Your seasonal anecdotes: Stories from the retail war grounds

[Qroach]

I went by my local futureshop. I checked if they had gotten in more PS3's. They said they have received abotu two PS3's since the launch shipment and those went out the door fast.

Same thing with the Wii. they had a small second shipment that sold out quickly. They told me the 360's had been flying off the shelves fast because people couldn't get a wii or PS3. The manager figured they had sold about 100 xbox 360's the last two weeks ( I know they sold 40 on PS3 launch day). and that day they had restocked the 360 display with systems 4 or 5 times.

They also sold out of HD-DVD drives for the 360. That seemed to be a hot item for them.

 

[phat]

If they were cheaper then you'd get more and have a bigger backlog . How did you manage to pick up your PS3 by the way?

During the week after launch, the stores in my area were getting a slow trickle of PS3's. After a lot of driving and calling around, I managed to get a 20 at the FutureShop in Cambridge. I was always one step behind the 60's. I then managed to get another 20 online from the Sony Store. I sold the two 20's to a friend for the privilege of buying one 60 from him (all at cost).

This shortage is a lot worse than the numbers show because out of the 200k or so made available, only about half of them were 60's, so the real availability in the eyes of early adopters was more like 100k.

 

[Farid]

Sorry for the sociology course

But I think they are useful as minor barometers.

Honestly, they are not.
They're just that, anedoctical evidences, not a meanigful, balanced and representative sample of the whole market. It's like that old tale about some folks who try to describe what is an elephant in the dark, to take an illustrative example.

Not to mention that anedotical evidences on video games trends reported by hardcore gamers tend to be tainted by their knowledge of the field (AKA "if you set your mind in search of some trends or facts in particular, you will find them.")

 

[Tap In]

...only about half of them were 60's, so the real availability in the eyes of early adopters was more like 100k.

I'd heard (speaking of anecdotal evidence ) that more than 7 of 10 were 60gig

 

[Deepak]

Not to mention that anedotical evidences on video games trends reported by hardcore gamers tend to be tainted by their knowledge of the field (AKA "if you set your mind in search of some trends or facts in particular, you will find them.")

Like this

 

[Asher]

During the week after launch, the stores in my area were getting a slow trickle of PS3's. After a lot of driving and calling around, I managed to get a 20 at the FutureShop in Cambridge. I was always one step behind the 60's. I then managed to get another 20 online from the Sony Store. I sold the two 20's to a friend for the privilege of buying one 60 from him (all at cost).

This shortage is a lot worse than the numbers show because out of the 200k or so made available, only about half of them were 60's, so the real availability in the eyes of early adopters was more like 100k.

Have you seen any Wiis available?

I've hit the Future Shop on Spaceworld Drive(?) and the Best Buy on Fairview(?), both by Hwy8, but were out. I've also been to the Future Shop in Waterloo on King St by Contestoga Mall, and they were out as well.

 

[phat]

Have you seen any Wiis available?

I've hit the Future Shop on Spaceworld Drive(?) and the Best Buy on Fairview(?), both by Hwy8, but were out. I've also been to the Future Shop in Waterloo on King St by Contestoga Mall, and they were out as well.

Haven't spotted any Wii's in the wild, but then again haven't been looking. The BestBuy on Fairview had a rather large resupply of them the Friday after launch, but it was completely soaked up by the line that formed that morning. There must have been 100 people in that line. The line for the PS3 resupply, OTOH, was capped at 16 since the store had posted a sign saying that it would get only 8 60's and 8 20's that Friday.

A friend in London managed to get a Wii, and I'm sure he didn't have to (nor was able to) work as hard at it as I had to to get my PS3, given his time commitments...

 

[nelg]

My wife's friend was at a shopping mall early one morning this week to get a Wii for her son. EB Games was to have a new shipment available that morning. She arrived to find a line up and joined in. When the store opened the manager came outside and told those in line that they would not have any units until later that day (afternoon?). My wife's friend decided to leave and shop for other things instead. While shopping she found a PS3 and bought that instead. Later that day, after 4pm, she went back to EB Games and the same people who were in line from the morning were still there.

Could it really be, even with Sony's production difficulties, that the Wii is harder to come by than the PS3?

 

[Johnny Awesome]

Well, the Wii is actually affordable for most people.

 

[patsu]

I visited 3 Best Buys, 2 Targets and 1 EB almost everyday in 2 weeks. No Wiis and PS3s on the shelves until I found my current PS3 well-hidden behind a pile of accessories at the lowest shelf. It had arrived about an hour ago together with 20 other PS3s (mixture of 20Gbs and 60Gbs).

While shopping in-store for 30 minutes, there were about 5 walk-ins in BestBuy asking me where I got the PS3. I also ran into a guy who came back for a 20Gb (He was in the store earlier and "missed the last 60Gb by 30 seconds"). Saw a guy who wanted to return his 20Gb in exchange for a 60Gb (Sorry, no luck).

