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[The Take Out Bandit]

Looking at the $850 Xbox2 bundles on Wal-Mart makes me a bit concerned about how retailers are going to rape consumers when the PS3 is launched.

I can understand how bundles benefit game publishers, but do you think it's possible Sony will discourage this behavior, by perhaps limiting PS3 distribution the retailers that are bending consumers over the barrel like this?

I seem to recall a company putting their foot down about bundles in the past.

Any thoughts?

 

[MrDaravon]

Looking at the $850 Xbox2 bundles on Wal-Mart makes me a bit concerned about how retailers are going to rape consumers when the PS3 is launched.

I can understand how bundles benefit game publishers, but do you think it's possible Sony will discourage this behavior, by perhaps limiting PS3 distribution the retailers that are bending consumers over the barrel like this?

Hahahahahahaha....no.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

The Walmart bundle just sold out.

 

[Odysseus]

Why should Sony or Microsoft act to limit it? As long as people are willing to pay and every unit gets sold, more power to them. After all, every piece of software sold is another bit of royalty revenue for the hardware manufacturers.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

The Walmart bundle just sold out.

Took long enough.

 

[bantha]

but do you think it's possible Sony will discourage this behavior

You do realize that Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are the reason that retailers do it, right?

Retail buyers are forced into buying a certain amount of software and accessories in order to get allocation of new systems. It's called profit leveraging. Sony started it in the mid 90's with Circuit City and realized they could do it to everyone with the PS2. Retailers sell the bundles because otherwise they would be stuck with a crapload of stuff they couldn't otherwise unload.

Now some retailers have gone too far...I have seen at least 3 adding a hi-def TV with their 360's.

 

[D3VI0US]

Given the 360's success it's only gonna be worse especially with the PS3 hype frenzy which could easily top 360's cause it will be done with class. I'm gonna preorder as many as I can, me FTW!

EDIT: Actually it's preorders that got fucked over too, I think if business are going to take preorders they are obligated to honor them.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

Yeah, it's gonna friggin' suck.

I'm hoping I can resist the Siren's call of the PS3. At least for 9-12 months.

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

Best you can do is have pre-orders all over the place for added insurance.

 

[amodf]

Some retailers are recognized by their no-questions-asked return policies. Some of these retailers also sell things like other video games, groceries, rifles, all sorts of things. I'M JUST SAYIN'.

I dumped the copy of Gun I was required to buy as soon as it came in the mail. Got something else. Bundles be damned!

 

[bjork]

Yeah, it's gonna friggin' suck.

I'm hoping I can resist the Siren's call of the PS3. At least for 9-12 months.

You and me both, my Gackt-loving road dawg.

a price drop and a non-bundle system will make it a worthwhile purchase, but not before then.

 

[Mr_Furious]

The only one that can "discourage" bundles is the consumer and that's only if he/she doesn't buy one.

...but then we wake up realizing the sad truth. Will power is nonexistent during these trying times

I practiced patience to score a bundleless system but I'm in the minority.

 

[D3VI0US]

Interesting thing about PS3 bundles is if they are just as outrageous 360 could clean up without the fat.

 

[Mac the KNife]

You and me both, my Gackt-loving road dawg.

a price drop and a non-bundle system will make it a worthwhile purchase, but not before then.

The good games will be out by then. And maybe some Greatest Hits. That helps a little.