Local gaming and console pricing has been a point of contention amongst gamers for some time now. While many will be quick to point out that we pay more than our international counterparts, it also stands to reason that there are various unavoidable costs associated with importing and distributing consoles and games in South Africa.
While these costs drive up local console pricing, South African gamers can take heart in the fact that international price cuts have for the most part filtered down to the South African market, and recent reductions on the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii have all taken effect locally.
The PS3 120 GB Slim carries a recommended retail price of R3799, while the Xbox 360 120GB Elite should sell for no more than R3399 and the Nintendo Wii now sits at R2499.
While these are the recommended prices, they should by no means be taken for granted. Some retailers have yet to adopt the changes, while others are doing their best to sell their consoles for even less.
Last month we looked at whether international price cuts had filtered through to the South African market. It seemed then that serious retailers had made an effort to reduce prices. This month we take it a step further by looking at a wider range of retailers and comparing their console prices.
| Xbox 360 Elite | PS3 Slim | Nintendo Wii | |
| Woolworths | R 3299 | R 3799 | R 2499 |
| Look&Listen | R 3399 | R 3899 | R 2599 |
| Musica | R 3399 | R 3799 | R 2599 |
| Kalahari | R 3399 | — | R 2499 |
| Game | R 3699 | R 3799 | R 2499 |
| BT Games | R 3399 | R 3799 | R 2499 |
| Hi-Fi Corporation | R 3379 | R 3799 | R 2479 |
| Incredible Connection | R 3699 | R 3799 | R 2499 |
Xbox 360 Elite
The best deal currently available on the basic Xbox 360 Elite bundle can be found at Woolworths. Not only is the base price R100 cheaper than most other retailers, but if the purchase is made using a Woolworths credit card, the buyer gets a R200 Woolworths voucher, effectively discounting the console to R3099.
Like with the PS3, different bundles are available. While some will include older games, some bundles, such as the Halo 3 pack which includes Halo 3 and Halo 3 ODST can offer great value at R3399.
While Woolworths was the only retailer to significantly undercut the RRP, others, such as Incredible Connection and Game seem to be selling the console at inflated prices.
PS3 Slim
Pricing on Sony’s new flagship console has generally been adopted consistently among different retailers. Look&Listen is the only retailer selling the console at above its RRP. Kalahari initially had the console on preorder for R3699, but now appears to only be selling the 250GB Uncharted 2 version for R4499. While this is a good offer, considering that it includes the critically acclaimed Uncharted 2, the omission of the cheaper flagship PS3 Slim remains curious.
Wii
Like with the other console, the new Wii pricing has been implemented rigidly, and most retailers are now selling it for R2499. While Look&Listen and Musica seem intent on selling the console at above its RRP, no retailer is selling it at below this price.
The uniformity with which pricing has been enforced generally makes buying a console a more straight forward process than it has been in the past.
The addition of the R200 gift card, as well as generally good pricing makes Woolworths arguably the best place to buy a console in SA at the moment.
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