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What You'll Really Pay for the PS3
- August 18, 2006 09:47 AM PST
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You want it. We want it. But we're all gonna pay for it, and much, much more than you might think. Here's a full guide to what you're likely to pay this fall for Sony's dream machine.
Surprises suck. When Sony announced the price of its PlayStation 3 -- $499 and $599 for a low-end and high-end model, respectively -- the world gasped.
Enemy of the State
But your surprise at hearing the PlayStation 3's retail price will be nothing compared to your shock when you see that price on your credit card bill come December. You see, what Sony isn't telling you is that buying the PlayStation 3 opens up a whole host of hidden costs: taxes, game prices, and peripherals, to name a few. That's where this guide comes in handy: if you're ready to take the PS3 plunge, you need to make the smartest, most cost-effective decisions possible.
Of course, to make such a guide, we've had to make a few educated guesses; take note that final prices for the controller and the games haven't yet been announced. When they are, we'll update the guide.
Your biggest enemy? Taxes, by far. Depending on where you live, you may pay as much as an 8.75 percent sales tax; possibly more. Our general advice: if you plan to buy a PS3, stay out of the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City. These areas have some of the highest tax rates in the country.
To calculate the "average" sales tax, we took the median sales tax in the United States, which hovers around 5.5%. This is a good middle-of-the-road example of a typical state sales tax. To represent "high tax" entries, we used the San Francisco Bay Area rate of 8.75%. The numbers aren't intended to be pinpoint precise, but to give you a rough idea of the cost of investing in the PlayStation 3 this year.
Knowing is Half the Battle
Before you head into battle, also check out this handy list of all the sales tax rates in the United States. God bless Wikipedia!
On to the guide...
PlayStation 3 20 GB
The PS3 20 GB, one game, and an extra controller: $643.52 (prediction)
SUMMARY: You're sticking with your cruddy old 480i TV set, or you've already jumped on the HD TV bandwagon. At any rate, if you're looking to score a PS3 at the absolutely cheapest price, this is your best bet.
- PlayStation 3 20 GB: $499.99
- 1 game: $59.99*
- 1 controller: $49.99*
Subtotal (pre-tax): $609.97
Average total (+5.5% tax): $643.52
High tax total (+8.75% tax): $663.34
*estimates
PlayStation 3 60 GB
The PS3 60 GB, one game, and an extra controller: $749.02 (prediction)
SUMMARY: You've decided to splurge on the pricier, more capable model of PlayStation 3, perhaps for its larger hard drive or 1080p HDMI video output. But your mentality is still spendthrift: minimal accessories and games, and no investment in home theater equipment.
- PlayStation 3 60 GB: $599.99
- 1 game: $59.99
- 1 extra controller: $49.99
Subtotal (pre-tax): $709.97
Average total (+5.5% tax): $749.02
High tax total (+8.75% tax): $772.09
ANALYSIS: Phew, pricey. If you thought you could buy a slice of next-gen hotness for just under $500, you will be sadly mistaken come November. Just to clarify: we're only assuming that games will cost just $59.99; there are rumors that games will cost north of the now-standard next-gen $59.99 price point.
The 60 GB version is even worse, and it's with this model that taxes begin to become a serious issue -- $62.12 alone for taxes in the San Francisco Bay Area. That's as much as a game!
