steam hates europe

[Swaki]

now dont get me wrong i still buy all my games from steam and i love their weekend deals, but i wonder why they keep on hatin us Europeans, they sell their games for the "same" prices in both the us. and in Europe as in the sell their games for 50$ and 50 euro, while the euro is worth 32% more i think its unbelievable that they have such a huge price difference between us.

 

[lizards]

they dont hate you they just like us better

 

[Souplex]

It is because valve is run by a bunch of jerk-wads.

 

[Fenring]

Isn't this old news?

And I think they just like money more than making Europe happy.

 

[Weaver]

All Canadians have to buy games in USD, fun times

 

[Swaki]

Isn't this old news?

And I think they just like money more than making Europe happy.

it might be old news but they have still to do something bout it, and now after using i don't know how much time trying to figure out how to trick them to think of me as an American to save a big ass pile of money im starting to get annoyed all over again.

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

It's because they don't know the exchange rate between a Euro and a Dollar, thus making them pricks who ignore a large portion of their customers.

I think that the exchange rate for Euro/Dollar is like 0.65 Euros is about the same as a dollar. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Hippopotamus]

You get healthcare. We get slightly cheaper games. Deal with it.

 

[Markgraf]

You're socialists, we're not, therefore higher taxes on everything in Europe!

Just kidding, its obviously a way to cash in on the lack of a truly established exchange rate between the Euro and the dollar, especially considering how much they've fluctuated, the year Steam was released being one of the more turbulent ones.

 

[Sir Ollie]

You get healthcare. We get slightly cheaper games. Deal with it.

lol i suppose in that way it makes sense.

 

[CrystalShadow]

Um, what are you talking about?

Retail purchases, or online ones?

Because, the last time I purchased anything online using the steam service, it was charged in US Dollars... Meaning, the transaction was done in US dollars, then my bank converted it after the fact...

Now, I live in England, and we generally get the worst deals ever for retail software.
(Microsoft had the gall to charge us the same price as the US even when the exchange rate was pretty much £1 = $2. Meaning we were getting charged double)

But, I haven't seen steam doing this, in my experience. They charge in US dollars, so it should match whatever the exchange rate is at the time...

 

[Acidoctor]

Screw the healthcare, I'm moving to US.

 

[Erana]

It is because valve is run by a bunch of jerk-wads.

Does not compute

 

[headshotcatcher]

It was changed, for Zeno Clash at least. I think it was 20 dollars, but 16 euros.

 

[Flour]

Why would they change it if people accept the higher prices?

Mass Effect is 45 euros on steam, and 30 on one of the more expensive online stores.
Mirror's Edge is 50 euros on steam and 20 euros in the same online store as Mass Effect.
The only exception I found in this minute-long search is X-blades. It costs 25 euros on steam and depending on the version 40euros(PC) 65euros(XBOX 360) or 80euros(collectors edition [http://www.bol.com/imgbase0/large/GAMESCOVER/FC/2/7/7/1/4/2771402.gif])

 

[asinann]

They have to pay an exchange fee when they turn your euros into USD. Instead of letting you eat their profits, they charge you more to cover the exchange fee.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

now dont get me wrong i still buy all my games from steam and i love their weekend deals, but i wonder why they keep on hatin us Europeans, they sell their games for the "same" prices in both the us. and in Europe as in the sell their games for 50$ and 50 euro, while the euro is worth 32% more i think its unbelievable that they have such a huge price difference between us.

Just join the "rest of the world" steam group and stop complaining they aren't gonna change it. And before you call me insensitive, I live in Australia.

 

[TheBlackKnight]

aren't american prices without taxes?

 

[not a zaar]

aren't american prices without taxes?

There's no national sales tax in America, as far as I know. It's up to states to decide whether to tax online purchases or not. Some do, some don't.

To answer the OP's question, it's because games are cheaper in America than in the rest of the world.

 

[Abedeus]

Stop buying their games. Send a message this way.

That's what I do, at least. I refuse to buy any game in their shop. Why, if there are several games 3 times more expensive at Steam than in the US version?

aren't american prices without taxes?

There's no national sales tax in America, as far as I know. It's up to states to decide whether to tax online purchases or not. Some do, some don't.

To answer the OP's question, it's because games are cheaper in America than in the rest of the world.

Uhm. Do you even know what you are talking about? It's not about taxes.

It's about shit like $1 = 1 EUR. Valve thinks it's the same, at least. And they still haven't changed prices for Fallout 3 and Mass Effect (and few more), still 45 EUR, as opposed to $20 on normal stores.

Also, why can't we get to the UK store?