CE-Oh no he didn't! Part XXIV - Jack Tretton wants to give you $1,200

via engadget

Electronic Gaming Monthly, in an interview with Sony's Jack Tretton in early January, mentioned the recent availability of his company's console: "...it seemed like about 50 percent of the people in line were there to make a quick buck on eBay. And now we're seeing a lot more units on store shelves." Jack seemed a tad surprised by this, but he put his money where his mouth is: "If you can find a PS3 anywhere in North America that's been on shelves for more than five minutes, I'll give you 1,200 bucks for it. I can get any retail buyer on the phone with you and get them to verify that there's not a single retail location in America where there's a PlayStation 3 on the shelf for sale. They've all been sold in a matter of minutes." After EGM let Tretton know they had indeed phoned 18 stores and found half of them had PS3s in stock, some stores with as many as 20 consoles, Jack held firm "if only nine of the 18 stores you contacted had supplies, that seems to be a clear indication that sales continue to be outstanding." So there you have it, Jack's not backing down. We're guessing our check is already in the mail.

Hello:

Sony's corporate employees are going nuts this time. Tretton definately has, and I mean it, balls to say the PS3 is selling so well that the stock vanished in a matter of minutes. I always go around different stores that sells the console on my local area in Puerto Rico and found what you can expect: Unsold stock of PS3.

Apparently they're living on lies about the PS3 performance. I always look for games and consoles for hours at least a couple of days a week. Still you can see the same stock.

If he really wants to become poor, this is the chance of getting the easiest, and legal, money you will ever make quickly.

Has this dumbass been to WalMart lately?

Last time I went there were PS3's available and no Wii's to be found.

So how can I contact him to get my cash? Every single EB Games and Future Shop/Best Buy ( and every other electronics retailer ) in my city ( Edmonton, Alberta Canada ) has had consoles since launch on shelfs and not moving. Now is it $1200.00 total or per console found? Because by my calculations, Sony should be cutting me a check for a nice sum. If anyone finds a way to contact him, let me know.

Even if the PS3 wasn't available just about everywhere in the United States, I think Sony can't afford $1200 with all the money they're losing.

i don't get why Sony still isn't gonna come down their high horses and admit that they are not about to win the console wars anytime soon. yes the PS3 has all the performance, speed and power you can ask for but can devs even harness that if they have trouble programming for the thing? this is true. case and point oblivion and the subsequent dropping of the supposed "inclusion of expansion packs" that you normally had to pay for in the 360 version. and really, the PS3 is selling like hotcakes? come on, most of the stores i went to have PS3's in stock in solid numbers. which means it isn't selling by the minute at all. having one good (i'd say average) game won't sell systems, granted the 360 has a bunch of good / average games but it has more and it has gears and halo 3 eventually and the so-called exclusive PS3 games coming out to the 360 anyways. i feel sad for the PS3, i've always loved Sony but i think this time they outdid themselves and they are spinning out of control.

Alright, so I contacted $ony and told them I have photos ( of 12 PS3's sitting on a shelf not moving ) and video ( a video of about 15 mins without a single one being sold ) and expected a response back about how I can send the files to them. I just received this email from them.


Hello,

Thank you for writing us.

We apologize for any confusion and thank you for your inquiry.

We are able to confirm that the comment in question was directed at the editor of Electronic Gaming
Monthly (EGM) and was merely said to demonstrate that the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment
systems were selling out during the November launch time. It was not a challenge to the general
consumer.

Additionally, we value your input and appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Please rest
assured that we will convey your feedback to Sony Computer Entertainment America's ("SCEA")
appropriate management. Again, we apologize for any confusion.

If you have further questions regarding this message, please refer to your email case
number:4246728.

Joseph
Multimedia Specialist
Sony Computer Entertainment America
Consumer Services Department


Now, I would like to know exactly where in the article it states that it was only for the EGM people he spoke with? Seems to me that Jack is writing checks his @$$ cant cash.

Saw one in toys R Us last saturday when I went to pick up a wii I had on reserve. Took a pick to patronize a friend who has been lookin for one ( doesn't trust online purchasing). I wish a CEO would say something like that and mean it; I would pull a stunt like going up and down the east coast armed with a camera and make some nice change for the effort:)