Rumor: Best Buy is sitting on your New Year PS3

Maybe it is just me, but people are constantly walking in only to ask if we have PS3s. It could be that the area in which I live is full of rich snobs. Personally, I like to believe it's because I live in a normal area with normal people who have normal children that ask for normal stuff.

Get over it, there are some children that want PS3s just like there are those who only want the Wii. Maybe their minds will change later, but children only live in the present. They don't want to think about the future unless it pertains to something "kickass."

That being said, this whole PS3/Wii/Xbox360 debacle reminds me of the eternal Chevy vs Ford debate. In the end, it doesn't matter what you get as they both will take you where you want to go. The same applies to the gaming systems. You can have just as much fun on the Wii as you would the Xbox 360 or the PS3. Sadly though, all three systems pale in comparison to the amount of fun that can be had on a PC. =P

Actually, as a former Best Buy media department guru and fellow in charge of all things video games in my store, I can verify that Best Buy does, indeed, do this sort of thing. Last year we held back Xbox 360s for special Sunday sales flyer specials at least three times. (It's not just video games, but all big items)

Best Buy is not the only company to do this. This is standard retail sales practice these days. I don't necessarily agree with it, but it is done with everything from books to game consoles to home theater equipment to food. This is not unusual at all.

And yes, the inter-office communiques from Best Buy corporate do frequently have those kind of errors. I used to get pretty ticked that me- a lowly retail employee- was better able to compose a letter than people WAY above me who were paid to do so. Hell, you want bad writing and scripting? Check out the content of a Best Buy store meeting video some time!!! They're AWFUL. They're half of why I quit.

"That's still no excuse to be a punk-ass. There's stupid questions (like not knowing what section you're in) and then there's STUPID questions. I manage a hobby store and I know *all* about stupid questions (and people). I still make every possible effort to be at the very least, polite and civil - even when I'm thinking IDIOT inside."

I didn't say that was an excuse, I'm saying it's a reason. I have never once walked away from a customer or didn't help them because of a stupid question, even the 45 minute phone call I took about why we didn't carry VHS tapes.... But it happens. Some employees do it. Especially during the holidays. There could've been tons of unseen reasons why he did it, none of them making it right, but still...

My point was, the kid asked a dumb question and then wondered why the employee was so perplexed as to what microphone he was looking for or why he hadn't looked in the computer section. Plus the fact the whole story was prolly exaggerated beyond belief....

Michael,

Yeah, I went all over and the best I found was a store selling the PS3 60GB for $799 online.

Big reason why they are not selling out.

Go into the big stores (Best Buy, Target Walmart, Toys R Us, and the like) and ask managers if they have any. Eventually you should find one for retail price.

When I finally decided to buy a 360 (March 2006) I went down to Best Buy and they had two premium bundles behind the help desk area and someone had to go back and bring them out to me.

Good Luck!

I went to Best Buy the day after Christmas and they had about 7 sitting right by the security desk when you walk in. There was a salesman who was trying to get people to buy them but no one wanted them. I spent about an hour in there and when I left they were all still there. When he asked me I said I wasnt interested because it was too expensive but I asked if he had any WII's and he just looked at the floor and said no. Ha, ha! PS3, no one wants you. For anyone that cares it was at the Best Buy on Sunset Rd in henderson, NV. And yes they still have them.

@20

Michael, if you want to know, you'll love this... The Best Buy in Wilmington, NC should have them still. I saw a least to 60GB out on the floor, on a display in the middle of an isle actually just yesterday. But never hurts to check. Their number is 910-790-2021.

The bad grammar only makes the email more likely to be authentic.

If a weekly ad promises a minimum quantity, Best Buy will ensure each store has enough to meet or exceed that minimum quantity and fire the managers of non compliant stores, end of story.

I managed the Media department of more than a couple Best Buys during my 2 1/2 year tenure with the company and it's the same thing that was done with the 360, PSP AND the DS.

