Ireland sees PS3 price increase [update 1]
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Jan 17th 2007 at 11:05AM }
"Surely he meant to type decrease" news now, with Sony's official website indicating that the European PS3 launch may arrive in Ireland with a somewhat higher price tag. According to a report on Gamesindustry.biz, the Irish section of "This is Living" lists a price of 629.99 Euros, an increase over the originally announced 599 Euros. Now, before the internet's collective knee flies upward and concludes that the entirety of Europe will see a price increase, consider that residents of Ireland are the only ones faced with a higher price at this time (and the poor guys aren't even getting the 20GB model at launch). The United Kingdom's page still lists the original EUR 599 price. One theory is that the Irish page was merely the first to be updated, but it remains a theory until Sony officially announces a price increase.
That seems unlikely, if not entirely inconceivable given consumers' current attitude towards the PS3.
[Update: Sony has confirmed the higher price is for Ireland only, due to its higher VAT rate. The 60GB PS3 is still set at EUR 599 for the rest of Europe, GBP 425 for the UK.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ALH @ Jan 17th 2007 11:25AM
another theory could be that the uk doesnt use euros and we have to endure £599? €629 converts closer to £400 than €599, mabes theres a link there
Stevek @ Jan 17th 2007 11:21AM
As far as I know the Wii was €250 throughout Europe, however, in Ireland this wasn't the case. The cheapest it was to be found for was €270.
Fin @ Jan 17th 2007 11:26AM
Yeah, my Wii cost €280.
I think the UK price for PS3 is £425, which is around €645, so they're getting screwed even more.
€599 in mainland Europe, €629 in Ireland (though you won't be able to find it for under €650) and €645 in UK.
Sony is screwing everyone at the moment.
Steve2 @ Jan 17th 2007 11:28AM
Consumers' current attitudes toward PS3?
Is "consumer" the new euphemism for Sony hater? It's pretty easy to get wrapped up in the world of fanboy sites and think that the entire world hates PS3.
However, believe it or not, there are a lot of people out there who actually like the PS3, and another group who despite not owning one, perhaps not even being able to afford one and even perhaps already owning a 360 who don't just crap on the PS3 out of spite.
Next big news story:
Duke University is widely considered to be a poor institute of higher learning because Fark users frequently type "Duke sucks" into articles.
Karen @ Jan 17th 2007 11:30AM
Next-Gen.Biz has an update that says:
"Sony says the different price is a reflection of higher rates of taxation in Ireland than the rest of Europe, adding that previously announced European and UK prices are not affected."
azesino @ Jan 17th 2007 11:37AM
HaHaHa Poor Europeans Have to pay 773.00 USD for their PS3 and now in Ireland is going to be 812.00 USD, I salute the fanboys over there that pay that excrusiating amount of money for a game console.
AC Slater @ Jan 17th 2007 11:42AM
Over $800US for a PS3? I hope Irish gamers tell Sony to kiss their blarney stones.
Kspraydad @ Jan 17th 2007 11:47AM
This is completely due to Ireland's high VAT which is added before it gets to the store....
It is not different than the PS3 being different prices in different States depending on your local Sales Tax rate.
DrXym @ Jan 17th 2007 12:14PM
These prices are too high. Before anybody says Nintendo or Microsoft are any better - they're not. But the size of these prices is far too high. The reason that Ireland's price is so high is very weak so I'm expecting that we'll get a strengthened "ah but we have to pay a recycling fee on electronic goods in Ireland" reason soon. Even so €629 before tax is €520 which is equivalent to $676. So Ireland gets to pay $76 more than the US does even before taxes are considered.
But Ireland actually has it good compared to the UK. Where £425 before tax works out at $710. Rip-off Britain strikes again. My prediction - Continental retailers are going to do a roaring trade from the UK & Ireland.
KawF @ Jan 17th 2007 11:53AM
Hey Sony fanboys, stop using logic, it won't work on us!
Elite Character: Xbot
+5 Block to Logic
+10 Speedy post-writer
+7 Math-defusion skills
droptop GP @ Jan 17th 2007 11:54AM
Ireland gets hit in it's weak point for massive damage.
cosh @ Jan 17th 2007 12:00PM
It's been confirmed now by Sony as for Ireland.
The bonus is: The UK also gets a hike, to GPB 525 (EUR 647)...
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=22289
Gotta pay for bluray somehow... (Although Sony says it's all retailer's fault, and this is a "Bargain" for gamers).
How much is GBP 425 in USD?
cosh @ Jan 17th 2007 12:05PM
Sorry, I meant GBP 425 is the new PS3 price for the UK.
That's sets it at $835US for a PS3, being the official Sony price.
Nice......!
Ok back to Gears Of War...
jackal @ Jan 17th 2007 12:04PM
Boy, I am glad that I don't live in Ireland or Europe for that matter. God bless USA!
jork @ Jan 17th 2007 1:02PM
ha ok i live in ireland the vat is less than 5% more than the mainland the last time i checked...stil a fack load
not €129 extra
the wii was understandable...and extra €10 in hmv for living on an island, fair enough. €129.....thats two weeks drinking money that a lot of people here would see as the final straw
roflcopter @ Jan 17th 2007 12:29PM
The more interesting piece of information here is that they aren't getting the 20GB model at launch...
