150 line up for PS3 in Rockville, MD

by Kyle Orland { Nov 15th 2006 at 1:00PM }

Washington's Fox 5 News has the video of approximately 150 people waiting in a line that "grows by the hour" outside the Rockville, MD Circuit City last night in advance of Friday's PS3 launch. The story also shows that the store has only 100 consoles in the storeroom, leaving us to worry about the countless people who will likely wait for two days only to go home empty handed.

The pole position in line goes to a father purchasing the system for a son to "let him know how much love I have for him." We should all have such fathers. Not all the line-goers are so selfless though -- one waiter said point blank that it was "more economical for us to stand in line and do nothing for three days, [then] turn around and sell it on eBay for two grand." The free market ... ya gotta love it.

Tags: circuit city, CircuitCity, line, ps3, retail

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

pete @ Nov 15th 2006 1:06PM

360 went for over 2 grand. i predict at least 3500 maybe even 4gs for this contraption on ebay or craigslist

superhookie @ Nov 15th 2006 1:07PM

There's nothing to do in Rockville anyway...so standing in line should be no big deal.

Saneless @ Nov 15th 2006 1:10PM

"he pole position in line goes to a father purchasing the system for a son to "let him know how much love I have for him." "

Yeah, because not being at home and being a father for 2 days is pure love.

My dad stood in line for me back in 1988 for a Nintendo. For 30 minutes. Any more and I'd have called my dad a loser.

LunarDuality @ Nov 15th 2006 1:11PM

People in line for the PS3: 150
PS3s in the store: 100
Watching the a picture in picture of the riot while I play my 360 on my HDTV: Priceless

(Yes, it's a tired joke...sue me.)

Riemann Lebesgue @ Nov 15th 2006 1:13PM

If you know a store is only going to have 100 units available, then why bother to join a line that already has 150 people in it and is simply going to get bigger by the hour? I know some people will bring camping equipment and some are probably rotating with family and friends, but there's going to be a lot of angry people who have had inadequate sleep by the time this thing is done. This is a riot waiting to happen.

chocobo @ Nov 15th 2006 1:14PM

@2: got that right. the metropolitan area sucks. when i graduate from college, i'm packing up and going west. this place stinks.

BlindsideDork @ Nov 15th 2006 1:15PM

Yeah...I would stand in line but I am using my sick days to play Wii next week. I was thinking about trying to get an extra one and sell it (Wii) but I don't think it would bring in a large price.

Brian @ Nov 15th 2006 1:16PM

There are no more tickets to be handed out go home. "Umm NO, I have a feeling you have more machines than you say you have" Idiots!

Jason @ Nov 15th 2006 1:18PM

We have people waiting out in front of the best buy I work at. So this morning when I got to work and they were still sleeping we turned on our outside radio and put in enya and dido and hit repeat.

Flit @ Nov 15th 2006 1:19PM

I wonder when this wave will crest and break. How many people can buy consoles early, and sell them to fanboys for 400% markup? When will people realize how stupid they'll feel in 2 months when a ps3 will be readily available? Just curious.

Would anybody buy a ps3 off of ebay for $1000+?

Derbeste @ Nov 15th 2006 1:20PM

Let's see....

Father thinks standing in line for a game console shows better parenting and "love" than setting an example by GOING TO WORK or, I don't know, SPENDING TIME WITH HIS KID.....

150+ people in a line when only 100 are in stock.

I'll just assume strike three is already in line somewhere and conclude this town is about as sharp as a box of hair.

Mr. Plow @ Nov 15th 2006 1:20PM

There are more people waiting there than the supply because a local radio station, DC101, is giving some PS3s away.

http://www.eitmonline.com/page2.html

Mike Cohen @ Nov 15th 2006 1:21PM

I just stopped at a Best Buy in Westbury, NY.

Looked like maybe 30 people in line. I took a picture, guy says "hey, dont take our picture, we're not animals in a zoo." He also stated that all his friends were selling it.

BlindsideDork @ Nov 15th 2006 1:22PM

Well I heard a story of someone at EB games waiting in line...supposedly store getting 8 systems, 9 ppl in line. One of the people didn't have the money to put the pre-order down for the PS3 so they had to go away and number 9 became lucky number 8.

That is what they are thinking.

ooo almost said luckky number seven...just like the movie Lucky Number Slevin, that was good.

POed @ Nov 15th 2006 1:22PM

I can only assume that the last 50 peeople in line are going to take turns robbing the first 100 in.

James Spiers @ Nov 15th 2006 1:22PM

Best Buy on 5th ave here in midtown NYC has about 40 people lined up. Staff (not known for their brains) told me they're getting between 100 and 200 units. The cop they have guarding the lin looked real happy to be there...

manashima @ Nov 15th 2006 1:25PM

Like I said, in the mainstream they all want the PS3. The Wii they think of is a childish thing, or its just another system. They dont scope internet sites to check everything. All they check maybe, is biased magaqzines anyways.

