Buying games from Canada

[Wargamer39]

Fellas,
Now that the Canadian dollar is at par (and should continue to climb) against the American dollar, isn't it about time that pricing comes into line. Paying the 14-20% difference is so yesterday. It may not have been that long ago that our dollar was only worth 70 cents US, but those days are over, my American friends......

Anyway, if you're listening Matrix and knowing that many Canadians are wargamers as well, maybe you can give us from the Great White North a bit of a break.

[Erik Rutins]

We should be doing another price update before Christmas, so I'd expect the most current exchange rates to be reflected then.

[105mm Howitzer]

Lovely, and I just purchased 2 of them...D'oh...[:@]

[Wargamer39]

Thanks for the quick response. Maybe instead of one (Forge of Freedom) I will get two for me from Santa.

[ravinhood]

They need to hurry up and print manuals for their older games before CHRISTMAS SPECIALS.

[hueglin]

I don't get why it should take so long to review the Canadian prices of the digital download? There has been such a significant change in the exchange rate that it is really not worth buying anything at the current prices. There are games I am interested in, but not when I would be paying 15-20 % more than I should be.

[Wargamer39]

I hear you, hueglin. I am waiting to purchase Forge of Freedom. Drooling, actually. But I will wait til the premium is reduced for those of us in Canada. Fellas, the days of a 20% premium on your dollar vs ours is OVER. Matrix, fix the prices and I'll start to buy.
As an aside, any of you in Canada know how much I can expect to pay to customs (if any)?

[33Vyper]

So now that the Canadian dollar is worth $1.02 I would hope to see that the price is LESS than the US Store.
 
hehehehehe
 
I don't think you US boys realize how much glea us Canucks are getting out of this.  I was like 4 the last time the dollar was worth this much.

[Erik Rutins]

It basically takes an entire day to review and re-set the store prices, so we generally do that once per quarter only. We just don't have the level of available time to do it more often. Right now we're in the pre-Christmas crunch with lots of other things on the to-do list. We will get to the price update, but probably not until late October. There have been times in the past where the exchange rate has fluctuated the other way and customers have been able to buy games for a bit less money than they would have paid had the exchange rate been updated more often, so this one really goes both ways.

Regards,

- Erik

[Wargamer39]

Thanks for the quick reply, Erik. May I say that in addition to the fantastic games you make, your companies support to this forum is second to none.

Keep up the good work.

[Hertston]

On a vaguely related subject, and in far broader terms than just Matrix, I could never understand why everyone is always so obsessed with prices that end in ".99". That only makes sense in my mind if your advertising involves promoting something as costing less than a certain amount.. but when did Matrix ever advertise anything by saying somethng like "now YOU can follow in the footsteps of Napoleon and conquer Europe for less than $50, yes folks, that's LESS than $50!"

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Hertston
"now YOU can follow in the footsteps of Napoleon and conquer Europe for less than $50, yes folks, that's LESS than $50!"

What a deal! [;)]

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

ORIGINAL: Hertston
"now YOU can follow in the footsteps of Napoleon and conquer Europe for less than $50, yes folks, that's LESS than $50!"

What a deal! [;)]

You think Europe is worth more ? [:D]

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: Hertston
On a vaguely related subject, and in far broader terms than just Matrix, I could never understand why everyone is always so obsessed with prices that end in ".99".

From my Marketing 101 class : "because it works" - Advertize something as $49.99 and the "4" bit somehow attracts more buyers then when you'd advertize it as $50. People are weird that way. And no, it doesn't make any difference whether you're selling $1.99 detergents or $49,999 cars, the effect is visable with both.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[hueglin]

Thanks for the reply Erik,

"end of October" sounds much better than "before Christmas" (your original response in this thread). I'll echo what Wargamer39 said - great games!

A last note though - we are not talking about a minor change in the exchange rate - this is a major change - and is expected to remain at this level for quite a while.

[cptracks]

About 3-6 months then falling back to 95 or so, assuming no major upsets. Don't gloat too loud boys, as a manager in export I'm thinking which several of you to fire so we can be more productive. Also noting those cheaper US imports are hammering my home sales. May be just a few more with lots of pogey time to play unaffordable games! Me, I'm crying. My last company got sold to the yanks and the main reason was currency. Now its heading south. By by[:(]

[hueglin]

I don't consider it gloating. I'd just like to get reasonable value for my money when it is fair to do so. Not speaking of Matrix here - but many companies are very quick to change prices when the exchange rate is not in their favour - I'd just like it to work both ways.

I understand Matrix's explanation - they are entitled to decide when they have the time/resources to go in and make the changes - I think we are just making them aware that Canadians may be saving their purchases until there is a change in prices. Matrix can make a marketing decision on whether waiting to change prices will lose them sales or not. I am not a marketer and I do not have the answer to that question. I do know that I won't be making any more purchases until the prices more closely reflect the current exchange rate.