Harvey Norman launches online game-seller site

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Here's the androtrop again

I don't know what Lil Tim pays. The same VG only retailer has an increase of price up to 100% than their stores in do in the US.

EB set their prices at RRP. EB complain that JB can afford not to do this.

Not my problem that nobody buys at Tim's shop.

 

[Big Tim]

Here's the androtrop again

I don't know what Lil Tim pays. The same VG only retailer has an increase of price up to 100% than their stores in do in the US.

EB set their prices at RRP. EB complain that JB can afford not to do this.

Not my problem that nobody buys at Tim's shop.

You read the thread??

I dont sell video games, but I support Gerry Harvey's action against GST free International purchases.

I am asking you if you know what a VG retailer pays to buy the games at wholesale.

If you do not know, how can you complain about a "markup"?????

Nice insult on the user name there also. Seems a bit of a reach to go for an insult, but hey, good for you.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

You support EB who mark up 100% in Australia compared to their US chain and yet you think I should support this highway robbery.

EB can lower their prices but they choose to stick to rrp, not my problem.

MW2 for $80 yesterday :lol: gtfo if you think that's fair

 

[Maroubra Eel]

This is slightly ironic.

It was the Harvey Norman bashing thread a year or so ago that set me onto Ozgameshop in the first place.

Haven't bought a game in a retail store in Australia since

Just made my first purchase on ozgameshop. I only heard about it the other day after reading this thread. It seems like a good site to buy from.

 

[Big Tim]

You support EB who mark up 100% in Australia compared to their US chain and yet you think I should support this highway robbery.

EB can lower their prices but they choose to stick to rrp, not my problem.

MW2 for $80 yesterday :lol: gtfo if you think that's fair

Mark up what? What is the mystery figure that they pay for AAA games that means they mark up 100%???

So you dont know what the markup is, you just assume it is the retailer ripping you off, because of a price difference in the US even though you dont know what they have to pay to actually have the item ready to sell........ that seems fair.

I do not support EB, again, just for you, I support what Gerry Harvey is doing here. He has a standing in the Australian Retail Community that can really make a difference.

I was actually a long time Games Wizards buyer, even though that meant a 45 minute trip to pick up games. Now, I dont have the time to travel, and GW turned into GAME, who have copied EB, so I buy from :shock: play asia or Ozgameshop if I feel JB are a little high on price, or if I need to get the American version of the game.

The fact that International import is cheaper than buying in Australia is the problem, and by you, me and many others doing it, the government will soon see what an issue it is to Aussie retail sales. Then there will be GST and import duties attached to these purchases.

Now that we have someone of Gerry stature behind the push, it will be changed for the better very soon.

 

[adamkungl]

I'm not suggesting the retailers are to blame (mostly) - the model that casues them to charge upwards of $80 for a game that should cost $60 is the problem. The publishers take a cut, there are shipping charges to Australia, the local distributer takes a cut... too many middlemen + not enough population in Aus

Years ago my mum owned a video store and would pay about $75 for a new game - I presume this is pertty similar these days for retailers, I know JB Hifi sells games at vaguely around cost price, occasionally below.

 

[Big Tim]

I'm not suggesting the retailers are to blame (mostly) - the model that casues them to charge upwards of $80 for a game that should cost $60 is the problem. The publishers take a cut, there are shipping charges to Australia, the local distributer takes a cut... too many middlemen + not enough population in Aus

Years ago my mum owned a video store and would pay about $75 for a new game - I presume this is pertty similar these days for retailers, I know JB Hifi sells games at vaguely around cost price, occasionally below.

Someone who has an idea of how retail works in this coutry!!

You are correct, far too many middlemen, with huge markups. (I can actually speak in context here as I have been a salesman for both retail and wholesale in my industry)

As I said, I work in a niche market and lets just say that the owner of my shop drives a Magna, my old boss (the supplier) drives an F430......

Add to that the fact that there is only ONE distributor for brands in my market, and that it is illegal for me to import my own products and my prices are bound by what I pay the supplier, and then overheads.

The amount of times I have been asked today "why dont you have 40% off sales like Myer?" is ridiculous.

I dont have 100% markups, and I would suggest that the VG retailers dont either. So they will do a sale on a game as their supplier slashes the stock to make room for the new game etc...

The consumer thinks they know everything about pricing, but in reality they are just looking for the best deal, and they dont care who they bag off on the way....... unless they need your help.

At the end of the day it is about what is best for consumers and retailers, because a sale is an agreement between two parties, so both need to be happy.

Gerry is certainly stirring up something here, and that can only be good for Australian retail as a whole.

 

[Frederick]

I bought MW3 and Battlefield 3 from jb today for $69 each. Thought that was a pretty good price. I know they're going for between 45 and 55 on ozgameshop but I had a voucher for jb. Was gonna get skyrim from them but they'd run out :-(

 

[skeepe]

You know, most of the time I'm happy to buy from a local shop. I know it's cheaper online, and for some goods that's fine, but others I like either the have-it-now factor, or I like to look at them and try them on.

The problem I have is that I can never, ever find what I want when in the local shops, but I can always find it online.

Take shoes for example. I wear size 15 shoes, so there is absolutely no hope in hell of me ever finding a pair of shoes that fits me in any normal store. They just don't stock anything over size 12, and the stores that do find that all of their size 13+ stock literally flies off the shelves while the smaller stuff sits there. There's clearly a demand, but none of the bricks and mortar retailers are prepared to take a risk.

