It's not evading tax, it's called importing and people do it all the time.
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Switch: Buy Sonic Mania for EUR9.97 / USD11.70 on the Russian eShop
- Thread starter Shiggy
- Start date
It's not evading tax, it's called importing and people do it all the time.
PhilTheAussieGuy
Member
Ultimately this trend to get cheaper games from outside your borders is either going to screw us out of being able to reigon hop easily or screw people living in poorer countries out of being able to afford video games.
So thanks for that guys.
So thanks for that guys.
Fractology
Member
If you or anyone else are curious about other titles' prices on the eShop across the various regions, there is a handy spreadsheet for that: https://eshop.calyh.re
The à¹ÛBronx
Member
They could make the eShop locked to a region while having the games themselves region free if they cared so much about it. There's no 'region free' for digital games without what's happening in this thread. If they don't want this happening they can prevent it without being heavy-handed in the way you describe.
Focus your concern on that over people using region free to buy and play games from other regions.
LambdaTeos
Member
People is crazy If they think this will make companies lower their price
No, this will cause to just stop the market there
So yeah, I think this will screw us up
A developer could just release a game in one region and force customers to buy it from that region, i mean, region free helps with that
The ๖ۜBronx;246258690 said:
Isn't this what Sony does?
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Mexico (Spanish: México, pronounced [ˈmexiko]; Nahuatl: Mēxihco, pronounced [meːˈʃiʔko] About this sound listen ; English (GAE): pronounced [ˈmɛk.sɪ.ˌkoʊ]), officially the United Mexican States (Spanish: Estados Unidos Mexicanos, About this sound listen ),[10][11][12][13] is a federal republic in the southern portion of North America.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico
A lot of people wouldn't have picked up the game for 20/20$ and would most likely end up waiting for a sale, changing regions seems to be a feature so there's nothing ilegal there, plus people ended up paying full price for the game anyway so I don't see why people are making a big deal out of this.
A lot of EU PSN users buy games from the US PSN because they can save a couple of euros on brand new games. Sure, it's not half price but it's a similar method being applied in both cases.
A lot of EU PSN users buy games from the US PSN because they can save a couple of euros on brand new games. Sure, it's not half price but it's a similar method being applied in both cases.
Retro Edge
Member
I don't always pay the highest price, but I do consistently buy from my own region as long as a product is available in my region. That's the whole appeal of a lack of region locking: As long as you're okay with the likelihood of a game not being properly localized, you can just buy the game and still enjoy it in the event that it doesn't get (or isn't yet) released in your region. For example, back when it was unclear if Puyo Puyo Tetris would even come to the U.S., I imported a physical copy of the Xbox One version. Likewise, when it wasn't clear if the Switch demo would be released in the U.S. eShop, I used a Japanese account to download and try the demo for the game to ensure that performance was okay. I ended up purchasing the digital Switch version when it came to the U.S. eShop, though, and I even purchased a physical Switch and PlayStation version. The primary interest behind a lack of region locking is that you can play games that wouldn't (yet) be available to you; it's not so you can exploit different regions' pricing to save some money. Frankly, if you're concerned with that, then I'm baffled as to why you'd make a Nintendo system your go-to system for third-party software (aside from the portability factor).
I pay what the game is worth to me. If that means waiting for a sale, then I do that. As others have since mentioned, the other problem with this is that other regions' pricing can suffer as a result of exploiting something like this. Publishers release games in other regions at lower prices (or higher prices) because they take into consideration sales expectations for other regions and can kind of subsidize the pricing between regions to make it more worthwhile overall for them.
Also, as I stated before, it's likely with some products that you could screw yourself out of future releases. Not that it'll happen here, but publisher who releases a lesser-known game that flops in your own region and seems to be very popular in another region due to an exploit like this could get the wrong impression and maybe not release or localize a follow-up for your region later on, instead choosing to focus on the region where it actually sold, potentially even not bothering with English language support as a means of cutting cost to appeal to the region in which they have to sell the game at a lower cost, anyway. It potentially affects different regions for different reasons.
SomedayTheFire
Member
I was just taking the piss out of them not knowing Mexico was in North America
Games are (supposed) to be priced relative to the general income of the territory being sold in.
Essentially, games are priced in the EU the way they are because they assume that how much the market can bear to pay for a game (i.e. people make enough income to afford these games on top of their necessities of life).
For a region like Russia, notably poorer, games are priced lower because it's either you price em low and gain whatever income you can, or you price it relative to other countries prices and have no one buy it because no one afford it.
