"Writin_Reg;c-16275270" wrote:
"Loanet;c-16275133" wrote:
"MelissaStarbees;c-16274885" wrote:
@Loanet i agree majorly with you on that. its totally unfair that some countries have to pay more even ones like me that is just north of them. the saddest thing is if they had a system like steam where you can buy cards and such to buy the games it might not be a problem but people having to use other means to get the game ie credit cards or other gift cards which is hard because even with the credit cards gift cards you're left with some money or now a lot of money if you buy gp since its plumming 25.99 cnd! which means you need to buy a 50 now in order to get it with the taxes which brings a total of 29.37 almost 30 bucks. they're making it hard on the people that don't get the luxury of have the ea card.
I'll bet you ANYTHING that was the idea they had in mind when they priced those gift cards. Hardly any games are a round number, so you'll always have money left over. But they get your money either way. It makes me sick to my stomach that a lot of these people basically rent you the game. It's not really yours.
$9:99 vs £9:99? Does EA think I'm simple? That I really do have no idea about exchange rates?
Regardless, this price hike for non-American countries is a sleazy move and more importantly, a sign of things to come. America is where the majority of players live, so they rise elsewhere. And when their major player base doesn't peep because "It's not my problem", EA swoops in with a cunning price hike for them with regards to GPs and SPs in a few months after the next sale so that they mesh with exchange rates.
Noticed how Cats&Dogs was more expensive than the other packs when it came out? Well, now it's not - but that's because the other packs rose to meet it AFTER THE CHRISTMAS SALE.
If we don't work together - and that means the US players need to stop standing around leering smugly because nothing has changed for them YET - then our prices will remain higher and theirs will rise too. It's a sleazy business practice and EA is certainly not the first to pull it off, but it is still greedy when EA makes as much money as it already does from Sims. It's not exactly making The Sims at a loss.
Do you even know how it works?
You pay what ever price listed in a store or local Origin or download center for the game in your country. That store sends EA the price EA has listed for all the games - the same equivalent price it is for everyone - then that store sends Tax money in that country it is in to where it goes, and any other charges to where they go. EA sees the same money they always get - that has not changed as they charge the same price as always - but the store you bought from handles everything over EA price - not EA. That extra charge over what you paid before and what you pay now never leaves your country.
The only way EA could gain more money is raise prices on all their Sims 4 games equally in all countries - not just some places, and not others - it is part of the Fair Trade Laws - EA's price has not changed, but your countries tariffs and other charges are what changed. It is more than just the type of currency you use - it also depends on the economy and government of your country raising and lowing fees as well on international trade.
Can any Spanish or Italian Simmer confirm that the price has indeed increased for them? If yes, then please, @Writin_Reg, explain how THAT would work, since these countries use the Euro which is stronger than the US Dollar, so we actually already pay more than, say, US citizens for packs. I don't know the first thing about Economics so I won't delve into that - what you said made no sense to me whatsoever but that's because I admittedly don't know how this works. What I do know is that I used to defend EA and still would on certain fronts, but when I saw this I just thought it was absolutely ridiculous. I agree with Simmers asking why, if everything you're saying is true, only TS4 DLC is affected, and not other EA games... and I don't think I have read a convincing argument in response to that question. Also, there are some currencies that are stronger than the USD, yet still pay the same 9,99 price. I do kind of get why EA would adjust prices for some countries - I'm so sorry, UK Simmers, but your currency really has reached an all-time low... but again, why only for TS4 DLC?
I mean, as I said I am not an Economic or anything, so whatever I say, someone will know better. But I am an EA customer, and even though I am not from one of the affected countries, seeing this made me feel even more hesitant about buying Sims packs than before. It makes me think that if currency worth matters so much, then why would I pay €10 and not €8 for a stuff pack? I am in the US now, though, for a few months, and was thinking of taking advantage of the USD and buy some packs here - but now, I'm honestly not sure I will anymore. No matter your reasonings, all it does for me is to bring to light EA's greed. Even if unjustified, that's how many Simmers will feel about this. And I honestly don't think it's that unjustified at all. That explanation, people are saying what more do we want? Personally, I'd be interested to know why ONLY TS4 is affected by this. And what the heck they were thinking when adding Spain and Italy to this list.