This is a standard procedure for any product that has a guaranteed minimum quantity in the weekly ad.

You know, I used to work in retail and yes, there is a ton of stupid questions. And there are workers who hate answering these questions. For example, the school and office department was right next to photo, bigass sign. So when photo workers (like myself) were straightening the battery displays in front of School & Office, why yes, people did want to know where the school supplies were. Signs are there for a reason and the person who couldn't put 2 and 2 together to equal 4 should be frowned upon. HOWEVER, Best Buy doesn't label their musical section. Like books, it just seems to be there just so that they can say it's there.

On the other hand, people are stupid. Really, REALLY stupid. When I worked retail, I quit wearing my nametag. Reason? When I wore my nametag, every question started with "Do you work here?" and I got tired of telling people I am "merely KGB undercover avaiting newclere secrets" and getting in trouble for making people feel as stupid as they are. But once I didn't wear the nametag? Half the questions were actually questions, not "Do you work here?"

"At MY Best Buy, the PS3s are so unpopular that they have been giving them to the homeless who use them to build makeshift shelters...." -just_somebody

I must admit, I laughed at that comment! IMO, Wins the thread! wait wait...

"Wii sold... PS3 Bought. 1080P Panel is finally happy. If I wanted a Gamecube I would have just bought one." -Digriz

I think we have another contender! Hmm, Nah, just_somebody still wins.

Oh, on topic, well, actually I have nothing to say on topic o.O

An employee at a Best Buy by me was on one of those tall movable staircases touting a 20GB for sale. That leads me to believe that they're holding some to trickle.

MosquitoControl post #46

Not sure if you read my post above. I HAVE been watching www.itrackr.com for 28209 zip code (where I live - for over a week now.) It HAS shown PS3 in stock. But every time I go to a store to buy one based on iTracker information - I'm told they haven't had any for a week or so. So either the iTracker data is bogus for my area or the info provided by iTrackr.com is outdated by about a week. Whatever the case - whenever I go to a store (EB games, Target and Wal-Mart are the ones I have tried so far) I'm told the same story. Something along the lines of 'we had 3 a week ago but they are gone now.'

Mal F4cti0n - no, I'm not trolling. Please take a look at my post #37 (where I put a link to Walmart.com). Yes, I can see the $900 bundles at walmart.com. But I don't want to overpay by 50% only to get a bunch of games I don't care about. I'm looking for a regular, no bundle, not ebay, no markup PS3 60gig from a retail store (or online - as long as there is no markup) and I have yet to see one (or a working link to one that can be bought and is ready to ship with no markup).

I'm not saying ppl are making up stories. I'm sure there are areas where PS3s sit on the shelves and can be readily bought. There have been too many of those reports for them to be all made up. But it's frustrating that every time somebody says how they trip over piles of PS3 whenever they go to an electronics store - they never mention where they live. For all I know - there are piles of boxes of PS3 ready to be bought 20 min drive from my house. But in Charlotte, NC I have yet to see one. And the same goes for online retailers (again - not the ones with markup or bundling a bunch of games nobody wants or selling gift cards or pre-orders; tried Amazon.com, buy.com, newegg.com, circuitcity.com and the result is always the same - 'due to low supply we are sold out')

Michael

#56: Steve - thank you! I will give them a try.

Michael

Yay!! a little love for my humor..

+1 ego, self!

thanks aex

Hehe, well a comment that funny deserves some love :)

hey evryone that cant find a wii just buy
a wii they are practicly the same thing.

omg im such a retard i meant to say gamecube

#54

you deserve your -1 star you give a short story of your observation of a single store where you claim to be there for an hour and noone bought a ps3 and you conclude from that that noone at all wants a ps3. Should I counter with a statement that I have been to multiple retailers in teh past 3 weeks and have yet to see anyone purchase a 360 therfore noone wants one at all.....I see them on the shelves everywhere i go. Plenty of them at online retailers... lots of retailers offering $100 dollar rebates and pack in games and they are not selling out. And, there are hundreds of 360's on ebay going for less then retail. Must be a bad time for Microsoft because nobody wants a 360 ....according to your logic that is

I was in Best Buy last night and the clerks were saying that they were having a difficult time selling their PS3's. It was about 7:30 PM and they had 6 of them in a locked cage with one at the front of the store.