Buying games outside of your own region will likely just push companies to restrict the ability to do so in the future, or they'll end up pricing games higher because, according to their data, the market in fact "can" bear the higher pricing, thanks to people like us buying up the games in those regions.
So consumers get a short term gain, on the risk that they'll fuck it up for the people in that region specifically.
Steam is probably the most notable example of this, as a lot of russian copies of games are now ungiftable and/or unpurchasable outside of Russia.
Bony Manifesto
Member
I think it'll only be a matter of time before Nintendo clamp down on this, as it may well be them that end up being on the hook for the taxes not being paid by their customers.
Considering the crazy things Nintendo have done to avoid what they perceive as legal liability (my personal favourite is when they restricted the entirety of Europe to only being allowed to view mature content on the eShop between 11pm and 3am), I'm surprised they haven't already yanked the plug.
Considering the crazy things Nintendo have done to avoid what they perceive as legal liability (my personal favourite is when they restricted the entirety of Europe to only being allowed to view mature content on the eShop between 11pm and 3am), I'm surprised they haven't already yanked the plug.
giancarlo123x
Banned
What is it now?
Still shows up as 699 RUB for me.
the_milkybar_kid
Member
Yeah, this is really the only good argument I can see against buying from outside your country. The people who really get screwed over in the end aren't the companies who get less money or the the states who supposedly don't get taxes or any of that nonsense: it's consumers who live in the country you bought the game from. Knowing that, I still willingly did the trick to get Sonic Mania, a game I had little interest in getting at its €20 French price, especially if there's no physical edition. What can I say, I game on a budget because I live on a budget. If I made, say, €300/month than I currently do, this might not be an issue, but I don't.
The à¹ÛBronx
Member
What's the point of region free in an era where games are getting progressively more digital, if it doesn't mean we can buy games from other regions and play them in our own. Wasn't that literally the entire benefit of region-free outside of hardware purchases?
Jaded Alyx
Member
No, that would be SEGA.
The ๖ۜBronx;246260598 said:
The argument for region free was not to abuse regional pricing differences, it was for access to games that sometimes are not available in certain regions (due to lack of localization/licensing issues/etc.)
Or as Duckroll pointed out, regions that flat out don't have local eShops, so they can actually use a Switch (and Nintendo can collect their money) even though all of their games are technically "out of region".
Meh, I don't really see the big ethical dilemma here. Just a loophole that gamers can take advantage of if they wish. Another recent example is the King's Edition preorder for Ni No Kuni II which costs roughly $40-50 less if you import it than buying it in the States. I don't feel any less of a gamer for doing that.
I'll probably just pay the $20 for this anyway since I've been waiting so long for a new 2D Sonic and I'm choosing to reward them for their efforts.
I'll probably just pay the $20 for this anyway since I've been waiting so long for a new 2D Sonic and I'm choosing to reward them for their efforts.
The à¹ÛBronx
Member
Good points, well addressed. I'd forgotten about the "it simply doesn't exist here" reason, which is a massive benefit.
I still don't see the issue being with the consumer though, personally. They know it's possible to do and chose to not restrict it. Any adverse effects to consumers as a result of buying from cheaper regions should still be attributed to the company. If they didn't want the practice occurring they should have locked regions for digital purchases in the eStore, for countries in which there is an eStore.
preheatedbibby
Banned
My US Visa did not work, although I expected that with reading previous posts.
No protest against payed online, but protests about using one of the main features of the new console, kinda stunned in how some act as consumers with consumers rights.
Im sure nintendo makes more then enough money on their accessories alone this gen to make up for us few who would look for the best deals.
Im sure nintendo makes more then enough money on their accessories alone this gen to make up for us few who would look for the best deals.
Council Pop
Member
Err, excuse me? Who isn't paying tax in this scenario? I bought Sonic Mania from Russia, and paid tax to the Russian state, which was included in the purchase price.
HandsomeCharles
Member
Have you guys tried debit cards? Although mine is a UK card, my Visa Debit worked.
Fractology
Member
I tried to input my debit card and it wouldn't even recognize the card. Said there was an error and to check my information again. According to the Nintendo support pages:
"Make sure your eShop country matches your credit card billing address.
The Nintendo Switch eShop will always match the country setting for your Nintendo Account.
If you are receiving this message when your credit card and Nintendo Switch eShop countries do not match, it means that your credit card cant be used in the eShop for a different country.
If a Nintendo Switch eShop exists for your region, credit cards issued from your region will not work in a different regions eShop. (For example, credit cards issued for the U.S. will only work in the Nintendo Switch eShop for North America.)"
