different prices in different regions if cross-region gifting was perfectly acceptable.

 

[Senethro]

Doesn't Steam benefit from it since its getting 2 games bought using its service instead of 1?

I've got a German friend who exchanges games with people so he can get the uncut version. The uncut version works in Germany when purchased by non-Germans because apparently the Americans on the German military bases are big gamers.

 

[HamTard]

Is there anywhere I can read more about this cross-region gifting? The fact it can happen surprises me. I still can't grasp why there would be different prices in different regions if cross-region gifting was perfectly acceptable.

I hope posting links to other forums isn't against the rules.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394003

That thread is a dedicated recent thread, and I'm not sure if that thread will catch on, but Steam gifting has been happening in game-specific threads for a very long time.

While I have not personally participated, I have sent a guy $7 using PayPal for a Dawn of War 2 serial key (Steamworks game so it activates with Steam) from someone who bought it for $7 in a UK only sale a while back. For larger purchases, I would suggest trying to find an American friend/relative that you know and trust, just in case.

Doesn't Steam benefit from it since its getting 2 games bought using its service instead of 1?

I've got a German friend who exchanges games with people so he can get the uncut version. The uncut version works in Germany when purchased by non-Germans because apparently the Americans on the German military bases are big gamers.

Only 1 copy of the game is being purchased, the one being gifted. When you go to checkout your cart, it asks if you are buying the game for yourself or gifting it to someone else.

The 2nd biggest reason for Steam gifting, besides saving money due to regional pricing, is to avoid censorship. Germans and Australians can only play the uncensored versions of some games by getting gifted US versions, since their local governments require censorship of games in their region.

 

[Modiga-Disabled]

Things like games have never been equally priced when looking at the exchange rates. Prices are set in each region based on the local market forces. This is nothing new with digital distribution. Countries with populations with a smaller amount of disposable income will typically have things like games sell for a lower price than richer countries. Regional pricing is pretty much a necessity. Otherwise the devs are either forced to sell their games at a low price worldwide and severely cut into their profits (and lower profits ultimately effect the quality of future products) or they're forced to set the price higher than a lot of countries' populations can afford.

That's just a justification for regional pricing. I'm not saying it validates the high prices Australians are always forced to pay or the price differences across regions of similar economic power.

 

[Modiga-Disabled]

Something makes me doubt that is legal. Why wouldn't every person in Australia buy the game that way if they knew about it? Surely there is a reason for the price difference, however unfair that reason may be.

Still, handy to know so thanks for the tip.

The biggest concern would be one of trust between the two parties. If the American buys a gift copy of the game and sends it to the Australian, who adds it to his Steam account with all his other games on, and then the American does a chargeback, things will get very messy. I'm not entirely sure what Valve's current policy is in this situation, but it's not an easy problem to resolve.

 

[RRtexasranger]

I can almost guarantee you that the retail copy will not be less expensive. If you have to pay your VAT in retail, AND pay for packaging and all of that mess, what makes you think it will be any cheaper than buying it through Steam.

Steam is known for their sales, the game is likely to go on at least a small sale a little after release.

 

[HamTard]

I can almost guarantee you that the retail copy will not be less expensive. If you have to pay your VAT in retail, AND pay for packaging and all of that mess, what makes you think it will be any cheaper than buying it through Steam.

Steam is known for their sales, the game is likely to go on at least a small sale a little after release.

New releases usually don't go on sale for more than 25% within 6 months, but that's still a good deal if you are willing to wait months to save $12. However, every Christmas there are amazing deals on games, and sometimes major new releases go on sale up to 33% off.

Steam doesn't charge Canadians tax, and it charges us the same price as Americans in USD, so it's almost always cheaper for me to buy games on Steam.