Games Toaster

Xbox 360: Higher price in Ireland - inconsistencies in Microsoft’s VAT reason

Ireland and Portugal were given a higher ERP, but not Belgium, which has the same VAT rate.

Ireland’s 360 price difference due to VAT rate - Microsoft

- ‘Game’ stores still quoting lower price, but with caution

On Wednesday, when the European and US price points for the Xbox 360 were confirmed, the Irish media received price points for the two versions of the console 10 euro more then the price announced for other areas of the euro zone. With the retail price for the Republic of Ireland hitting 309.99 and 409.99 euro, for bare minimum ‘Core’ console, and hard drive included package, respectively. In contrast to 299 and 399 euro elsewhere.

Small Claims Court rules against Smyth’s in case of broken down “PlayStation”

Judgement, and Director of Consumer Affairs opinion, goes against what consumers are often faced with when complaining to many shops about broken down consoles.

In the print edition of last week’s regional newspaper, the ‘Western People’, it  was reported that Margaret Noonan, of Cloondroon, Milltown, Tuam, original bought a new “PlayStation” console from ‘Smyth’s’ at the price of 199 euro in December 2002, but after it broke down in June 2003 she brought it back to the store where she was given a “re-conditioned PlayStation”. “Ms Noonan was told this was a PlayStation which was as good as new”, reads the Western, however this “re-conditioned” console subsequently broken down in February of this year.

At this point, when she returned the console to Smyth’s, she was told that the warranty only covered it for three months, and that it would cost her 87 euro for second ‘re-conditioned’ console, or 169 euro for a new console.

The claimant then contacted the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs (ODCA), and in the newspaper's own words, she was told, “that when she returned to the shop in June 2003, it was not a question of warranty but the Sale of Goods Act and she should have received a replacement or a refund”.

Judge Geoffrey Browne ordered that Ms Noonan get a full refund of 199 euro, Smyth’s were not represented in court.

“The aim of the Small Claims Court procedure” says the Irish Government’s information website www.oasis.gov.ie “is to provide an inexpensive, fast, and easy way for consumers to resolve disputes without the need to employ a solicitor. The Small Claims service is provided in your local District Court office”. [Further reading: Small Claims Court explained]. Contact details for the ODCA can be found here.

[NOTE: In December of 2002, the PlayStation 2, not the original PlayStation, was priced at 199 euro. However, as we can only re-report what the Western People have published about the case, we have confined naming the console to quoting the newspaper.]