Didn't we all predict this wouldn't end well? I for one am glad.

Australia has a 10% GST. But that GST cancelled out ALL other existing sales taxes at the time.

Meaning there is still a MONSTROUS difference between Australian and US pricing, that cannot be explained by the scale economies.

All three companies (with the one possible and extremely ironic exception of Microsoft) price-gouge Australian gamers.

This exact article was posted a couple of days ago; except for maybe the last sentence, which was posted about 3 weeks ago. Why is this thread still open for posting?

Look at it this way a game retailer is NOT going to want to sell a console that is mainly for online downloads because of the no physical games to buy syndrome. It is another reason why your Sony's and Microsofts want online downloads to take over for games as it will cut out 2nd hand games which hit hard into the game developers profits. In an ironic way the next consoles will be the ones to strike the death knell into Blu Ray. It's all about money and it's much easier for these companies to control what you want and have by having online games only

you're probably right,

But here's something I've found about importing into Aus

so importing (bear in mind this is for imports over the net) Au$1000 will cost $162.50 in duty and tax alone.

the rate does change according to what and how much is being imported.

this could be just for private importers though, but it's some start

add in other transport fees, storage insurance, transport insurance etc. and then distributer mark-up for imports and it could add up to a tidy sum.

I'm not trying to defend their practices, but perhaps might explain some things

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5549

Import of goods (other than tobacco products or alcoholic beverages) valued above $1000

But Sony pays none of that. It would amount to an import duty, almost all of which Australia eradicated on electronics in the 70's-90's.

Hell, most of that isn't even paid by private importers. I wouldn't have to pay any of that to import a PS3.

true, but SOMEONE has to pay it at the end of the day, and it looks like that someone is the consumer.

I know there's a free trade agreement with Singapore, but I have no idea where Sony Aus gets it's stuff from, or even what it's classified as.

Electronic goods is quite a large umbrella with different types of electronics costing diferent things.

for example, importing a bare-bones blade server might cost nothing in duty, but the processors, RAM, disks and monitors might cost something different.

Heck, even TV's and VCRs might have different dutiable values, i just don't have a duty schedule to work it out

It would also help if i knew what a PSP Go is classified as for import purposes - is it an entertainment device, a computing device, does it make a difference, idk

all I can say is that the price of a PSP does seem highly unreasonable.

I'll try and find you some concrete info later, but what I am saying is that Australia does not impose import duties on goods such as PS3's and PSP's.

But even assuming they did, they would pay that much per SHIPMENT, not per box. There could be 40,000 PS3's in a shipment (they sell 10k a week atm). Even assuming they have to pay ALL of that, you're still looking at around $8 per PS3.

But seriously, I doubt they have to pay anything other than the same handling fees they pay in any Western nation including the USA.

well if they don't charge duties on it, then it's even more of a rip-off than it already is.

price gouging pretty much confirmed.

Is there a department of cunsume affairs or something in Aus?

they might want to have a wee peek at this.

Theoretically though, they can charge pretty much want they want to - but this just seems crazy.

Oh they can charge whatever they want. Mind you, if my PS3 breaks down anytime in the next few years I'll call whatever consumer affairs agencies I need too to ensure that Sony repairs it for free.