Australia is a blatant rip off country in more ways than one. housing affordability. high interest rates over 10% on average. increased level of people are being forced out on the streets each day due to the high mortgages. People are being forced onto the streets due to the greedy banks who jack up mortgage repayments.

food and clothing is also expensive in Australia. You think you have it hard in Europe or the USA. It is a joke in Australia we pay more than anywhere else in the world on alcohol, food and clothes. Noone has the balls to protest against the system and accepts things.

Video games market in Australia is a rip off too. The prices for games between ($90 US and $105 US )new onsoles between ($360 US to $700 US) is blatant robbery. the prices are set by retailers who blatantly rip off consumers and noone does anything about it. Game prices in Australia are amonst the highest in the world.

Major cities in Australia: Sydney, Perth, Melbourne. Are amonst the most expensive sities to live in the world with high prices for living include: housing both mortgages and rent, food, entertainment and clothing are a rip off too.

Anyone else experiencing similar problems in their own country who can relate to this scenario?

Europe/others for a fact pay roughly double the price of Japan and US markets. Retailers do it because they know they can charge ridiculous inflated prices. No we do not get paid double the wages/ salaries of other regions.

Hear hear.

I don't know if retailers rip us off. I work as a storeman at a retailer and The costs of games at cost for Wii is roughly $70. As you can pick up games for $80-100 they don't make much money from games or for that matter consoles. For the Wii they make about $20. Thats about a 5% mark up.

The real problem is the Australian market is small compared to the US or Japan and for that matter most of Europe. Therefore games and consoles cost more just for suppliers to make money.

things are indeed expensive... it makes me a sad panda :(

i think its just stupid that we're still paying the same prices that we were when the AU dollar was around 0.5 US... i m not sure who but someone is making an absolute killing off not updating this realistically...

perhaps... we should blame Wii Fit?

You have serious problems. Please stop being such a socialist commie. Thanks.