GameStop cannot fill PS3 preorders
by Ross Miller 
{ Nov 13th 2006 at 5:40PM }
Retail chain GameStop has confirmed to news outlet GameSpot that, despite playing it cool with PlayStation 3 pre-orders (approximately 8-12 units promised per store), the retail chain cannot fulfill all the initial preorders after receiving a launch allocation number from Sony. That's right, folks: even though you've already given the store $100 to reserve the system, you may not get one at launch.GameStop has done the smart move of asking its employees to wait on their purchases until the second shipment. A representative who spoke to GameSpot is "anticipating having systems to cover reservations before Christmas." Those who have a preorder through GameStop should be contacted by phone and given a status update. The unfortunate souls who have a PS3 preorder but will not receive one at launch will be given a free used game or DVD valued less than $20 ... whenever they finally get their PS3.
After having promised $100 to the company, it's unlikely most customers will be willing to spend $600 elsewhere -- or wait in line, for that matter, when they already did so a month prior. It's too soon to tell who's fault this is, the retail outlet or Sony itself. We'll know soon enough just how many units will be sold on launch day.
What happens to those who put their PS3 on eBay and now get it delayed? Will they be faulted for GameStop's actions?
See Also:
Japan to get fewer PS3 launch units due to part problems
Math fun with the PS3 and GameStop (PS3 Fanboy)
[Thanks, DawgOnU and everyone who tipped us off!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
djmajin @ Nov 13th 2006 5:48PM
and then thinnk about this... if you did manage to geet one from the preorders and have one of the higher numbers.. they might only have the Jabroni 500 dollar version.... i hope this is not the case tho
::hopes that i ahve my lucky number 6 ps3 reserve fulfilled::
Hinkmania @ Nov 13th 2006 5:48PM
Two words: Ouch.
Stephen @ Nov 13th 2006 5:49PM
Time to go buy a wii....
JodyAnthony @ Nov 13th 2006 5:48PM
Oops
raise your hand if you saw this coming a mile away
KBeat @ Nov 13th 2006 5:48PM
And this comes as a surprise to who?
refinedsugar @ Nov 13th 2006 5:49PM
This happened with the 360 launch and now its going to happen with the ps3. People don't learn. For anyone involved in the chain of command - customers, retailers, Sony - to say they didn't see this coming is beyond retarded. If you were ebay-bound with the ps3 and got screwed I have even less sympathy for you ... actually you know what, I have none.
Larb @ Nov 13th 2006 5:49PM
GOTTA WAIT MOOREZ DAYZ FOR UR GOEROGGE FORMANZ GRILL LOLOL!!!!!111111111111111111
Nate @ Nov 13th 2006 5:49PM
calling now.....
pete @ Nov 13th 2006 5:50PM
muahh hahahahahah sucks to be you playstationfanboys, yall should pick up a wii instead word on the street is that you should be able to walk in and pick one up instead of paying 3 times the retail price on ebay or waiting in line for 4 days just to be the the 11th customer to the door and they sold out. again muahahahhahaha muahhahahlol
Tin @ Nov 13th 2006 5:50PM
They never cease to amaze me. What a bunch of idiots! Did they learn nothing last year????
DWells55 @ Nov 13th 2006 5:50PM
Wow, I am gonna be really pissed if me being second in line isn't going to be good enough. I will be really, really, angry.
PhoenixJ @ Nov 13th 2006 5:51PM
=[
Condolances to those who camped out to get a PS3 preorder
Nate @ Nov 13th 2006 5:51PM
She said Manager is calling everyone tommorow and told the employees not to say shit, apparently I knew more than she did.
Dracula Jones @ Nov 13th 2006 5:52PM
Can't really blame this on Gamestop. They were very conservative with their preorder numbers and still got burned.
jron @ Nov 13th 2006 5:53PM
I would say it's the fault of the stupid customers that forked over their $100.
azesino @ Nov 13th 2006 5:54PM
hahaha my brother went to Gamestop the day of the Pre-Order at 3 in the morning and still gat a number 11, hahahaha this is so funny
Todd @ Nov 13th 2006 5:55PM
What a fucking surprise!
DWells55 @ Nov 13th 2006 5:56PM
Wow, can any Sony related topic not turn into a flamefest by mentally incapicitated fanboy idiots? Sheesh! That means you, 9 and 10.
I jsut called my local GameStop. They said tomorrow to call back and ask for the manager, that they're aware of the issue and the manager should be able to provide me some definitive answers tomorrow afternoon. We'll see. I better not have camped out for nothing.
