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Italian retailers decide to sell PS3s earlier than street date

21 March 2007 6:59 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 10 comments

This morning, Italian gamers looking for Playstation 3s were able to pick some up at retailers that decided to break the street date and begin selling the console two days earlier than the March 23rd street date.

Davide Sher, of TIM, the "leading specialist publication for Italian retailers" had this to say about the situation: "It's a strange situation. This is the first time retailers have broken street dates by two days."

Sher went on to explain that the problems began earlier this week when the retail chain Darty took out ads in the national newspapers advertising that they would be selling the consoles on Wednesday instead of of Friday's street date.

Rival retailer Media World learned of the news and cancelled its launch date event and moved the release date up to Wednesday as well.

Upon learning of the news of its rival stores, the huge retail chain Gamestop stated it was policy to not break street dates but they might start so they do not lose their edge over the competition.

Sher had this to say: "The mainstream consumer electronics retailers get their PS3 stock early, so they can start selling early," he said, confirming that Sony's new console did indeed go on sale at Media World this morning but many specialist retailers don't have any units yet and won't receive any until Friday morning. This puts them at a real disadvantage."

A Sony spokesperson said, "Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is deeply disappointed by the unilateral decision of some Italian retail chains to commence the sale of PlayStation 3 to consumers before this official launch date.

"Such decisions run counter to our policy of consumer protection which seeks to ensure that all of our consumers have an equal opportunity to purchase PlayStation 3."

Sony also threatened to "carefully consider all available options in relation to retailers who have commenced sale of PlayStation 3 prior to 23rd March 2007".

Source:
Gamesindustry.biz

Permalink to this article

PlayStation 3 launches in Europe and Australia (22 March 2007)

Sony: PS3 launch delay is 'beneficial' (21 March 2007)

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Discuss this article!
SProdigy (Member) 21 March 2007 7:07
So the retailers not able to sell till Friday will have their PS3 stock sitting on the shelf for weeks after all the impulse buyers grab theirs a couple days early. LOL [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 21 March 2007 8:10
Originally posted by SProdigy: So the retailers not able to sell till Friday will have their PS3 stock sitting on the shelf for weeks after all the impulse buyers grab theirs a couple days early. LOL I wonder if sony is going to sue Gamestop for not following the contract . rollseyes [ + quote]
azndrake (Junior Member) 21 March 2007 8:39
Quote: I wonder if sony is going to sue Gamestop for not following the contract . rollseyes ?? Seems like GameStop are following the contract, so you must mean Media World and Dartyinstead. :P Quote: Upon learning of the news of its rival stores, the huge retail chain Gamestop stated it was policy to not break street dates but they might start so they do not lose their edge over the competition. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 21 March 2007 8:53
azndrake seems mean they still can,I hope SOny does tho,and show the world they are evil for going after a retailer 1 ahead day of launch. [ + quote]
azndrake (Junior Member) 21 March 2007 10:14
Quote: I wonder if sony is going to sue Gamestop for not following the contract ZIppyDSM from your statement you seem to be implying that Gamestop has already broken their word to sell the ps3 at the offical date, but this is not the case they have stated that their rivals are the ones to break their word. So if Gamestop does sell the ps3 before the offical date wouldn't matter anymore since it has already been done by Darty. Also if Gamestop does not sell the ps3 before the offical date release they would be losing a lot of sells since other companies are doing it. And we all know the ultimate goal for business is to make a profit. [ + quote]
limelight (Member) 21 March 2007 13:45
I dont mean to sound rude, but this is news???? Two days, two weeks, whatever. 90% of those will be on ebay anyway. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 21 March 2007 14:00
azndrake My sentiment is sony should be the cruel demon it is will all of the people that have made a pact with it,and yes I am invoking Link! [ + quote]
azndrake (Junior Member) 21 March 2007 21:54
hehehe O.O [ + quote]
georgeluv (Member) 22 March 2007 7:29
they were selling japanese ps3s in chinatown in NYC about a few days after the japanese launch. cool thing is that i think the japanese ps3 will play american games. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 22 March 2007 11:32
Originally posted by georgeluv: they were selling japanese ps3s in chinatown in NYC about a few days after the japanese launch. cool thing is that i think the japanese ps3 will play american games. the PS3 is cross regoined games paly across regions EUR-USA-JAP moves do not JAP-USA EUR-EUR and the outside regions will probably get more riped off,Sony fails to understand what region free means... [ + quote]