Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Exchange Rate Edition

by JC Fletcher { May 7th 2009 at 5:20PM }

Just one question this week on Ask Joystiq Nintendo, and we, uh, don't really definitively answer it. But it's a weird enough topic that we felt it was worthwhile to talk about it and tell you what we know. If you'd like us to feebly attempt to answer a question, send an email to asknintendo AT joystiq DOT com!

Frank asks:

Here in the UK, 1000 Wii points cost £7 from the Wii Shop Channel, whilst 1000 DSi points straight from their respective shop cost £9. I was just wondering if this pricing discrepancy is consistent worldwide, and if there's any word from Nintendo on why the difference is there in the first place, considering that I thought they were supposed to be unified as Nintendo points (which, may I add, cost between £9 and £10, depending on which card you buy).

This pricing discrepancy is not consistent worldwide. As Frank says, points bought through the Wii Shop Channel cost £7 per 1,000 in the UK, or £9 through the DSi. The same points purchased through retail (in this case, Amazon) cost £9.99, discounted from a £14.99 RRP. In North America, Wii Points and DSi Points cost roughly $10 per 1,000 points in stores and in-console for both Wii and DSi, give or take a few cents for tax and retailer discounts.

We've asked Nintendo UK for clarification, but until we hear back, all we can provide is our theory. Retailer prices for Wii hardware recently went up due to depreciation of the pound. We suspect that the same depreciation is the reason for the price rise for DSi Points. For the new DSi hardware launch, Nintendo took the opportunity to adjust the price, but it has yet to update the price in the Wii Shop. That sounds plausible, right?

Every week, we'll answer reader questions about the Wii, the DS, or any other Nintendo-related topic in Ask Joystiq Nintendo. If you have a question, e-mail it to asknintendo AT joystiq DOT com! You need your questions answered, and we need content for this column. It's a symbiotic relationship!

Tags: ask-nintendo, dsi-points, nintendo-points, wii-points

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Nigeria (Someone stole my bike seat) @ May 7th 2009 6:14PM

Yeah, I noticed this when I wanted to buy the 2000 points card for Adventure Island. The price hike, little as it is, has put me off buying virtual content from Nintendo altogether. Feels like poor form.

Okay, the pound is struggling against the yen - recent import prices has shown me that - but the feeling that certain companies are taking advantage of her weakness is always a constant.

Feba @ May 7th 2009 7:21PM

Personally, I've gotten all but my initial 1000 Wii Points on sale-- got four cards at %40 off and another two at %20. I currently have over 9000 (yes, I know) Wii Points sitting around on my shop channel and my shelf waiting to be spent on VC and WiiWare (and yes, I know there are plenty of good titles on the shop right now, and I intend to get them eventually, but I have a rather lengthy backlog of games right now)

fl029 @ May 7th 2009 7:43PM

hey feba, do u want to sell/give those cards to me??

Curt @ May 7th 2009 8:20PM

Every Bison dollar will be worth 5 British pounds, for that is the exchange rate the bank of England will set once I've kidnapped their Queen!

Martin @ May 8th 2009 2:05AM

In Canada you can buy them from the online shop for $20 USD or at WalMart for $18.49 CAD ($15.75 USD)

Bowser Rogozhin: Princess Nyah Defence Force @ May 8th 2009 6:35AM

Our money has the Queen on it! You can't take advantage of a lady, especially if she's elderly. That's double the disrespect. And to think, Japanese society supposedly treat their elderly like deities. This move flies in the face of any such assumptions.