Gerry Harvey, the staunchest critic of the government’s $1000 GST-free threshold on good bought offshore from online stores, has decided if you cannot beat ’em, join ’em.

Just days before Christmas, Harvey has launched harveynormandirectimport.com, promising games for Xbox, Wii and Playstation at “the best global pricing” to the Australian gaming customers.

Harvey Norman says it will use its global operations to launch this direct imports concept, which will allow Australian customers to purchase games directly from Harvey Norman Ireland, GST free, and at the lowest prices currently available in Australia.

In a list of examples of the savings, high profile, high selling games will be sold at a cost usually between $12 and $25 less than Australian retail prices. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 for Xbox, for example, is selling for $63, $22 less than on rival websites, it says. However the site is charging shipping – $3.95 on one game, reducing that saving.

Harvey Norman’s European suppliers have provided Harvey Norman Direct Imports with hundreds of game titles on line, which are available for immediate shipping.

“In general, harveynormandirectimports will allow customers to purchase new games at prices lower than those paid for second hand games. The market in Australia is demanding global pricing, which are significantly lower – Harvey Norman is delivering”, said Gerry Harvey, executive chairman of the company bearing his name.

“Harvey Norman has listened to our customers. We are now in a position to deliver a unique opportunity for our customers to make significant savings on the latest in gaming.

“The gaming customer in Australia has been paying too much for years and we look forward to providing our customers with a new cost effective offering”, said Ben McIntosh, GM, Harvey Norman Computers and Communications.

The move is expected to strain relations with local game distributors.