I just came from Best Buy (NYC) picking up an optical cable for my 360, when I saw a man with a Wii in his hand. I ran upstairs to see my friend in teh games section. They had gotten 11 in 10 minutes ago. They were now sold out. I cried. I asked how the PS3 stock was selling... 7 PS3 premiums have been sitting in back for three days. On sale soon. I just want a Wii.

Okay, Joystiq. Stop stirring the pot every time a retailer holds a PS3. Seriously. You get 80 comments, half people astounded that it happens and half employees giving you reasons. And you've reported it happening 3 times so far, and you have your answer to the "why" question - so, find another angle for the story.

The why is because holding the "ad-minimum" is the only way to put the PS3 or Wii in the ad. Holding the entire shipment instead of the ad-minimum just ensures that everyone's on the same page - if a customer calls customer service and asks if we "still have PS3s," the customer service rep might not know what the ad-minimum is, look the PS3 up in the inventory system, see that we technically have them, tell the customer that, and then we either have to sell it once they're in the store, or turn them away angry. Holding is the only way to be able to advertise the system.

You guys are publishing these stories as if every retailer doesn't get hold e-mails from their managers or corporate HQs for every item. Things are held every week for ads. Televisions, DVD players, DVDs, Zunes, laptops. Holding product isn't an "OMG" situation. It's just an "O" situation :)

"there are not enough games to make it worth the cost at the moment."

Lame excuse....the PS3 comes with a blu-ray DVD player.

1. Since it's been trendy to bash the PS3 on the internet and the media and I like to fit in, let me first say "ps3 is teh suxor".

2. Still no PS3s at all in the Upstate NY / Syracuse area. If anyone knows of any store round Syracuse that actually has them in stock lemme know. Not that I would actually buy one, as I'm far too worried about my image and I would hate for the internet mafia to tell me what a bad decision I've made.

#56: Steve - oops - I didn't realize Willmington was 4 hour drive away from Charlotte (so an 8 hour round trip ). I guess I will give BestBuy a try on during the upcoming New Years Day Sale...

Michael

The Best Buy I went to in Lincoln, NE had PS3s on sale on Christmas Eve. They even tried to sell me one, which I really wanted to buy but didn't have the money.

They said they just got a shipment in the previous night and put them out for sale.

I can also confirm that Best Buy is indeed holding PS3 stock for their Sunday ad this coming week. My Best Buy has about 40 or so in the back, out of site. We also are expecting a shipment of Wii.

anon, are you sure you are getting wii's this week, will you be holding them until the 31st, thats the rumor going around or should i go every morning, my local BB are kinda annoying but i have lots of $$ there! Please help ThankS!

Now im just mad, i have 2 Best Buy's Near me i decided to go to one before it opens no one there, no wii's, i call the other one now, they said they sold outthis morning! I cannot beleive i went to the wrong one! ahhH!

"And whoever thinks PS3's aren't popular anymore... you're an idiot (you're idiots). The other day we put out 80 PS3's (60gb's) when we opened at 9am and sold out by 11:30am. Must've been a fluke..."

So, your account of PS3s selling quickly somehow negates other people's accounts of PS3s selling slowly, and the people themselves are idiots simply because they're reporting what they've witnessed. Funny how that works.

I spent four years in college earning my business degree when I could have skipped all that and become a manager for Best Buy. Who would have thought. Anyway, if anyone cares, I was just at the Best Buy in Colonial Heights, VA, and there were 5 PS3s on the shelf.