Bollocks - already paid it! I just wanted to get it done with. Thanks for the advice though.
Cheap Arse Gaffer |Europe| Cheap, Calm, and Carry On
- Thread starter Keyser Soze
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Bollocks - already paid it! I just wanted to get it done with. Thanks for the advice though.
Zeouterlimits
Member
Hmm, do I finally get Smash Bros?
Steiner_Zi
Member
I tried to find a good deal on Ocarina of Time 3D but it's crazy that at least on Amazon UK it's 36 pounds which is MORE expensive than the NOT YET released Majora's Mask (which it's at 33 pounds at the moment). I should have grabbed it during the summer months when it had fallen to 27 pounds. Nintendo seems so out of touch and elitist it's driving me crazy: instead of discounting the previous 3D Zelda entry on the system to entice a new audience and more potential customers for the sequel, they raise the price! The game was released in fucking 2011, it was a remaster of a 1998 title and it is more expensive than a new 2015 release of the same franchise. Talk about an absurd pricing policy.
Stilton Disco
Member
I hate the damned handling fee they add onto customs charges. It's a part of their job and a public 'service' we pay our taxes for. The cheek of then demanding we pay them extra for doing their jobs is just outrageous, even before getting into the ridiculousness of paying VAT on items not for sale in the UK.
Sadly not, works out as £32, and I'm looking for under £30. Thanks though!
I got OoT for a fiver from Currys a few years ago. Played it, loved it, traded it in at CeX for £21. £16 profit for playing one of the greatest games of all time.
Nintendo haven't done anything. Retailers keep the prices high because they know they'll buy it for that much and Nintendo probably aren't doing another print run. They haven't changed the RRP at all.
Steiner_Zi
Member
Why then do retailers do this thing with Nintendo games only? And if it was the retailers' fault why the game is even more expensive on eShop? Every other publisher in existence discount their games after some time, hell even Nintendo used to do so during the DS era, but today they seem to live in their own little world. Another example: see Kid Icarus which is £37.39, Fire Emblem: Awakening is at £35 and Luigi's Mansion 2 at £35, too.
And we're talking about handheld games which should be cheaper than consoles titles. I'm not saying that they should have iOS/Android store prices but I repeat, it's crazy that 3-year old 3DS games are more expensive that new PS4/XBO/WiiU games.
foobarry81
Member
Getting hit by customs is NEVER a lottery when you use a courier service. You´ll only stand a good chance of not getting hit if you use Royal Mail and unregistered mail.
If you paid £160, you should pay 20% VAT (this is the VAT rate in UK on games, right?) of that total amount, so £32.
Apart from that, you´ll have to pay import tax because the total value of your package is over €150 (not sure what the amount in £ is; probably £110-120). Import taxes are also calculated based on that £160. They depend on what type of product you´re importing. E.g. the import tax on video games in Belgium is 3,5%. Not sure what it is on hardware in the UK.
On top of that all couriers will ask for an administrative fee, i.e. a fee to declare your package for you to customs, calculate the VAT (and import tax, if applicable) that is due, and fill out some paperwork. These fees depend on which courier you use. Fedex is probably not the cheapest one around.
Stilton Disco
Member
Often the way. Due to the high prices retailers often still have stock years later that ends up at fire sale prices when they have to clear space. I can't think that endears Nintendo to stores, and it's hugely annoying to us as customers, since it's so easy to miss out on a good deal.
Just as bad digitally too. Take the Vita vs 3DS. Retail, physical copies wise, I have about as many games for each, digitally though, I have one non ambassador game in the 3DS, which I got free for registering ALBW. Conversely, I have over 30 Vita titles, all bought on sale, or via PS+, because it's much more tempting to spend money you wouldn't have otherwise when you feel like you're getting a good deal. I've not even played half of them! But they've got my money, and I'm happy to have given it to them.
I know they don't want to undermine their image amongst their hardcore fanbase as 'premium' games makers, but when everyone else is willing to reward their customers with far better deals far more regularly, it just comes across as taking advantage of their most ardent supporters because they know they can treat them badly.
