Sony clarifies Americans aren't 'cheap,' but U.S. labor is

***wraggster*** · March 27th, 2007, 23:18

Via joystiq comes an update on the slur by Sony UK boss calling USA people Cheap:

Near the PS3 launch in Europe, Sony's UK Managing Director Ray Maguire was interviewed by GI.biz, and while discussing the cost of the PS3 in the UK said, "If you take what's considered to be the most expensive and the least expensive -- consider the US with its massive land and cheap people. Then you look at the UK -- a little island where rent and rates are at an absolute premium, and the cost of people is a lot more."

Coincidentally, in the same interview Maguire also said, "Nowadays, with how the media works, not only does information fly around at the speed of light, so does mis-information. With blogs on the increase, people's thought processes are transferred from one place to another and picked up by people who might be lazy when it comes to finding out whether something is true or not."

Well, to prove him wrong, 1UP went and followed up with Sony America today. They explained what Maguire was trying to say is that the cost of living and labor are different in the two countries. The minimum wage in the UK is roughly $10/hr USD against the US's $5.15/hr. 1UP concludes, "Wouldn't that make us, essentially, 'cheaper?'" Well, no. By that thought process the U.S. is essentially poorer. Sony is doing the U.S. a favor by making the PS3 cheaper for the well-populated, but poor, country.

**Camelot** · March 27th, 2007, 23:37

lol good catch sony america

**Cokemusic** · March 27th, 2007, 23:41

I never thought i'd here america being called a "poor country" lmao .but then any country would look poor alongside GB (the most powerfull currency in the world baby)

So americans don't earn as much as brits yet we get to buy all their stuff half price , sweet sweet injustice.

**Zargon** · March 27th, 2007, 23:55

Does that mean it will only cost a few US $ to buy a PS3 in India?

**Basil Zero** · March 28th, 2007, 02:01

Originally Posted by Zargon

Does that mean it will only cost a few US $ to buy a PS3 in India?

hey, if it does, i'll buy one when i go back to india next year

**h4s30** · March 28th, 2007, 02:09

this is simple its like trying to increase the minimum wage 5.15 gets increased to 7.15 well because people are makin more money McDonalds is going to raise the prices so instead of a 1 dollar menu you get a 2 dollar menu now

**MicroNut** · March 28th, 2007, 02:27

...spin it Sony spin it...

anything is better than a good story about people

And very expensive game consoles

So what is this story about again?
Cheap Labor! ...so dont be confused...

Sorry everyone Sony is just misunderstood.
The story is about how the PS3 is actually reasonably priced for its geographic region.
How Sony gives poor Americans a break...
How Brits can hack it because they are rich...

And now everyone feels special enough to forget how damn expensive the console is again.

**Buddy4point0** · March 28th, 2007, 02:58

lol sony.

**rogersmith1122** · March 28th, 2007, 03:15

Originally Posted by h4s30

this is simple its like trying to increase the minimum wage 5.15 gets increased to 7.15 well because people are makin more money McDonalds is going to raise the prices so instead of a 1 dollar menu you get a 2 dollar menu now

Actually, minimum wage is $7.15 here in the US and it was $6.00 before that. It hasnt been $5.15 in at least 2 or 3 years.