Retailers prepared for PS3 launch shortage

[Zeus]

An article by Gamersfirst indicates that the launch of the PS3 will be incredibly 'rocky'. According to them, an internal Gamestop e-mail expressed concerns over how many PS3 systems their chain will be allocated. Stores which received anywhere between 50-100 360's at launch, are prparing themselves to receive no more than 20 PS2's each. Looks like the PS3 launch will wreak havoc and you can expect to see some pretty crazy prices on Ebay for a launch system...


Hastings, a major retailer in the northwest, and based out of Texas, has opted not to reserve PS3s at all. Out of fairness, it should be noted that this is not merely a response to the rumored PS3 shortages. It is, in a big way, a reaction to Microsoft's launch of the Xbox 360. For many retailers who realize they will sell out of these new systems on launch day regardless of whether or not they'v taken preorders, refusing to reserve systems is an obvious time and headache saver that eliminates the need for such concerted launch-day planning. (Many retail outlets implement special launch-day schedules, policies and procedures to deal with the massive paperwork and demand of launch-day preorders.)


News Source: <a href="http://www.gamesfirst.com/?id=1355" target="_Blank">Gamesfirst.com</a>

[neilpatel]

i am a sony fanboy but i can say sony cant build good quality systems to save their life, look at the ps2-dodgy drives, psp-umds fell out ranomdly. Everyone hu buys it on ebay will be screwed over.

[kronikdaddy]

imma do what i can to get one just to sell it on ebay. i dont care if i dont play a ps3 a year after the launch but with the $$ one could make from selling a ps3 after launch you could buy 2 more and still have $$ left over.

ebay will be the main reason ps3's will be sold out in the stores, more ppl will buy on launch day to sell on ebay then play when they get home. the ppl that want to play have to pay on ebay. man i love console launches. the 360 was a good one, sold 2, one for $980(premium) and one from the 2nd shipment for $720(core)

[whackawookie]

i would rather get me a ps3 at circuitcity or best buy and get a 4 year warranty but chances of me standing out at midnight for a system that might have a dead blu-ray in a month are slim to none. I will pay off my credit cards for those places so once its in stores i can just pick it up.

[darkpaladin]

So, my plans to buy a PS3 or two on launch day, then turn around and sell them online right before Christmas pretty much insures that I'm going to make some mad cash, right?

Looks like I'll be able to afford that new laptop after all ;).

[Retroboy]

ill pre-order one only because of the fact the 360 was so much demanded it took me mate ages to buy one, lucky for me i got it at christmas.

as for the people who say that sony have neve built a secure console jesus what do you guys do to your psx, ps2 and psp.

ive had a psx (and still have it) and it work just as good as the first time i took it out of the box.

my ps2 is again running excellent never needed taking apart (apart from adding a mod chip) and runs again excellent.

My psp and thats running like a dream.

this goes for all the consoles ive ever had.

and i know the ps3 will be just the same, i will get it and never have a single problem with it, same with all my consoles ive ever owned.

[whackawookie]

your one of the few retroboy. I take care of my **** to the point that its ridiculous. My psx was one of the unfortunate ones that developed dodgy audio and would only work when the system was turned upside down. The ps2 i dont even want to get into because there'd be too many details to get into. The psp had so many dead pixels on screen for launch that sony stressed to retailers that a dead pixel is not a defect and is not covered under warranty.

[The Bat]

Considering how self-contained blu-ray players keep getting their release delayed, and the complexity of the hardware in the typical gaming consoles these days, I'd be surprised if there are anywhere near 4 million PS3s manufactured by December 31 of this year.

And considering Sony's ability at generating hype, I'd be surprised if retailers will be able to avoid ticking off customers over long waits for their pre-order to be met. I can't blame retailers for worrying about that at this point.

I'd also expect the same people who bashed Microsoft over their 360 not meeting demand with manufacturing, to be praising Sony for having a console which is so popular that it can't possibly be produced fast enough. :rolleyes:

[Retroboy]

yea but neither sony or microsoft can go banging millions of consoles out at launch becuase its too expensive to produce and if the console doesnt sell then both lose out.

the wii will be cheap to produce so nintendo can push more out, even tho they might not sell nintendo wont lose as much as microsoft or sony.

how many people here will buy a 360 or ps2 or a wii on its actual launch date compared to those who will wait for the prices to drop (a year or two)

its all about building a demand, microsoft knew roughly how many consoles to make after its first bunch via the game retailers having pre orders.

[SONIC]

how many people here will buy a 360 or ps2 or a wii on its actual launch date compared to those who will wait for the prices to drop (a year or two)

For the Xbox 360... have one allready, got it free of work, since the place I work for sell these kinda things (ok, had to work a couple of hours in a weekend, but got the Premium package for that... good deal I think).

For the Wii, since it's so dead cheap, I will get it at launch with a couple of games to explore this new platform.

For the PS3, I will most likely wait a couple of years with that one, since I doubt where I work will get that platform for launch, and since I wan't to see how it is going to develope, plus ofcourse, wanna wait 'till prices drop a bit.

So, yes, I want all of 'em, like current gen, and gens before that, but each console will be bought in some sort of timeline.

I wish games was cheaper though, Europe has mad taxes and ****!

[whackawookie]

well i had plans on getting both at launch and insuring the hell out of them but after what the clerk told me I don't know if it'll happen. When I asked when they will preorder the ps3 or the wii he said, "we just got a call from the head office today telling us one day in october we will accept 15 preorders for each system, we don't know the exact day and don't know if its going to be advertised in our circular or if we'll just get a call saying to one day put up a sign saying accepting preorders". Luckily theres a target in the same plaza so maybe i'll luck out there because with all the snobby little kids that hang out at the game store i see the 15 mark hit fast.

[Retroboy]

I wish games was cheaper though, Europe has mad taxes and ****!

id agree with the game prices, youd think companies could drop the prices as they make millions back from them.

look at GTA SA it made absolutely millions im sure it was more than 300million.