Poll: The "Australian" Tax

[ResonanceSD]

"A fair go" eh, cobber? Yeah, fair dinkum mate.

*ahem*

Anyway, it's all because the AU dollar used to be a lot weaker not so very long ago. Companies in Europe and the US charged us more because our money was worth less. When the AU dollar got stronger, game companies continued to charge the old prices because... well, why would they not? If people are buying your product for $90, why on earth would you drop it down to $60?

I believe the term is "fair shake of the sauce bottle"

Anyway, we're not being priced fairly in terms of digital distribution at all.

Or in terms of physical products. The dollar is a shitload stronger than it used to be, the only reason this exists is because Aussies will still pay more. That's all.

Also, games are a luxury product. Wtf are people on minimum wage doing buying them? Surely they've got bigger things to worry about?

 

[scrambledeggs]

Australians earn a lot more on average, and thus things cost more. It's pretty basic economics, really.

 

[Doom-Slayer]

Could they investigate New Zealand as well?? New games on PS3 and Xbox are $110 now. MW3 is like $120 in some places as well..

PS $110NZD is 90USD. YES..IT SUCKS.

 

[I.Muir]

My friend moved to Australia about three years ago, and commented on the huge disparity in spending cash between there and the United States.

Aussies just have more spending money in general, meaning companies can get away with charging way, way more for video games and software. This is partially related to the minimum wage being way higher there.

Another issue is just that costs are higher for games in the AU but lower for other things, equaling out overall but sucking hard for people that buy lots of games.

At least, according to my American friend living there.

What other things?
Seriously I'm pretty sure absolutely everything over here is more expensive than in the states.

Also people do not seem to be accounting for the value of the Australian dollar when it worth half as much when these same prices were around. It is true however that the average Aus wage is 8/5 the amount of the average US person. However everything here is at least twice as expensive, clothes, food, electronics, programs and probably housing too. Not accounting for tax it does look like we're being gouged because they can.