2007 ps3 price prediction poll

[TheChefO]

What is the cheapest official ps3 price (including potential manufacture mail in rebate) you think will be on the shelf this year?

(including potentially scaled back SKUs with smaller HDD/ cut features)


inspired by:
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showthread.php?t=41882

 

[AlphaWolf]

$550

I don't see them dropping a full 100, they'll probably bundle something desirable and drop to $550. I really don't expect anything until november.

 

[TheChefO]

$550

I don't see them dropping a full 100, they'll probably bundle something desirable and drop to $550. I really don't expect anything until november.

So you don't think they will re-introduce a cheaper sku with less features to capture more holiday sales? (ex 20gb HDD)

 

[AlphaWolf]

So you don't think they will re-introduce a cheaper sku with less features to capture more holiday sales? (ex 20gb HDD)

They'd just be hurting themselves in the long run they have a significant amount of non moving stock already. A lower priced SKU would mean moving less of their current stock, they'd be better off eating it on a major price cut, but I think they are too stubborn to admit defeat (in terms of price point).

 

[TheChefO]

They'd just be hurting themselves in the long run they have a significant amount of non moving stock already. A lower priced SKU would mean moving less of their current stock, they'd be better off eating it on a major price cut, but I think they are too stubborn to admit defeat (in terms of price point).

Sure it would sting a bit financially, but so would losing marketshare as well as mindshare by keeping themselves priced out of the market so severely over the holiday period.

Not to mention I don't know exactly how much stock they have built up at this point but I imagine it isn't much more than 3 million. Also by introducing a less feature rich model, they can still sell their existing stock at the existing price. In fact, with a mail-in-rebate program, after the holidays (or whatever set period of time) they could return to their original price.

 

[Rangers]

$499.

 

[Todd33]

$400, but it's not an option.

 

[Skrying]

I'm going to go with $550 with two games. I just don't see Sony taking a $600M in wasted hardware costs in the rear (give or take depending on how much is in stock) nor do I think they want to continue with such a massive loss by going with a $200 price drop.

 

[djskribbles]

i'm guessing $499.xx USD.

how much is the 360 Elite in the states btw?

 

[cthellis42]

I think we may well see them try to settle in at $500 to take advantage of the holiday push and their getting a lot of good games out there to really pump sales (not to mention move the current stock). If that's the case, though, we'll probably still see an SKU at the $600 price point (larger HDD, HD cabling, some Blu-Ray and PSN enticements...) to make more (or "not lose as much") on those more excited about the games than a price reduction, and who like "more stuff."

how much is the 360 Elite in the states btw?

$480

 

[22psi]

$499 with 80gb hdd.

Another price drop mid 08.

 

[SugarCoat]

my guess will be no price drop, bundled game or game+movie combo to help push Blu-Ray, that would be the first step in my opinion and also the easiest added cost to eat as opposed to prematurely dropping the price before production costs are reduced enough. Sony isnt stupid. They know that the people that see 600 as too much quite likely see 500 or 550 as too much as well, so in order to appeal to those that will actually pay that much, bundled media would, in my opinion, seem most appealing and a logical first step to both company and consumer.

 

[thatdude90210]

I voted no price drop simply because I don't think Sony can afford it financially. Btw, here's a timely Next-Gen.biz article on Console price cuts and their effects on sales.

The average PlayStation 2 consumer paid a hair under $200 for his console. The Xbox, at about $188 on average, fares a bit better than the GameCube with its average price of $127. Should we be surprised that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have failed to live up to sales expectations, given that their prime products -- the Xbox 360 Premium and 60Gb PlayStation 3 -- retail for two to three times the average of that consumers have been paying?

And is it any surprise that the Wii, priced at just $50 over the magic $200 barrier, is selling so well? There is ample room to argue that price isn't everything -- Nintendo's own GameCube proved that point amply -- but if a system can approach the price which moved the majority of systems in the past seven years and can offer a compelling experience at the same time, then that can post record sales month after month. The history of PlayStation 2 sales and recent trends in Wii sales seem to support that argument.

 

[Crossbar]

I voted no price drop simply because I don't think Sony can afford it financially. Btw, here's a timely Next-Gen.biz article on Console price cuts and their effects on sales.

