Commentary on Euro Pricing Flamefest

[zDisturbedOnez]

I love how you talk down to everyone. No really. You're coming off as being very cool on the internet. How wonderful for you.

Talking down? By bringing up relevant points? So, I would be cooler if I said "damn the man, always sticking it to the little guy" attitude? I am all for aiding the consumer in every way possible but living in a world of unrealistic expectations will only lead to failure. The hard truth is the customer is not always right. The OP gave a statement that was not authorized to do, gave rational statements to the situation, then got bashed for being a "liar" and "greedy". I defend him with using valid points to people using those terms and I am talking down?

[hip]

if warranty is the issue, they should just ask Mad Catz to make better quality peripherals that dont break every week. that will save us (them included) all a great deal of money.

[SirAhenobarbus]

Someone, somewhere is showing a large degree of incompetence.

That's the impression I get as well.

[zDisturbedOnez]

if warranty is the issue, they should just ask Mad Catz to make better quality peripherals that dont break every week. that will save us (them included) all a great deal of money.

This is a very valid point. I am sure the RMA's and headaches had a lot to do with Harmonix wanting Mad Catz to make them. Other than the original posting of the agreement made I have not heard anything more. If someone has a link to an updated status please post, as I and sure a lot of others would love to read it. I beleive the statement was made about 2 months ago, so I would assume the instruments are still being devoloped or just entering manufacturing phase. But, everyone is screaming for a launch so they have to use what is available. I dont think our European brethren want to wait 6 more months for a release to have Mad Catz instruments. Or I could be wrong, but I think they are anxious to get their hands on the game.

[Desaevio]

Talking down? By bringing up relevant points? So, I would be cooler if I said "damn the man, always sticking it to the little guy" attitude? I am all for aiding the consumer in every way possible but living in a world of unrealistic expectations will only lead to failure. The hard truth is the customer is not always right. The OP gave a statement that was not authorized to do, gave rational statements to the situation, then got bashed for being a "liar" and "greedy". I defend him with using valid points to people using those terms and I am talking down?

No, you are not talking down to people by stating your points, you are talking down to them in the manner in which you do so. For you to be unaware of how to engage someone without being an ass about it, as you say, would be absolutely stupid.

I see a lot more relevant questions than people bashing Glo. I can't blame Europeans for stating they're still scratching their heads over this. Most people are. I appreciate his contribution and hope he doesn't get any flak for it (who knows, these days), but it really didn't do much to solve the equation for me, at least.

[hip]

I have an idea ! it could explain everything ! the huge, the release to only 3 countries and the lack of game bundle too !

what uk, germany and france will be getting are in fact all the unsold stocks of the US special editions ! which means, that EA have to pay a local company or ship to another country to have the game removed from the US bundles, then get the package to europe ! that has to add a lot to the price !

that also explains the release to only 3 countries, because these unsold stocks cannot cover the mass market potential of a relealse to all the EU countries at the same time !

and finally, it also explains why there is no game bundled in with the peripherals : the game is actually made in Europe (box, manuals, DVDs, region locking) so they are already here ready to be shipped waiting for the "processed" peripheral boxes !


And, for the record, at the time of Samba de Amigo, i bought several packs of compatible peripherals in one single package directly from China for myself and my friends, but the shipping cost was not anywhere near the $100 that shipping Rock Band seems to cost, because everything tax included, costed me a little over $100 at the time...
This leads me to think that EA may really ship from China to US, then have some trucks run all around the country with the freight, and finally gets it on a ship to Europe, with a little quick stop in south africa just to be sure that they dont release the game too quickly here.

[zDisturbedOnez]

No, you are not talking down to people by stating your points, you are talking down to them in the manner in which you do so. For you to be unaware of how to engage someone without being an ass about it, as you say, would be absolutely stupid.

I am not trying to be an ass really I am not, its I am frustrated more than anything else. The boards have been active with this for about a week now and I have been posting regularly on them trying to get them to think rational. But, it never fails you get a guy registers for the board and within first 3 posts starts a "evil vile american greedy company" rant. I hate to see people with unrealistic expectations of what something should be destroyed. This always turns into a hate fest full of narrow mindedness. The Europeans were hoping for a 40% and who can blame them that is what they were used to. This was never ever officially validated by anyone from Harmonix or EA. But when you look at this scenario a 40% markup minus 17% taxes is only really 23% markup from what US bundles cost. This cannot work, gas prices alone in Europe are double what they are in the States. I have given some incite on what freight costs to move in the States (rate quote plus 30% for fuel), but I fear in Europe these freight prices are way more than here. One could speculate freight fuel surcharges in Europe would be maybe 50%-60%? Please someone on here has to work in logistics in Europe and I would love to know the answer to this question.

I understand the frustration really I do, but I think the OP put himself on a limb and think his post has a lot of validity to it. Shipping, warranties, repackaging in numerous languages all have to add up to more than an actual 23% over US markup.

[hip]

Also, how come Steel Battalion and its huge controller (22 pound box !!) did not have this kind of extreme price difference at a time when dollars and euros were much closer in value ? US : $200, Europe : 200 €...

[DiabloNeonX]

Fuel costs will play heavily into the price.

Realize this...in the U.S., we buy our fuel by the gallon. Y'all over in Europe buy it by the liter.

3.8 liters = 1 gallon (approximately)

Currently in my area, diesel fuel sells for $4.11 per gallon. A semi truck can hold roughly about 150 gallons of fuel, I believe. I could be wrong about that, but we'll go with these numbers solely for the sake of argument.

So, that 150 gallons x $4.11 per gallon = $205.50 in fuel alone.

Now with taxes levied in order to pay for the socialized health care system in Europe, let's assume the same diesel fuel is $7.00 per liter there.

150 gallons x 3.8 (remember, 3.8 liters = 1 gallon) = 570 liters.

570 liters x $7 per liter = $3,990 (for the record, if Europe bought fuel by the gallon and the price was $7 per gallon, the cost would only be $1050.)

That's just it. Fuel costs alone are going to massively drive up the price.

Is the price fair? Not at all. But, it's simple economics. You have to pay to move the product from the factories to the warehouses to the store. The manufacturer puts up the money up front, but in the end the consumer will always foot the bill.

[memphus]

i would pay $500 for rock band if thats what it costed. im loving this game so much that im looking to buy a full-sized electronic drumset that i can mod to work for rock band.