Because back in the Wii and DS days there was competition, so prices got driven down as some big games will have 000's in stock sitting in a warehouse and they'd want to clear it. As the 3DS and Wii U are less popular and it may as well only be Nintendo games existing on the machines, retailers will have a stock of probably a couple of hundred, sit on them and wait for people to pay that price, because they will. You want a new Nintendo game, well, you don't have a lot of choice. They don't even mind being more expensive than the eShop because they're not in competition with it.
Basically Nintendo don't flood the market with carts. They'll do a run, if that sells out quickly, they'll do another. If it doesn't, the retailers will wait to sell the little stock they have left and after that, physical copies will be unable to be obtained new anymore.
Heh, I have more digital games on my 3DS than my Vita just because more games appeal to me, even with PS+. But even then, only a couple were bought from the eShop itself. game.co.uk always have the codes cheaper, as do cdkeys.com.
Stilton Disco
Member
Oh it's all anecdotal, and I have hugely wide and eclectic tastes, but the attach rate for the 3DS from Nintendo's own numbers is dire, most people seemingly buying a system for a single game by the looks of it, where as last I heard Vita was something like 7:1. Even widening it out to other systems, the norm these days seems to be backlogs and and record software sales. Even the barely out PS4 is already hitting over a 4:1 average.
There's a delicate line between maintenancing your products value, and driving off sales, and the 3DS and Nintendo generally as time goes on seems unable to walk it.
Ah, good to know. Thanks.
That's an amazing price for saying it's a pre-order. I'd buy it myself at that price if I hadn't already played it last gen.
Spent the last few days convincing myself I can justify buying a PS4 for my birthday based on those £280 deals knocking round the other day but now they appear to be £330-350 everywhere! Only want it for Bloodborne and Scholar of the First Sin (plus Uncharted when it eventually releases) and since my birthday is 22nd March and Bloodborne hits on the 27th it seems like the perfect time to buy one as a gift to myself
Is it likely to drop in price between now and then or have I missed the best deals for the foreseeable future? Thinking I need to jump on the first sub-300 deal I see between now and then with the justification that my birthday money will pay it off! Being old and having bills and a wedding to pay for makes it much harder to be a gamer :/
Also, can you register several accounts on a PS4 like you can with the PS3? Have seen people mention that buying digital from the US is far cheaper than buying over here and I'm not fussed about physical copies so that sounds like a good plan. Is it true that all PS4 games have to be installed? If so, I'm guessing that any game you plan on keeping and won't be selling on 2nd hand may as well be bought digitally? Sorry for so many questions but didn't want to start a new thread and I know how helpful people in this thread can usually be. Thanks in advance!
Is it likely to drop in price between now and then or have I missed the best deals for the foreseeable future? Thinking I need to jump on the first sub-300 deal I see between now and then with the justification that my birthday money will pay it off! Being old and having bills and a wedding to pay for makes it much harder to be a gamer :/
Also, can you register several accounts on a PS4 like you can with the PS3? Have seen people mention that buying digital from the US is far cheaper than buying over here and I'm not fussed about physical copies so that sounds like a good plan. Is it true that all PS4 games have to be installed? If so, I'm guessing that any game you plan on keeping and won't be selling on 2nd hand may as well be bought digitally? Sorry for so many questions but didn't want to start a new thread and I know how helpful people in this thread can usually be. Thanks in advance!
archnemesis
Member
The console is still selling well and there are no planned large conferences between now and then so it is unlikely that there will be a price drop. Microsoft just raised the price of the Xbox One and the Wii U is not competing directly since its library is almost completely different.
Yep.
Yes. Apparently the Blu-ray drive isn't fast enough to stream the data.
Well, you could also lend physical copies to friends. They also have the tendency to drop in price faster.
holygeesus
Banned
I'm not sure where you get this from, but no courier or delivery firm, including Royal Mail, are a 'public service' that your taxes contribute to.
It is true that their admin fees they charge for the privilege of you paying them the customs fees are swingeingly high though. Apparently one thing VATMOSS did introduce amongst all its VATMESS is the ability for non-EU companies to register for VAT, which would mean you could pay the VAT at the checkout and the Royal Mail or whatever courier wouldn't be able to claim their pound of flesh.
holygeesus
Banned
I wasn't arguing that, but then again I don't know the precise operation that involves handling goods through customs but I do know that when they enter Royal Mail's systems, they do receive special treatment compared to regular parcels and this isn't automated, hence the extra charge. Whether you think this is excessive is open to debate of course.
