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[Elios83]

Next Gen has an update on the matter:

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4199&Itemid=2

Speaking to Next-Gen, a representative from GameStop said that the retailer would fall short of PlayStation 3 pre-order demand at launch.
ImageGameStop director of public & media relations Chris Olivera told Next-Gen that its pre-order allocation for PS3s is lower than anticipated. “Sony did notify us that our initial shipment will not be what we expected,” he confirmed.

Specific allocation numbers were not revealed.

Olivera said that GameStop stores are going to be filling launch day reservations in the order that the systems were reserved. In addition, starting tomorrow (Tuesday), stores will begin to call customers to let them know where they land on the reservation lists.

For consumers hoping to score their pre-ordered PS3s in time for Christmas, there may still be some hope, according to Olivera. “We are anticipating that we’ll have enough systems to cover reservations well before Christmas.”

GameStop is also requesting that all of its employees wait to purchase their reserved PS3s until a “later shipment.”

For customers willing to wait for a second shipment, GameStop will be offering a free used game or DVD priced at $19.99 or less at the purchase of a reserved PS3. If that doesn’t appease customers, Olivera said that they would be able to get a full refund on the $100 down payment that was required to pre-order a PS3.

With the PS3 in particular, GameStop has made a conscious effort to avoid what happened last year at the launch of the Xbox 360. At that launch, the company promised entirely too many customers a pre-release reservation, leaving many pre-ordering customers without an Xbox 360 weeks or even months without a system. Olivera said that the pre-order launch situation with the PS3 will be of a significantly lesser magnitude than that of the Xbox 360.

“No, [the PS3 pre-order shortage isn’t as severe],” he said. “All our reservations are important. It’s not what we were anticipating. [The allocation] is less, so we’re just trying to let customers know as soon as possible with the best information we have available to us.”

In October, GameStop ran a PS3 pre-order program in which pre-orders ran out in a single day.

 

[neojubei]

Taken from the "Black Friday" EB/GameStop ad... :lol

or GIVE EB 600 bucks FOR NOTHING

 

[DarienA]

Next Gen really didn't say anything that wasn't in the gamespot article.

 

[Companion Cube]

So did EB/GS go through with cancelling orders of people from the same household? I figure that's my only chance. I know two people ahead of me were brothers, but GS only took our phone numbers and names so unless those guys used the same phone number I don't think they'd catch them.

 

[Beatbox]

My friends wife was 2nd in line for the preorders and 7th?!?!? on the list at GS. Shady employees better back the **** up.

 

[Javaman]

Dang. I'm 15/16. I thought I had lucked out during the initial preorder when I waltzed into EB at lunch time to an oddly unfilled list.

 

[neojubei]

Wow now i feel sorry for this guy i met at the mall. After I left EB from buying FF12 there was this guy calling out to me. I thought it was a sales pitch since he was working at a T-mobile station in the mall. I went over anyways since I wanted some info on the blackberry pearl. He said to me that he recongized me. I gave him an awkward look. He said that he was waiting in line on Oct 10th and remembered me from the line. So that eased my mind and we chatted about that day. He kept going on about how lucky he was to be number 9 in line. The store said it was going to have 16 units.

Wow, now if the store's number of units were slashed in half, he might not be able to get one. Damn he was a nice guy, I hope he gets his system. Then again there were 2 employees who were before me that got to preorder, so they might not get theirs which means that t-mobile guy, his name was Roberto, might be able to get his.

 

[drohne]

last in line was a grandmother who wanted one for her grandson. she's definitely screwed -- though i have reason to believe that the kid's an awful brat anyway.

 

[Straightballin]

So employees are being asked to not tkae their pre-orders. Meaning they still will?

 

[TwIsTeD]

so if you guys could get a 20 over a 60 for sure at launch would you i mean what am i loseing besides wifi, 40gb and the tacky silver trim

 

[Jive Turkey]

I FOR ONE DID NOT SEE THIS COMING!

