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

[wraggster]

Via joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/27/sony-clarifies-americans-arent-cheap-but-u-s-labor-is/) 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]

lol good catch sony america :)

[Cokemusic]

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]

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

[Basil Zero]

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]

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]

...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]

lol sony.

[rogersmith1122]

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.

[Cap'n 1time]

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.


varies from state to state. It's $5.55 here.

[Joe88]

$7.25 here

how the heck do you call us a poor county ???

were one of the most richest and powerfull counties in the world
a world superpower next to china

[Shadowblind]

In Alabama and Florida isn't the minimum wage somewhere around $6.25?

[Joe88]

http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm

[lyonnryu]

Bringing the minimum wage into this is absurd. In the U.S. the minimum wage varies from state to state, and choosing $5.15 (the lowest of all the states) just shows they are trying to cover up the fact that they just want to get all they can for their hardware. Factor in how much more in taxes people in the U.K. pay to fund thier socialist policies, and you get almost an even playing field when it comes to income. Sony just knows it can get more for its hardware in certain places, just as oil companies hike their prices during nice weather and holiday seasons.

[Stone Temple Pilots]

So.... are they gonna lower the PS3 price or what?

[tsimehC]

$7.25 here

how the heck do you call us a poor county ???

were one of the most richest and powerfull counties in the world
a world superpower next to china

Well I think they meant the people are poor and not the government.:rofl:

[mnky]

I assumed that this was obvious.

[Joe88]

Well I think they meant the people are poor and not the government.:rofl:

non the less
Im guessing their reffering to places like the county and such, not the big city's

well whatever
at least SCEA doesnt pull this junk

[Junixx]

Well I think they meant the people are poor and not the government.:rofl:

And th U.S. government is....how many billion dollars in debt....

[jamesclrk]

hey, if it does, i'll buy one when i go back to india next year;)
i am yet ,got it i n 08 .

[ish420ism]

And th U.S. government is....how many billion dollars in debt....

Thank Punkass Bush for that:thumbup: **** BUSH:thumbup:

[Joe88]

we didnt just get in debt yesterday :rolleyes:
its been like this for a long time

[Shadowblind]

Asked my history teacher today. Neither Bush nor ANY president can make the US go into or outta debt. It depends all upon the economy and how it is fairing. 9/11 caused us to go more in debt for damages. The stock market crash caused the US to go more in debt. Really, I dont think Bush, nor Clinton nor any president caused 9/11 to happen.

[ish420ism]

we didnt just get in debt yesterday :rolleyes:
its been like this for a long time

You must be a kid.
You obviously don't remember the surplus. No matter how brief it was.

[Joe88]

You must be a kid.
You obviously don't remember the surplus. No matter how brief it was.

great depression ???
WWII anyone ???

your the one who must be a kid
if you think bush just put the whole US in debt in his presidential term
then I LoL ...

[ish420ism]

great depression ???
WWII anyone ???

your the one who must be a kid
if you think bush just put the whole US in debt in his presidential term
then I LoL ...

You can get off Bush's cock now. Hate on this N.Y. I will stop with this now.
Sorry moderators