Nate @ Nov 13th 2006 5:57PM
Due to the high demand and limited availability of the PlayStation 3 system, we will begin offering online bundles only after our initial in-store pre-orders are filled, which is anticipated before Christmas. We will update this page when new information is available.
If you pre-ordered a PlayStation 3 in-store, you will be contacted by Wednesday evening, regarding launch availability.
from ebgames website, this basically means they are'nt preordering online which im sure pisses EB off because they dont get all that rediculous bundle cash. Sony is not making any friends.
Lee @ Nov 13th 2006 5:59PM
I guess I can feel sorry for those who actually fell for the numbers Gamestop initally offered for preorder.
But this isn't news to me. We all knew it was coming. I expected it way before 4 days until launch.
Ethan @ Nov 13th 2006 6:11PM
Well, I hope that my 2nd place spot in line at EB games will still get one, I also have a 10th place spot at FYE, and a 15th place spot somewhere else, but I am pretty much ruling those out already. Hopefully one of them will pull through.
POed @ Nov 13th 2006 6:02PM
I assume the same thing is going down with EB Games? Charging $100 is pretty steep price for not even knowing they would come close to filling the few preorders they took.
Paco From Del Taco @ Nov 13th 2006 5:58PM
Scalpers who were going to use their ps3 for $$$ on ebay. GO SUCK A DI*K. Sony saw all the units on ebay from Gamespot and cut their allocation to the bare minninum to screw YOU losers. Enjoy the ebay bannings!
KBeat @ Nov 13th 2006 6:00PM
@15 Wrong. You most certainly can blame them. I'm not aware of another business that would regularly take money from their customers, ostensibly to guarantee product delivery, then fail to deliver. Don't take your customer's cash until you're sure of your allocation.
Gamestop does this all the time with game pre-orders as well. But it's all good for Gamestop as they had several thousand dollars making interest for them on the useless PS3 deposits. I'm just amazed consumers put up with it time and time again from them.
Optimus Prime @ Nov 13th 2006 6:00PM
LOL
Those people who are 8+ on the list, now have to go camping again... esp. if they have eBay preorders to fill... aahahahahahahaaa..
Nate @ Nov 13th 2006 6:01PM
well it seams everyone who got a ps3 from ebay for 1.5k should be happy, thats going to look like a steal now.
pete @ Nov 13th 2006 6:02PM
#21 i dont know bout all that sony could care less if someone clucks or does anything to there ps3 after it is bought. and to #19 i hope that you didnt camp out for nothing cuz that would suck and make you a loser, oh wait to late for that last one... burn
Andrew @ Nov 13th 2006 6:04PM
My friend got the very last preorder offered, and no store employees were allowed systems locally. Ouch.
Michael K @ Nov 13th 2006 6:05PM
I work at an eb and this shouldn't be a surprise. We told the people preordering that the preorder doesn't guarantee a system at launch, but they will be honored in the order that they were sold (first in the preorder line gets theirs first and so on). It was the same way with the Wii, but more Wiis are available.
Blake @ Nov 13th 2006 6:05PM
Just my luck. The one time I manage to get lucky and get this stupid pre order, they go and cancel it. I am praying that I do not that call. I bet it does not hep my case that i was last to get the pre order. However, this might be a blessing in disguise, because if i have to pay for this thing my wallet is going to really hurt. Well, i guess I found my Christmas present.
John @ Nov 13th 2006 6:11PM
Just called my Gamestop. Manager just got off a conference call with corporate and said that at least for their store, all reservations will be filled.
phan @ Nov 13th 2006 6:11PM
This deserves a "LOL00RZZ0R" if ever anything did. This whole camping-for-a-pre-order (or camping for anything, really), is absurdly stupid and falsely makes people feel like they "earned" a system by acting like social pariahs for XX hours. Why do we reward loitering?
The FAR, FAR better way to do it is by lottery. Whoever wants a shot gets a lottery ticket (hint to sellers: charge $5 for the ticket, there's some arbitrage right there), waits for a drawing, and bam - no violence, no stupidity - just the luck of the draw. So what if a random guy or gal who can't even spell PS3 gets it - at least everyone is equal in this setting.
That said, this crap is funny. Enjoy folks!
reguy @ Nov 13th 2006 6:12PM
it happenend last year and again now. damn i hate eb/gamestop!!! plus they only give you like 4 dollars for your games and then sell them for 34.99!!
i really really hate that company
Marty @ Nov 13th 2006 6:28PM
You can't blame GameStop for this... They are not responsible for the fact that Sony can't even make the reduced numbers it promised. And at least Gamestop is telling you now, instead of pulling the rug out from under you at launch.
sinning @ Nov 13th 2006 6:11PM
Surprising. Pause. NOT.
