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Forums > Home› Support› C-Store, ZEN, and Promotions

Atari Token stealth price increase?

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited May 2011 in C-Store, ZEN, and Promotions
Prices appear to have gone up in the last few weeks, at least for UK customers.

Late last month, the price for 2000 points was £15.00 before VAT.

However, checking the website tonight, we discover the new price structure:

£3.94 GBP Atari Tokens Bundle - 500
£7.88 GBP Atari Tokens Bundle - 1000
£11.81 GBP Atari Tokens Bundle - 1500
£15.75 GBP Atari Tokens Bundle - 2000
£39.38 GBP Atari Tokens Bundle - 5000

So, what has brought on this increase, and is it something that's occured across all regions?

If so, why haven't we heard anything about it?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Dont know its $25.00 US
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Perhaps, when they redid the Cryptic Point system, they updated the prices to the new exchange rates? All of the prices are based off the exchange rate of your currency compared to the USD. Every once in a while they will update the priced up or down depending on the current exchange rate.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    While I can't say about other regions, the US prices are the same as they've always been. I can't say as to why there's an increase in price for you (or others), but I can only guess it has something to do with exchange rates. I hope Cryptic does answer your question, though.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Another thing to, doesn't Europe have something called V.A.T. they add to things like the US's sales tax?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    QuanManChu wrote:
    Another thing to, doesn't Europe have something called V.A.T. they add to things like the US's sales tax?

    tax gets added to us after. the price on screen is just the base price before V.A.T.

    it could well be the exchange rate. if one of our American friends could post the prices then someone can check if the current exchange rate works out. i suspect its all in order but you never now if someone at cryptic's end has made a mistake.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    £3.94 is $6.3
    £7.88 is $12.6
    £11.81 is $19
    £15.75 is $25.3
    £39.38 is $63.4

    all as current as the rates are atm..
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Does the $25 include any US sales tax?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    i dont know since im not a us resident.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    HeathenStorm wrote: »
    If so, why haven't we heard anything about it?

    Think about what your saying. Your suggesting they now take the time to update us for things like price changes when the prices increases.

    I don't have a problem with the increase myself. I buy during 20% discount times. Have you calculated the credit savings when doing that? You may find that your not at a loss in the long run if your keen on using the store often.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    It has to be the exchange rate, since the cost in Euroes has dropped quite a bit, from € 21,75 for 2000 points just five days ago to € 18,25 now.

    According to Google,
    1 U.S. dollar = 0.736105999 Euros so that'd be about correct (18.4).
    1 U.S. dollar = 0.621310966 British pounds for 25 dollars becomes 15.5. Matches the price you listed pretty well too.

    I don't think though the prices update themselves in real time, so unless you make your purchases the moment they update the prices you're always going to be a little bit off...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Reave wrote: »
    It has to be the exchange rate, since the cost in Euroes has dropped quite a bit, from € 21,75 for 2000 points just five days ago to € 18,25 now.

    According to Google,
    1 U.S. dollar = 0.736105999 Euros so that'd be about correct (18.4).
    1 U.S. dollar = 0.621310966 British pounds for 25 dollars becomes 15.5. Matches the price you listed pretty well too.

    I don't think though the prices update themselves in real time, so unless you make your purchases the moment they update the prices you're always going to be a little bit off...

    Great answer Reave!

    We have recently updated the exchange rate tables. We do this 3-4 times a year, and when players point out that we're way off base (As our Canadian Friends do occasionally). It's not really feasible to keep updating these constantly or "real time" as exchange rate prices change quite quickly.

    Thanks,

    Stormshade
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    I propose a radical idea. This is so crazy, it just might work:


    When you see something Cryptic did for which the motivations are not completely clear, how about we don't automatically pick the worst possible reason we can think of and immediately post it to the forums as the likely explanation?

    They're gamers and Trek fans. You know, tlhey're US. Yeah, it's a business, here to make a profit, but it's a service business, and they LIKE their customers. A lot. Because we're gamers and Trekkies, like them.

    I'm just saying. No offense to the OP intended.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    StormShade wrote:
    Great answer Reave!

    We have recently updated the exchange rate tables. We do this 3-4 times a year, and when players point out that we're way off base (As our Canadian Friends do occasionally). It's not really feasible to keep updating these constantly or "real time" as exchange rate prices change quite quickly.

    Thanks,

    Stormshade

    When the CAD goes back down or the USD goes back up I assure you your Canadian friends will stop reminding you ;)
    Syberghost wrote:
    I propose a radical idea. This is so crazy, it just might work:


    When you see something Cryptic did for which the motivations are not completely clear, how about we don't automatically pick the worst possible reason we can think of and immediately post it to the forums as the likely explanation?

    They're gamers and Trek fans. You know, tlhey're US. Yeah, it's a business, here to make a profit, but it's a service business, and they LIKE their customers. A lot. Because we're gamers and Trekkies, like them.

    I'm just saying. No offense to the OP intended.