Szu @ Nov 15th 2006 1:26PM

What annoys me the most is how this reporter refers to the Ps3 and the Wii as just games.

Dracula Jones @ Nov 15th 2006 1:31PM

Yeah, I was just at the Best Buy on 5th, too. They've got them fenced in. Like... do they sleep on 44th St? I don't understand!

Pete C @ Nov 15th 2006 1:36PM

Most of these lines are comprised of people that want to make a quick buck after the Xbox 360 fiasco last year. This is a new mindset that was not present for the 360 launch. The lines last year were mostly people that actually wanted consoles to play games on...not to sell. I think people are going to be in for a surprise on Ebay because there is not as much demand for a $1500 console like there was last year. Now, MORE people are going to be trying to sell them at high prices. Most hardcore gamers that would dole out the big bucks for a launch already have 360s, and the PS3 is simply not going to garner as much hype with that crowd because they already have a next-gen console.

kiwi @ Nov 15th 2006 1:38PM

"I took a picture, guy says "hey, dont take our picture, we're not animals in a zoo.""

You should go back and throw some peanuts at him.

Fortyseven @ Nov 15th 2006 1:41PM

The reporter's summary at the end reeked of someone who, otherwise, wouldn't even know what a game console is.

But I did like the people in line, personally, for some reason. It looked like fun. They had tents and a card table and shit. Looked like they were taking something that would ordinarily be ridiculous and made it a fun social event. I like that.

And that guy at the front of the line wasn't away from his family -- they were right there with him sharing in the 'fun'. The parents seemed to be having more fun than the 12 year old kid, though, so I have to wonder who the PS3 is REALLY for? ;D

Mark @ Nov 15th 2006 1:47PM

I camped for over 20 hours for the 360. I can't imagine being outside 3-7 days. Kudos to all of you for waiting!

mike @ Nov 15th 2006 1:53PM

@Mike Cohen:

Did you happen to pass by the Target or Circuit City (or maybe Walmart) in Westburry? I am curious what the lines are like there... a co-worker is going to try and get one from one of those stores

My Best Buy in West Paterson, NJ had 20 people in line last night at 7:00...

SM @ Nov 15th 2006 1:55PM

I did actually camp out for 360 at launched and scored 3 (1 in Walmart and 2 at Target next morning). I did resell all of them as the only game I was interested at launch was CoD..

I just bought this week a 360Premium w/GoW + CoD3 and was thinking of camping out for PS3 too.. Put simply ebay prices are outrageous but remain skeptical re: availability before XMAS. IMO you'll see 2nd /3rd shipment in time for XMAS so spending $1500 on ebay is a joke - not to mention not 1 title on PS3 is good.. I'll be byuing a PS3 + MGS4 when it comes out sometime in 08 by the looks of it..!

32_Footsteps @ Nov 15th 2006 1:57PM

If buying crap is how you let your son know you love him, you don't really love him all that much.

I wonder if this is the console generation when we'll finally declare this kind of behavior completely moronic, or if we'll have to wait another gen or two.

Sizer @ Nov 15th 2006 1:57PM

Oh they WISH they had 100 PS3s in the store. I flat out refuse to believe that one store got that many.

Mike Cohen @ Nov 15th 2006 1:58PM

@24 Mike

I didn't pass any of those places...though I might on my way home just to see what the deal is. I'm not going for a PS3 anytime in the next year most likely, so I'm not planning on waiting.

Jeff @ Nov 15th 2006 2:01PM

I wonder when you yanks will realise that this barbarically stupid line up system thing doesn't work and is a waste of everyones time.

Here in the UK, stores will sell pre-orders. When they know how much the initial shipment is, they'll phone everybody that pre-ordered and tell them if they're in the first batch or not. If you're in the first batch you probably have a few days after launch to pick it up before it gets sold to the next guy down the queue. If you're not in the first batch then you're guaranteed one as soon as the stock comes in, before they go on sale to the public. When the entire queue has been sold them, they go on sale to the public. And the stores that dont do pre-orders aren't likely to have people camping outside them. Odd places like argos are first come first come, first serve on the morning of the sale...and trust me....aint nobody queueing up outside an argos.

This system you guys have is really fubar.

lrn2Pre-Order

Marty @ Nov 15th 2006 2:01PM

So who's going to be getting a bunch of eggs and toilet paper together to toss on the PS3 fanboys while they wait, late at night? I'm thinking about it... :D

Intentless @ Nov 15th 2006 2:01PM

All the people I know that have pre-orders are all planning on selling them on EBAY. I don't know anybody that is planning on actually keeping the system for their own enjoyment.

rascal @ Nov 15th 2006 2:08PM

If everyone buys a PS3 to sell it on eBay, who's going to buy it off of eBay?

Paul @ Nov 15th 2006 2:09PM

Jeff - games specific stores are like that - HOWEVER "big box" stores like best buy and circuit city are not - they want the lines and the hype and the TV cameras.

