The free-TV, rather subdued, European launch of the PlayStation 3 is done, and the sales figures for the first (and crucially important) weekend are being calculated. Speaking to SPOnG today, a Sony spokesman would not even hazard an opinion with regard to the weekend's sales figures, stating that the company is awaiting figures from Chart-Track.
Nor are any of the major retailers prepared to comment, on the record, anything but bland PR-driven statements.
Under terms of strict anonymity, however, SPOnG was told by our contact at one branch of a major retail outlet, that on both Saturday and Sunday it sold more 360s than it did PS3s. Is that a bad sign? Yes. This soon after launch it would be just about acceptable for the masses of expensive, late PS3 stocks to be moving slowly. However, for the 360 to outsell it at launch weekend should come as a shock to Sony.
So, how else is the PS3 moving? SPOnG can report that eBay scalpers are not faring well with the PS3. They're either making a loss on the machine or failing to sell their wares at all.
The majority of PS3s on eBay are getting bids under £400, while a few sellers are demonstrating a poor understanding of the capitalist machine with ridiculous 'buy it now' prices. Of the auctions ending within the hour, not one is selling at more than £400. Most of the lots bare the legend 'reserve not met' under their current price. The current bids range from £320 to £390 on average.
This reflects the subdued scene SPOnG reported last Thursday with PS3 pre-orders being sold on eBay.
SPOnG's favourite lot comes from one very optimistic chap who had a 'buy it now' price of £699 for a console without any games. SPOnG was sorely tempted to give the seller a ring for a quick lesson on the nature of supply and demand in a capitalist society. The fact is, these buxom boxes are still sitting on retailers shelves at the retail price of £425.
Our retail contact told us, “At the moment we've got enough to keep as going.” More specifically, it received 98 PS3s prior to launch and has sold 57 of them. This compares to “about 70” 360s received from Microsoft on launch (all of which were soaked up by pre-orders), and 33 Wiis - not even enough to fill the pre-orders.
Therefore, the retailer has sold fewer PS3s than 360s at the same point after launch, but more than it had of the Wii. How much price, stock availability and public desire have to play in this will be seen when hard, European-wide stats are made available.
In terms of trade-in, our contact said that he had received around ten 360s to take the edge off the PS3's hefty price, but only one Wii.
We remain objective until the officially accepted third-party sales figures come in later this week. However, maybe Sony could get some more free Bravia TVs into the rest of the country before then?
Nor are any of the major retailers prepared to comment, on the record, anything but bland PR-driven statements.
Under terms of strict anonymity, however, SPOnG was told by our contact at one branch of a major retail outlet, that on both Saturday and Sunday it sold more 360s than it did PS3s. Is that a bad sign? Yes. This soon after launch it would be just about acceptable for the masses of expensive, late PS3 stocks to be moving slowly. However, for the 360 to outsell it at launch weekend should come as a shock to Sony.
So, how else is the PS3 moving? SPOnG can report that eBay scalpers are not faring well with the PS3. They're either making a loss on the machine or failing to sell their wares at all.
The majority of PS3s on eBay are getting bids under £400, while a few sellers are demonstrating a poor understanding of the capitalist machine with ridiculous 'buy it now' prices. Of the auctions ending within the hour, not one is selling at more than £400. Most of the lots bare the legend 'reserve not met' under their current price. The current bids range from £320 to £390 on average.
This reflects the subdued scene SPOnG reported last Thursday with PS3 pre-orders being sold on eBay.
SPOnG's favourite lot comes from one very optimistic chap who had a 'buy it now' price of £699 for a console without any games. SPOnG was sorely tempted to give the seller a ring for a quick lesson on the nature of supply and demand in a capitalist society. The fact is, these buxom boxes are still sitting on retailers shelves at the retail price of £425.
Our retail contact told us, “At the moment we've got enough to keep as going.” More specifically, it received 98 PS3s prior to launch and has sold 57 of them. This compares to “about 70” 360s received from Microsoft on launch (all of which were soaked up by pre-orders), and 33 Wiis - not even enough to fill the pre-orders.
Therefore, the retailer has sold fewer PS3s than 360s at the same point after launch, but more than it had of the Wii. How much price, stock availability and public desire have to play in this will be seen when hard, European-wide stats are made available.
In terms of trade-in, our contact said that he had received around ten 360s to take the edge off the PS3's hefty price, but only one Wii.