Also, why do people beleive sony will sell several hundreds of thousands (even millions) of ps3s in europe in march (hardly a holiday month)? Yeah i know europe is (was?) playstationland, and for some people they could sell a brick with playstation written on it, but thats because ps2 was the cheaper alternative last time, and you could play fucking anything on it (most importantly huge boring yearly franchises like fifa or need for speed that seem to be popular over here).
I'm not so sure the masses who play mostly multiplatform EA stuff are willing to drop EUR500+ on a system, when they could play all those games on cheaper platforms (especially in southern and eastern europe).
Then again, those are the same people who equate gaming with playstation...
chemicalcaveman @ Jan 17th 2007 12:24PM
Well as an Irish gamer this does not surprise me in the least. The first comment is true, no Wii's could be bought for under E270. 360's top pack is still going for E400. All three hardware producers work on the Euro=Dollar idea. Its were they get the extra cash to drop prices in Japan and the States and unfortunaly we just have to suck it up!
The sorry thing about all this is that the average gamer in Ireland is going to go out (or their parents go out) and buy the PS3 anyway because it has the Playstation brand on it. Ireland is such a Sony country its unbelievable. They could at least wait until a couple of months after launch where they might have enough selection of games to justify paying over the odds for an expensive console in the first place.
YKW @ Jan 17th 2007 12:27PM
Ireland is not alone. From the Finnish Playstation 3 site:
Blu-ray-asemalla, esiasennetulla kiintolevyllä ja langattomalla ohjaimella varustettu PLAYSTATION®3 maksaa 550 euroa (20 Gt:n kiintolevy) tai 650 euroa(60 Gt:n kiintolevy).
I probably don't need to translate. VAT in Finland is 22 %, one percentage point higher than in Ireland.
John @ Jan 17th 2007 12:30PM
I live in Northern Ireland and think this is really bad.
The reason is simply that the EU price is cheaper than the UK price, and with Northern Ireland being UK we could just go across the border and buy the cheaper EU model so they made the price the same in Ireland as the UK.
I really hope the Xbox 360 gets a web browser (not really relevant but meh lol) and mainly that the PS3 fails! Then maybe Sony might think about the consumer a bit more with the PS4!
lol!
:)
is @ Jan 17th 2007 12:32PM
I predict that the ps3 will bomb in the UK for this exact reason. £425 without even a game? You add just a few trimmings and that shits costing you close to £500. In terms of basic conversion thats approacging 900 bucks.
900 bucks people. WTF.
Couple this with alot of wii hype and a fairly established 360 scene and theres just no compelling reason for a new punter to lay down this much money for a playstation, apart from some dubious 'brand recognition. English people arnt so stupid that they well part with £500 odd quid to 'play beyond', were a cynical people who see past all that shit.
Bye bye, the age of sony. Long live the reign of Wii60, and their glorious regime of affordable and innovative/reasonably priced next gen gaming!
Nick @ Jan 17th 2007 12:35PM
One thing to keep in mind is that these prices include taxes. Also, taxes in eurpe are much higher than they are here. A good example of these higher sales taxes is Italy which currently has a 20% sales tax.
T-BONE @ Jan 17th 2007 12:46PM
Does anyone know where i can find a playstation 3? I have gone to every store looking for one but seem to be out of luck. I want one so bad! I'm just a little nervous spending my life savings. Isn't there some cool sports game that comes with it? I'm really looking forward to playing it, i hear it is a blast. Some one please let me know, i just seem to be out of luck every time i go to the store to pick one up!
sploy @ Jan 17th 2007 1:16PM
lol, £425 for a linux PC that has a blu ray drive!! yippee. That's how I see it.
Tao69 @ Jan 17th 2007 12:50PM
629 euros... between 800 and 850 dollars...
You, americans, found the PS3 price too high?
I'm sure europeans won't, and the PS3 will be a huge success down here... (sarcasm off)
Aran @ Jan 17th 2007 12:54PM
Quit bitching, bitches!
PLAYSTATION 3 is worth every dollar/euro/pound/whatever currency! You get a Blu-ray player! It's great! Woo-hoo! Blu-ray!
And! You also get! RIIIIIIIIIIIIDGE RACER! Woo-hoo!
Ok, let's get serious. The price for 60GB PS3 here in Finland is 650€ which is 841$. Eight-fu*king hundread and forty dollars. Ridiculous, eh?
Tom @ Jan 17th 2007 1:13PM
Ahhh, I remember being excited about the prospect of getting a PS3. Then Sony priced me out of it - I've got a mortgage and wedding to pay for dammit!
Mastgrr @ Jan 17th 2007 4:36PM
A console for $599 is really $640 with a 7% sales tax or $623 with a 4% sales tax. Then again, the exchange rate right now is 1.2 dollars per euro.
