Square Enix statement

[Natsuno]

Physical objects are subject to different rules, laws, tarrifs, etc where-as digital objects in many ways aren't properly covered by the laws yet. It's really not a stretch.

Did no one pay attention in school when they talked about this stuff?

Because everyone went to law school >.>

No, seriously. The only 'enonomics' class I had the privelage to attend at school had the word 'home' infront of it, and trust me, it wasn't anything to do with currencies, or the economies for that matter (except for how much butter or flour cost). There was a business studies class, but because of x and y, most of the people in the same year as me was denied the chance of attending that class. The closest I came was in maths. And to be fair, averages, modes, medians, ranges and any other were hardly needed at all during my work life in the 20 years since I've left school.

We are a part of the EU. Their rules apply to us too.

The digital/physical sales for all the rest of the games are near enough the same. Only this product is different.

[Tiggy]

Because everyone went to law school

Learned it in high school. Was ELPS. Economic Legal and Policital Systems.

Sucks you didn't have a class that covered this kind of stuff. It was very useful.

The digital/physical sales for all the rest of the games are near enough the same. Only this product is different.

One is digital, one is physical. They are subject to different rules, laws, tariffs, ... oh yeah I said that already.

Does the pricing difference suck? Yes. Is it completely out of left field with no possible reasoning behind it? No.

[Snugglebutt]

One is digital, one is physical. They are subject to different rules, laws, tariffs, ... oh yeah I said that already.

Does the pricing difference suck? Yes. Is it completely out of left field with no possible reasoning behind it? No.

Firstly the product is being distributed from the UK and there is no law, tariff or rules in place in the UK to justify the difference between the EU and UK version. So stop saying pointless things in an effort to justify what is not justifiable. The reality is there is no legitimate reason why they are charging UK customers a lot more than the EU counterparts. All SE did by the looks of it was choose a US price tag of 130 and then make it the same number for each currency type not taking exchange rates, economies or distribution into account. It is simply pure greed, incompetence or laziness on SE's part.

[Tiggy]

It is simply pure greed, incompetence or laziness on SE's part.

So basically you're just mad and you don't really know why it happened at all. You have no actual reason or proof behind what happened, and you're doing nothing but lashing out at people who are trying to offer possible reasons why something in the UK might be different than the US when it comes to physical goods. OK then. You're right. I'm the bad guy. Lol.

Be mad at the right people. Not those trying to figure out why it might make sense. Some people attempt to reason through things instead of just having blind rage because you're upset.

[MeiUshu]

Firstly the product is being distributed from the UK and there is no law, tariff or rules in place in the UK to justify the difference between the EU and UK version. So stop saying pointless things in an effort to justify what is not justifiable. The reality is there is no legitimate reason why they are charging UK customers a lot more than the EU counterparts. All SE did by the looks of it was choose a US price tag of 130 and then make it the same number for each currency type not taking exchange rates, economies or distribution into account. It is simply pure greed, incompetence or laziness on SE's part.

is it created in the UK ? or is imported ? because see if it is CREATED in the UK then I would agree with you but if it is imported, as I believe it to be, or better said, the retailers /sellers have received it as import goods then I am afraid you might want to revise your judgement. I went to a site and input some datas....using price reference USD 130.--- and asked it to be calculed in GBP, since using your*logic* just apply an exchange rate right ? answered the various questions and etc..added something like 40USD as shipping and insurance costs final price I got for the same good valued at USD 130.-- was GBP 146.--

Not sure anyone could explain to you anybetter how it goes. Exchange rate is not what defines the price, in between you have lots of things that happens...that makes the final price among those are taxes, VAT, import/export taxes and the like and also, how much the same good or similar good is valued on the country, because see, you cant make the price you want, there are rules even for that to avoid price dumping (so to speak)



Mei

[Reynhart]

I went to a site and input some datas....using price reference USD 130.--- and asked it to be calculed in GBP, since using your*logic* just apply an exchange rate right ? answered the various questions and etc..added something like 40USD as shipping and insurance costs final price I got for the same good valued at USD 130.-- was GBP 146.--

What is your site saying when you ask to calculate in € with the same questions, and adding the shipping cost for France ?

Or the same questions with the initial price for Standard Edition...which, IIRC is calculated correctly with the exchange rate ?

[Sebazy]

is it created in the UK ? or is imported ? because see if it is CREATED in the UK then I would agree with you but if it is imported

Please just stop already =/

Going on assumptions based on labelling from previous CE boxes and games, the DVDs, BluRay, Art Book and general packaging will be produced within the EU (Guessing Poland?), It's a fairly safe bet that the statue is going to be produced in China. Everything will be assembled within the EU (Going to stick with Poland again). All of this will then be shipped to a warehouse in the Midlands (UK) where it'll be processed and shipped off across the UK and mainland Europe.

Now I really can't stress this next part enough Mei so please pay attention here:

Shipping components to be later assembled into a complete package will fall under very different shipping and taxation costs compared to you or I importing retail goods along the same route.

At the point of sale, any EU/UK bound CE box will be sat in the Midlands depot and the country of origin is marked on the barcode as the EU, none of these boxes, nor any of there components are being shipped from the US or so your USD import comparison has zero relevance.

The whole Tax/Tariff stuff being banded around is largely irrelevant due to VAT being broadly equivalent across Europe and the UK (as detailed earlier). If you actually think that SE pay retail style VAT, shipping and insurance costs as per Mei's example when they import those dragon figurines from China then you are sorely mistaken. Of course SE will face container and shipping fees but it's nothing like the costs associated with a single item.

The bottom line here is that this is an item that is being shipped from the UK across Europe with a near 35% price hike tacked onto one country for no justifiable reason (backed up by SE's silence on this matter).

Thus the big question here is whether or not SE's practice of enforcing localised pricing coupled with the GBP gouge on the EU store falls foul of EU consumer law.

[Shaone]

The digital/physical sales for all the rest of the games are near enough the same. Only this product is different.

Yep, this is the part that bothers me, and as far as I'm concerned people can argue about minimum wage, average wage, PPP, big mac prices or taxes until the cows come home. If all those weak justifications are true, then why did they adjust the prices on the other versions at all?
They are pulling underhand, despicable tactics with the CE box pricing, and in doing so attacking their most loyal fans, as those are the ones most likely to be buying CE in the first place. I consider this a massive breach of trust. But I'm OK with it, honestly. I have boxed collectors 1.0 and 2.0, so I would have liked to get 3.0, but not if it comes with a "f&*k you" price tag. Standard edition digital from the cheapest retailer at launch time it shall be. I would add "unless they do something to remedy the situation" but I've given up hope on that front.

One is digital, one is physical. They are subject to different rules, laws, tariffs, ... oh yeah I said that already.

Yeah except they adjusted UK price on the boxed combined XIV+Heavensward. Next!