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Forums - Sony Discussion - Vita Pricing Theories

KingdomHeartsFan on 17 July 2013

Honestly since they decided to go with their expensive ass memory cards that they must be making a huge profit on an the Vita cost $160 to make, then the Vita should be $170.  They should match the price of the 3DS.



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darkknightkryta on 17 July 2013

For a comparison, the 3DS's bill of materials is about 120. 3DS selling at 170 cost Nintendo huge amounts of money and has cost them a loss for the first time ever; and a large loss at that. Sony CAN'T drop the price. Or rather it would be suicide.



BinaryDelt on 17 July 2013
Assyrian612 said:
BinaryDelt said:
kowenicki said:
"It only costs $160 to make then why is it $250". Selling a device at a profit does not mean making a profit.

Ever heard of R&D and return on investment?

The whole PSVita project was initially targeted to become profitable after 3 years.... I imagine that got a whole lot longer since the sales have been far below expectations and following an early Japanese price cut.

You stopped reading too early, from the OP:

"Often lost in the analysis of the price of goods is the cost of research and development."

I touch on that.  I did not, however, know that the profitable target was 3 years, so thanks for that.  I'm sure that plan included a US price cut at some point, but I'm sure they didn't anticipate these sales numbers.

That all can justify a $250 Vita, but it can't justify a $100 32 GB memory card, which I think is a lot of people's problem with the Vita.  I had no problem paying $250 for my Vita--I thought, and still think, it was worth it--but I shopped around to get my 32 GB memory card for about $78, which I still thought was far too much.

$78 for the 32 GB? Can you please share where you found such a good deal?

I got it at TigerDirect.com.  Doesn't look like they even carry it now, let alone for that price, but I just did a google shopping search to find it at that price.  I actually just looked up the invoice and it was $76.99 with free shipping.  I placed the order in November of 2012.  Looking around the internet, looks like I got a steal.  Lowest I'm seeing outside of eBay is in the 80s.



Assyrian612 on 18 July 2013
BinaryDelt said:
Assyrian612 said:
BinaryDelt said:
kowenicki said:
"It only costs $160 to make then why is it $250". Selling a device at a profit does not mean making a profit.

Ever heard of R&D and return on investment?

The whole PSVita project was initially targeted to become profitable after 3 years.... I imagine that got a whole lot longer since the sales have been far below expectations and following an early Japanese price cut.

You stopped reading too early, from the OP:

"Often lost in the analysis of the price of goods is the cost of research and development."

I touch on that.  I did not, however, know that the profitable target was 3 years, so thanks for that.  I'm sure that plan included a US price cut at some point, but I'm sure they didn't anticipate these sales numbers.

That all can justify a $250 Vita, but it can't justify a $100 32 GB memory card, which I think is a lot of people's problem with the Vita.  I had no problem paying $250 for my Vita--I thought, and still think, it was worth it--but I shopped around to get my 32 GB memory card for about $78, which I still thought was far too much.

$78 for the 32 GB? Can you please share where you found such a good deal?

I got it at TigerDirect.com.  Doesn't look like they even carry it now, let alone for that price, but I just did a google shopping search to find it at that price.  I actually just looked up the invoice and it was $76.99 with free shipping.  I placed the order in November of 2012.  Looking around the internet, looks like I got a steal.  Lowest I'm seeing outside of eBay is in the 80s.

Thank you for the info, so I found it on amazon for $79.99 with free shipping.. Should I pull the trigger and get it? Do you think it's worth it since your purchase? Thanks again bro



 

Mensrea on 18 July 2013

Price doesn't matter to me at all. I have the money to spend on gaming, and I'm willing to do it. I sold my Vita because of the piss poor library. With no signs of growing, I don't regret my decision. Gravity Rush is the only must have game on the system IMO. Without games, price and hardware don't matter.




