Target store sells PS3 at $499
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Jul 6th 2007 at 9:57PM }
We've spent the last hour on the phone calling up random Target stores around the continental United States to nail this story down. What we can say at this point is that certain Target stores do currently have the $499 price on the PS3 (Item# 207230001). Beyond confirmation at these stores, in one case we even have a copy of a person's receipt, dated today, for a PS3 at $499.99. We've even asked while going through the price check process if there is a pattern to the Target computers and why we would be getting different prices at different stores -- there was no adequate answer.At this point we don't know if this indicates that the price drop may begin this week, or if somebody flipped a switch at the wrong time. We've received reports that certain Circuit City stores have also started selling the PS3 at the $499 price, before their alleged sale next week, but we currently can't confirm that. Even if Sony doesn't announce a PS3 price drop at next week's press conference, it looks like the retailers are moving ahead with one anyway.
[Thanks Nathan and Counter5th]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Monarch @ Jul 6th 2007 10:06PM
I'm the Electronics Specialist (that's under-payed Manager in Target-speak) at a local Target here, and I haven't seen anything on our company message boards about this, so...if there is a company-wide price drop on the way, they are keeping it a pretty good secret from the people who should know. I.E., me.
vidGuy @ Jul 6th 2007 10:07PM
Good detective work. Sony's 'E3' is going to be so sad, seeing them scramble for something to entice gamers with. A price drop helps, what else ya got, Sony? Anything worth paying $500+ for?
Big Ed @ Jul 6th 2007 10:10PM
Just $300 less and I'm sold.
Josh @ Jul 6th 2007 10:20PM
Electronics Specialist lol thats funny. No you're no manager, maybe a supervisor but nothing else. You're nothing but a product specialist like me meaning just a floor salesman.
quazi @ Jul 6th 2007 10:24PM
@1
maybe your a bad employ and they arent telling you on purpose o_O
i keed!
Joshua @ Jul 6th 2007 10:24PM
As if the price drop wasn't already confirmed...
BNinjaC @ Jul 6th 2007 10:27PM
Why the hate vidGuy? why the hate?
Personally I think Sony will have a very good E3. Thats my hunch. In fact I reckon all three companies will. Good for those of us who don't buy into "my console is better than your console" rubbish that goes on.
Nathan @ Jul 6th 2007 10:29PM
Yeah I used to be an electronics specialist and isn't a management position...just a glorified team member and I must say I haven't seen anything either about a price drop at my Target either
Robert @ Jul 6th 2007 10:28PM
If it's $500 at Target you can apply for their credit card and get 10% off, which means you're getting it at $450, which actually isn't that bad of a deal. It's what I did with the 360 to get it for, well, $360. Plus tax.
Jonathan Tran @ Jul 6th 2007 10:32PM
Holy crap!
Sony is on the verge of saying when next gen can start!
Lord Chako @ Jul 6th 2007 10:44PM
Monarch,
Sorry, Specialists are NOT Team Leaders. Don't try to make yourself out to be something your not.
The only thing you manage is the electronics boat.
Lord Chako @ Jul 6th 2007 10:47PM
Robert,
If you work there, and open a RedCard, you can get 20% off.
Did it for my 360.
horngreen @ Jul 6th 2007 10:54PM
Trying to unload them for shelf space for the Wii.
Monarch @ Jul 6th 2007 10:55PM
Lord Chako,
Goodness, but have I ever been served. Wasn't trying to steal anybody's thunder, sir. I am not even worthy to lead a huddle in your presence. Please don't write me up.
Lord Chako @ Jul 6th 2007 11:02PM
Consider it a verbal warning.
Monarch @ Jul 6th 2007 11:10PM
I appreciate that.
Dave @ Jul 6th 2007 11:13PM
At least give the guy a break. He's lying about being a manager at Target. How bad does his life suck? Cut him some slack. Humor the guy. Let him live the dream.
Spongie @ Jul 6th 2007 11:19PM
Just $300 less and I'm sold.
Enjoy the wait...
Mark @ Jul 6th 2007 11:23PM
Well maybe this is the old 20 GB model-because as of now ebgames.com is still selling this even though it was supposedly discontinued...