Ultra conservative preorders my ass.

 

[drohne]

i hope that the "asked" here is just a polite way of saying "ordered." gamestop employees already get enough perks at the expense of customers, viz. "shelf copies."

 

[shoplifter]

so if you guys could get a 20 over a 60 for sure at launch would you i mean what am i loseing besides wifi, 40gb and the tacky silver trim

No, because the wifi is relatively important to me, and I already have my 20gb hdd on the 360 at 80% full.

On another note, I just confirmed with my shop that their allocation was cut from 16 to 8.

 

[LukeSmith]

Next Gen really didn't say anything that wasn't in the gamespot article.

Nor did they cite the Gamespot article -- who probably broke the story first.

 

[Javaman]

No, because the wifi is relatively important to me, and I already have my 20gb hdd on the 360 at 80% full.

On another note, I just confirmed with my shop that their allocation was cut from 16 to 8.

Did they have any word on 2nd shipments?

 

[TwIsTeD]

No, because the wifi is relatively important to me, and I already have my 20gb hdd on the 360 at 80% full.

On another note, I just confirmed with my shop that their allocation was cut from 16 to 8.

the fact that sata drives are selling for less and i already have a wireless gaming adapter makes me feel better but whats this i hear about the 20 not being able to use the media remote due to lack of wifi?

 

[Ace R.]

Welp I was the #1 person to reserve at my EB. Hopefully Im safe

 

[TwIsTeD]

Did they have any word on 2nd shipments?

i was told weekly but anything is possible the problem is sony should have stuck with one sku

 

[drohne]

the media remote is bluetooth and it'll work on both versions. psp remote play only works on 60gb. i'd go with a 20gb if that's what it took to get one at launch.

 

[maynerd]

Welp I was the #1 person to reserve at my EB. Hopefully Im safe

Don't count on it! :lol

 

[BuddyC]

Those who reserved a system won't need to wait long to find out if they can expect a system on launch day. Starting tomorrow, customers who preordered a PS3 will be contacted personally by phone and updated on the status of their reservation, the rep said.

Guess I'll find out tomorrow. I'm third at the local GS, here's hoping.

Also, this totally screws over a bunch of people who sold their pre-orders on eBay, which amuses me to no end.

 

[bdoughty]

So employees are being asked to not tkae their pre-orders. Meaning they still will?

If they put down $100 they have every legal right to. Employees are not given a discount on hardware. If they had been given one that would have given Corporate an out to prevent employees from buying them, unless they paid full price. So all they can do is ask. Then weeks later have the store manager in every store fire any employee who still picks one up. Saying they got three strikes, poor performance, or some other reason.

Big Business is fun...

 

[lordfroakie]

GameStop will give those unfortunate customers (as well as unfortunate employees) a free used game or DVD valued at $19.99 or less* when they eventually wind up purchasing the system.

*(Offer Expires Nov. 18, 2006)

:lol J/K

:lol

 

[gamergirly]

Guess I'll find out tomorrow. I'm third at the local GS, here's hoping.

Also, this totally screws over a bunch of people who sold their pre-orders on eBay, which amuses me to no end.

Outside of lost money on fees, what happens to the people who put their auction(s) up but wont be getting the system on launch day as mentioned in the Ebay bid page?

 

[TwIsTeD]

the media remote is bluetooth and it'll work on both versions. psp remote play only works on 60gb. i'd go with a 20gb if that's what it took to get one at launch.

yea i feel confident in the decision i made realistically my girl has decided she is gonna need her own ps3 a few months after launch due to the lack of quality software at launch however i can confirm also that the wii allocations are all there and ready for a smooth launch

 

[Fatghost]

If they put down $100 they have every legal right to. Employees are not given a discount on hardware. If they had been given one that would have given Corporate an out to prevent employees from buying them, unless they paid full price. So all they can do is ask. Then weeks later have the store manager in every store fire any employee who still picks one up. Saying they got three strikes, poor performance, or some other reason.

