Posted on 03/25/2007 7:47:23 PM PDT by JohnSheppard
In an interview with Martin Matt, from the popular GameIndustry.biz site, Sony UK managing director Ray Maguire calls America "a land of cheap people", while the UK is “a little island where rent and rates are at an absolute premium”.
When asked about the high price of the PS3 in PAL areas, especially in the UK (where Sony’s console is currently being sold for GBP 425- US $840- more expensive than anywhere in Europe) this is what Ray Maguire had to say:
“If you take what's considered to be the most expensive and the least expensive – consider the US with its massive land and cheap people. Then you look at the UK – a little island where rent and rates are at an absolute premium, and the cost of people is a lot more. The cost of retail is vastly more in the UK than it is in the US and that's before you even stop to consider the US doesn't have VAT at RRP, they put a small amount on afterwards. Whereas, we get stung by 17.5 per cent. And pity the poor Irish and places like Sweden.
(Excerpt) Read more at playfuls.com ...
That kind of ttude lost the Brits their empire.
Don't waste a $1 on this sony garbage.
Sony won itself a place on my "Permanent Boycott" list for its arrogant overweening practices with regards to DRM. Nice to see they haven't changed.
I don't buy anything "Sony" anymore -- most recently that cost them a several hundred dollar digital camera purchase that went to a competitor.
5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY)
Socialist sheep mindset.
If I manufactured an overpriced turd, I wouldn't expect anyone to pay dollar one for it either, SONY.
Wii rules. I'm not a hardline gameplayer but I enjoy bowling and billiards with family memebers on the Wii.
What a total a-hole. Take your PS3 and shove it where the sun don't shine !!!
Yep, I'm one of those thousands of cheap Americans who bought my grandsons a Nintendo Wii last Christmas, which they have throughly enjoyed. Why pay twice as much for the Sony product when the younger set enjoys the Wii for a lot less? I'm sure these comments were also a slap at Walmart, because everyone knows they are to blame for the rise of the American bargain hunter.
The U.S. consumer tends to be a savvy shopper in a sea of competitive retailers. In general, the party with the lowest price earns the business. Patience is a virtue. No tax, free shipping and a big discount often comes at the expense a of delayed shipping date.
I'll pay a higher price only if it means I can gain a competitive advantage by having the item immediately.
Maddox Agrees:
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=sony_bullshit
(Possibly NSFW Language)
Sony used to be a great company, but they've been doing some pretty strange things.
That rootkit business was absolutely despicable. And then when it was discovered what they had done, they gave out a bogus solution to "remove" it that screwed up a lot of computers even worse than before.
I don't really see why everyone is so upset. He's basically saying they charge more in the UK because they can. He's saying Americans are cheap...but what that really means is that Americans aren't stupid enough to pay over $800 for something because of the hype, where people in the UK will.
The UK pound is overpriced.
NO,what it means is Americans are CHEAP.Don't read more into it then it says huh sweetheart !!!
The product isn't worth the price. What will he say when 600 dollar iPhones can't stay on the shelves? Will we still be cheap?
The Playstation 3 launched in Europe and Australia with rather underwhelming response last week.
http://kotaku.com/gaming/ps3-launch/australian-ps3-launch-shindig-246437.php
I saw a report on CNN International while I was in Denmark this past Christmas and they said that many Europeans fly to America to do their Christmas shopping in cities like New York City, because the same items, like electronics such as the PS3, are cheaper in America than they are back in Europe.
Even items like a 20 ounce bottle of soda or a candy bar sold in Denmark are much more expensive in Denmark, even in the grocery stores. Gasoline is priced at the equivalent of $8 a gallon in Denmark.
Don't call me sweetheart. I stand by my interpretation.
OK SWEETHEART !!!
I don't plan on getting a PS3, but his unfortunate insult takes away from a good point about the British and others having to pay exhorbitant taxes and other stuff.
You're so very clever.