Boscorooty @ Jul 6th 2007 11:26PM
It's so cool how this thing I don't want is suddenly a hundred dollars cheaper!
Monarch @ Jul 6th 2007 11:32PM
Dave, it's almost eerie how accurately you see the real me. Thanks for sticking up for me. Maybe we can hang out one of these days, listening to Death Cab and talking about why our parents are totally unfair and how we use sarcasm to mask our pain. I look forward to it, brother.
Zatos @ Jul 6th 2007 11:35PM
I used to work at Target too, only -I- have an answer. There is a price change team and every department is done on a certain day of the week. Electronics is on Monday. A lot of times if they didn't have a lot of work to do, they would do the next day's price changes (there are none on weekends so Monday is after Friday). So some stores must have been doing price changes early, while some did not.
Also, for no reason other than to share, it would only let you do the price changes for one day in advance (again, weekends don't count).
Dave @ Jul 6th 2007 11:39PM
lol
I think you're cool, Monarch--even if you aren't a manager.
;)
hoopty @ Jul 6th 2007 11:43PM
Just $300 less and I'm sold.
..yeah for reals right..... why such a conservative dollar amount, why not wait til its $599? will you be sold by then... wouldn't that be a sweet deal for lucky you....
deaftly @ Jul 6th 2007 11:42PM
still to much money for a high def movie player
vidGuy @ Jul 7th 2007 12:21AM
BNinjaC,
The hate is because, as a fan and owner of the Playstation and PS2, I'm completely disappointed with Sony botching everything up this generation. At $500, hell even at $400, I don't think the PS3 is a buy yet. The games aren't there, the controller sucks (I thought the Dualshock sucked too after getting used to the XBOX S controller), the motion control is horrible compared to the Wii. Anything multiplatform game seems to be better on the 360, especially with online play, which you can get as cheap as $3/month if you look around for sales.
There's really no compelling reason to buy it as a video game console, IMO. Sony is going to win with BluRay thanks to early adopters use of the PS3 as a movie player. That's about all I expect to see out of the console. 10 years of life? Maybe this thing is going to pick up and be worth owning by 2012. Of course by then I'll be looking into new consoles.
Anyway, there's something sad, funny, maybe even poetic about this whole thing. E3's emergency price drop is going to be all three, I'm sure.
Chris @ Jul 7th 2007 1:12AM
I'm on the price change team at my local Target, so I'll check the labels Monday to see if anything happens. I still don't want one, but this could be good news for Sony fans.
On another note, there seem to be a lot of Target people here. Great team cards for everybody!
socrates @ Jul 7th 2007 1:30AM
vidguy -
Whatever. I have been sitting on the fence on choosing a console for a long time now, and the PS3 is still the most enticing.
What the hell is enticing about the Wii? The numbers of people who admit they never play it anymore, and feel that the novelty has worn off...are staggering. Aside from one gamecube port and a bunch of minigame collections, what software does the Wii have to its name that seems worth getting? There is one and one title only that I think I would enjoy playing for more than an hour on the Wii - Smash Bros. Beyond that, I see a vast wasteland of cheap, throwaway games for a cheap, throwaway console.
As for the 360, I had been going back and forth between that and the PS3 for months now. But here's why I just can't take the plunge on it:
- There's a 30% failure rate
- While the 360 has a decent sized library of B or B+ titles (Saint's Row, Dead Rising), I'm only interested in exclusive A or A+ titles. And as far as I can tell, there is not a single such title on the 360 that isn't available for my PC as well. In fact, the only thing that comes close to making me want a 360 are the exclusive GTA4 expansions...that's about it.
The PS3 still gets me all the games I feel like I really want (GTA4, GH3, Rock Band, Assassin's Creed), and a number of upcoming A/A+ titles as well (God of War, FFXIII, MGS4). Plus the fact that I need wireless, and I'm not about to get a console that requires me to pay an additional 100 bucks for that.
Obviously people have different opinions. It just sounds ignorant and self-centered for you to deem Sony's situation as pathetic...I'd say the same for Wii owners. It is clear that the PS3 disappointed in many ways given the epic library of the PS2...but it disappointed a lot less than the Wii or the 360.
tobin92 @ Jul 7th 2007 3:26AM
I doubt we will see a price drop "officially"
E3 news is ALWAYS tight lipped and I doubt this would be released.
