PSP Shortage Still Exists In UK

[Zeus]

Sctoman report GAME, the computer games group, today admitted that it could not meet the huge demand for the new hand-held Sony PSP console.



Game said PSP orders had been so strong that all units had sold out in its 397 stores in the UK and Ireland within three weeks of its debut.

Many customers who have paid a deposit for the PSP have not received their console even though Sony dispatched 200,000 units to the UK following its launch on September 1, Game said.

Chief executive Martin Long said only a limited number of units had been delivered by Sony in past days, preventing Game from replenishing store shelves.

But he dispelled fears that the company could suffer similar woes to last Christmas when an "unprecedented breakdown" in the supply of PlayStation 2 consoles led to sales falling by a fifth.

"Sony are very confident about their shipping target for the year which is about one million [PSP] units," Mr Long said.


News Source: <a href="http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=5&id=2002302005" target="_blank">Scotsman.com</a>

[dreary79]

Odd... I just read that NDS and GBA are selling better than the PSP in Europe. So either Sony isn't sending very many PSP's to Europe and losing a lot of sales or Sony is making an excuse for the bad sales.

[StormB]

I've been looking for 3 weeks in the UK and can't find one. Normally I'd get an import or find an obscure webshop which has them, but unfortunately I am buying using some high-street vouchers which can only be used in the main UK shops (Comet, Woolworths, Argos etc). None of them have had any for several weeks in my area. :(

Will

[dreary79]

I wouldn't be surprised if Sony is sitting on them to counter the 360's release.

[nonzero]

I wouldn't be surprised if Sony is sitting on them to counter the 360's release.

Yeah, that wouldn't be surprising...

[mattdpage]

I have 5 UK 1003 in my cupboard sitting on them to eBay them for christmas.

Just hoping that the giga pack does not reach the UK before Christmas.

I can confirm to that there has been a drout in all the UK shops since pretty much the first two weeks in September for any psp stocks and no shops can say 100% that they can get you one for christmas.

So of course the NDS will sell more because every shop has them stocked.

[MavSkipper]

i was in virgin megastore in tottenham courtroad(london) yesterday and they had them in stock
though i've seen mostly bundled with games

[StormB]

Good news. I got a PSP today from Comet in Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees. They got a delivery of 16 (first delivery in many many weeks) just 20 mins before I walked in the store. They then said 14 had been pre-ordered, one had been bought by one of the staff... and I got the last one :D Just think, half an hour earlier and I would have gone in and settled for a DS!

Even better, it's 2.00 firmware so can be downgraded.. but I aint gonna do that til I've finished GTA :)

Moral - it seems as though you can get them, but you've either got to be on a waiting list, or be very very lucky ...

Will