We remain objective until the officially accepted third-party sales figures come in later this week. However, maybe Sony could get some more free Bravia TVs into the rest of the country before then?
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Comments
majin dboy 26 Mar 2007 11:55
1/14
jesus.my mate pj foned up the gamestop in belfast and they had stock,he was able to go in2 town,pick one up with no hastle.it is not a good sign when u dont need to pre-order a console to get one at launch.
tyrion 26 Mar 2007 13:13
2/14
majin dboy wrote:
it is not a good sign when u dont need to pre-order a console to get one at launch.
And a console being sold out for months is good for gamers how?
I remember when this comic was touted as a way to slag off Sony. How does it lose its relevance when the characters are reversed?
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miacid 26 Mar 2007 13:20
3/14
SPOnG wrote:
The current bids range from £320 to £390 on average.
When the PS3 comes down to around the £320 mark, then I'll consider buying one. After having a quick ask around the office, I don't appear to be the only one!
tweek 26 Mar 2007 13:41
4/14
Yes, I can report that PS3 is readily available in belfast - Gamestop, Game, Dixons, Virgin & HMV all have stock so PS3 ain't sellin out anytime soon!
Tyrion - its all about PR man, overstock may be good for the early adopters but a first weekend sellout generates a good PR buzz instead of negative "PS3 in slow sales shocker!" style stories. It's a delicate balance between demand and press expectations, none of the big 3 has got it right so far but from the press reaction Sony seem to have got it most "wrong" as such. Just my analysis from the press eg. Spong, BBC, Joystiq etc
BTW - I'd love some of that bravia goodness too :-(
sigh.....
Tyrion - its all about PR man, overstock may be good for the early adopters but a first weekend sellout generates a good PR buzz instead of negative "PS3 in slow sales shocker!" style stories. It's a delicate balance between demand and press expectations, none of the big 3 has got it right so far but from the press reaction Sony seem to have got it most "wrong" as such. Just my analysis from the press eg. Spong, BBC, Joystiq etc
BTW - I'd love some of that bravia goodness too :-(
sigh.....
king skins 26 Mar 2007 14:03
5/14
Yep, price drop and a game other than Motorstorm before I buy.
majin dboy 26 Mar 2007 14:40
6/14
*********************************************************it is not a good sign when u dont need to pre-order a console to get one at launch.
And a console being sold out for months is good for gamers how?***************************************************************************
i said no such thing. S0ny boses can hardly be over the moon with the european launch.
there is a big difference tryion, in the console not readily available because so many people want the product that the supply process has to be pretty much perfect to even cum close to reaching demand AND(and here is the big difference) the console being readily available because, realitively, not enough people want it.
my point still stands that....it is not a good sign that the PS3 is readily avaiable,lets not fool ourselves here,its not because sony shipped extra to the UK.
tweek,were abouts u from in belfast?
And a console being sold out for months is good for gamers how?***************************************************************************
i said no such thing. S0ny boses can hardly be over the moon with the european launch.
there is a big difference tryion, in the console not readily available because so many people want the product that the supply process has to be pretty much perfect to even cum close to reaching demand AND(and here is the big difference) the console being readily available because, realitively, not enough people want it.
my point still stands that....it is not a good sign that the PS3 is readily avaiable,lets not fool ourselves here,its not because sony shipped extra to the UK.
tweek,were abouts u from in belfast?
sneakyduck 26 Mar 2007 15:02
7/14
57 in Huddersfield's Argos Extra (just on the outskirts of town) yesterday. Everywhere I checked online this morning had them too.
I honestly think it's a decent approach - at least you can buy one (if you can afford it), unlike a certain Nintendo console where I literally came across one by accident one lunchtime on Gameplay.co.uk and have only seen it in expensive forced bundles since then (f**k you GAME!).
I honestly think it's a decent approach - at least you can buy one (if you can afford it), unlike a certain Nintendo console where I literally came across one by accident one lunchtime on Gameplay.co.uk and have only seen it in expensive forced bundles since then (f**k you GAME!).
tweek 26 Mar 2007 15:07
8/14
From Banbridge actually, just work in the city centre so was able to check on my lunch break, what about u?
It was completely different for the Wii launch, everywhere was sold out pretty quick on the friday unless you had a preorder (thank god I did!!) plus game seemed to be the only one in Belfast to have Wii-motes for about a week (and wouldn't sell me one cause I hadn't bought the console there - RAGE!!).