Not to mention Sony is still losing like $300 per PS3
Toshiro Takshi 13 @ Jul 7th 2007 1:39AM
All of you guys busting his ass probably couldn't even get a job at Target, so enough with the salami fight. Who cares if he is a manger, product specialist, or even the damn janitor...leave him alone.
And for those still complaining that the PS3 is overpriced, why doesn't everyone own all the consoles by now anyway...I mean is it money? How long does it take to get your shit together anyway? How about this, cut your King Dong and Twinkie intake by half...and you could probably afford one next week.
And don't tell me that it's because of lack of quality titles, or you just hate Sony. Hell, I have all three and am happy to say so. I'm a real gamer, who likes all systems and the IP's on each.
Somehow Nintendo has gotten a "get out of jail free" card, while Sony gets verbally raped on a daily basis. If I can justify buying a Wii, which I still have to force my self to even pick up the Wiimote on regular basis, then all you fanboys can do the same for the PS3, and 360.
I mean seriously, Chicken Shoot is in my Wii right now. Argument over.
vidGuy @ Jul 7th 2007 2:32AM
socrates,
I don't know, different strokes and what not. For me, the Wii is all about bringing fun back to videogames, which to be honest I've been missing for a while. The only game I can think of this last generation that had me grinning ear to ear while playing was Guitar Hero. Everything else just felt... flat. Ho hum gaming. Very few bright spots over the last five years. Desert island scenario - I wouldn't be able to name more than 6 games in the last five years worth taking.
The Wii has its faults, I'll give you that. Online is a mess and it doesn't look to be sorted out proper for a while. So far it hasn't hurt the console, for me at least. And the Wii hasn't had any exclusive AAAs yet. Twilight Princess and Super Paper Mario are great games, but the former somehow didn't have the effect on me that Ocarina and Wind Waker did and the latter is at best a throwback to classic Mario with some humor thrown in. Fun, but not a must-have. RE4 is the way FPS on the Wii should be done, at least if you are going to have stop-and-shoot, but it too was done before. Doesn't hurt the game, though, I'm playing through a third time. I love picking off Ganados with what basically works like a laser pointer I use on my lap, by my side, or wherever's comfortable.
For me, the control scheme and feel of games just WORKS. Some games are gimmicky and silly. Excite Truck was a neat idea but poorly executed. Swinging the sword in Zelda is just stupid. But for every gimmicky use there are a least five that work really well. Stiff arms in Madden. Club swings in Tiger Woods. Aiming in Zelda and RE4. Steering in SSX Blur. I could go on and on. Fact is, I'm fine sacrificing in the visuals (not HD) in order to have these great controls that make the game fun. I can't touch Madden or Tiger Woods on any other system now.
In addition, it is the only console that has brought my family together for play sessions. And I don't mean just Wii Sports, which helped, but games like Madden, which my girlfriend would never have played before the Wii, and Tiger Woods, which my dad loves, are just so much more accessible now. That may seem like a stupid 'pro' point for a console, but it is a big plus for some families and homes. I'm looking forward to introducing the family to Super Smash when Brawl finally hits.
For everything the Wii does poorly, I've got the 360. Get tired of the XBOX-ish visuals? Turn on the 360 for HD gaming. Need an online fix? 360 is connected.
Anyway...
"The numbers of people who admit they never play it anymore, and feel that the novelty has worn off...are staggering."
I don't think so. You'll have a couple here and there, and you'll probably see a lot of people posting here or other message boards pretending to own a Wii and be tired of it just because they are that "hardcore" of fanboys. But I'd be really surprised if this was happening in more than 5% of the homes with a Wii. Everyone I know that owns one still plays it constantly. Mine's been on almost everyday since launch. My 360 got a good dusting off when the Halo 3 beta was going.
dan @ Jul 7th 2007 2:45AM
Lol i work at target to (salesfloor). ahahah i love this one-
"On another note, there seem to be a lot of Target people here. Great team cards for everybody!"
I love how they try and make everyone think their special by giving great team cards when all you can get with them are products with a target logo on it, (yeah like i want to see the crap i work with while i see it in my closet).
