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KeriVit · Dec 19, 2006, 05:57 PM

I'm not being sarcastic, I just don't get it. I watched when it was released and saw them selling at like $2000 each on eBay, people clamored to stores to get them.

When my brother said he hoped his wife was getting him one, I thought there was no chance.

But, then I go to the mall yesterday and I see them in the window at shops for $599.

So, why all the hoopla? What'd I miss?

Calimus · Dec 19, 2006, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by KeriVit

I'm not being sarcastic, I just don't get it. I watched when it was released and saw them selling at like $2000 each on eBay, people clamored to stores to get them.

When my brother said he hoped his wife was getting him one, I thought there was no chance.

But, then I go to the mall yesterday and I see them in the window at shops for $599.

So, why all the hoopla? What'd I miss?

It's supply & demand. They might have some at a random store you saw, but by far the vast majority of stores have none. People want them, and they will pay more than retail up to a certain point. The Ebay auctions seem to be $900 or less now, I've seen some going for $20-30 over retail even.

mac128k-1984 · Dec 19, 2006, 06:11 PM

Well for what ever reason parents seem to go to the extreme to buy thier kids more stuff. As a parent myself, my goal is not to have them accumulate stuff but increase the quality of time with them.

I think its ludacris for someone to buy a PS3 for 2 or 3 thousand dollars when in a few weeks they can buy it for the retail price. If little johnny must have it, then buy it for him in January.

mduell · Dec 19, 2006, 06:47 PM

A window ad for a PS3 doesn't mean they have any in stock; it's a good draw to get people in the store, and then offer them an Xbox 360 or a Wii.

Sony really fumbled with the US PS3 launch... only about 150k consoles were available, and further shipments are meager at best.

Weezer · Dec 19, 2006, 08:03 PM

the ps3 resale market has completely crashed, and sellers have been losing money on ebay

RAILhead · Dec 19, 2006, 08:06 PM

Supply? Demand?

Doofy · Dec 19, 2006, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Supply?

Doofy.

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Demand?

Hot chicks.

(OT: No, I don't get the big deal about PS3s either. It's only a bleedin' games console. Get a grip people.)

cjrivera · Dec 19, 2006, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

(OT: No, I don't get the big deal about PS3s either. It's only a bleedin' games console. Get a grip people.)

I can't figure it out either, but it still makes more sense than when people paid ridiculously high prices for Tickle Me Elmo and Furbys...

Nodnarb · Dec 19, 2006, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by cjrivera

when people paid ridiculously high prices for Tickle Me Elmo and Furbys...

And beanie babies, pokemon cards, pogs...ah, the 90's

1tuffchevy · Dec 19, 2006, 10:03 PM

I read that Sony is intentionally shipping very few units, to keep the exclusivness and hype around it. Seems to me it's working, you're talking about it.

spacefreak · Dec 20, 2006, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by 1tuffchevy

I read that Sony is intentionally shipping very few units, to keep the exclusivness and hype around it. Seems to me it's working, you're talking about it.

Perhaps if it was only for a week or two... then I'd accept that. But to miss out on an entire holiday season? No way.

While these stores have no Playstation3s, customers by the boat loads are walking out with XBox360s.

Eug Wanker · Dec 20, 2006, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by Weezer

the ps3 resale market has completely crashed, and sellers have been losing money on ebay

Originally Posted by 1tuffchevy

I read that Sony is intentionally shipping very few units, to keep the exclusivness and hype around it.

Nope.

Zeeb · Dec 20, 2006, 09:13 AM

Even the "Sony Style" store which is in the lower level of Sony's New York headquarters building has a sign saying they are temporarily out of stock--noticed it yesterday getting some headpones. If they can't stock their own company store in their own office building that's sad. I've noticed a lot of retailers stack empty boxes of PS3's to get your attention--but they don't have the actual units. At least Sony can deliver cardboard boxes to stores in time.

kmkkid · Dec 20, 2006, 09:21 AM

I've seen various stores around here with some units in stock. Most people I have talked to about the PS3 say they won't pay $600 for one, and will wait till they come down in price. Seems people in my town at least, have more brains than money

rickey939 · Dec 20, 2006, 09:32 AM

Can somebody explain it? Sure....

Some people are complete idiots.

mdc · Dec 20, 2006, 10:06 AM

What I'm confused about is that even at a little over msrp, they're still not selling all that well. When I was in target returning the one I bought, I was talking to an employee there and he said he tried to sell on eBay that no one bid on

powerbook867 · Dec 20, 2006, 10:12 AM

Even craigslist prices have come down..I think people are starting to panic now that Christmas is getting so close...