My only choice is to buy online, and usually from an overseas retailer. If local retailers aren't going to stock the things people want or need, then they are forcing people overseas, even those that don't necessarily want to go that route.

 

[bluesbreaker]

lose some weight then you fat merkin.

 

[Charles Bronson]

You know, most of the time I'm happy to buy from a local shop. I know it's cheaper online, and for some goods that's fine, but others I like either the have-it-now factor, or I like to look at them and try them on.

The problem I have is that I can never, ever find what I want when in the local shops, but I can always find it online.

Take shoes for example. I wear size 15 shoes, so there is absolutely no hope in hell of me ever finding a pair of shoes that fits me in any normal store. They just don't stock anything over size 12, and the stores that do find that all of their size 13+ stock literally flies off the shelves while the smaller stuff sits there. There's clearly a demand, but none of the bricks and mortar retailers are prepared to take a risk.

My only choice is to buy online, and usually from an overseas retailer. If local retailers aren't going to stock the things people want or need, then they are forcing people overseas, even those that don't necessarily want to go that route.

I found some shoes that will fit you

 

[Big Tim]

You know, most of the time I'm happy to buy from a local shop. I know it's cheaper online, and for some goods that's fine, but others I like either the have-it-now factor, or I like to look at them and try them on.

Good points.

Feeling a product is a great selling tool.

The problem I have is that I can never, ever find what I want when in the local shops, but I can always find it online.

True, you will more often than not find what you are looking for online, as it is like visiting every store within a few minutes on a PC. Definitely a time saver, and it gives you an infinite amount of choice.

Take shoes for example. I wear size 15 shoes, so there is absolutely no hope in hell of me ever finding a pair of shoes that fits me in any normal store. They just don't stock anything over size 12, and the stores that do find that all of their size 13+ stock literally flies off the shelves while the smaller stuff sits there. There's clearly a demand, but none of the bricks and mortar retailers are prepared to take a risk.

I hear ya on the shoes. I am size 13 and have the same problem.

My only choice is to buy online, and usually from an overseas retailer. If local retailers aren't going to stock the things people want or need, then they are forcing people overseas, even those that don't necessarily want to go that route.

This is where the Aussie retailers and suppliers dropped the ball. They forced consumers to International purchases by not stocking enough product, add to that a massive upturn in the $ against USD and online quickly eclipsed in-store purchasing.

I have no issue with online purchasing, my website is the main way we sell to the masses, but the International ones are the ones that hurt as they are not subject to the same rules as I am.

 

[Qld-Sharkie]

Going back to my Commodore64 days, retail has always sold at an inflated price. Either too many middle men with their hands out or greedy retailers...who really knows.

As a PC owner I haven't bought a retail game for close to 4 years. I prefer to buy digital, mainly via steam or greenman gaming. With purchases of Skyrim for $43 & especially over xmas with steam, Iam getting games for a measly $5...Mass Effect 2, entire X3 series for $10....how can retail compete??

Removing import tax for retailers is a good start....

FYI Gerry.....too little, too late.

 

[Bulldog Force]

Not good enough. I won't be buying any games from them.

 

[skeepe]

lose some weight then you fat merkin.

How the f**k does weight affect shoe size? Do you think before you type?

 

[Big Tim]

Not good enough. I won't be buying any games from them.

And you dont need to.

The threat of Gerry doing this is enough to make a difference.

If you buy 500 games online no one is going to care, if Gerry sells 500 games online, without paying a single thing in tax, the government will care.

 

[Firey_Dragon]

And you dont need to.

The threat of Gerry doing this is enough to make a difference.

If you buy 500 games online no one is going to care, if Gerry sells 500 games online, without paying a single thing in tax, the government will care.

Unlikely. The cost of lowering import duties is completely cost prohibitive. If they lowered the import duty down to $100, the cost of chasing the taxes on those would far outweigh the actual income received from those taxes. Even $100 is too high to prevent this market, $40 would virtually ensure every item is taxed, it would also mean that it would grind customs to a halt.

I'd be amazed if the government just didn't care and let it carry on. This is just a big retailer finding another market to work in, it'll do nothing for the small guy.

I can understand that you're a bit close to the issue, but there is no solution to this problem unless suppliers actually cut their costs to ensure the market remains viable. It's also idiotic to suggest retailers don't also mark up their goods in this market, one only needs to look at the price differences between eb games and jb hifi (it can vary by over $60 on new items), then there is the booming trade-in market where they make 100-150% minimum on most sales. The price differences between here and foreign markets have been largely nullified due to our increased dollar strength, which has remained steady for quite some time so it is no longer a result of currency hedging.

 

[Satsok]

OK, I will make this easier for you.

What does the average retailer pay for a AAA gaming title??

Mate, i work for a major retailer in aus/nz and i can tell you that for mw3, we buy it for around $84, and thats before GST. So if we sell it for $100, we'll make $8.60 per game sold? Hardly the 100% markup some are suggesting.

 

[Satsok]

I think also a lot of it comes down to the vendors, and they will charge whatever they think people will pay for it.. I have no idea how games in US or even digital download games on steam/origin are so much cheaper the US compared to AUS when the dollar has been stronger for a long time now.

 

[canberra_raiders2k2]

Lol @ those thinking the Retailers make a viable profit per game.

Family own a game store, I only ever pay cost price.. Which is still more than what jbhifi sell there stock.

Jb make money from everything else, they do not rely on software. It's like hey you want a game with your tv?

EB and game make money from preowned tittles.



The supplier sets the cost of the game, the retailer sells the game competitively based on the market.