Article update
MCV has now spoken to an alternative retail source, which states that the quoted trade rate of £146 is liable for VAT at around £21.50, making the actual rate about £167.50. With GameStop already going close to that figure at £169.97, perhaps that will be the lower end of the price scale. Whether any retailers will willingly take a loss on its rate, in the hope of profits from other peripheral products and accessories, will become clear running up to launch.
Original article
It was only announced a few days ago, but 3DS XL is already emerging as a source for potential price wars in the UK. As prices are set by retailers, there's plenty of scope for competition and fluctuation, with an early price of £179.99 from major retailers already being undercut by GameStop.co.uk.
In an interesting piece of news, MCV has been told by a retail source that the trade rate — what the stores pay for each unit — is £146. When 3DS was launched in March 2011 many retailers took their prices down to just above the trade rate in an effort to get customers into stores and, potentially, buy extra accessories and games.
If that trade rate is correct then there's reason to believe that prices will drop further before launch, with MVC speculating that some retailers may opt to go as low as £149.99 to attract customers.
[source mcvuk.com]
Comments 35
Wow, Going that low sounds...a tad risky...
Im not in UK...Im not in Japan...Im not in NA...Im not in Australia....So I don't care! I'll get mine from wherever it is cheap... =P
It's always cheapest in the USA, what with prices not keeping up with the plummeting Dollar...
Well that'd make it cheaper than in Australia, so it makes sense.
That's about $233 AUD.
It's launching here for about $250, which is the same as the normal 3DS and also the DSi which is ridiculous.
I'll never get a Nintendo console at launch...NEVER! A few months will be a healthy wait.
That does not include the VAT of £21.50 per unit. The actual trade price is around £167.50. Sorry to everyone who got their hopes up.
I may have to wait a while longer here in the U.S, but I don't mind paying less.
How much will it cost in Sweden?
How is this so cheap in the US?
@C-Olimar We have a low import tax here in the United States.
Oh OK. Stupid EU :/
@Link_Belmont It's too early to say, I've only found one Swedish seller that's said a price so far (cdon) and it's 2199:-
2nd Question: Why is this so expensive in Japan? They wouldn't even have to pay import tax there...
@C-Olimar Not necessarily true. Nintendo purposely kept the price down to $199 in America. The main reason is because we are the largest market, which means you don't have to make as much money off of each console.
Last I heard, entertainment is always expensive in Japan. You should see their prices on Anime DVDs.
@BenAV You can buy the DSiXL for $139 at the moment (I think Kmart is having a special). I thought about buying one because I hate the way my DS games look on my 3DS. But I may get a 3DSXL now that way I can play my DS games and street pass myself, hehe.
what's that in US $? 199 is plenty cheap for me to jump on it as long as I can transfer my stuff. Did I miss any word about if there'll be a way to transfer files? I got tons of stuff downloaded and I'm not willing to lose it, but happy to redownload it if it means not re-buying. (like ambassador stuff too that I love). Also no word about the camera resolution? if it's even a smidge better I'll go camp out now for one. with a big screen it'll be like underwater photos otherwise.
@C-Olimar I'm not 100% sure, but it's only consumers that pay VAT, not traders (retailers). MCV are a trade site, so if they say it's £146 for a shop to buy a 3DS XL unit (and speculate sale prices potentially going as low as £150 with big retailers and supermarkets), I'd tend to believe them.
MCV updated their article stating what I said earlier...
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/the-150-3ds-xl-the-race-is-on/098466
They say: 'A second retail source has contacted MCV to point out that a trade price of £146 would incur an additional VAT bill of around £21.50 per unit, meaning the actual trade price would be around £167.50.'
@C-Olimar Thanks, I hadn't seen that, will update the article shortly.
That's updated now, so it looks like £170 may be as low as it goes. Supermarkets may dip below that just to get consumers into the store, but game and electronic specialists will, I think, compete around that £170 limit.
The original 3DS went a little below trade price +VAT at launch for a while, even from online retailers (Including amazon uk), so I wouldn't give up hope quite yet on £170 being the limit, but I wouldn't expect it to go much further down.
Eh, £167.50 is still okay.
Do we really believe that this is the cost price, there's no way we will ever get the truth on that.
In the UK we'll be best to wait and see what the Tesco's etc. price at.
@Link_Belmont Gissar på 2000 lök kanske?
Btw the double color scheme on the front is fugly
This is sooo it again.
Finnish CDON.fi sells the original 3DS for €149.95 and their price for XL is €249.95.
Look the price is fantastic, the problem is no built in Circle Pad Pro because Nintendo absolutely disagrees that that control option should exist.
@Mickeymac So true.
When I lived in Hungary, they had a 26% VAT on top of a few other import costs and taxes, one good Wii game could cost you $80 easily.
http://www.propelgamer.co.uk/product-detail.aspx?ID=1371
PROPEL GAMER has 3DS XL in all colours selling for 164.99 including FREE delivery.
I just want a charger included in mine,and a price of £150,and then,I'll be happy.
If it goes that low wouldent they have to lower the price of the original 3ds?
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...