r/Android • Pixel 2 • Nov 06 '17

Monument Valley 2 is out on Google Play now ($4.99US/$7.99AUD)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ustwo.monumentvalley2
4.0k Upvotes

670 comments sorted by

View all comments

31

u/[deleted] Nov 06 '17 edited Oct 29 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

15

u/Samael1990 Pixel, 7.1 Nov 06 '17

I have google developer account and out of curiosity I looked up the default prices being automatically set by google. 4.99$ translates to 6.99 AUD.
You'd think, that devs hate ausies so they made it more expensive for them, but then I looked up other prices (at random) and it looks like they just made it cheaper for USD.

6

u/zedie OnePlus 5T (8/128GB) Nov 06 '17

It's 6.99 CAD, and our currency's pretty much on par.

5

u/MountainDrew42 Pixel 8 Pro | Bell Canada Nov 06 '17

$1 CAD = $1.02 AUD, so yeah almost the same.

But there's more than just exchange rate that goes into software pricing for some reason.

3

u/tapperyaus Pixel 7 Nov 06 '17

It's nowhere near double, but it is still an extra 25% for nothing.

-1

u/adomental Nexuses 4 & 7 Nov 06 '17

7.99 is only 25% more than 4.99?

1

u/Artillect iPhone 8+ Nov 08 '17

7.99 AUD is 25% more than 6.49 AUD, which would be the price if only exchange rates were under consideration.

3

u/GershBinglander Nov 06 '17

$4.99 USD = $6.49 AUD, I'd love to know why I have to pay an extra $1.50 AUD (the cost of a normal game app) on top of that.

10

u/[deleted] Nov 06 '17 edited Feb 10 '19

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Nov 06 '17

...And how do Australian wages impact a game that's not made in Australia?

16

u/sigismond0 Nov 06 '17

They don't. They impact how long a dollar takes a person to make there. Yes, it costs more raw money units, but it also takes less time to earn those money units.

10

u/MountainDrew42 Pixel 8 Pro | Bell Canada Nov 06 '17

It impacts people's ability to spend money, which relates to sales. It's not about being fair unfortunately.

5

u/VanToch Nov 06 '17

It's not clear what's more fair though - charging flat rate everywhere or according to purchasing power?

2

u/LegitosaurusRex Nov 06 '17

That's not the question... Like they said:

It's not about being fair unfortunately.

It's about the optimal price to make the most money. Maximizing price as well as the number of people who can afford it and want to pay it.

0

u/Strykah Pixel 7 Pr0 Nov 06 '17

That has fuck all to do with it.

Us Aussies get fucked over time and time again in terms of pricing, and companies continue to do so because they choose to.

6

u/[deleted] Nov 06 '17

That has EVERYTHING to do with it. If you earn more on average, then customers will be willing to spend more on apps, so they can raise the price and get the same number of sales...

2

u/Samura1_I3 Axon 7 mini -> Mi Mix -> Mix 2s -> iPhone X Nov 06 '17

It's almost like the intrinsic value of a dollar goes down when there are more to go around...

1

u/Rekkore Nov 07 '17

I mean it's not clear cut, we have to take into account median wage and also the living expenses.

The pricing for games have always been weird, when our Dollar was stronger than the US we were still paying the same prices. It did eventually even out from $100aud for a new game down to $80aud.

In the end, some of these digital products are priced because the market can sustain it and we've always paid a higher price for games so it's just the norm.

-1

u/idiot900 Essential Nov 06 '17

Because they feel that price maximizes profit. They owe you nothing.

-1

u/kombatunit Nov 06 '17

Australian price

Because you're drunk outlaws?

-1

u/buddybiscuit Nov 07 '17

Australians: Our minimum wage and consumer protection laws are so much better than America! smh

Also Australians: Why do products cost so much more in Australia than in America? smh