Can Harmonix answer Canadians getting ripped-off?

[J-Rock]

Harmonix, I would really like an answer or if you're unable to provide one at least I would like to be directed to people who can answer. From the PSN:

I'll make it clear. With a 3-song pack:
It's 5,49$ U.S. (4,99$ canadian) but they charge us 6,49$ canadian (7,14$ U.S.)
So we hand up paying 1,65$ more if we were using U.S. currency, 1.50$ more with canadian currency. All in all a rip-off but canadians are used to beind ripped-off. We're paying 30% more than U.S. residents for 3-songs pack downloads.

It's worse for a single song download thought:
It's 1,99$ U.S. (1,80$ canadian) but they charge us 2,99$ canadian (3,29$ U.S.)
So we hand up paying 1,30$ more if we were using U.S. currency, 1.19$ more with canadian currency. We're paying 65% more than U.S. residents for single song downloads.

But there is a bright side. When buying a 3-song pack, U.S. residents save 48 cents, the 3-song packs being sold 5,49$ and 3 song being sold for a total of 5,97$.

Canadians, because they're getting so screwed actually save a lot more on 3-song packs since they're sold 6,49$ and 3 songs would cost 8,97$! We're saving 2,48$! See, getting ripped-off does have advantages!

Seriously Harmonix, can I get an answer here or at least be directed to who I should make this complaint about blatantly ripping off canadian customers?

[Eman311]

Maybe they'll reduce the price when the game is actually released in canada.

[JackBNimble]

You can't say Sh!t untill the game is released!Then they can adjust the prices accordingly.And I am sure that they will!

[King_Nuthin]

Your dollar has historically been worth less than ours and just because our dollar has gone into free fall doesn't mean they should drop a price that was set up based on historical values and any extra trade costs. Just be glad you aren't in Europe where the Pound and Euro Dollar have historically been worth more than our dollar and yet they routinely pay the same amount in their currency.

[J-Rock]

Maybe they'll reduce the price when the game is actually released in canada.
They won't. It's the standard way of doing things. That's why I want to know to whom I must directly address this for me and every other canadians to be heard.


You can't say Sh!t untill the game is released!Then they can adjust the prices accordingly.And I am sure that they will!
Just go back under your bridge.


Your dollar has historically been worth less than ours and just because our dollar has gone into free fall doesn't mean they should drop a price that was set up based on historical values and any extra trade costs. Just be glad you aren't in Europe where the Pound and Euro Dollar have historically been worth more than our dollar and yet they routinely pay the same amount in their currency.
True. the canadian dollar was usually worth less. Like 10-15 cents less at the top. It cant justify 30% or 65% percent increases in prices. eBay manages to adjust prices for the actual worth of the canadian dollar, why can't Harmonix/EA or Sony? If the canadian dollar continues to be worth more in the next 30 years and it becomes U.S. residents' turn to be ripped-off, will you quietly accept it as being the tradition.?We're not routinely paying the same amount in our currency, we're paying a lot more, I'd settle for paying the same amount in our currency.

[Conner Malvecino]

Unless you're wanting a community discussion, I sincerely suggest that you contact a customer support number for Harmonix. From my experience on discussion boards, you have to make some good noise on a discussion board in order for your topic to make the next Harmonix business bullet points.

Plus, conceptually, you are not being 'ripped' off unless you've actually purchased a product. Currently, you haven't purchased anything yet. There may be some type of 'export' tax that's hidden even though it's an online purchase just to adhere to Federal regulations. I realize were adjacent countries, but the fact remains that US and Canada are indeed different countries and so we can't expect nor assume that terms are going to be same across the board.

[admanimal]

Is all other Canadian DLC sold for fewer points than its U.S. counterpart?

If not, then I don't know why you single out Harmonix and expect them to do it any differently.

If so, then it's reasonable to expect Harmonix to do the same.

[AdamWill]

"extra trade costs"

extra trade costs? for a *downloadable song*? You are having a laugh, aren't you?

[Tarzanman]

Its called 'currency conversion'.... and unless you are some kind of mega-bank with lots of branches in lots of countries then converting from one currency to another is going to cost you money.... which means that HMX has to cover the extra cost of converting Canadian $$ to American $$ since they are based in the USA.

Anyone who's ever used a credit card or changed currency internationally could tell you this.

[admanimal]

Can anyone answer my question about whether all other Canadian DLC is sold for the exact same number of points as it is on the U.S. Marketplace?

[J-Rock]

Is all other Canadian DLC sold for fewer points than its U.S. counterpart?

If not, then I don't know why you single out Harmonix and expect them to do it any differently.

