PSP pricing reflects new exchange rate realities?

[phat]

IGN reports that the Canadian price for the PSP value pack will be C$300, which is only 1.2x the US sticker price of US$250, or pretty well the current exchange rate. (Previously, we've been seeing Canadian prices that were 1.5x US sticker.) So, Europeans take heart, Sony seems to be tracking the new exchange rates, and anticipating the US dollar remaining depressed for a few years.

 

[Guden Oden]

You have sales tax in Canada too, right? So that would add some on the price as well.

 

[Kill_Jade]

it comes to about $345

 

[hey69]

that would mean 235 euro 21 % Tax included in belgium for a valuepack
rumour goes for a 250euro pricepoint over here tax included , that's not so a small difference if you compare the launch ps2 prices

 

[sytaylor]

No chance of it being £99 then huh... PANTS

I'm still holding out for £129 with a game thrown in...

 

[hey69]

99£ that's stretching it i think. if you calculate that with VAT incl. that means a lower price then japan

 

[phat]

You have sales tax in Canada too, right? So that would add some on the price as well.

Yes, Canadians have sales taxes that aren't included in the sticker price. But that's the case in the states as well, so the comparison is pretty even. (That said, sales taxes in Canada are generally higher, varying from 7% to 15%, depending on the province.)

 

[cthellis42]

Well, all things considered, I believe it's because they want to make some extra money on the demand from the US launch, as--in what's almost a first--they're selling a console for MORE here than they are in Japan. And seemingly without the cheaper non-bundled option.

Since they usually are lenient on US pricing and soak others, the difference will seem a lot less this time. Now they want to soak us all. At least with their initial stocks.

 

[phat]

Well, all things considered, I believe it's because they want to make some extra money on the demand from the US launch, as--in what's almost a first--they're selling a console for MORE here than they are in Japan. And seemingly without the cheaper non-bundled option.

Since they usually are lenient on US pricing and soak others, the difference will seem a lot less this time. Now they want to soak us all. At least with their initial stocks.

The value pack in Japan is 26,050 Yen, or US$248 at today's conversion. I don't see Americans getting soaked, except by the low value of their own currency. The US dollar is expected to decline even further, so US$250 may actually end up being cheaper than the price of the value pack in Japan!

 

[cthellis42]

The value pack in Japan is 26,050 Yen, or US$248 at today's conversion.

According to Sony: 24,800. (And 19,800 for the base unit.) Amazon indeed has them priced higher, but I think that's with tax added in. (And obviously you want to compare base values pre-tax.)

Not to mention the price is usually much more favorable. For instance the PS1 launched at a dollar equivalent of $399 in Japan, and the PS2 launched at $370. (It was actually the same yen price, but different dollar values at those dates. That same amount is $381 today.)

That's why it's a very different situation now.