Sony respects rising Canadian dollar with price drop

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 18th 2007 at 9:00PM }

What's strange about this image? If you're Canadian, you may have noticed that you're paying the same as your American brethren. Sony is the first of the major three console makers to release a system in the territory that matches the American price. Traditionally, the US dollar has been much stronger than the Canadian. Thus, console manufacturers usually inflated the cost of Canadian consoles accordingly.

However, the Canadian dollar is now stronger than the US dollar. Shouldn't the inflation stop? Unfortunately, other console manufacturers haven't responded quite yet. The Nintendo Wii retails for $289 in Canada, $30 more than in the US. The Xbox 360 Elite retails for $499, $50 more than in the US.

Thanks to Sony for recognizing the changing global economy. They slashed the Canadian PS3 by $160 to account for the currency conversion. Now, Canadians -- go buy yourself a PS3.

Tags: 80gb, canada, price-drop, ps3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

twak @ Oct 18th 2007 9:13PM

Go Canada :) !

Kspraydad @ Oct 18th 2007 9:22PM

Some of the Bravia TVs are the same now too like the KDL46XBR4 is $3599 in both countries...

Now...Can I PLEASE have a new PSP for $169 instead of $199...

Steve @ Oct 18th 2007 9:24PM

Finally! It's just ridiculous. I live in Toronto and we still pay more than you guys! Grrrr... I'm going back to my igloo.

Kspraydad @ Oct 18th 2007 9:35PM

In Ontario Superstores on Oct 20 and 21 there is NO tax!

On a $499 system that is a $70 Sales tax savings!

John @ Oct 18th 2007 9:45PM

I see this as a very strong move on Sony's part, especially before the other manufacturers, and right before the holidays.

Tim @ Oct 18th 2007 9:50PM

Dam this is cool. Now DO IT IN AUSTRALIA! Aus is paying like $100-200 more then they should.

marcandrer @ Oct 18th 2007 10:09PM

@6

yeah but the australian dollar is still 11¢ behind the us dollar and about 13¢ from the canadian

Mark @ Oct 18th 2007 10:12PM

Did the superstore lower its 80gb PS3 bundle price? If it did, me thinks im gonna get one this sat

Bluebrake @ Oct 18th 2007 10:15PM

Futureshop.ca is tossing in Enchanted Arms with the 80gb bundle at that price. If you don't object to mediocre RPGs, that's a nice bonus.

Augusto @ Oct 18th 2007 10:30PM

Ja! In Argentina we won, it's the most expensive of all, 1200 U$S for the PS3, that if you are lucky...

Random1448 @ Oct 18th 2007 10:30PM

Thank you sony, I wuv you to.

Kspraydad @ Oct 18th 2007 10:46PM

@Mark...

The price drop is a SONY one so I'd imagine the would have to? I didn't get into one tonight to check but I'm sure they would...you can always just 'demand' a price match with FF/BB etc...

themeanpig @ Oct 19th 2007 10:33PM

Thank you Sony, about time things started dropping price.....,eh?

alien @ Oct 18th 2007 10:52PM

Wow... that's amazing considering I had to pay $700 for the 60 GB back in february. Well, at least I have the full PS2 compatibility.

Kspraydad @ Oct 18th 2007 10:52PM

BTW the 60GB if you can find it will be $449 at FF/BB and TRU starting tommorrow (in Canada)

pmasterfunk @ Oct 18th 2007 11:02PM

i was about to buy a $559 60 gb last weekend

and now the price went down one hundred bucks

i would have been mega pissed off

sicklesdawg @ Oct 18th 2007 11:59PM

I gotta love our taxes dollars being sent to Iraq :)

Mark @ Oct 19th 2007 2:04AM

I think this price drop is awesome and I really think the PS3's sales will surge and shut up a lot of the naysayers and 360 fanboys...But as an early adopter I can't help but feel a little ripper off. I mean in less than a year it's nearly 200 bucks cheaper, with a bigger hard drive and Motorstorm??!!. Early buyers unite! Tell Sony how you feel and maybe we can get something for it, like the early iPhone buyers did. A gift card, a game, something?? Let's get rewarded for helping start the revolution.

zipzap @ Oct 19th 2007 4:42AM

Hey Sony, how about respecting the really strong EURO for a change? One euro is about 1.4 USD now, yet some euro countries pay 479 EUR (683 USD!!!) for the new 40GB model.