My point was more that people shouldn't look at any courier as being a public service funded by taxes as they aren't.
X-Com Enemy Within - Commander in Chief Edition (PS3) - 8pounds (this is X-Com Enemy Unknown + Enemy Within (the DLC), everything on disc - attention: it seems you can't get the Enemy Unknown trophies/achievements because Enemy Within DLC is fixed into the game which will only get you Enemy Within trophies/achievements)
X-Com Enemy Within - Commander in Chief Edition (360)
The Darkness 2 (PS3) - 6pounds
Bioshock Infinite (PS3) - 8pounds
Metal Gear Rising (360) - 4pounds
Borderlands 1 & 2 (PS3) - 8pounds
@ zavvi
X-Com Enemy Within - Commander in Chief Edition (360)
The Darkness 2 (PS3) - 6pounds
Bioshock Infinite (PS3) - 8pounds
Metal Gear Rising (360) - 4pounds
Borderlands 1 & 2 (PS3) - 8pounds
@ zavvi
toythatkills
Member
No. That has £6 shipping attached.
Stilton Disco
Member
The post office is still actually receiving goverment funds, mostly for expansion and service maintenance, and will be until at least 2018, and the government is still a major share holder. It might not be publicly funded in the same way it used to be (and still should be), but like so many privatised companies, it's certainly still being supported by the tax payer.
foobarry81
Member
This whole discussion about the government not being able to charge for a service because we all already pay taxes, seems a bit silly if you look at whatever else you pay for when dealing with government services:
- renewing your passport costs you money over here
- the price of waste bags consists mostly of taxes
- our publicly owned train company charges you for travelling. Probably was the case too when it wasn´t privatised in the UK yet.
- publics schools still charge you tuition fees.
- ....
Cheers for the answers, even if it's not what I was hoping I'd hear :/ Looks like I need to find an extra £50 in my budget and settle for a white model! Not too fussed about lending copies to friends. Spent the entire PS3 generation trying to convince them to play the Souls games and none of them own PS4's anyway!
You could buy the US version from videogamesplus.ca if that doesn't matter to you (there is no DLC for P4G so from a practical standpoint, the versions are exactly the same), where you'd pay 19,99C$ + 7,49C$ shipping, which, using paypal, should effectively cost you roughly 20 (15,59£). Other than that, the 19,99£ at Amazon UK might be the best deal, but I'm not sure there.
Stilton Disco
Member
Most everything you've listed there are optional additional expenses that aren't a part of everyday life. Import duty and border control are a basic part of the governments duties, and should already be budgeted for.
Also Public schools are privately owned in the UK, unless you mean state schools, which do offer free education for all.
Besides which, I'm firmly in the camp that all these services should be financed by taxation, and that the privatisation of vital public services like rail infrastructure, water, power and the post office should have never been privatised in the first place and are far, far worse for it.
Also we've kind of gone massively of topic here...
foobarry81
Member
UK may be somewhat of an exception within the EU. Here a passport is very much part of everyday life. If I don´t have my passport on me when I go out, I can be fined. Our railway company has not been privatised and costs the tax payer a lot. State schools aren´t 100% free either over here. (I said "public schools" as opposed to private schools, but in the UK the term "public school" is used for what is essentially private education.) How is education optional?
Anyway, my point was that goverment charges people for (even the most basic) services all the time.
Not saying that I´ll gladly this administrative fee though.
toythatkills
Member
Hey guys, anyone know the cheapest price for an education?
In UK BTW.
In UK BTW.
holygeesus
Banned
Royal Mail and the Post Office are a separate entity though, so I'm not sure which you are referring to, and my knowledge of the Post Office, and it's operations is not great. The Post Office *is* still state owned though. As for Royal Mail, tax-payers money doesn't go towards expansion and service maintenance at all. The money for RM's modernisation, has come from the sell-off and general sound operating profits over the years. It could be argued that tax from the public, is being used to plug the massive pension deficit within the company but that has no bearing on why you are charged a handling fee when your goods are held up by customs.
Anyway we are getting massively off-topic lol
foobarry81
Member
toythatkills
Member
I think that's the first time someone's quoted those posts at me in a way that actually kind of works!
couriers like for example DHL are not the government.