The next week, I found 3 more PS3 60Gbs in Toys' R Us. They were (are ?) only sold with bundles. One of them was snatched by a woman in front of me. The second one was on-hold also by a woman. She's talking over a cellphone to her boyfriend whether to get it.

Subsequently, I have been hearing a steady, increasing shipment of PS3s to the stores. At first it was, we got "2-4 PS3s", to "10-12". The last I heard was "20-30". I don't know whether the numbers dropped off after that.

The shipments were about 4-5 days apart (e.g., one of the BestBuys got a shipment on Friday, and then Tuesday the following week). But that's just 1 store. A Target only received a 2nd shipment 2 weeks ago.

I also missed the second Wii shipment. They were gone quick too.

There were perhaps 50 Xbox 360s stacked up in the aisle of the Best Buy where I bought my PS3. Good to know that MS is doing their job to keep 360 well supplied.

EDIT:
In one of the Targets, they removed the PS3 demo unit (The flat screen with PS3 sign was still around). I asked the salesperson where it went, she laughed and said they have to hide it because someone was trying to break the glass.

 

[Rockster]

I have also noticed PS3's available during my last minute holiday shopping. Both Wal-Mart and Best Buy had a limited number available the few times I was there (mix of 20 and 60's). Sony is definitely resupplying, but it was kind of surprising to see them just sitting on a shelf. I more expected them to go before they hit the floor. Was tempted to buy one to resell, but a co-worker who secured 10 of the 60GB's was struggling to dump his supply at $799. Does anyone know if eBay is still pulling strong premiums for PS3?

Haven't personally seen any Wii's, though I know some people who got them. 360's seem to be in-stock everywhere, but interestingly enough I see more core's than premium's (unfortunate). Perhaps I see more of them because they are being avoided which would be a good thing.

Sales folks everywhere are still clueless for the most part. It's really sad. Wal-Mart associate selling PS3 remarked that it was a good selection for her son, since you can substitute a computer monitor for high def viewing, while you can't on the 360. I didn't get involved.

 

[Acert93]

Wal-Mart associate selling PS3 remarked that it was a good selection for her son, since you can substitute a computer monitor for high def viewing, while you can't on the 360. I didn't get involved.

It would have been a good Samaritan act to go up to the lady (after they talked?) and pointed out the VGA cables in the elecontrics section. I have no problem striking up a conversation at stores with customers

 

[patsu]

...or better still show someone the price of an in-store HDMI to DVI (assuming their monitor at home even had DVI and for movies DVI+HDCP) cable, because I'm sure the salesperson did not mention the extra accessory that would be required to connect the machine to a monitor.

BestBuy, at least the one I bought my PS3 from, doesn't carry any HDMI to DVI cable. I bought mine for $15 from a nearby Fry's.

 

[Acert93]

I picked up the Vision Camera pack for a co-worker, because he was blessed with a Core for xmas (yes, a core) by another co-worker (we're a loving giving bunch ).

I am in search of work. Where do you say you were employed again?

 

[StefanS]

No one ever PM'ed me about all of the 360 games I rarely play that I was going to giveaway to the less fortunate gamers.

Somebody opened pandora's box... Spam him!

 

[Deepak]

Somebody opened pandora's box... Spam him!

Santa is here!

 

[Acert93]

so you, Acert93, are next in line for my giveaways.

And my wife wonders why I hang out here! Welcome to the family NucNavST3!

 

[Laa-Yosh]

There's an ElectroWorld (name implies what kind of supermarket-thing it is) near my parents' house that I've checked out a few times (I live in Hungary). They've had at least 15 Premiums and some Cores in early november and now there's only been like 3 + 1, though I'm not sure if there's been a resupply in the meantime. The interesting part is that they have Gears running on the single demo kiosk - so EW doesn't seem to care about any age restriction stuff, and it kinda explains the success as well. A Premium system costs about 60-70% of the average monthly salary here, so it's quite expensive, especially with all the PS2s on the next shelf...

 

[Acert93]

2 PS3 20GB at the local Walmart, 6 Xbox 360s, and no Wiis. A couple people looked at the PS3 demo video (they have a gaming kiosk and then a separate display for showing off game footage and sales promotion videos) but during my 3 hour browsing trip with the little guy (quiet time for the wife!) there were no 360 or PS3 sales that I saw. Interestingly the PS2 area was gutted and only 1 PS2 Slim was left.

 

[ninzel]

Part of my job involves driving andI cover most of South Western Ontario. I saw a few PS3's here and there,but no Wii's. I usually only stop in places like EB and Walmart, my dispatcher is looking for a Wii for his kids but no luck so far. I was lucky I got mine in Orangeville. I arrived about 30 minutes after opening and they just unpacked them. I had no chance in Mississauga,Brampton,Oakeville/Burlington or Toronto.