Sony Take PS3 Allocation Deposits

[bKangy]

British industry trade mag MCV are reporting (http://www.mcvuk.com/newsitem.php?id=1188) that Sony are going to be taking £150 pre-order deposits.


The £150 deposit scheme is being considered to ensure that allocation can be more fairly managed. In particular, it is believed that Sony is looking to avoid the ‘eBay phenomenon’ that occurred with the launch of Xbox 360 whereby some consumers who managed to acquire more than one unit – on deposits as low as £5 – sold on their extra machines for well above the RRP.

Sony has confirmed that it is in talks with retail about the scheme.


Ah, how Sony loves to rob us here in the UK. Seriously though, this is an utterly terrible idea!

Editor's Note: It looks like the original idea came from the retailer side, not necessarily the Sony side.

[bKangy]

This won't stop eBayers at all is basically what I was saying with "This is a terrible idea!". Serious eBayers will realise that ultimately they'll make like 150% of anything they pay on PS3s regardless of deposits. In fact, it'll serve to make it worse, as the whole deposit thing might turn quite a few people away, considering it isn't actually Christmas shopping season yet.

[Sl1pstream]

They better make sure everyone who pre-orders gets a system when they do something like this. Even if you get a system, it's still a lot of money that could be spent on other things than air.

[Akeldama]

It doesn't say Sony is going to do it. It just says the company is in talks with retailers about doing so. It seems the request comes from the stores not Sony itself.

[lost]

It will stop some of the ebaying. I mean I know a bunch of people round here were thinking about getting two and putting one on. Thats easy to do when your preorder deposit is £50 or less, £150 makes that pretty difficult.

I don't think that this is the best method though. If theres going to be shortages and people will only be "allowed" to buy onee then surely that restriction could be put in place some other way. Most people who shop at GAME have GAME reward cards, pre orders are often linked to these sort of things anyway.

Other than that a simple address and reference number system could be employed.

Fuck knows, I mean theres the other advantage of this system they are talking about basically offering a two part pay plan. Hah so my PS3 won't cost me my whole pay packet, just half one month, half the other.

Why did I sell my soul to Solid Snake, whyyyyy!?

[Paranoia]

How will £150 deposit stop ebay sellers? They can simply invest the £150 for deposits and still sell it to the highest bidders come Nov launch.