Italian retailers selling PS3 early - Sony is not happy

[7th lutz]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=23664

Italian gamers have been picking up PlayStation 3 units this morning after retailers across the country chose to start selling the console two days early.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz Davide Sher of Trade Interactive Multimedia (TIM) magazine - the leading specialist publication for Italian retailers - said, "It's a strange situation. This is the first time retailers have broken street dates by two days."
Sher explained that problems began to emerge earlier this week when small-scale retail chain Darty took out adverts in national newspapers.
The adverts stated that customers would be able to purchase PS3 at Darty stores from 7pm on Wednesday - regardless of the fact that the official launch date is set for Friday March 23.
A response was quickly forthcoming from rival Media World, which has around a 20 per cent share of the market. The retailer announced the cancellation of its planned March 23 midnight launch event, declaring that PlayStation 3 would go on sale at Media World stores from 9am on Wednesday.
On learning of Darty and Media World's plans, retail chain GameStop stated that its policy is not to break street dates - but said it may be forced to do so if rival stores start selling PS3 early.
According to Sher, the situation is causing serious problems for specialist videogame retailers. "The mainstream consumer electronics retailers get their PS3 stock early, so they can start selling early," he said, confirming that Sony's new console did indeed go on sale at Media World this morning (picture courtesy of TIM).
"But many specialist retailers don't have any units yet and won't receive any until Friday morning. This puts them at a real disadvantage."
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz a Sony spokesperson said, "Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is deeply disappointed by the unilateral decision of some Italian retail chains to commence the sale of PlayStation 3 to consumers before this official launch date.
"Such decisions run counter to our policy of consumer protection which seeks to ensure that all of our consumers have an equal opportunity to purchase PlayStation 3."
Sony also warned that it plans to "carefully consider all available options in relation to retailers who have commenced sale of PlayStation 3 prior to 23rd March 2007".

I wonder if Sony will force the italian retailers to close their stores or sony will nologer ship sony products to those retailers that sell ps 3's early?

[Lady Jaye]

Probably the latter. That's usually the penalty, at least in North America, for breaking street dates.

[jajaja]

I wonder why they did it. Typo or missunderstanding in the advertisement?

[Griking]

Yeah, prevent some of the top videogame retailers in Italy from selling the PS3. That'll increase your market share Sony.

I love chaos

[jajaja]

Yeah, prevent some of the top videogame retailers in Italy from selling the PS3. That'll increase your market share Sony.

I love chaos

Its possible, but if that happend i doubt it will be permanently. Remember that this will also hurt the store(s) financially, which is a pretty big deal. Dunno how the contracts are with the stores and Sony. Maybe they will get a fine or something.

[Mayhem]

Cynical view is here, they haven't allocated all their pre-orders, they want to guarentee they can shift all the stock they've bought to people as quickly as possible and not be left trying to sell it without any interest.

(if it's anything like in Italy compared to here in the UK, it shouldn't be very hard to walk into a shop on Friday and buy a PS3 from the shelf)

[scooterb23]

Well, at least somebody is buying the PS3 [/snarky comment]

[FantasiaWHT]

I've always thought that the solution to avoiding launch debacles is to scrap the idea of street dating. Let retailers sell them as soon as they get them.

1) No more massive overnight lines & waits
2) Much harder for the ebay hoarders
3) Much less violence & thievery
4) Don't have to threaten & bully retailers
5) Retailers don't have to worry about a stupid employee screwing everything up
6) Retailers don't have to worry about OTHER retailers jumping the gun & gaining an advantage

I mean, what good does a street date REALLY do a manufacturer? It's a minor marketing tool, but honestly the retailers will do all the marketing you need. The ones that pre-sell will have them all gone, and the ones that don't get to say "We'll have them sometime next week" or "They're shipped already and we'll have them sometime tomorrow", however they choose to do it.

[jajaja]

Speaking of chaos at launches, check the PS2 launch in France:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgZl0zlka08

[tom]

Check out German ebay:
http://games.listings.ebay.de/Konsol...istingItemList
PS3 frenzy galore

[tom]

Brits are a bit more reserved, usually Brits have little funds available during the beginning of the year.
But UK ebay's already picking up on it:
http://video-games.listings.ebay.co....istingItemList

[tom]

Wouldn't be surprised if Sony do a hat trick in Europe with PS3 being the best selling console like PS2 and PSX

[Ponyone]

Speaking of chaos at launches, check the PS2 launch in France:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgZl0zlka08

That was smart planning, putting something in the middle of a horde of crazies so people get pushed and crushed due to the wave.

Looks like the zombies attacking the battle vans in Dawn of the Dead 2004

[exit]

Speaking of chaos at launches, check the PS2 launch in France:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgZl0zlka08

BBRRAIINNNSS!!!11

[yok-dfa]

"Such decisions run counter to our policy of consumer protection which seeks to ensure that all of our consumers have an equal opportunity to purchase PlayStation 3."

...unless when you live in Europe, where you'll have to wait 4 months after the rest of the world gets it. Oh... and you guys will have to pay more as well... oh... and you guys are screwed on the Backwards Compatibility issue...