Forum Troll @ Oct 19th 2007 6:45AM

OMFGWTFARRRGHHH!!!!! i just freakin boughtt one aaaaaiawfgawlweiv muuuuuuuuutahsjbhfskf!*#@$&*($

coplice @ Oct 19th 2007 8:06AM

it must be the first time ever an electronic is the same price in Canada and US, bravo sony!

now the car dealer need to do the same

Relaxiknowarchie @ Oct 19th 2007 8:37AM

Future shop is now offering Lair with the Motorstorm bundle.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10092266&logon=&langid=EN
I may be wasting some money this weekend.

Blair @ Oct 19th 2007 8:50AM

just picked my 80gb up this morning.. man am i glad i didnt wait for the 40gb.

Popfrogs @ Oct 19th 2007 9:00AM

Regardless of the strength of the Euro or the British pound, imports are always more expensive. That's because that whole side of the globe pays through the nose on import tariffs and taxes (like the huge GST in Canada).

Plus, Europeans smell funny. ;) I kid, I kid.

Anyway this price drop thing is great. Alot of AAA titles are just about to hit in a few short weeks. Uncharted, R&C:F, etc. Yeah, it sucks to be an early adopter, but hey, we got full backwards compatibility and a year of watching Blu-ray movies already. I won't whine until the 65nm process Cell PS3s are released that are quieter and run cooler.

Real Gambler @ Oct 19th 2007 10:39AM

Way to go Sony.... I can feel my power now... I asked for that and you gave it to us!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Draco @ Oct 19th 2007 1:40PM

Sony has always been good at giving CDN market fair value compaired to the US. when PS3 was first released it was only an extra 60$ over the US price (10% I think) whereas the 360 was over 20% more expensive. Nintendo was somewhere inbetween.

we still pay 129.99 for a wireless adapter on the 360. and its only 99.99 I think in the US.

Matt @ Oct 19th 2007 2:13PM

At Futureshop you also get Lair for Free

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10092266&catid=

xenopulse @ Oct 19th 2007 5:56PM

If you just bought it, return it! Within 30 days, you should be able to do that, if you've got all the accessories and everything.

That is, if Canadian stores are as good about that kind of stuff as US stores.

Mango @ Oct 19th 2007 2:22PM

The 40GB models have 65nm CPUs in them. They run ALOT quieter according to reports.

I find the PS3 at idle to be inaudible, but under load its VERY loud. I don't want 90nm garbage, and backwards compatibility for PS2 games will be done fully in software on the 40GB unit eventually. If you think otherwise, you're wrong. Do you really think they wont sell HUGE sellers like God of War on the PS Store?

Notorious Nemesis @ Oct 19th 2007 2:24PM

It's not that Canadian dollar is rising, it's the US dollar that's falling down. And we Europeans are pissed! We have to pay $710 to play PS3, and after all, we are the Sony's best buyers. To hell with Sony.

Bluebrake @ Oct 19th 2007 7:20PM

@Mango:
Is that thing about the 65nm Cell confirmed? All I've heard so far is rumours and anecdotal evidence. It has fewer vents on the back, it's quieter, and it uses less power. But, apparently its power usage is still well within the operational range of the old PS3, just on the low side. It's all very intriguing, but I haven't seen any proof yet.

If it is 65nm, that complicates things for me... A quieter, cooler, more energy efficient PS3 means a lot. Not enough to give up backwards compatibility, but enough to wait for a 65nm 80gb if it's coming soon. That might explain the mysterious FCC filing last week... the 65nm 80gb? I just wonder how much old stock is lying around and long it would take to get the new ones onto shelves.

And @Notorious Nemesis:

Actually, it's both! One dollar is dropping and one is rising. I think the change in the CAN dollar is the main cause of the current situation, though.

And isn't your sales tax included in that $710 figure? Obviously you're still getting screwed a bit, but remember that a lot of places, Canada included, have to pay sales tax on top of the MSRP.