You have WiiPlay? I like that cow-riding game you can trample scarecrows. Tank is pretty good, too.
Now don't be angry, I'm only teasing !!!
Where do people get the idea that the PS3 is overpriced? There is a LOT of computing power shoved into that thing (so much that only 10,000 are already beating all other computer systems in Folding@Home), plus a very expensive Blu-ray drive. Sony actually loses a few hundred dollars on each one they sell.
Now whether it was a good idea to introduce a game console at that price is another question. I bought a Wii.
For once, I agree with you. His wording might have been off, but he was obviously talking about a difference in the cost of living. We have more land and fewer government regulations, so the overhead is cheaper, which leads to cheaper retail prices. The reason he said to pity Ireland and Sweden is not because they are better or worse people than Americans or Britons, but because their price of living is higher still. If Europe would end its love affair with socialism, that might change. Since they aren't getting any larger, and are bringing in immigrants as fast as they can, it won't.
Thanks the Lord we live in the US, the land where our purchasing power is the best and by far, and afford to buy a lot of things at very competitive prices. That is why in the US we have much better standards of living than in Europe or any other place in the world.
I saw an article recently that said many considered the Play Station 2 to be the greatest system ever, especially due to the number of titles made for it. Why pay all that extra money for the PS3 when the PS2 is more than adequate, many already own it (and if not can purchase it very cheaply)?
During summer a few years back, we were lodging at a motel when I had a friendly conversation with a couple from the UK. While we chatted, I couldn't help but notice they had suitcases full of cartons of cigarettes and new clothing. They noticed the surprised expression on my face and said that they always buy lots of clothing and cigarettes when they come to America because it is too expensive back home.
I have a relative who lives in Germany. Whenever he's in the U.S. he always buys a lot of clothing for the same reason.
Interestingly enough, they went on my list over the same issue. I've met other IT professionals who are - without having previously discussed it - of the same mindset. A serious percentage of people who understand precisely what happened with the rootkit just said to themselves, "Oh. No. I don't think so. F%#$ you." and stopped buying their products.
That issue had to hurt Sony. I wish I knew how bad.
I'm seeing something of a minor version of the same mindset about MS Vista. Even here in Seattle...the general feeling seems to be that Microsoft is trying to make the PC an Xbox that runs Office.
I resemble that remark!
They get shocked every time to see the price of "Europeans manufactured products" in the US vastly cheaper than the price in their own country of origin in Europe.
"rootkit"
Please elaborate. I am unaware of this.
I can't believe this. A corporate mucky muck whining about the TAX structure in HIS Country, and trying to spin it as Americans are cheap!!!
Hey, pal, take your overpriced pos and shove it!
...and let us know how that EU thing works for ya', ok?
:O)
P
Hell yeah I'm cheap and damned proud of it. I don't pay for somebody's R&D, I wait until the price comes down.
That was the general concensus reaction of many Europeans interviewed by the CNN reporter on the sidewalks of New York City. They were both shocked and amazed at the prices for such items as computers, gaming consoles, and flat screen televisions.
"Cheap" people is insulting to those who make up the majority of the Sony market. Could they mean "frugal"? The dollar exchange with the pound right now puts those American people at quite a disadvantage. The writer does not have a way with words.
While the socialist faction in Great Britain measures value & worth with a childs toy; America believes noble acts are an obligation owed to our fellow man, and to God.
It is an honor, and we are proud to be measured by a more substantial ruler than that crowed over in this article.
Game stations aren't really exculsivly for children anymore. I'm just nickping, I agree with you there.
Notice my tagline.
Sony, aiming squarely at their foot.
Same here.
Twenty-five years ago, four out of five electronic devices I owned were Sony.
Today, my latest purchases, an 8 megapixel digital camera is a Panasonic... My DVD recorder a JVC, my theater sound unit is a Phillips...
Articles like this one just validate the decision I made years ago to dump SONY.
Good luck to them.
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