I think the question is: How could they afford to not drop the price and just give away market shares, they can´t depend on the PS2 forever?

No way they are going in to the holiday season at the same price point as last year ($600), that is not an option for Sony if they plan to stay competetive in the console business.

IIRC the president of Sony recently said they were considering a price drop, and he wouldn't be doing that if that wouldn't happen within a few months, because such comments may affect people having plans to buy a PS3.

I voted for $425, but I think anything in the range of $400 - $500 is possible.

 

[Paul_G]

I voted $500. I don't expect to see that pricedrop until at least October, in time to catch Christmas sales. Agree with those who mentioned they probably can't afford it, but I would say they can't afford not to. It's simply the lesser of two negatives, because the cost longer term from lower console sales and lower game sales will be greater than the hit taken moving to that price. The real question is, will a cut like that do the job? I personally think there would have been more demand for the 20GB model had $500 been reasonable. However this isn't about the price we think they should go to, it's the price they will go to, so yeah, $500

 

[one]

my guess will be no price drop, bundled game or game+movie combo to help push Blu-Ray, that would be the first step in my opinion and also the easiest added cost to eat as opposed to prematurely dropping the price before production costs are reduced enough. Sony isnt stupid. They know that the people that see 600 as too much quite likely see 500 or 550 as too much as well, so in order to appeal to those that will actually pay that much, bundled media would, in my opinion, seem most appealing and a logical first step to both company and consumer.

Basically I agree but there are some factors to consider, one is the recent statement from the Sony president,
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1016139&postcount=28
the other is the 80GB model that launches in the next week in Korea. The new BD player from Sony is $499, the price slashed from previously announced $599, and the 80GB PS3 is most likely without Emotion Engine.

My guess is the 80GB model will launch in the US in later this year for $599 as a hidden price cut while the 60GB model will be cheaper for a fire sale at that point. It can be $30, $50, or some form of bundle such as GTA4 or a download ticket for Warhawk, but not $100 cut due to the minimal 20GB HDD difference.

 

[dnavas]

I could envision Sony reverting to multi-sku, but with something more tangible than 20G vs. 80G.

For example, a 20G Playstation and a 160G Play-Media-Station, with DVR, video input capability, and any other relatively inexpensive hardware that would help the consumer-value proposition at the high end.

Sony needs a $400 list (slightly less than that street) entry model, and I find it difficult to believe they will be the last people to figure that out. On the otherhand, there's very little evidence that they have, and with their inventory, they have every reason to keep their pricing up....

 

[borowki]

Basically I agree but there are some factors to consider, one is the recent statement from the Sony president,
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1016139&postcount=28
the other is the 80GB model that launches in the next week in Korea. The new BD player from Sony is $499, the price slashed from previously announced $599, and the 80GB PS3 is most likely without Emotion Engine.

A lot obviously depends on Microsoft. It'd be too tough for Sony to not respond to a price cut on the 360. Microsoft might be tempted to go another Xmas at the current price, but I think the temptation of marketshare gain is greater. GTA4 on the 360 is probably a convincing enough reason for many PS2 owners to jump ship.

My guess is the 80GB model will launch in the US in later this year for $599 as a hidden price cut while the 60GB model will be cheaper for a fire sale at that point. It can be $30, $50, or some form of bundle such as GTA4 or a download ticket for Warhawk, but not $100 cut due to the minimal 20GB HDD difference.

That's too minor a difference. It's something that drives retailers crazy.

 

[inefficient]

My crystal ball says:

Either $549 or $499 with $50 mail in rebate will be possible for the current 60GB model in the US by July.

By Nov they will have completely phased out the current 60GB SKU, and in its place will be 2 SKUs at $499 and $399.

A 65nm process, plus significant reductions in Bluray componets (which we have allready seen), plus removal of legacy PS2 components, and the overall streamlining of manufacturing should easily allow for a 20% drop in retail price from last year.

 

[Fu3lFr3nzy]

Im leaning towards the $499-549 price range aswell.

I doubt they'd go any lower and i'll be shocked if theyre going to maintain the $600 pricetag this year.