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Lonely_Dolphin on 18 July 2013

What the... $100 memory cards? What kind of memory card does the Vita take? o_O


What I really came here to say though is basically what Groundking said, being that it's software library doesn't give the system an identity and make it distinct. Since I always get Sony's home consoles, their handhelds with their console spin-offs never really appealed to me.

sethnintendo on 18 July 2013
Einsam_Delphin said:
What the... $100 memory cards? What kind of memory card does the Vita take? o_O

 


What I really came here to say though is basically what Groundking said, being that it's software library doesn't give the system an identity and make it distinct. Since I always get Sony's home consoles, their handhelds with their console spin-offs never really appealed to me.


Sony's proprietary memory cards.  They are like SD cards but a little different.  So you can't use SD cards on Vita and must buy Sony cards.  They do it a lot with their cameras and other products in the past.  Nintendo went with SD cards though and have been able to keep any 3DS crack under the wrap (with I suppose encryption and other measures like updates).  So Sony went with their own memory cards to combat potential piracy issues which ended up sticking it to the consumer.  The price difference now between SD cards and Vita cards is pretty bad.  I bought a 32 GB SD card when I first got the 3DS for about 40 dollars or so.  You probably can get a 32 GB SD card now for 20-30 dollars (32 GB Vita card cost ~$80 right now). 



Lonely_Dolphin on 18 July 2013
sethnintendo said:
Einsam_Delphin said:
What the... $100 memory cards? What kind of memory card does the Vita take? o_O

 


What I really came here to say though is basically what Groundking said, being that it's software library doesn't give the system an identity and make it distinct. Since I always get Sony's home consoles, their handhelds with their console spin-offs never really appealed to me.


Sony's proprietary memory cards.  They are like SD cards but a little different.  So you can't use SD cards on Vita and must buy Sony cards.  They do it a lot with their cameras and other products in the past.  Nintendo went with SD cards though and have been able to keep any 3DS crack under the wrap (with I suppose encryption and other measures like updates).  So Sony went with their own memory cards to combat potential piracy issues which ended up sticking it to the consumer.  The price difference now between SD cards and Vita cards is pretty bad.  I bought a 32 GB SD card when I first got the 3DS for about 40 dollars or so.  You probably can get a 32 GB SD card now for 20-30 dollars (32 GB Vita card cost ~$80 right now). 



Yeah I got a 16GB card for my 3DS for only $8! Still I don't understand why Sony's cards are that much more expensive despite holding the same amount of memory.

BinaryDelt on 18 July 2013
Assyrian612 said:
BinaryDelt said:
Assyrian612 said:
BinaryDelt said:

You stopped reading too early, from the OP:

"Often lost in the analysis of the price of goods is the cost of research and development."

I touch on that.  I did not, however, know that the profitable target was 3 years, so thanks for that.  I'm sure that plan included a US price cut at some point, but I'm sure they didn't anticipate these sales numbers.

That all can justify a $250 Vita, but it can't justify a $100 32 GB memory card, which I think is a lot of people's problem with the Vita.  I had no problem paying $250 for my Vita--I thought, and still think, it was worth it--but I shopped around to get my 32 GB memory card for about $78, which I still thought was far too much.

$78 for the 32 GB? Can you please share where you found such a good deal?

I got it at TigerDirect.com.  Doesn't look like they even carry it now, let alone for that price, but I just did a google shopping search to find it at that price.  I actually just looked up the invoice and it was $76.99 with free shipping.  I placed the order in November of 2012.  Looking around the internet, looks like I got a steal.  Lowest I'm seeing outside of eBay is in the 80s.

Thank you for the info, so I found it on amazon for $79.99 with free shipping.. Should I pull the trigger and get it? Do you think it's worth it since your purchase? Thanks again bro

I would unless you think they're planning on dropping the price of them anytime soon, which I don't think they will.  Even if they do, I doubt the 32 GB cards would go any cheaper than $75, so I say go for it.

I think it's totally worth it.  I really haven't had to worry about space on my card yet and I'm a PS+ member. No problem, glad to help!