Big Business is fun...

Frankly if I was an EB/GS employee, I'd rather quit/be fired than give up my pre-order.

Odds are, you can make more money reselling a PS3 than you probably make at EB/GS in two months.

 

[Timedog]

If they put down $100 they have every legal right to. Employees are not given a discount on hardware. If they had been given one that would have given Corporate an out to prevent employees from buying them, unless they paid full price. So all they can do is ask. Then weeks later have the store manager in every store fire any employee who still picks one up. Saying they got three strikes, poor performance, or some other reason.

Big Business is fun...

i don't think this makes sense. they could just move employees to the back of the line.

 

[Timedog]

my eb has been busy for the past hour straight. i think they left their phone off the hook.

 

[DarienA]

i don't think this makes sense. they could just move employees to the back of the line.

Enforcing that would be... interesting.

 

[Miguel]

Welp I was the #1 person to reserve at my EB. Hopefully Im safe

There was only 1 PS3 available for preorder. Still doesn't mean that the number won't be slashed in half!

Enjoy your Hard Drive/Memory card reader!

For an extra 100 dollars, you can have the Blu Ray drive instead!

 

[M3wThr33]

My reciept says 011 on it, but I'm pretty damn sure I was #6 + 2 employee reserves...
On top of that, it's ALL paid off. :-/

 

[neojubei]

so if you guys could get a 20 over a 60 for sure at launch would you i mean what am i loseing besides wifi, 40gb and the tacky silver trim

If you have a PSP, like I do, the 60G version with wifi is very important.

 

[bdoughty]

i don't think this makes sense. they could just move employees to the back of the line.

Unfortunately documents exist showing the order in which the orders are taken (Remember GS set this up as first come first serve). Lawyers tend to love documentation like this, which is easily accessible by gamestore employee employee. Companies tend to hate settling out of court for far more money then what it would be to just let the employee have the PS3 at launch.

Big Business can be perplexing.

 

[Crackerman16]

Well, got off the phone with the store manager of the EB I pre-ordered from...

I was #11/16. He said that they'll only be EXPECTING 10 PS3s. 8 60GB, 2 20GB. He called #1-10 and told them that they had to pick their PS3s up by Sunday or be kicked off the list. #s 9 & 10 were told that they'll be offered only the 20GB version. 1 said he wasn't happy, but might pick it up anyway.

The manager told me that if by some miracle 1 pre-order isn't picked up by Sunday, I'll be the first to get a call to get a PS3. Now the crappy thing about my situation is, I already paid off all $652.49 IN CASH. So he told me that I'm the only one who was crazy enough to do that and that they don't have enough in their registers to give me a cash refund. Anything over $200 would have to be paid in check by corporate, unless I come at the end of Friday or Saturday and if others paid in cash. So yeah, I'm officially screwed.

I'm going to camp out at Best Buy Thursday night and use my BB CC to pay for the PS3. This is my last shot at getting my hands on a PS3 at launch. I'm not sure why I'm camping out, since I've never done this for any system launch. All I know is, I'm never buying anything at GS/EB unless they're the only place I can get something I really want.

 

[TwIsTeD]

If you have a PSP, like I do, the 60G version with wifi is very important.

yea i got a psp and while remote play sounds great does it work if im not at my house like at some other wifi hotspot?

 

[mrroboto]

ebay won't be that bad as far as getting your money back. paypal froze all PS3/Wii auction payments and if someone withdraws the money AFTER knowing they won't get a system, well, they are pretty ****ed then as far as ebay/paypal actions go. granted it will take 30-60 days to get it all resolved, but that person is already out their $1500 from the end of auction. they just have to wait a little longer to get it back.

Paypal and Ebay have never "froze" anyone's money. This is taking on Urban Legend status now.

It is false.