Anyway, i havent really noticed the price change, bc they friken never put me in electronics.
Raikage @ Jul 7th 2007 3:34AM
@ vidGuy, I enjoyed your poast, keep it up.
I'm one of those people who don't play thier Wii much, I just don't have the time. BUT, that is exactly why I got the Wii! I can play for 10-20 minutes here and there and when I have some time sit down for a couple hours and play something a little deeper.
I'm really looking forward to Metroid Prime 3(Prime 1 was probably in my top 3 favorites of last gen, and the first to make me say wow) and Smash Bros.(awesome game for just messing around or being serious) to do some of the deeper gaming.
On the pick up and play side, I'm really looking forward (as of today:O) to the Katamari game, I've never had the chance to play it, I'm not sure why I sold my PS2 (stupid me, I regret it every time I play Guitar Hero:P). I do have Mario Party 8 for when some friends come over(I haven't played a MP game since 2 so enough is new to me so I like it) Also I want Guitar Hero 3 like no other...
Oh and if any of you care, an amuzing game to play in Smash Bros.
Make one person be Pikachu and have the other 3 players lust for his(her?) blood, that rat is so fast it's not funny. Person that kills the rat least is gets to be the rat. Let me know if any of you like it...
Wes @ Jul 7th 2007 3:38AM
Oh man, Oh man. If this really is a permanent price drop, I am going to feel so bad for having been an early adopter.
Right now, there are only about 5 games I own on my ps3. None of which I feel I couldn't have waited to play till after this price drop in retrospect.
Honestly though, the one reason I am glad I have a ps3 is I never owned a ps2. So I've been playing mgs3, kingdom hearts 1/2, FF10 and 10x2 and other highly rated 'classics' I couldn't get for my xbox while waiting for ff13/mgs4 to come out.
Still spend a lot of time on my xbox 360 for 20-30 hours each time a new game comes out though which happens too often as its almost x-mas with the big 360 games and some bigger ps3 games coming out and I haven't finished the legacy ps2 titles I bought :|
folonline @ Jul 7th 2007 4:39AM
socrates,
no one knows for fact what the defective rate of the xbox 360 is. granted, its getting more press than the other two console in regards to this specific issue but to say its defective rate is 30% as though it were fact is misleading.
there are many games on the 360 and each person has to determine what interests them. suffice to say, however, that since the 360 has more games, it probably has a better chance of having something for everybody's tastes.
i invite you to try the xbox 360. the B or B+ titles are actually fun and worth renting at the least. the triple A titles like Halo, Mass Effect, GTA, Bioshock that are in the pipelines are great but the triple A titles it already has like Gears of War (which is currently NOT on the PC) are pretty good too.
My two cents.
Josh @ Jul 7th 2007 8:27AM
Are the price cut PS3s the US-style or Euro-style (Emotion-free)?
Zelda @ Jul 7th 2007 8:29AM
Can ppl slating the ps3 please give their real names so I can call your morons in 12 months time! Once Heavenly Sword etc hits the shelves the ps3's going to fly off them!
$100 DOES make a big difference.
Rob @ Jul 7th 2007 8:37AM
@foloonline: "no one knows for fact what the defective rate of the xbox 360 is. granted, its getting more press than the other two console in regards to this specific issue but to say its defective rate is 30% as though it were fact is misleading."
$1 Billion at full retail price of all premium = 25%.
So at the costs MS is admitting AND NOT CAPPING, 30% is probably low.
JodyAnthony @ Jul 7th 2007 8:44AM
hahaha i hope you stick around monarch, you're funny
(not being sarcastic even though it might seem that way)
JodyAnthony @ Jul 7th 2007 8:46AM
"Aside from one gamecube port and a bunch of minigame collections, what software does the Wii have to its name that seems worth getting?"
HEY! I'll have you know there are TWO gamecube ports worth getting :P
FrankTheCrank @ Jul 7th 2007 9:01AM
Vidguy,
It's people like you that make me want to stay far away from the 360 and buy two PS3's.
If their machine wasn't so defective, I would have completed the trifecta of next gen consoles and bought the 360.
RROD means that I have a 1 in 3 chance of picking up a BAD XBOX 360 and having to go through customer support help, ala India.