Dakar² · Dec 20, 2006, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by powerbook867

Even craigslist prices have come down..I think people are starting to panic now that Christmas is getting so close...

Wouldn't that lead to an increase in prices? (If there was demand)

powerbook867 · Dec 20, 2006, 10:23 AM

I just don't think the demand is there... I rummage CL on a regular basis, looking for gigs, electronics, computers...

I have seen the price since launch steadily decline..people were asking 1k + at launch and last night I saw prices around the 650-850 range.

Dakar² · Dec 20, 2006, 10:25 AM

Of course, $600 is overpriced enough without tagging on an extra couple hundred bucks.

Wiskedjak · Dec 20, 2006, 10:28 AM

It seems to me that there are two people who REALLY wanted a PS3:

a) The person who REALLY wanted to be the first to play on one and could afford to pay whatever it cost.

b) The person who REALLY wanted to profit from person A and could afford to line up for days to score a couple of PS3's before person A was able to (thus creating an even greater supply issue and contributing to driving up the price)

mitchell_pgh · 10:56 AM

I read somewhere that over 20% of the PS3s that were purchased ended up on eBay!!!

I'm not surprised. I think everyone thought that people would be willing to pay $2K+ for them, but they aren't.

I'm now seeing them go for under $575 on a regular basis.

Anyone pricing them over $600 won't even get a bid...

Mrjinglesusa · Dec 20, 2006, 10:53 AM

I've said it several times before. In 4-6 months you will be able to walk into any electronics or game store, pick a PS3 off the shelf, pay $499 or $599, and go home. Happened with the XBox 360 and it will happen with the PS3. Demand is already waning and it will only decrease more. The $599 price point for the 60GB system is really going to hurt them in sales once demand tapers off further.

I'm laughing my a$$ off at those idiots who camped outside for 24-48 hours to get a PS3 and now they are barely getting $200 profit for their efforts.

Dark Helmet · Dec 20, 2006, 11:06 AM

There was the first wave of idiots that paid $1200+ for a PS3 but after more and more ended up on ebay the price dropped. A lot of people saw a "Get rich quick" opportunity but they over-saturated the market and overestimated the amount of morons.

Same thing was happening with the XBOX 360 but not to as high of an extent.

I got mine off ebay 2 weeks ago for only $80 over retail which to me was worth paying since they delivered it to my house and I didn't have to spend hours lining up and days of bugging stores on when they might get another shipment.

1tuffchevy · Dec 20, 2006, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa

I've said it several times before. In 4-6 months you will be able to walk into any electronics or game store, pick a PS3 off the shelf, pay $499 or $599, and go home. Happened with the XBox 360 and it will happen with the PS3. Demand is already waning and it will only decrease more. The $599 price point for the 60GB system is really going to hurt them in sales once demand tapers off further.

I'm laughing my a$$ off at those idiots who camped outside for 24-48 hours to get a PS3 and now they are barely getting $200 profit for their efforts.

Actually, getting $200 to spend a night outside isn't that bad of a deal, but I don't see prices going that high.

Mrjinglesusa · Dec 20, 2006, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

I got mine off ebay 2 weeks ago for only $80 over retail which to me was worth paying since they delivered it to my house and I didn't have to spend hours lining up and days of bugging stores on when they might get another shipment.

Nice.

Mrjinglesusa · Dec 20, 2006, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by 1tuffchevy

Actually, getting $200 to spend a night outside isn't that bad of a deal, but I don't see prices going that high.

It is if you spent the night thinking you were going to get $600+ over MSRP. It's worth it if you get enough over retail to pay for your own PS3. I had a friend do that with the 360. To me, it's not worth it if you are only getting $200 or less over list price. What's the point? Then again, people who did that clearly had nothing better to do...

KeriVit · Dec 20, 2006, 08:56 PM

OK, I guess supply and demand makes sense.... But, my sis - in law paid 599 + tax. Why pay $2K. Sillies.

Adam Betts · Dec 20, 2006, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by 1tuffchevy

I read that Sony is intentionally shipping very few units, to keep the exclusivness and hype around it. Seems to me it's working, you're talking about it.

Most definitely not. It's stupid to ship very few units during this critical time (with XBOX360 and Wii selling like crazy.) XBOX360 was successful in less supply = high hype simply because there was no other next-gen to compete with at that time.

Sony actually stopped the production of their standalone Blu-Ray Player so they can have more supplies for PS3.