Farseer @ Jan 17th 2007 2:51PM
LOL @ T-BONE
You have a gift for satire!
(BTW, if you are actually not trying to be funny, just order one from Circuit City - they have them available on their website. Also, if want one locally, go to Target or GameStop)
stlouisdl @ Jan 17th 2007 8:46PM
$100 OFF WHEN YOU TRADE IN YOUR PS2
EBGAMES / GAMESTOP
http://www.ebgames.com/gs/weeklyad/current/
Now price is no excuse not to buy for ps2 owners.
T-BONE @ Jan 17th 2007 2:02PM
Ok, no one worry, I got one. I went to target and there were like 8 of them. Isn't that crazy? Why are there so many? I yelled out to everyone in the store to come and grab some ps3's and no one even moved. What is wrong with people, it's a playtation 3........ah hello.......need I say more. I love everything about sony.....there just so great........I love my psp, and I love my now knew love......the ps3.....oh happy days.
Darth Sonik @ Jan 17th 2007 2:16PM
I'm in Ireland..........All electronics here have a stupid Envoironmental Tax (Supposedly for recycling) on top of VAT...........Stupid Government.
Daniel Almada @ Jan 17th 2007 2:23PM
HA! That's nothing... The Japanese are not really interested in the Mexican videogame market... Only Microsoft... Can someone explain to me the logic in selling your console in a third world country and selling it at more than twice the price in the US or Europe? Want a 20GB PS3? It sells for 1235 US Dollars!!!! Want a Wii? pony up 456 US Dollars... IT SUCKS!!!!! (On the other hand, the 360 is selling for a very reasonable 450 dollars for the Premium Package... It's still more than in the US, but at least me & all my friends have one...
Emmanuel Miranda @ Jan 17th 2007 2:40PM
In Mexico the official price for the 60GB PS3 at retailers is $13,499 Pesos (around $1,227 USD)
http://www.elpalaciodehierro.com.mx/ph/tienda/Product.jhtml?PRODID=6394353&CATID=1256286
I'd love to buy it at the price Ireland is getting it, wait, actually I don't want one, even if it's at the same price here in Mexico than in the US =P
stlouisdl @ Jan 17th 2007 8:39PM
$100 OFF PS3 WHEN YOU TRADE IN YOUR PS2
EBGAMES / GAMESTOP
http://www.ebgames.com/gs/weeklyad/current/
Now price is no excuse not to buy for ps2 owners.
Skipjimroo @ Jan 17th 2007 4:24PM
Gotta love you crazy yanks with your mock pity, converting the U of K's launch retail price into your own currency and coming to the brain-damaged conclusion that we're getting screwed. Did it ever occur to you that it translates as so high because your almighty dollars aren't worth the dusty remains of the dead presidents printed on them?
I was over in the states back in October and it was one of the cheapest holidays I've had for the simple fact you can buy as much for a dollar over there as you'll get for a humble GBP over here. I lived like a king for two weeks, the whole time wiping my ass with pictures of Abe Lincoln's face.
I find it worrying you even need reminding how bad a state your county's in!
Rubang B @ Jan 17th 2007 5:43PM
All me be want f'r X-Mas is 629 Euros; yo.yo
Catprog @ Jan 17th 2007 6:08PM
You think thats bad
In Australia $1,000 gets you a PS3(I think that that the 60GB version)
hef @ Jan 17th 2007 7:53PM
I'm going to shoot someone for their PS3 or maybe just use a club to $ave. God bless.
NeverSage @ Jan 17th 2007 7:56PM
Ouch, Skipjimroo, my national pride!
Steve2... uh, I believe it's a fact that the PS3 ain't sellin so hot. You know, not being bought by consumers. But you're right, the few consumers who DID buy a PS3* are probably the few who wanted a PS3.
*Does not include all those bought to be sold on ebay.
I'd just like to add I would own a PS3 right now if it were $400.
Ciaran @ Jan 17th 2007 8:49PM
'This is completely due to Ireland's high VAT which is added before it gets to the store....'
not true. the last person to buy an item is the only person to pay VAT. Everyone else can write the VAT off.
But we also have an electronic waste fee, so that would add another 10 euro or so to the cost.
anyway, the ps3 wont do too well in ireland anyway. I only know two people who are still planning on getting one, everyone else already got a 360, and my one friend who bought a ps3 in New York, doesnt seem all too happy with with it
Daniel Whitford @ Jan 18th 2007 1:27PM
As said before the Wii was €270 over here (I was told €260 when I preordered then had to pay an extra tenner to get it), so this isn't abnormal.
However, with the state of Irish gaming (it's not that hardcore), I know quite a few people planning on buying PS3s who are likely to buy XBox360s due to this. Good job Sony, you just gave a new meaning to the word expensive!
BlackHeart @ Jan 18th 2007 10:01PM
Daniel Almada, Emmanuel Miranda, please do not spread false information, there's no such official price for PS3 in Mexico, the release date is MARCH 2007, and major retailers are selling PS3's IMPORTED by theyselves right now, of course you will not get them cheap.