Slashdot Mirror
PS3 European Launch 23 March, $835
Andy_R writes "Sony has finally committed themselves to a European launch date for the PS3, after disappointing European fans by not having the promised worldwide simultaneous launch, then missing the lucrative Christmas period. The BBC is reporting that the console will arrive on the 23rd of March. EU fans will only be getting the 60Gb version at first, and it will be priced at 599 Euros or 425 pounds in Britain. At today's exchange rates, that's US$ 835.99! From the article: 'A problem manufacturing blue diodes, used in high-definition Blu-ray disc drives, forced the Japanese firm to announce another delay but only for European customers. Sony said the decision was made because Europe was logistically the most complex market for distribution."
Delay for months, don't sell the version most people wanted to buy and thereby put yourself 200€ over the closest competition (unless you count the MacMini which is more expensive than a PS3). Sony's statement? "Europeans are used to waiting". Gee, thanks for demonstrating that you're not going to do something about that like your two competitors have done (360 and Wii were released less than a month after their US release). Next thing you know SCEE is wondering why we don't buy any PS3s.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
425 quid isn't much if you live in the UK. The current exchange rate is irrelevant unless you are buying a UK model with USD. Your other problem is comparing pre-tax US prices with post 17.5% VAT ones. Add that to the US price and you're over $700.
However, I fully agree with your message. If you want prices to drop, don't buy artificially inflated priced product. But we all know that isn't going to happen. There's a reason the car manufacturers refer to Britain as the "golden island".
Mod parent up. The reason why European prices are often higher is not because they're being sold at significantly higher prices. It's because the high tax rates (VAT - Value Added Tax) are computed into the price of the goods rather than rung up separately at the time of purchase. Many Europeans actually prefer this situation as something that costs 200 pounds/euros will still cost 200 pounds/euros at the register. Here in the US we have to calculate the taxes before arriving at the price we'll pay at the register.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade