DS screen manufacturer accused of price fixing
In a statement delivered on Thursday, Sharp agreed to "strengthen [their] effort of compliance with law and business ethics," though they denied that they participated in activities that violated the Antimonopoly Act, stating that two manufacturers alone would be unable to control the market in the manner the JFTC has accused them of. They stated that they are looking into their "next steps," and are considering a hearing request.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rocko @ Dec 20th 2008 4:20PM
ouch, $3 million, that is going to severely hurt these "Sharp" and "Hitachi" companies, who most definitely do not have the money for these lawsuits.
Lam @ Dec 20th 2008 4:23PM
It's only $3 million because the dollar is losing value versus the yen. :(
Puffles @ Dec 20th 2008 7:01PM
The dollar losing its value would make the total amount go up, not down.
(Think about it this way. If the dollar was worth 300,000,000 yen, they'd be sued for about $1. If the dollar was worth about 1 yen, they'd be sued for about $300,000,000.)
Sicem @ Dec 20th 2008 8:20PM
Actually, the dollar has been gaining ground recently.
SirFishouse @ Dec 20th 2008 4:31PM
It's meant to be a slap on the wrist. It's meant for for public display.
The_Doctor @ Dec 20th 2008 10:56PM
SirFishouse,
Is that Lrrr? And is he doing what I think he's doing to Leila?
SirFishouse @ Dec 20th 2008 11:11PM
It's a bit lewd, but so are my tastes :\
Wiinterfang @ Dec 20th 2008 4:45PM
I don't understand, do they supplied the screens at a higher price that they supposed too? (sorry I haven't heard the news)
Morisato @ Dec 20th 2008 5:35PM
They speak with each other and agree to not lower their prices below a certain point. They are fixing the price at a certain point... or price fixing... if you will.
Wiinterfang @ Dec 20th 2008 5:38PM
I see, well does that means that if the lower the price Nintendo can lower the price of the DS?...Yeah right.
Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Dec 20th 2008 6:19PM
Not really...but the trade laws dictate that dueto competition, both sides will constantly lower the price as time passes in an attempt to outdo each other.If they both agree to stay at a certain price than they get more profit off customers and it's considered unfair practice.
For a more clear example, something similar happened with Nintendo in NES/SNES era. Due to lack of any direct competition, Nintendo artificially kept the prices high and even five years after it came out, it still cost the same.
Haggard @ Dec 20th 2008 8:08PM
The problem with the competition system is that it generally means products are built with the cheapest components possible, unless they are designed to be marketed as 'quality'.
On the other hand, in a monopoly system, you get products which are inferior and which are expensive, because the manufacturer has no competition.
No matter how you swing it, consumers exist to be exploited.
Premature ejaculation man @ Dec 20th 2008 9:19PM
There are more downsides with the monopoly based than the competition based though.
DarkNessBear @ Dec 21st 2008 4:48AM
agreed
dillpunk @ Dec 20th 2008 5:42PM
My girlfriend works for Sharp in Osaka. Its more than a slap on the wrist. Many of these Japanese companies including Sharp are severely hurting right now due to the fact the US dollar is rapidly degenerating to monopoly money status. They already have to sell their products at much lower prices in the US than they do in Japan. Add to that the fact that the dollars convert back to much less yen and some of these companies might not be able to weather the economic storm we are seeing across the globe. Sharp in particular was just found guilty of price fixing in the US and was slapped with a 120 million dollar fine which is not exactly chump change. I will say that employees at Sharp were sent an email saying they are innocent in this instance and are planning on fighting it. I say good luck... If any of these companies start to go out of business there will be less competition and prices will be more likely to go up than down.
justshovejayohbe @ Dec 20th 2008 8:26PM
currency always inflates during war-time, and the U.S. dollar is hardly monopoly money; it's actually been doing a lot better relative to the euro since it bottomed in september -- expect it to improve... despite the fact that money is being printed and handed out to stimulate the economy, there actually won't be much if any inflation because trillions of dollars were literally vaporized by the mortgage collapse -- that's money out of the system.
WRE @ Dec 20th 2008 5:52PM
Sometimes when I read these posts I start to think that the words "economy" and "weak dollar" are just buzzwords to some people.
dillpunk @ Dec 20th 2008 6:00PM
My degree is in economics. I could draw you a bitchin graph to explain if you want?
And weak dollar isnt really a buzzword... I went to japan in august and i could buy 110 yen for one dollar. Now i can buy 89 yen with one dollar. Multiply that by millions and you can see how much money these japanese companies are loosing on currency conversion. Its not a buzz.. Its a chainsaw.
WRE @ Dec 20th 2008 6:23PM
I'll take a chainsaw graph, please.
zuburi @ Dec 20th 2008 6:41PM
When I was first in Japan (like 6 years ago?), it was 140Y/1$.
However, getting paid in yen is freaking awesome now!
Lee @ Dec 20th 2008 8:15PM
I only want to see comments by Dillpunk in this news item. He seems to have a better grasp that the other fans here.
Sicem @ Dec 20th 2008 8:23PM
This story isn't very surprising.
Hydro033 @ Dec 20th 2008 11:38PM
I repair DS's as some spending money while I attend college, and man those top screens were the most expensive part to replace! Except the motherboard of course.
ill trooper @ Dec 21st 2008 12:41AM
"IT PRICE-FIXES MONEY!"
KeenCommander @ Dec 21st 2008 2:13AM
No.
Lee @ Dec 21st 2008 10:30AM
Nope.
DarkNessBear @ Dec 21st 2008 4:49AM
This doesnt seem awesome
Bowser Rogozhin @ Dec 21st 2008 6:04AM
Slightly related: how about Nintendo lower the price of 1st party software? Stores are selling new copies of Mario Party DS for £38. That's the same price as 360 games, and they're overpriced as it is.
Lee @ Dec 21st 2008 10:30AM
It seems like you enjoy mixing where you buy games from. Mario Party DS is £15 online. DS games peak at about £25 online.
What you appear to be doing is listing high store DS prices against online 360 games which is very misleading, why would you do that? Just curious.
Doing my Xmas shopping yesterday I didn't see any newish 360 game in Game, Gamestation, HMV for less than £40.
Bowser Rogozhin @ Dec 21st 2008 10:57AM
I was comparing store with store: that was the case with Game yesterday.
360 games are priced at £40-45 in that store. The reason why you didn't see any 'newish 360 games for less than £40' is because, if you haven't noticed, these stores are fighting for their lives, and it's Christmas. Pretty simple. Come on, kid, use your noggin.
Lee @ Dec 21st 2008 11:56AM
Of new games
DS store: £25-35
360 store: £40-55 (or much more for collectors editions)
DS online: £15-25
360 online: £30-40 (again, more for collectors editions)
However you look at it, apart from your made up Mario Party numbers, DS games are hella cheaper than 360. No spin for you.
You can check these prices at Game and Gamestations websites against Play.com, Amazon and friends
Bowser Rogozhin @ Dec 21st 2008 12:21PM
Dude, I never said DS games, I said Mario Party DS. During the week on Amazon it was in the high thirties, as was the case at Game in Blue Borough. But Amazon has gone down in price, so I'll give you that.
Why are you coming across as a fanboy? Nintendo aren't infallible, and Miyamoto isn't your father. This is a legitimate complaint: pricing on DS, might as well bring in the Wii as well, software stinks of greed. Mario Party DS has been out for well over a year but new copies are being sold for £38; Yoshi's Island DS is being sold for £33.
Seems like the beginnings of the arrogant NES/SNES era if you ask me. Way to foster good customer relations, Nintendo. Or do you prefer that sort of sado-masochistic relationship?
WRE @ Dec 21st 2008 1:18PM
Come on, Bowser. Sometimes you see like a smart guy, but this argument is retarded. Nintendo doesn't lower their prices because they don't have to. Their games have extremely long legs and sell well years after release. It's business, not personal. You can call it greed if you want to, but that doesn't exactly fit.