Just like Bush says, "fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
Bahamut @ Jul 7th 2007 10:42AM
The reason why the Wii doesn't get slagged on as much as the PS3 is simply the cost - at less than half the cost of a PS3, you get a comparable experience in enjoyability, if not a little more better one at the current point in time. $600 is a lot to bite for a PS3 and $500 is still a pretty large bite as well, especially for what you're getting right now. I know I was really pissed at taking the plunge on the PS3 at a discounted price on ebay, and only own one for review purposes. That said, the system does grow on you somewhat since you have access to almost all of the PS2 library (if you got one of those with the PS2 hardware in it).
Bottom line is though, nobody likes Sony's format pushing, and $500 is still too much for this abuse & for a gamer looking for a gaming deal in how many quality titles are there for a console.
Curmeo @ Jul 7th 2007 10:55AM
this is great news. if Sony can maintain a $100 price difference with the 360 Premium, PS3 will start outselling 360 in Europe and possibly in the US as well.
vidGuy @ Jul 7th 2007 11:22AM
folonline, I agree, even 360's lesser games are worth looking into. I don't know where someone would rate Crackdown, but I find it at least as enjoyable as GTA.
@Zelda, you are welcome to write my screen name down. If Heavenly Sword moves anywhere near the number of consoles as Halo 3 or SSBB are going to, you can call me whatever you want.
As to the 360's failure rate: an article in the Wall Street Journal quoted Richard Doherty, an electronics analyst, as saying "The numbers suggest they're either being extremely conservative [as in, making sure they have enough money set aside to cover the costs of repairs and shipping] or it's one unit in two, three, four, or five that's going to fail". Robbie Bach, MS's president of entertainment and devices division, didn't give a percentage but said the majority aren't experiencing the problems.
@FrankTheCrank, I'm not quite sure why my enjoying one console makes you not want it. I did have a problem with red rings, and it is an issue. For me, I spent less than half an hour with the 360's mobo and I haven't had the issue in 6 months. For others with the problem, MS is taking care of them the best they can. I don't think MS should have rushed the 360 out the door without testing for these things - the WSJ article even quotes an analyst as saying beating Nintendo and Sony to market had "hidden costs". But these problems are hitting mostly older 360s. The failure rate appears to be something like 20-30% for 360s manufactured before 2007, but (unconfirmed) reports are placing the failure rate at less than 10% for newer boxes. If MS makes a couple changes to the mobo for the new systems, the failure rate will drop to next to 0.
Spitkicker @ Jul 7th 2007 11:28AM
@Socrates
Actually Assassins Creed will be on 360 as well. Apparently with better A.I., plus the rumble feature will allow you to find handholds and decide how to move through crowds.
Spitkicker @ Jul 7th 2007 11:31AM
Oh yeah....GTA4 (exclusive content), GH3 (not sure why anybody likes this game) are also on 360...and will probably be better on 360. (as almost all multiplatform games seem to be better on 360.)
Digi Smalls @ Jul 7th 2007 12:10PM
all i got out of early adopting the PS3 was a high folding@home rank. Motorstorm was good but absolutely not worth $160...
and now i have to buy a new controller with rumble whenever that comes out....
to FrankThe Crank,
what's the point of having a rocksolid and reliable console when there's so few games to play or inferior versions of them?
yes, MS admitted the RROD. and next week Sony is going to admit that the PS3 wasn't worth the price you and I paid for it.
.
AirIntake @ Jul 7th 2007 12:58PM
@FrankTheCrank
Quit lying. You weren't going to buy a 360 even if it cost $50 and could suck your dick.
kyle @ Jul 7th 2007 1:31PM
its costing tarket money to just keep the console thats not selling so they want to get the console out of it hands lol
schtoom @ Jul 8th 2007 6:44PM
To all of those pointing out that multi-platform titles run better/look better on the 360:
You are right
HOWEVER: PS3 is still very new for programmers. PS2 was also had a very steep learning curve for programmers. As companies begin to refine their PS3 specific development tools and continue to get support from Sony, they will be able to more fully use the system's power. SOON: most multi-platform games will look/run better on the PS3. It simply has more horsepower.
enjoy this advantage while you can.
flame on!