Digusted with the price of the AU/NZ collectors edition

[Rewind]

I don't usually do this. I understand that Collector's editions aren't for everyone. There an additional extra that don't improve the quality of the game rather are a keepsake for yourself.

But this time it really, really, really bugs me and I'm sick of region locking and restrictions on shipping on the current CE.

After two weeks of reminding SE that AU/NZ players exist and we'd like to give them some of our money one retailer has finally made the CE available for pre-order. How much do you ask? Oh only $359 AUD for a PC collectors edition and $379 for PS4 (excluding shipping).

How could they let retailers sell at this price? To put it in perpective you can buy a PS4 in Australia at the moment for $497 which it includes Bloodborne (RRP $99 AUD). The console alone is equivalent to the cost of FFXIV CE's for PS4.

I can buy the game cheaper by using a mail forwarding service from both the US and EU than buying it on an AU/NZ retailer.

SE should have done more to keep retailers in line and sell at a reasonable price. I'd be happy to pay $120 USD + some additional cost for shipping. I'd reasonably pay $190 (equivalent of the EU edition) + shipping - but there is no way most AU/NZ players can justify spending this amount of money.

(This made me feel a bit better but I can't express in words how disappointed I am with SE)

[Airget]

You are honestly using the wrong perspective, you are better off comparing it to another Collector's Edition such as MGS V Phantom Pain which is 339.99 on that site while in the states it's 99.99.

[Rewind]

You are honestly using the wrong perspective, you are better off comparing it to another Collector's Edition such as MGS V Phantom Pain which is 339.99 on that site while in the states it's 99.99.

I don't see how it changes anything. That price is also ridiculous and Konami should have put in more safeguards so that retailers don't sell at this price.
If anything the comparison is worst because I could have easily purchased that CE off Amazon because Konami made it available at one point in time.

[Arielyanna]

You are honestly using the wrong perspective, you are better off comparing it to another Collector's Edition such as MGS V Phantom Pain which is 339.99 on that site while in the states it's 99.99.

Just to put in some more perspective... EB Games are selling that particular game in CE for... well, take a look...

https://ebgames.com.au/ps4-202663-Me...-PlayStation-4

On Topic: So far there is still nothing on EB Games website about Heavensward CE... Hell, even the Heavensward/ARR isn't listed there either, yet they are taking preorders for it. It's pretty much common practice that if something is only available in 'extremely limited' quantities, the price for it will be far higher than what's expected. Though in this case, $379 JUST for a expansion? That's just being plain greedy. Some can argue that you get a physical statue... Ok, that may be fair TO A POINT! There have been numerous CE's with statues (though the quality of said statues varies as everyone will know), so to charge a exorbitant fee like $380AUD is absurd and reeks of nothing but out and out pure greed.

If this is indeed a indication of the final price for the PHYSICAL Collector's Edition... then for the first time, I'll be looking into the Digital copy when (or IF) it appears on AU PSN.

[Rewind]

Just to put in some more perspective... EB Games are selling that particular game in CE for... well, take a look...

https://ebgames.com.au/ps4-202663-Me...-PlayStation-4

On Topic: So far there is still nothing on EB Games website about Heavensward CE... Hell, even the Heavensward/ARR isn't listed there either, yet they are taking preorders for it. It's pretty much common practice that if something is only available in 'extremely limited' quantities, the price for it will be far higher than what's expected. Though in this case, $379 JUST for a expansion? That's just being plain greedy. Some can argue that you get a physical statue... Ok, that may be fair TO A POINT! There have been numerous CE's with statues (though the quality of said statues varies as everyone will know), so to charge a exorbitant fee like $380AUD is absurd and reeks of nothing but out and out pure greed.

If this is indeed a indication of the final price for the PHYSICAL Collector's Edition... then for the first time, I'll be looking into the Digital copy when (or IF) it appears on AU PSN.

I agree. I have 0 faith in EB games. They are notoriously overpriced and I often go with other online retailers to purchase my games.

The point I am trying to make to others is that other gaming distributors have given the AU community other options. I can purchase games from a multitude of aus/uk/us retailers. I purchased my Tomb Raider CE from MightyApe, my FFX/X-2 game from the UK, my FFXIII CE from amazon and my KH collectors from ozgameshop.

I have no options this time. It's one retailer (possibly two) overpriced retailers or bust. It's like SE FFXIV team doesn't care about our community at all.

In the end it looks like I will have to buy the digital collectors edition and buy the NA CE edition using a forwarding service. I'll still have more money than buying from an SEA retailer.

[m3eansean]

Sorry guys, this has nothing to do with SE and everything to do with your local retailers. Most manufacturers can establish a suggested retail price (msrp) which usually appears somewhere on the item itself, or can be determined through inquiry to the manufacturer. Retailers are in no way obligated to price things at MSRP, as they can use the argument of supply and demand to lower or raise the price at will.

Here it seems you have about 2 local retailers that provide you with the product, if I am reading the above correctly, which is a perfect breeding ground for them to charge much more than a suggested retail price, as you have no other options to obtain said product.

It was suggested earlier, why there wasn't a cap on the price the goods could be sold by retailers. Other than that being impossible for SE to verify and enforce, price fixing in a free market economy is a big no-no. It just boils down to, there is limited supply where you are and a relatively high demand.

[Haru]

SE only sets the distributor price not the retail price.

I would bet that they sell the CE for around $200 after conversion and then the shops or the outlet you are using is calculating in their average 100% markup on videogames resulting in $379.
Yes I live in Australia and I am also disgusted at the price of games here, starting at $120 for a PS4 game new off the shelf unless you get a JB special for $89 or something in the first week of release

[OMEGA_HACK]

I feel like you should be upset with the way your government/retailer handles it, I very seriously doubt SE is the ones at fault for a price mark up.

[Rewind]

I feel like you should be upset with the way your government/retailer handles it, I very seriously doubt SE is the ones at fault for a price mark up.

I am sure when negotiating the rights to distribute things such as price are discussed. Why can't a cap on a price be discussed so that one retailer doesn't have the power to place a 200% mark-up on a product? Why couldn't SE distribute at other retailers so the price remained competitive? Why couldn't SE distribute it online through major retailers such as Amazon US/UK?

Why can't SE post to AUS/NZ from their own website/distribution centres?! It's not like we're on another planet without any mailing services.

[Chiramu]

I feel like you should be upset with the way your government/retailer handles it, I very seriously doubt SE is the ones at fault for a price mark up.

It's only the retailer in this case, EB game is absolutely horrid when it comes to selling to customers and hearing what the OP says makes me happy that I already bought my digital collectors' off of the SE store ^^.