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Pricing/paying in dollars

By UNeverNo posted 1st August 2012

Hey guys,

can you please explain to me why I pay for a purchased game in europe x€ and in america the same ammount in $? The exchange rate currently stands at 1:1.22, and the gross domestic product in America is even higher than in, for example Germany (Germany: $ 43.741, U.S.: $ 48.386 -> 1:1.11). If I aggregate it, games will be approx 35% more expensive.
Seems unfair to me.
I understand that you maybe can't care for different gdp but if a game is 9,99$ in states it would be nice to buy it in europe for maybe 8,49€ (which still is ~10,35$) instead of 9,99€.

Kind regards.

Replies

By junglepredator posted 1st August 2012

Well if you want it answered for real you'd have to actually ask GG staff.
However... here's a term americans actually use on TV when asked "It's what the market can handle".
And they wonder why they're not liked. :-)

By demondean posted 1st August 2012

having been in the gaming industry since the 80's i can tell you that it has always been this way for games in the states,my region the uk games that were £1.99 would sell in the states for $4.99 or more,has never changed and not likely too any time soon.

By Alcifer posted 1st August 2012

It could be that prices in € and £ are adjusted for VAT. Which might explain some of the difference.

By Psyringe posted 1st August 2012

The prices are set by the publisher. GamersGate can ask and suggest, but the publisher has the last word. Some publishers apply a 1€ = 1$ conversion rate, for various reasons.

I agree that this isn't fair to us European customers (in most cases), but you should take that to the publishers, they are the ones setting the prices.

By Ingootje posted 1st August 2012

I have seen worse. (budget)games for 10$ are sold for 40€. Not on this site though

By Loslass posted 6th August 2012

It is unfair. There is a classic game website that sells everything in US dollars, no matter where you live, and they're very cheap. They have a huge following, and it's where I do much of my shopping.

GG could demand publishers sell for the same equivalent price, but they don't. So it's as much their fault as the publishers, IMO. I know some Europeans who won't shop here because of it.

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