Buying a US PS3...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Polyphony001
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Ok, I have imported many consoles, but this time around I won't. Apart from some personal reasons, I would like to show you a calculation :

Ok, if you want to get a Japanese PS3 in 2006, you will need a lot of luck and I'd say about 750 EUR. Ok, then you add shipping costs, another 90 EUR... Add a game and you are at 900 EUR. Then your package arrives at the customs' office.... 20 min later you will have to pay 20% ( might be different in your country though ) tax... which means : 180 EUR...

Final price for a import PS3 in 2006 :~ 1100 EUR ( probably around 750 GBP ).
And what do you get ? Well maybe a console which overheats or another damage. Sony should replace it but due to the shortages and the not really famous customer service of Sony, you might end up having a lot of trouble and no PS3 for a long time.

Region code free games ? They say so. And I believe the console is region code free, but will the games be ? (see Xbox360 )
What about Blue Ray DVD movies ? Afaik they still have region codes...
 
750 Euros? How did you work that out? Until recently a US Site was offering £370 for a PS3 to be delivered to the UK, that's far short of 750 euros, barely 550. With regards to import tax, how is that done when you have something delivered internationally to your door? (I'm presuming that's how Lik Sang works), surely they would have to include that in the price?
 
Polyphony001
750 Euros? How did you work that out? Until recently a US Site was offering £370 for a PS3 to be delivered to the UK, that's far short of 750 euros, barely 550. With regards to import tax, how is that done when you have something delivered internationally to your door? (I'm presuming that's how Lik Sang works), surely they would have to include that in the price?
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First of all I was talking abou the 60 GB version, I don't know if I would buy the the 20 GB since it isn't really future-ready if you know what I mean.

So the retail price in Japan is sth around 550 EUR. Shipping with UPS is 90 EUR ( or do you prefer seafright? Then happy waiting until 2007 ;) ). They'll prepay the tax for you and charge you after delivery. I guess you also want a game so you end up at 720 EUR. Tax ( Germany, but UK shouldn't be a lot cheaper - if at all ) is 20% of the total value including shipping costs :150 EUR. > 870 EUR. and that is the absolute minimum.

Ok, but we are not in 2008, then the calculation above would be correct. The Playstation crazy 130.000.000 inhabitant country Japan gets 100.000 consoles. They will camp in front of shops 3 days before launch.
So if PA/Liksang somehow manages to get their hands on some PS3 they will have to pay - and I'm not talking about the retail price here. And since those two HK companies don't sell videogames for fun, they will charge you even more.
I say 650 - 750 EUR. Including tax that means at least another 130 EUR. = 1000 EUR...

A US console might come a little cheaper, but I doubt that all people who preorderd their consoles 9 months ago will get one in the USA before 2007. Why should you get one if you order now ? The shop you mention takes your order, why not, but will it ship within 2006? I don't think so.

I payed 650 EUR for my jp launch PS2 in 2000, can't remember the retail price but I think it was about 400 EUR.

What remains ? If you have a damage in your PS3, have fun with contacting Sony UK regarding a replacement.... " PS3 ? We don't have that yet...March...oh import console... ehm...send it and I'll see what we can do" 2 months later you probably still havn't got a replacement ...
 
Well, you don't get if you don't ask anyone. The problem is, those problems will just be transposed by 4 months for the UK, we will have exactly the same problem over here, and therefore it'll take even longer. If I pre-ordered a UK unit now, when would I get it? June? August?
 
Polyphony001
Well, you don't get if you don't ask anyone. The problem is, those problems will just be transposed by 4 months for the UK, we will have exactly the same problem over here, and therefore it'll take even longer. If I pre-ordered a UK unit now, when would I get it? June? August?
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Nobody knows, but I don't think it'll take that long. Then again it really depends on the country you live in and many other factors ( Blue ray diode supply, demand etc ) The USA is famous for their preordersystem, they even pay money before they get it. This is usually not how it works in Germany for example.
The Xbox360 was hard to get in the first months here aswell, nevertheless a local electronic store had 200 premium consoles without preorder aat the launch day.
I'd preorder the PS3 now, since you can cancel it as soon as you get your hands on a system by chance....
 
I'm going to make enquiries with the UK suppliers I know, not a pre-order link anywhere to be had though... The one site that does is bundling it with 3 games, three games that I don't really want, you may be familiar with Play.com.
Rather save myself £150 by not having those games. £49.99 each for games? What's up with that? I suppose they are BR discs but HOLY COW!
 
Polyphony001
I'm going to make enquiries with the UK suppliers I know, not a pre-order link anywhere to be had though... The one site that does is bundling it with 3 games, three games that I don't really want, you may be familiar with Play.com.
Rather save myself £150 by not having those games. £49.99 each for games? What's up with that? I suppose they are BR discs but HOLY COW!
Click to expand...

I preordered mine at amazon and got a game of my choice for free and 100% launch delivery for 599 EUR...
 
Seriously? Do they still do that?
Amazon.co.uk don't let you pre-order them yet.I've signed up to be notified, but no pre-ordering going on as of yet.
 
Polyphony001
Seriously? Do they still do that?
Amazon.co.uk don't let you pre-order them yet.I've signed up to be notified, but no pre-ordering going on as of yet.
Click to expand...

Yeah they still do, although you don't get a free game anymore, but at least you still get the launch guarantee ... I got a confirmation by Amazon and Sony Corp.
... let's see how much this paper is worth in the end ;)

Shiping only to Germany though....
 

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