If so, then it's reasonable to expect Harmonix to do the same.
I single out Harmonix because it's the only game I have with which I'm interested downloading additional content. I'm also asking Harmonix to put pressure on Sony and to refer me to where else I need to address the issue to get things done. The DLC is sold at higer price on PSN and and Microsoft points also cost more for canadiians.


Its called 'currency conversion'.... and unless you are some kind of mega-bank with lots of branches in lots of countries then converting from one currency to another is going to cost you money.... which means that HMX has to cover the extra cost of converting Canadian $$ to American $$ since they are based in the USA.

Anyone who's ever used a credit card or changed currency internationally could tell you this.
I doesn't cost any money to convert currencies with eBay. Also, why the different rates among the DLC? Why is there a 30% increase in price for 3-song pack, where you would need to convert more money, than for single song download where you would need to convert less money but have 1 65% increase in price.

No matter how many angles you look at it, canadians are getting screwed. In my opinion, and the videogame industry has to adjust to this, everyone should pay the same thing for DLC. Not, 30% or 65% (eventually 120% if it follows trend) more because of geographical location. EBay manages to do it, why not Microsoft or Sony.

Videogame retailers tend to adjust their prices now (ironically, the software only Rock Band is a few dollars higher in Canada but the bundle is the same price).

[admanimal]

I single out Harmonix because it's the only game I have with which I'm interested downloading additional content. I'm also asking Harmonix to put pressure on Sony and to refer me to where else I need to address the issue to get things done. The DLC is sold at higer price on PSN and and Microsoft points also cost more for canadiians.


I think this is a reasonable complaint, but you might get a better reception if you don't frame your argument as if it is Harmonix's fault that the DLC prices (in points) are consistent across countries.

[J-Rock]

Can anyone answer my question about whether all other Canadian DLC is sold for the exact same number of points as it is on the U.S. Marketplace?
As far as I know, and I might be wrong since I don't have a 360, they're sold for the exact same points but buying points cost more money in Canada.

[admanimal]

As far as I know, and I might be wrong since I don't have a 360, they're sold for the exact same points but buying points cost more money in Canada.

OK, that's what I thought you were saying. I am agreeing that it isn't really fair- but it's probably not Harmonix's fault.

[espher]

Its called 'currency conversion'.... and unless you are some kind of mega-bank with lots of branches in lots of countries then converting from one currency to another is going to cost you money.... which means that HMX has to cover the extra cost of converting Canadian $$ to American $$ since they are based in the USA.

Anyone who's ever used a credit card or changed currency internationally could tell you this.

Anyone who's ever converted currency on a semi-regular basis (hi) can tell you that it's not at this sort of rate.

[AdamWill]

as espher says, in the kind of quantities in play here, the cost for currency conversion is on the order of 1-2%. not...y'know...30%.

j-rock: yes, there is a charge to change money on eBay, effectively. they give you a less advantageous rate than the 'official' rate, just like any currency exchange place does (i.e. if the 'official' rate is 2 dollars to 1 foobar, they'll give you 1.95 dollars for your foobar, or charge you 2.05 dollars if you want to *buy* a foobar).

[MF-PO'd]

Can anyone answer my question about whether all other Canadian DLC is sold for the exact same number of points as it is on the U.S. Marketplace?

On the PSN, Sony basically jacks up everything in the Canadian store. I say Sony because I believe they are to blame here. I think they are profiting the currency differential. It totally irritates me to no end, and I refuse to buy from their store.

As an alternate price example, the Guitar Hero 3 packs are jacked up to $7.25 from $6.25. Their rule of thumb is they like to add a dollar to everything. It's outrageous. I've already sent them an e-mail, and they assured me it would be forwarded to appropriate SCEA management.

I think everyone should do the same - e-mail Sony and/or Microsoft until they stop gouging us.

[municipalblack]

Harmonix isn't setting the prices higher for Canada, Sony is. Look at the price of the game bundle it's the exact same price in the US as it will be in Canada just like the console and other games.

Take a look at everything on the US store and then look on the Canadian store. EVERY single downloadable "item" is priced a dollar more for Canada. Warhawk might be the exception as I haven't checked it. But other content like GH3 songs packs, RB songs and song packs, Motorstorm add on's, etc. are all priced a dollar higher then the US version of the PSN.

I've emailed Corporate on the US site with this:

I would like to know why the current prices on the Canadian PSN store do not at all represent the current USD to CDN exchange rates. Playstation consoles and playstation games have all been adjusted accordingly over the past month and yet all content on the PSN store has not. For example the newly released expansion pack for Motorstorm is priced at $5.99 in the US and is $6.99 in Canada. How exactly does Sony justify a 16.7% price increase for Canada when the exchange rates are in our favor by 6.8% (as of closing markets on 08/11/2008). Digital content should be adjusted much faster then other mediums as there is no "selling" of content to retailers as is the case with consoles and disk games. I look forward to hearing from you.