Pulse @ Nov 15th 2006 2:12PM

Lol, its funny how many 360 fans flood the internet :) You lot must come on here every second of everyday :P

Waiting outside for 2-3 days is just stupid, I want a pS3, but would never be daft enough to wait outside in the cold (over here) for several days for it, I have a life, I woiuldn't even wait 1/2 hour for a console let alone 3 days, I find all ppl like that rather sad.

And I'm certainly not giving away $1000 dollars to some iddiot over the internet trying to con me. But you'll find ppl who are, lol, my cousin sold a 360 quite expensivly after launch on eBay, so anything is possible I guess. I dunno how much he sold it for, I just know it was quite a bit. Who are the fools that are so desperate for any console like this :S Don't you ppl have anything else to do? Thats just...

devian @ Nov 15th 2006 2:13PM

I hope a blizzard hits Rockville.

Tim @ Nov 15th 2006 2:19PM

Wow, the drug dealing scene must be really profitable right now for all these thugs in the picture to afford a PS3. Guess their kids ain't getting no alimony money this month.

Pete C @ Nov 15th 2006 2:21PM

Another thing that's going to hurt these entrepreneurs (besides my points in post #20) is the Wii. Yet another console, in plentiful supply I might add, to spoil demand for a marked-up PS3. Last year, gamers had no choice for anything next-gen (or different) besides the 360. Gamers now have 3 choices, only 1 of which costs $1500. The market for this will be extrememly small with everyone having the same idea. It doesn't work that way. The return that most of these people are going to get for their 5-day, 24-hour wait is going to be pathetically small. Might as well just get a job at Dunkin Donuts and make the same per-hour wage.

Big Earl @ Nov 15th 2006 2:22PM

"What annoys me the most is how this reporter refers to the Ps3 and the Wii as just games."

It's an art form! Like independent movies!

Sony Fanboy #777 @ Nov 15th 2006 2:24PM

It sure beats working for 2 1/2 grand.

Rich @ Nov 15th 2006 2:26PM

Jeff, what's an "argos"'?

Toneman @ Nov 15th 2006 2:26PM

"more economical for us to stand in line and do nothing for three days, [then] turn around and sell it on eBay for two grand."

If they are waiting for 72 hours and they are able to sell it for $600 profit they are only making around 8.34 an hour. I'd rather just work and not freeze. Plus I make 12.24 an hour, so to you campers I say NYA!

Joe SMith @ Nov 15th 2006 2:28PM

How much smarts does it take to realize that if you are #150 in a line for 100 systems you are going home empty-handed? THese people need lives.

kaindragoon @ Nov 15th 2006 2:30PM

O Rockville, the place of my past,
How rich thou truly art.
From Wheaton and Silver Spring
Those home boys you bring
Away from no PS3 K-Marts.

TB @ Nov 15th 2006 2:47PM

Consumer stupidity. Anyone buying a ps3 not to resell on ebay at the $600 price point is an uneducated consumer. For less money you could get alot more for your money with a 360, or if you want something to play for 15min at a time till your arm gets tired, a wii.

HeyTone URI @ Nov 15th 2006 2:49PM

In Rhode Island - all stores that are getting PS3's in are claimed by campers already. This is of 1pm today. Crazy people....

I was going to try and snag one and sell it, but there's no way I'm waiting over 24 hours...the cost/benefit ratio just goes too low.

gphoenix51 @ Nov 15th 2006 2:56PM

#11 The guy who's first in line has his son and wife in the tent with him, so I don't think you can blame him for not spending the three days with his son.

The news guy said they had more than 100, so maybe those extra 50+ are hoping they'll last till they get one.

Dunno if this is a real bid or not, its scary if it is. A PS3 sold for $9,100.
http://cgi.ebay.com/PRE-SALE-SONY-PLAYSTATION-3-PS3-PRESALE-60GB-CONSOLE_W0QQitemZ330047524577QQihZ0

DeShaun @ Nov 15th 2006 3:03PM

I've said this elsewhere, but the Union Square Circuit City out here in NY, NY has had a line for quite some time now. I can only imagine what it is now (I'm at work). They've got 200, 100 to sell, 100 to give away, so it must be ridiculous. That store is pretty small, too, I don't know what they're doing.

I'm happy about the hype, mainly because it takes fire off the Wii, which is much easier to find. I'll still have to camp a bit, but I'm talking a 3-4 hour time investment, instead of a 24-36 hour investment. I like that.

Also, to the commenter saying it's hard to believe that they have 100 units: No, it's not. There are only 6 Circuit City locations doing this AT ALL. Five are giving away 5 additional, and the NY one is giving away 100. That's only 725 units. For a major chain, that's not unbelievable.

B @ Nov 15th 2006 3:06PM

"If everyone buys a PS3 to sell it on eBay, who's going to buy it off of eBay?"

Idiot parents(like that dad in the front of the line).If parents are smart enough to buy a cheaper console and those ebay profits go downward...oh how I'm going to laugh this weekend...