Pricing of OOTP9 - Please Explain

[aewin]

I am loath to complain about pricing because I am normally happy to pay Markus an annual fee for the fantastic game he produces, but there is something that is JUST NOT FAIR.

The email advertises a price of $24.99. When I go to the webstore it shows as 24.99 euros.

I am in Australia and the US$/A$ exchange rate is about 1.05 and for the euro is about 1.68!!!!

I recall issues last game with different pricing for non-US players, but I don't know how the webstore knew this straight away.

I am being asked to pay over a 50% premium. If this is the same issue as the last time, this is effectively a punishment for not living in the US.

WHY CAN I NOT PAY IN US$??????

[chowbeng]

It really irked me bad too. I wanted to pre order, but hesitated once I hit the shopping cart. If I am in europe, maybe I "should" pay in euros, but I am not. I feel like I am being screwed over just because I lived in Asia. Shouldn't it one price for all?

It's part of the reason why I skipped OOTP2007, I guess I would wait and see on this edition too. However, I do hope this problem could be fairly relooked upon.

[edm]

That is whack!

Do you know anyone in the US *that you can trust* that would spot you the money and send you the code? Other than that, I don't know

[aewin]

Wasn't this a Sega/SI thing ... I'm sure that back in the old days I paid in US dollars. If Sega/SI aren't involved anymore surely this can be fixed by the OOTP crowd or at least a pricing adjustment made to reflect the MUCH greater value of euros.

[RchW]

I believe there are tax/business/legal reasons why this is done. There are threads on it somewhere

[aewin]

Amazon and a thousand other online sellers don't seem to have the problem!

[satchel]

Is everyone completely certain that this is just not a mistake, either a typographical error in the display, or maybe an adjustment that the OOTP guys just haven't gotten around to fixing?

[Markus Heinsohn]

Due to company tax reasons we have to charge people living in Europe in euros. And we have chosen to handle it that way with customers outside the US as well.

[aewin]

Thanks Markus for the reply.

Can I suggest that you consider 2 things:

1) Charge those in Europe the euro equivalent of US$24.99, say 17.50 euros; and

2) Charge those outside the US and not in Europe in US dollars.

The choice that you have currently made unfairly overcharges those outside the US and it is something that could be easily fixed.

BTW - Thanks for a fantastic game. I really enjoy it and have no problem paying an annual fee for it, but this just strikes me as grossly unfair.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by aewin

1) Charge those in Europe the euro equivalent of US$24.99, say 17.50 euros; and

That's not an option since we have to pay a special tax on sales from Europe...

The exchange rate is a bit extreme at the moment, but that's not our fault of course. And we handle it the same way as other companies do, just look at the iTunes music store... I pay €0.99 per song, which is roughly $1.60.

[aewin]

At your invitation I looked at the iTunes store and it looks like they have a separate store and price for Australia. I don't have to pay in euros.

Does your lack of response to my second suggestion mean you are going to look into it?

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by aewin

At your invitation I looked at the iTunes store and it looks like they have a separate store and price for Australia. I don't have to pay in euros.

Does your lack of response to my second suggestion mean you are going to look into it?

Yes, we'll look into it... but I cannot promise anything.

[Coder]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

That's not an option since we have to pay a special tax on sales from Europe...

The exchange rate is a bit extreme at the moment, but that's not our fault of course. And we handle it the same way as other companies do, just look at the iTunes music store... I pay €0.99 per song, which is roughly $1.60.

.. that tax is what in Germany? In Sweden, the sales tax (moms) is 25%. With the current exchangerates, the non-taxed price would be about €16.. €16*1.25 = €20.

The only result you're getting now is Europeans using US-based friends (or a proxy) to order the game.

I'm almost positive I remember Marc Duffy realizing the problem last year after a 2006-debacle, lowering the euro-price from €1 = $1 to a more reasonable level.

Yup.. I found this old post over at FOFC from last year.

OOTP 2007 - Page 3 - Front Office Football Central

This is me commenting on SI's decision to at least reduce the internal exchangerate from €1 = $1 to €0.85 = $1. Now, a year later, the Euro is even stronger against the dollar, but the price is back up.

[PSUColonel]

My receipt says I was charged 13.33 GBP What is GBP? I live in the U.S., and I don't understand why I wasn't charged in dollars.

[Tony M]

Originally Posted by PSUColonel

My receipt says I was charged 13.33 GBP What is GBP? I live in the U.S., and I don't understand why I wasn't charged in dollars.

GBP is our currency here in the UK (Great British Pounds)... hopefully one day we'll have EUR as our currency.

Don't know why you've been charged in pounds though.

[Treches]

So, lets see if I get this. The game will ship at €25.40 ($39.99) for US-based gents and €39.99 for the rest of us. Exchange dollar rates would not affect the latter, 'cause whether it is $1 = €0.63, $1 = €2.50 or $1 = €0.10, we pay €39.99 regardless. Funny.

[Coder]

Originally Posted by Treches

So, lets see if I get this. The game will ship at €25.40 ($39.99) for US-based gents and €39.99 for the rest of us. Exchange dollar rates would not affect the latter, 'cause whether it is $1 = €0.63, $1 = €2.50 or $1 = €0.10, we pay €39.99 regardless. Funny.

Last year's SI-version was priced at US$34.95 and €29.95, that's where I got the $1 = €0.85 number

[PSUColonel]

Originally Posted by redsoxford

GBP is our currency here in the UK (Great British Pounds)... hopefully one day we'll have EUR as our currency.

Don't know why you've been charged in pounds though.

I ordered using my Iphone, I wonder if that had anything to do with it??

[Treches]

Originally Posted by Coder

Last year's SI-version was priced at US$34.95 and €29.95, that's where I got the $1 = €0.85 number

Yep.
Anyway, €40 aren't an issue for me and if they were, I certainly wouldn't be spending even a sole euro, let alone 25, for something like a PC game. However, color me confused about a game developed by an European in Europe that nevertheless is way cheaper in the US. I mean, at this point it'd be cheaper for us if Markus moves overseas and charges in dollars.

[Tullius]

The VAT in Germany is 19% so the price should be only 28.56 $ and not 38.40 $. The difference between the Dollar and Euro is much greater and the currency rate of 1.68 (instead of the official 1.60 or 1.59) is an additional charge for Paypal.

The problem is that the VAT has to be written down in the bill. This is here not the case (i ordered and checked my bill). From a fiscal point i have not paid any tax (as private consumer it is not really my matter but a business partner could have a tax problem).