Sony UK Boss Calls the US a ‘Land of Cheap People’ to Justify PS3 Price

Playfuls ^ | 03/25/2007

[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.

[Pox]

Boo Hoo to sony for their overpriced console.

It must really gall them to see Nintendo doing so well at a third the price.

A lot of people probably look at the PS3 and decide to wait for the price to come down and in the meantime buy a cheap PC and a Wii.

[DogBarkTree]

That kind of ttude lost the Brits their empire.

[bicyclerepair]

Don't waste a $1 on this sony garbage.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

A very perverse kind of snob appeal. "We charge you more because you're a better sort of people."

Cheeky, no?

[sionnsar]

Sony UK managing director Ray Maguire calls America "a land of cheap people"

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)

[PetroniusMaximus]

Socialist sheep mindset.

[domenad]

If I manufactured an overpriced turd, I wouldn't expect anyone to pay dollar one for it either, SONY.

[BipolarBob]

Wii rules. I'm not a hardline gameplayer but I enjoy bowling and billiards with family memebers on the Wii.

[Obie Wan]

What a total a-hole. Take your PS3 and shove it where the sun don't shine !!!

[kittymyrib]

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.

[Myrddin]

I've noticed that products in UK stores are priced at about the same number of British pounds as we pay for the product in U.S. dollars. Considering the exchange rate, that makes the same product about 63% more expensive. Aside from food, fuel and lodging, I limit my purchases to items that I can't get in the U.S. Welsh language books and music in particular.

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.

[starbase]

And pity the poor Irish and places like Sweden.

This guy's making friends all over the place. I see it was his golden tongue that won him his high position!

[DrGunsforHands]

Maddox Agrees:
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=sony_bullshit
(Possibly NSFW Language)

[Cicero]

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.

[Hildy]

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.

[Red Steel]

Boo Hoo to sony for their overpriced console.

The UK pound is overpriced.

[Obie Wan]

NO,what it means is Americans are CHEAP.Don't read more into it then it says huh sweetheart !!!

[Mr. Blonde]

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?

[PUGACHEV]

I've noticed that the Brits pay more than we do for gasoline, computers, printers, cameras and lenses, and ham radio equipment -- a lot more. I suppose that's the price you pay for the privilege of not being cheap.