DHL courier services (not regular DHL) ask for a so called "Kapitalbereitsstellungsgebühr" at least in Switzerland + Germany since last year. Which is simply a "fee" for them paying customs fees for you. But you never asked them to do this and it's 12 EUR at minimum. You can't stop them from doing it.
Which means you order something for 60EUR, that would normally be around 10EUR customs fees (VAT). DHL pays that for you and then they ask for 22EUR a day later. I'm talking about courier here. Courier packages are that fast (you pay way more postage for those, which makes this whole thing an even bigger rip off)).
They ask for more than 100% interest for 1 day. Which is around 42000% p.a. interest. That's simply an insane rip-off. And they don't risk anything. In the worst case I deny to pay, they don't give me the package and they can either get the customs fees back in case they return the package or even sell the package. It's highway robbery.
I mean if it's such a big problem for them, they are free to not do it and let me do the customs stuff by myself.
Well you paid postage already. They shouldn't (be able to) ask for any fee at all. You are not paying the customs officer. You are paying for some digital data getting passed to customs (and/or them paying those fees for you).
Asking for VAT on 30EUR packages is stupid anyway. Customs processing takes some time and a customs officer will cost the state way more than 5EUR during that time. It's simply a hindrance, so that people don't import that much.
Jersey islands for example don't ask for VAT on packages with a value lower than 240pounds (!!!! this is not a typo).
http://www.gov.je/Travel/InformationAdvice/ImportsExports/Pages/DutiesTaxesImports.aspx
foobarry81
Member
That is not entirely true. You should be able to order them to hand your package over to a customs agent of your choice. Just let them know beforehand, once you have your tracking number. This person/company would then fill out the customs forms for you. Obviously you would have to pay that agent as well, and in the end it will likely end up costing you more.
Triggerhappytel
Member
The £280 PS4 offer was started by Argos I believe and was only a three day deal. It's what made me bite too. These special offers seem to be fluctuating all over the place so I'm honestly not sure the deal will be repeated. Weirdly all the good console offers seemed to happen at the end of last year, with very little in January so far.
Fuck, does anyone know the best place to go in the UK for a deal on a white PS4?
It seems there are bundles with LBP3 (no interest), Destiny (eeeh) or GTAV (can get it on its own for £20 new), and that's it. Nothing else, no extra pad, very rarely any extra games, and if there are, they're crap ones.
Ideally I'd like Far Cry 4 with it, but all the bundles it comes with are black ones and I'm just really not feeling black this time around.
It seems there are bundles with LBP3 (no interest), Destiny (eeeh) or GTAV (can get it on its own for £20 new), and that's it. Nothing else, no extra pad, very rarely any extra games, and if there are, they're crap ones.
Ideally I'd like Far Cry 4 with it, but all the bundles it comes with are black ones and I'm just really not feeling black this time around.
I can and do almost always do customs handling by myself, which makes sense because only I myself have the actual invoices. And that's not possible at least they simply ignore my wish as a customer. They want to get those 12 EUR of course.
This "service" should be opt-in and the default should be delivering the package to customs offices, so that they can tell me, that I have to get the package and pay VAT.
TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared
Member
Anyone know the best price for GTA 5 PS4?
Well Dechande can get it for £20 and I've not seen it at that, so I'm hoping he can tell us where at?
damien1928
Banned
Gta for £20? Count me in!
I'd be all in for that price.
Visualante2
Member
Update on my Rocksmith cable quest. Ubisoft has been awaiting stock for two or more weeks. Amazon is the exclusive stockist of the standalone cable, other cables will have been stripped from PC copies with the code sold online. Prices on eBay for used units really high. Rocksmith 1 prices have risen from £20 to £31 at one retailer because people are buying it just for the cable.
Absolute joke, definitely avoid this game unless you can get the cable bundled with the game.
Absolute joke, definitely avoid this game unless you can get the cable bundled with the game.
Sorry, it's from an employee store from a friend, not available to the public.
Ok. I thought that might be the case.
Saiyan-Rox
Member
Has anyone seen the bayo 1&2 collection cheap at all? Seems to be under that Nintendo never get cheap curse.
Cheapest I've seen was 42 on Amazon.fr, but I think it's out of stock now.
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