Steve McQueen
Member
I still don't see the problem. When a physical game is cheaper in another shop I'll buy it there, so why is it crime to do the same with a digital game? There are loads of people who buy their games in a webshop despite the fact that it hurts real stores. When I buy a cheaper copy of a game I never thought :' damn, the devs will will have less profit and I feel bad for doing this'.
Also, a lot of people in this thread bought the game because of the price, otherwise they would not buy the game at all or would have waited for a sale,
BladeoftheImmortal
Member
anyone have a link to the US store? it only shows up as euros for me.
The Last One
Member
Thanks, just bought it changing the country of my account to Russia. I can change it back normally?
Fractology
Member
Yep. Just change it back the same way you changed it to Russia.
The Last One
Member
Thanks, just did. I'm really happy, was going to wait for a promotion but not anymore!
Starwolf_UK
Member
This isn't how it works when it comes to the eShop at large where games are set as a scalar of Euros. €1=£0.90 that sort of thing which tends to be pretty close to Euro exchange rate average over some time the once taxes are included. This is only a recommendation or default which publishers appear to be able to override but most leave it at default. In other words the Switch and it's software are in Russia generally at Western Europe prices so buying this particular case I doubt will have any impact. The system can be tough to exploit if your card won't let you add funds (I remember hearing at switch launch cards that worked on 3DS were not working on switch leading to convoluted solutions of 3DS with NNID acting as a bridge until people figured out amazon Japan).
I guess here SEGA made the price of the game consistent on all platforms but could not do so on PS4 for some reason. This leads to Switch and Xbox One standing out as being much cheaper than games tend to be on their platforms.
On a technical front for the 3DS and Wii U all Europe+ and Oceania region eShop purchases are paid to Nintendo of Europe. So I'm pretty sure they already pass sales taxes onto the appropriate governments.
Not sure how it worked in the Wii points era (where you buying points but then third parties were presumably being paid). Pretty badly I'd imagine which is why to and from Oceania zeroed points and once homebrew let you change to any country the Wii Shop was overhauled with security certificates being region based and issued on the first region you connected to following update (it was about October 2008) leading to a few unfortunate souls being stranded in the wrong region not able to access purchases outside of that region.
Then 3DS had separate wallets for each country and NNID based shit was locked to one country for life and Switch wouldn't let you switch unless wallet is zero (or is it wallet get zeroed upon switching).
shawnbuddy
Member
Why not pay full price, help this game be a success in regions that matter, and support the development of games like this?
Foxy the Fox
Member
Guy from a poor country here.
Games and consoles are actually way more expensive because companies have trouble in the distribution and demand on poor areas, that's why everybody here plays F2P games. In digital games our shop(if it exists in the first place) usually have higher prices than the US, and if we go to the US store most of us are still screwed with the local coin-Dolar convertion.
Or you thought that fucking video games were cheaper for some kind of help from the corporations or government?
Also you don't support Russia with tax money and you aren't potentially breaking the law by tax evading.
Mihael Mello Keehl
Banned
Yall always gotta fux some shit up and scheme lol
watch something bad karma happen because of this
watch something bad karma happen because of this
El Sabroso
Member
makes sense now how my card work for any NA (US, CA or MX) country, but not Japan
Council Pop
Member
NO-ONE IS TAX EVADING BY BUYING SOMETHING IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY
Oh my god, this thread is honestly hysterical. The price of Sonic Mania is so low that even if it was physical rather than digital, you wouldn't pay import VAT if you got it shipped from Russia to the UK, as you only pay import VAT on physical products from outside the EU priced at over £15.
Never mind the fact that it's a digital download, which the UK government does not charge import VAT on currently anyway, so it could cost £100 and you still wouldn't be 'evading tax'.
Salty Rice
Member
Putin and russia are the secret leader of the world.
If reports are coming out Sonic sells like hot cakes in russia we gonna get much more Sonic. Gotta buy fast!
Ironically, everyone who purchased the cheaper version will have their legs broken.
A lot of business majors and corporate leaders in this thread, I see!!!
Council Pop
Member
Go on the Russian eshop on your Switch.
Booker.DeWitt
Member
I was talking about regions , not continents. Mexico is in the central American region, North America continent.
LizardKing
Member
This is in no way any type of ethical dilemma or corporate ballwashing for me. The way it will come back in karma will be restrictions on region free. THAT's why you shouldn't do this. Is it worth losing unrestricted access to a global library to save 8 bucks here and there? How does this affect third party strategy as far as games released on Switch?
I was honestly always puzzled as to why Nintendo continued region locking for so long. Now I see...