For example, regional pricing is taken into account for the Switch 2 (the Japanese one was priced at ¥49,980 / $310 while the American variant is $450 + tax) but there are caveats, such as requiring a Japanese Nintendo Account and accepting that English isn’t supported. Nowadays game consoles are dual voltage (unlike old consoles from the past).
The answer depends on how much a game console costs in where you live: if it’s expensive (like for Australian Customers: the switch 2 is A$700 but the Japanese one is A$422) and for EU customers: the console is 470€ while the Japanese one is 270€, you get the point. Even though if you were going to import it just to not pay that much: do additional duties apply?
The same applies to the upcoming PS6 (for US customers: it’s NOT $999 alone if you count sales tax, so closer to $1050 or above) while it’s around ¥150,000 / $930 with 10% CT but even if one were to import it, does that alone void sales tax or replaced with a tariff? I mean, which one is viable: importing a console from overseas or buying one domestically?
There’s a catch you got to be aware of: warranty is rescinded when you take hardware out its bound jurisdiction unless you are willing to fork out more money on having it repaired by a technician. Knowing that, should you import it or pay MORE to buy it in your home country, as in it may be $450 for a console plus tax but the warranty is entitled to US consumers.
If you come visit, we have duty free for any electronics above 20k yen or something like that (might be 50k, please check; also they’re stopping this programme in the near future iirc). So you save on the sales tax here. You just can’t open it until you get back to Australia I think. A
lso, since you won’t have warranty anyway, you could consider getting it second hand for a lot cheaper. Any reputable second hand shop will also honour the duty-free shopping programme for foreign tourists.
Where are we seeing anything on the ps6? Thats easily 18+ months away I would have assumed.
The Japanese Switch 2 is locked to Japan region games too, it’s the only Switch/Switch2 that is region locked.
As a fellow Aussie, just be aware that importing goods from overseas does make you liable to pay for GST on them at the border.
As a nation, we love a punt - and I’ve taken that gamble multiple times without issue bringing in tech in my luggage - but just be mindful of that fact.
Pretty sure Nintendo is specifically trying to prevent you from being able to pay less like this.
I’m pretty sure Nintendo specifically tries any way possible to prevent their customers to pay less in any way.
How do regional returns work for warranty?
I think it will greatly depend on: 1. What device it is and who the manufacturer is 2. The country where it came from 3. The country it is currently in
Those 3 things will play a big role in how this all plays out.
A company like Valve may not behave like Nintendo would for a warranty claim like this. The European Union may have strict laws that protect customers regardless where the device was bought, if it’s there and it’s sold there, it’s treated like it was bought there (not saying that is how it is or Valve is better than Nintendo for these; just possibilities).
I don’t see why not, if you really want it. You seem to understand drawbacks well enough. Shoot, if you get a switch you can play on the flight home!