Chris @ Nov 13th 2006 6:14PM
lol sucks for the idiots already spending that much oney on the crappy ps3. glad im getting my wii!! 5 more days!
ackmondual @ Nov 13th 2006 6:16PM
Kinda puts things in perspective doesn't it?
Which is worse, people who arrive at a theatre 3 hours before a show to watch Star Wars III, Titanic, The Da Vinci Code, whatever on opening night or those who camp out for a Wii, 360, PS3?
I'd like to say the latter, but I do know movie go-ers who do this at least x2 a month instead just waiting an extra 2 weekends for the BO to simmer down.
nick @ Nov 13th 2006 6:16PM
Wow... aint that a kick in the nuts?
??? @ Nov 13th 2006 6:21PM
By the way, fans, that's also an extra $100 bucks for the additional warranty too-ouch! I'll wait, thanks.
Rishard @ Nov 13th 2006 6:23PM
I actually thought sony would fulfill at least THESE. This is a HUGE issue and very different from the 360 debacle. With the 360, GS/EB took online pre-orders and made sure they filled those because they had huge bundles.
They didn't even do online pre-orders. IS sony going to announce they aren't shipping 400k units?
Konchu @ Nov 13th 2006 6:23PM
Im not going to blame Gamestop on this they did what they could to limit problems. And I dont think it has been a secret that a prereg is not a 100% guarantee of a system. Even though a person with a prereg does have the best chance of getting one. The Ebayer's that get screwed by this are simply victims of themselves. Dont count your chickens before they hatch.
These prereg are still not worthless though, there are not a lot of them and it will still be quicker (unless you dont mind camping and at least there is still a week to do so). This does suck though as most the fun is getting it 1st.
Gamewise other than maybe Resistance I personal cannot justify the cost give it a year or so for a few more titles. I have too much to play on the 360 and Wii and even PS2.
Jarrett @ Nov 13th 2006 6:27PM
this is the thing and I said this when the PS3 pre-orders started.....
the numbers did not add up from jump. Gamestop/EB Games were touting what kind of allocations they were going to be getting and between Wal-Mart/Sams's, K-Mart, Target, Circuit City, Best Buy, Toys-R-Us, etc...somehow someway somebody was going to get short changed. Then last week Sony wants to announce they are going to have a launch in Taiwan????
Like I said somebody is getting short changed.....is looks like Gamestop/EB Games....
Ethan @ Nov 13th 2006 6:27PM
I love the people who are like "glad Im getting a wii", maybe you are, but to some people a wii is just a gamecube with a new controller, and isnt worth even going to the store to pick up. Im glad Im still getting a PS3.
anghus @ Nov 13th 2006 6:37PM
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH
Maddox was right
SONY HATES YOU
AssemblyLineHuman @ Nov 13th 2006 6:29PM
Heh, that's funny. When I was getting my Wii on at EB Games earlier, I heard the guy at the store telling someone they are getting two Playstation 3s for launch day. =P
Rishard @ Nov 13th 2006 6:30PM
@42
The real question should be, is GS the only one getting short changed.
goosedude @ Nov 13th 2006 6:31PM
well....#1 in line at Pre-order so not worried about that one.....#6 at another location....# 10 at another reasonably comfortable at the last 2 spots but not 100%. (These are not for resale mind you...I have a hardcore gaming adult family.)
The most amusing thing is the people I was in line with were obviously not gamers.....they didn't look like they could even afford a PS3 but were getting one to sell....possibly to pay their bills.
ONce again.....I think they should revise the pre-orders in that you have to pay for the CONSOLE entirely up front instead of a deposit. WOuld weed the gamers from the profiteers.
Robert @ Nov 13th 2006 6:31PM
Does anyone know the maximum amount of units employees are allowed to pre-order?
Nate @ Nov 13th 2006 6:33PM
ebay looks like its getting even more ineterest, I havnt seen a ps3 go for over 2k for a while and this one got 58 bids, bring on the 4k ps3 , in other words were all fucked
Zoë K. @ Nov 13th 2006 6:35PM
Now aren't I glad I stood in line for a Wii instead? Yes... yes, I am.
You know who really loses here, though? The eBay sellers. If that second shipment comes after Christmas, then where are they going to find the insane demand to meet their greed-filled needs?
I'm laughing so hard right now, it hurts.