 

[Timedog]

Unfortunately documents exist showing the order in which the orders are taken (Remember GS set this up as first come first serve). Lawyers tend to love documentation like this, which is easily accessible by gamestore employee employee. Companies tend to hate settling out of court for far more money then what it would be to just let the employee have the PS3 at launch.

Big Business can be perplexing.

do you work for eb games?

 

[Ryu]

do you work for eb games?

When I reserved mine, they were making a hard copy list of what order everyone purchased theirs in and what sku (model).

 

[leehom]

Well, got off the phone with the store manager of the EB I pre-ordered from...

I was #11/16. He said that they'll only be EXPECTING 10 PS3s. 8 60GB, 2 20GB. He called #1-10 and told them that they had to pick their PS3s up by Sunday or be kicked off the list. #s 9 & 10 were told that they'll be offered only the 20GB version. 1 said he wasn't happy, but might pick it up anyway.

The manager told me that if by some miracle 1 pre-order isn't picked up by Sunday, I'll be the first to get a call to get a PS3. Now the crappy thing about my situation is, I already paid off all $652.49 IN CASH. So he told me that I'm the only one who was crazy enough to do that and that they don't have enough in their registers to give me a cash refund. Anything over $200 would have to be paid in check by corporate, unless I come at the end of Friday or Saturday and if others paid in cash. So yeah, I'm officially screwed.

I'm going to camp out at Best Buy Thursday night and use my BB CC to pay for the PS3. This is my last shot at getting my hands on a PS3 at launch. I'm not sure why I'm camping out, since I've never done this for any system launch. All I know is, I'm never buying anything at GS/EB unless they're the only place I can get something I really want.

Try camping out Thursday morning or Wednesday afternoon if you really want one. Im sure once news hit that shipments are less than expected, people will line up sooner.

 

[StingerNLG]

This is the perfect time for Microsoft to strike and try to get the retailers to push in-stock 360's as an alternative.

And wala, congratulations Gaffers, men in suits at Best Buy READ OUR FORUM!!

http://news.punchjump.com/article.php?id=3341

"Best Buy stores will offer empty-handed Playstation 3 buyers an Xbox 360 should the retailer sell out of Sony's anticipated next-generation console.

According to a Best Buy's retail protocol for selling the PS3, customers who waited in line but didn’t get a PS3 will be offered a launch day deal of an Xbox 360 Premium System and two game titles, with a third title at no cost.

The offer is said to be valid from Nov. 17 to Nov. 19."

 

[StingerNLG]

Edit: Double Post for some odd reason

 

[gamergirly]

That news must be doubly awesome

 

[DarienA]

Stinger that was posted earlier today, before the PS3 news.

 

[Miguel]

Paypal and Ebay have never "froze" anyone's money. This is taking on Urban Legend status now.

It is false.

A GAFFER's Paypal account was "limited" after his PS3 preorder sold. I will not release his name unless he so chooses to confirm, but I know of at least that one person having his cash frozen (he didn't really care, I don't think, as long as he got it once it shipped)

 

[M3wThr33]

Uhhh, no.
There's no way in hell I'm getting a 360. If I wanted one, I would have bought one long ago.
If EB/GS tries to push one on me I'll refuse. Who would say yes?
Parents who want their kids to hate them?

 

[StingerNLG]

My bad Darien. You do realize how fast article slide off the 1st page.

 

[drohne]

i'm getting my ps3. hallelujah. and somehow i'm third on the list despite being fifth in line -- i think it's because the manager dispersed the line for a while before he actually took the orders, and a couple guys didn't come back in time. sucks for them.

 

[Timedog]

okay, where on the receipt does it say what place in line you were? I called eb and the guy pretended to not know anything and refused to tell me what place in line I am.

 

[AniHawk]

okay, where on the receipt does it say what place in line you were? I called eb and the guy pretended to not know anything and refused to tell me what place in line I am.

Was there one register open? If there was one register, then check the transaction number (three digit number most likely beginning with two zeroes).

 

[drohne]

should be a number at the top right of your receipt -- mine is "004."