    It's best to assume the worst and be proven wrong.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    StormShade wrote:
    Great answer Reave!

    We have recently updated the exchange rate tables. We do this 3-4 times a year, and when players point out that we're way off base (As our Canadian Friends do occasionally). It's not really feasible to keep updating these constantly or "real time" as exchange rate prices change quite quickly.

    Thanks,

    Stormshade

    Thanks Stormy! That's why I bought points during the anniversary sale and spent most of them on items on sale. [=
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Dominick-Kane wrote: »
    It's best to assume the worst and be proven wrong.

    If you're talking about what you do in your head, yes; when you're talking about how you speak to and/or about fellow human beings, absolutely not.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    syberghost wrote: »
    If you're talking about what you do in your head, yes; when you're talking about how you speak to and/or about fellow human beings, absolutely not.

    Right but these fellow human beings have/get/want my money. its whole new ballpark which makes them entitled to my doom and gloom / questions / comments and concerns.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    Dominick-Kane wrote: »
    When the CAD goes back down or the USD goes back up I assure you your Canadian friends will stop reminding you ;)



    It's best to assume the worst and be proven wrong.


    man if i did that, many many people would hate me. it's best to not assume anything and have a better day.:cool:
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2011
    StormShade wrote:
    Great answer Reave!

    We have recently updated the exchange rate tables. We do this 3-4 times a year, and when players point out that we're way off base (As our Canadian Friends do occasionally). It's not really feasible to keep updating these constantly or "real time" as exchange rate prices change quite quickly.

    Thanks,

    Stormshade

    Like when Canadian Lifetimers got a few dollars back on their membership purchase.

    Keep checking that rate or I'll throw stones across the Niagara River.

    :D
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    the last time I baught cryptic points I gave 140,62 DKK for 5000 points, now the price it's 346,35 DKK
    I checked my bank to be sure I rememberd correct

    I thought I was going to buy everything in the c-store, but with the price as it is now there's no way I'll do that

    as it is now I can get 2000 points for 138,50 DKK
    the monthly sub fee is 82,45 DKK

    a c-store VA ship costs more then it costs to play the game...

    if I could afford to get the liftime sub it wouldn't be as big of a problem
    I really can't afford to pay that much for in-game stuff
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Well there seems to be a difference:



    champions-online 2000 = £15.00VAT
    Picture here
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    That list is very outdated! Canadian and U.S. pricing are the same and have been for a few months now.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2011
    Q_ELDER_ROGUE_UK wrote:
    Well there seems to be a difference:



    champions-online 2000 = £15.00VAT
    Picture here

    just checked that, it's £1 cheaper now for 2000, now thats odd
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2011
    Bohort wrote: »
    just checked that, it's £1 cheaper now for 2000, now thats odd

    If you click through to buy them the price shoots back up.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2011
    The quote is from WishStone...
    The VAT is not 40%. It depends on where in Europe you live.

    The price for the tokens in another currency is no longer directly connected to the $, either. That's the new fixed price we have set for this since we cannot adjust the price by fluctuating exchange rates every few days. The exchange rates between currencies change every few hours even.

    As an example: 500 tokens now:
    5€, 4£ or 35DKK.

    To compare this with the previous price for 500 tokens:
    4.56€, 3.94£ or 34.63DKK

    Since this was often something we got complaints about (remember the threads that the current currency rate compared to the USD was false?) the price for tokens is no longer calculated by or based on the US $.

    This means with the now fixed base price for Atari Tokens,we pay up to 15% more for the same Atari Tokens than our US and Canadian friends.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2011
    SHARKFORCE wrote: »
    The quote is from WishStone...



    This means with the now fixed base price for Atari Tokens,we pay up to 15% more for the same Atari Tokens than our US and Canadian friends.

    Yes, really this is something what i would like to know also... Before the increase I bought 1000 tokens for € 10.96 in total. How much do you think i pay next time? And why have you increased the prices at all? You can achieve the same goal with lowering the price... Did somebody have a solid explanation why they goes form € 4.56 to € 5 instead of € 4? What happend to "show that we care", "we listen to the players", "we value our customers" and other strong expressions? Because I really don't feel like that this step has been made to deliver me "better customer experience" or to let me "ejnoy the game more"...
    Please exuse my english, it's not my native language. Take care.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2011
    mastershotgun wrote: »
    Yes, really this is something what i would like to know also... Before the increase I bought 1000 tokens for € 10.96 in total. How much do you think i pay next time? And why have you increased the prices at all? You can achieve the same goal with lowering the price... Did somebody have a solid explanation why they goes form € 4.56 to € 5 instead of € 4? What happend to "show that we care", "we listen to the players", "we value our customers" and other strong expressions? Because I really don't feel like that this step has been made to deliver me "better customer experience" or to let me "ejnoy the game more"...
    Please exuse my english, it's not my native language. Take care.

    They rounded the numbers for our convenience,because we Europeans are not good at math apparently......and that's why we shouldn't be able to notice the price increase.
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