Slashdot Mirror
Sony Plans Deposit Scheme for PS3 in UK?
An anonymous reader writes "Sony is reportedly in talks to introduce a new £150 per PS3 deposit scheme across retailers in the UK. The proposed scheme aims to help improve resource allocation as well as reduce the 'eBay phenomenon' which was evident with the 360's launch, deposits were secured from as little as £5 and crafty sellers would sell the console way above its retail price."
Same here. Who wants to waste a lot of money on a sony system? Wii all the way!
Ummm... I may be getting the wrong end of the stick here, but just how exactly does that stop people selling the console for extortionate amounts on eBay? They have to buy the console for the full price before eBaying it, so that 150 UKP deposit only goes so far as to ensure they get one to sell on...
It certainly won't discourage entrepreneurs who want to make a bit of cash, and (maybe I'm cynical) looks more like Sony trying to make people commit to a purchase. I'd certainly feel uneasy ponying up a quarter of the console's price before launch.
Because, you know, EVERYONE buys consoles based ENTIRELY on how the graphics look and what the hardware-snob magazines and reviewers say.
I'll probably end up with one of each, eventually. But I won't be buying ANY of them right around launch. Hell, I haven't even gotten around to buying a 360, and they've been out how long now? When there's games I want for the platform that I can't find for anything I already own (other consoles or PC), THEN I'll buy the platform.
How did this get rated insightful? Funny I could see, but insightful?
just some guy
A PS2 owner goes into a game shop with £150 just after they start taking preorders.
On the wall behind the counter is a big, glossy PS3 propagan^Wpreorder poster. Pay £150 now, get nothing for a month.
On the left are shelves of new Wii consoles + game for £150.
On the right there's new and used X360s for £150 or less.
You can probably guess what happens. If not you'll just have to wait 5 months to find out.
Option 1) A *deposit* for a PS3
Option 2) A Wii
Sony would easily be able to offer eBay more money then their fees for what is a relatively tiny number of auctions. However eBay would NEVER take the money even if Sony offered an extra £1M sweetener. If eBay ban the auctions then people will simply go somewhere else, eBay will do whatever it takes to ensure that this never happens. eBay isn't the best or cheapest auction house, they are only the one that everyone uses and they realise how precarious this could be.
The is absolutely no way a high deposit will have any effect on the resellers, this is their business they are going to be logical and realise that the deposit has no effect on the business equation. They look at the price they pay (full retail) and the price they can sell and nothing else.
If anything a high deposit is more likely to discourage consumers from pre-ordering, whilst reinforcing the perceived value of the console; hence giving the resellers a bigger and more receptive market.
The reason two reasons for the high deposit:
Sony wants people to be totally committed before the Wii can launch and steel any if their thunder.
Sony are (beginning) to realise that very few people are actually going to be able to afford the PS3, splitting it into two payments makes it a bit more approachable.