They replied with this:

Thank you for writing us.

As much as we would like to address all of your questions, there are certain topics that are simply out of the scope of this department within Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA). You have reached the Consumer Services Department within SCEA, and we handle all general inquiries for our PlayStation(R) family of products, warranty and repair information, installation and troubleshooting, general corporate business inquiries, PlayStation(R) Underground(TM) Club Membership inquiries, and third party software referrals, just to name a few.

Very specific questions on any particular product (e.g., manufacturing process), programming details of software or hardware, 'reasons or beliefs' on why a product did or did not include certain features, personal opinions, and personal contact information for developers, publishers, and other company employees, are some of the topics that cannot be addressed. Also, there are certain topics that we may not be able to address due to the fact that they are confidential and proprietary to SCEA.

Additionally, due to the complex nature of this industry and its products, certain information is just not easily available. You may be able to do some thorough research on your own at the local library, internet search engines, and at academic institutions.

If you have further questions regarding this message, please refer to your email case
number:5023873.

Regards,
Jim
Multimedia Representative
Sony Computer Entertainment America
Consumer Services Department

In other words hey we like to **** you guys up the ass and there's not a damn thing you can do about it. Except that there is a couple things we can do. First off I'm not buying a damn thing off the Canadian PSN until the prices are adjusted. It's ridiculous that we're paying more when the hardware and physical copies of games have adjusted. Digital content should have adjusted before anything else.

The second thing I'm doing (and this is if there is no price change in the next month) is start buying product off the US PSN store. Yeah this kinda contradicts my first point but let's face it I need those songs packs. I'll just refrain from buying the two motorstorm packs, everday shooter, etc. And I will have them one way or the other but Sony isn't going to be getting more money from me for them. It's not hard, you just create an american account (I know someone that lives in the states whose address I can use) and then buy a prepaid credit card from the US. And when it works I'll spread the word to every asking Canadian.
Hell Harmonix still gets my money (who I want to support) and it's Sony that loses out on their scam to make more off their neighbors to the north.

I have also emailed the Canadian devision of Sony webmaster@playstation.sony.com and I'm going to forward my email to feedback_canada@playstation.sony.com and Media_Canada@PlayStation.sony.com
I haven't heard anything yet from the first email to SCEC.

[Tyrsis]

Why are people always on Harmonix for the stupidest crap? They are game developers.
They do not distribute the game.
They do not make the peripherals.
They do not set pricing.

Want to cry and complain? Speak to EA. Speak to Microsoft. Speak to SCEA.
All I see is *****ing and complaining. Why don't you thank them for actually going out and getting those bands that are available as DLC? No, you whine because you pay a dollar-fifty more than Americans.

Come off it...

[MF-PO'd]

municipalblack, thanks for taking a stand and send out the e-mails. I am trying to do the same, and I am also NOT buy items off the Canadian store until they stop taking advantage of me.

I e-mailed Sony also about the issue, and I got a different reply than you:

Thank you for writing us.

We value your input and appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Please rest assured that we will convey your feedback to Sony Computer Entertainment America's ("SCEA") appropriate management.


I really don't know where they sent my comments, but I hope someone important read them. I think I am going to follow up and maybe start sending e-mails on a weekly basis every time I see new content uploaded to the store because the prices make me sick whenever I see them.

I would be interested to hear if your pre-paid U.S. card plan works. I would like to purchase from the U.S. store as well. Can you keep me/us posted on that?

[J-Rock]

I have also emailed the Canadian devision of Sony webmaster@playstation.sony.com and I'm going to forward my email to feedback_canada@playstation.sony.com and Media_Canada@PlayStation.sony.com
I haven't heard anything yet from the first email to SCEC.
Thanks for that info municipalblack. Something I am sure to myself. I also refuse to buy anything off the PSN network until they stop ripping us off. I really hope Harmonix says to Sony "Your gouging of DLC prices are costing us both sales". I'll make it clear to Sony that as long as their prices do match equally those south of the border, I'm not buying anything.

Also, I don't know if the ECA limits it's lobbying to the U.S. but I'm also contacting them about this.

[FlyinWhee]

Oh my god, think about it for a second. The price on XBL (in MS Points) are THE SAME for EVERYTHING, in the states, or in Canada. Where we're being screwed is when we BUY THE POINTS, which only MICROSOFT has something to do with, how hard is that to understand?

Microsoft is overcharging on MS Points for us in Canada. It's just the way it is. Take it to them if you want to believe you can make it change.