PS3 Stock Shortages A Ploy?
E-tailer guarantees every pre-order filled on launch day
In what can be seen as a case of 'protesting too much' or 'getting its defence in early', e-tailer, Play.com has issued a statement today stating, in no uncertain terms, that it is expecting stock shortages of the PlayStation 3 when it launches on March 23rd.
But Play.com is being bullish about being able to deliver to its clients.
Of course, if there’s one thing that is certain to encourage consumers to rush and spend their cash it’s the idea that the object of desire might be sold out before they can get their hands on it.
Face it, the last thing any business wants to see is its stock sitting on shelves, no queues out on the street and the media calling the launch unsuccessful due to over-supply. The Play.com press release continues:
So what makes them so confident? SPOnG contacted them to find out. Their representative told us: "Pre-orders are on the system, they have their stock allocation and are very confident about being able to fill all the orders." He also confirmed that Play.com is still taking pre-orders.
SPOnG is a little dubious. Following shortages of both the 360 and the Wii many retailers held back from taking PS3 pre-orders until their stock allocations were known. Play.com, however, began taking its pre-orders back in June. And since Sony under-delivered on its promises allocations in America and Japan Play.com is placing a lot of faith in Sony's ability to deliver.
Play.com's bold statement comes in the wake of the resignation of Kevin Jowett, Sony's head of sales in the UK - an event that could prove unsettling for the PS3's launch.
”Following the shortage of stock at the launch of both Micorsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii, Play.com wanted to ensure that their valued customers were not left disappointed, especially when stock shortages are widely expected at launch of the PS3 at the end of March.”
But Play.com is being bullish about being able to deliver to its clients.
'We received strong levels of pre-orders on launch of the last two consoles (360 and Wii), however due to market-wide stock shortages we were unable to fulfil these orders on day one.”
Of course, if there’s one thing that is certain to encourage consumers to rush and spend their cash it’s the idea that the object of desire might be sold out before they can get their hands on it.
Face it, the last thing any business wants to see is its stock sitting on shelves, no queues out on the street and the media calling the launch unsuccessful due to over-supply. The Play.com press release continues:
”We have been working hard with Sony to make sure that we can deliver every pre-order on the release date. We are pleased to be able to offer our customers the service they expect from Play.com.”
So what makes them so confident? SPOnG contacted them to find out. Their representative told us: "Pre-orders are on the system, they have their stock allocation and are very confident about being able to fill all the orders." He also confirmed that Play.com is still taking pre-orders.
SPOnG is a little dubious. Following shortages of both the 360 and the Wii many retailers held back from taking PS3 pre-orders until their stock allocations were known. Play.com, however, began taking its pre-orders back in June. And since Sony under-delivered on its promises allocations in America and Japan Play.com is placing a lot of faith in Sony's ability to deliver.
Play.com's bold statement comes in the wake of the resignation of Kevin Jowett, Sony's head of sales in the UK - an event that could prove unsettling for the PS3's launch.
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