PS3's friday was pretty chilled by comparison, but I sorta knew that would happen because everywhere was taking preorders right up until launch. The ques were pretty short at friday lunchtime, a 20 minute wait would have got you all the goodies.
Just wish I could afford one - I've never paid over £400 for a console and I don't intend to now. That and I don't have an HDTV so thats another £500+ quid that i don't have.
Sigh....
It was completely different for the Wii launch, everywhere was sold out pretty quick on the friday unless you had a preorder (thank god I did!!) plus game seemed to be the only one in Belfast to have Wii-motes for about a week (and wouldn't sell me one cause I hadn't bought the console there - RAGE!!).
PS3's friday was pretty chilled by comparison, but I sorta knew that would happen because everywhere was taking preorders right up until launch. The ques were pretty short at friday lunchtime, a 20 minute wait would have got you all the goodies.
Just wish I could afford one - I've never paid over £400 for a console and I don't intend to now. That and I don't have an HDTV so thats another £500+ quid that i don't have.
Sigh....
pudgieluv 26 Mar 2007 16:50
9/14
I can see why thou... Its because the people look for the cheap for more deal... thus the xbox 360 cheaper... Its like this
1 game system and 2 games
Or 1 game system........
On the other hand.. Sony is relying on loyalty and why not.. It has shown loyalty.
1 game system and 2 games
Or 1 game system........
On the other hand.. Sony is relying on loyalty and why not.. It has shown loyalty.
engstrom 26 Mar 2007 16:50
10/14
<sigh> Nintendo have been keeping stock of the Wii artificially low to create the impression demand is higher than it actually is. No, I'm not dissing the Wii; I know it's popular but Nintendo are starving the channels on puropse.
The PS3 isn't sold out as Sony have their manufacturing and supply chain sorted.
Why not wait until the figures are in before second guessing or listening to someone's 'mate'?
The PS3 isn't sold out as Sony have their manufacturing and supply chain sorted.
Why not wait until the figures are in before second guessing or listening to someone's 'mate'?
realvictory 26 Mar 2007 19:25
11/14
engstrom wrote:
<sigh> Nintendo have been keeping stock of the Wii artificially low to create the impression demand is higher than it actually is. No, I'm not dissing the Wii; I know it's popular but Nintendo are starving the channels on puropse.
The PS3 isn't sold out as Sony have their manufacturing and supply chain sorted.
Why not wait until the figures are in before second guessing or listening to someone's 'mate'?
The PS3 isn't sold out as Sony have their manufacturing and supply chain sorted.
Why not wait until the figures are in before second guessing or listening to someone's 'mate'?
Whatever! Why don't Sony 'artificially' keep stocks low, then, so that there is more demand? And why wouldn't Nintendo simply manufacture more if they could, because it would only mean that they make more money earlier on, and sell more games?
I think not manufacturing enough is bad, because people who want one can't buy one, or people have to pay extra to get one off ebay. It's good if they make loads but still can't make enough, but in Nintendo's case, they simply aren't making enough, in my opinion, which makes them look like slackers. On the other hand, Sony aren't selling enough...
tyrion 26 Mar 2007 19:42
12/14
majin dboy wrote:
i said no such thing. S0ny boses can hardly be over the moon with the european launch.
Or maybe they are! Well the UK launch anyway!
Dreadknux 26 Mar 2007 22:11
13/14
realvictory wrote:
Whatever! Why don't Sony 'artificially' keep stocks low, then, so that there is more demand?
Well it worked for them with the PS2 ;) Wouldn't have been as credible for PS3 as there's stock not being sold in Japan (retailers won't even take back 2nd hand consoles) or America and Europe were months late, so they couldn't have said there was worldwide sellout demand for PS3 as luckily we have the Internets now.
realvictory 26 Mar 2007 23:18
14/14
Well, it's not much different to the PS2 launch, except there is stock left, but that wouldn't make a difference, because they're only pretending to have sold out anyway.
Even so, if you prove that Sony aren't doing it on purpose, then it's unfair to assume Nintendo artificially keep stocks low. It's probably more to do with the price.
Even so, if you prove that Sony aren't doing it on purpose, then it's unfair to assume Nintendo artificially keep stocks low. It's probably more to do with the price.