Gamestop starts (and stops) PS3 preorders tomorrow
by Ed Stasick 
{ Oct 9th 2006 at 9:24PM }
Can you feel the excitement? If you can, it probably means that you are a GameStop employee who is about to take $100 from your loyal customers while guaranteeing them nothing in return.
That's right, you can plunk down $100 hard earned dollars (or trade-in credit) tomorrow and show up on November 17th and then walk away with nothing besides uncontrollable rage. This "limited" preorder program has been put into place because of an "extremely limited" supply of PS3s on launch day. So, how bad is the supply problem? According to GameSpot, "Most stores will receive a preorder allocation of eight units, while a few select stores will receive 16. In either case, employee purchases will be restricted to a total of no more than two systems per store."
Online preorder plans will be revealed later. Undoubtedly -- if history is any clue -- the online preorders will be bundle packages priced at more than $1000. Thanks, but no thanks, GameStop. I think I'll take my chances in front of Best Buy.
[Via GameSpot]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mgs0lid @ Oct 9th 2006 9:55PM
so what time are all of you going to preorder your ps3! im thinking like 2 hours early
Flux @ Oct 9th 2006 10:43PM
I love that companies can now offer pre-orders with no guarantee that you will actually recieve the item on launch day. The *only* reason that a pre-order is useful to a consumer is if it lets you bypass the wait until you recieve your console. Now, you're just offering to let gamestop do what they want with your money for a month or two (or six, we'll see) with no interest.
Hell, I'll get you all PS3's as soon as I can too, and I'll only charge $75 a console! What a deal!
michae2414 @ Oct 9th 2006 10:48PM
Hey, that picture is of a Gamestop I visit. Awesome.
Anyway, PS3 pre-orderng is only gonna last for a few minutes (at best) at each GameStop and EB location before they're all filled, you can bet. I'd say you're better off camping outside a Best Buy store at launch instead of pre-ordering from Gamestop at this point.
Pat @ Oct 9th 2006 11:56PM
So wait-- You preorder the system and then they don't have to give it to you? I don't understand.. Can someonee explain?
Kris @ Oct 10th 2006 12:15AM
4 - Basically, they promise that whenever they get 8-16 systems, you will have one reserved just for you. However that time may not be launch date.
Carnie @ Oct 10th 2006 2:06AM
5. I think it is redilcus(sp) for the fact that gamestop is dropping the ball...if you ask me they should have said ....preorder....hell no...go with best buy...
I would have had more respect for them if they said that...but you have to see it like this....they are doing it like this because of what happened with the 360 launch....
Nice going with keeping up your rep gamestop....
Pat @ Oct 10th 2006 2:27AM
Hopefully someone see's this soon.
5- So say I get #1. They MUST be getting 1 in on launch day, no? If they do, that means I am guarenteed a system?
Thanks in advance.
evil @ Oct 10th 2006 8:09AM
ive got my pre-order...
Foppe @ Oct 10th 2006 9:58AM
This is what will happen. Gamestop, EB and all others will take preorders as long as the preorderers gives them 100$++. When the PS3 is released, they will keep all 8-16 systems that they have and sell them on ebay.
I know that they are only allowed to take 2 per store, but the truth is that they will sell at least 90% of all systems on ebay, and lie to the preorderers saying that they are all sold out.
Not only do they earn ca$h on ebay, they also earn interest on that 100$ they took from you.
You WILL get a PS3 eventually, probably after Christmas.
What I want to know is how many systems that´s sold to Europeans on ebay.
Jeff @ Oct 10th 2006 10:35AM
I Just got two preorders. I Love Ebay.
TheNatural @ Oct 10th 2006 10:35AM
I went down to my local EB @ exactly 10am and they were all sold out. Called every EB/Gamestop in the state of florida by 10:10 and they were all sold out. People actually CAMPED THE DAMN PREORDER WTF!!
Bob @ Oct 10th 2006 11:08AM
Well...i went to my local gamestop and around 745 and there were only two people waiting. The store only had 6 for consumers, and I was number 3. Anybody interested in buying it from me?
Ruronny @ Oct 13th 2006 6:58PM
The only reason they are saying "you might not get one" is because of the 360 disaster. I was working at an EB the day of launch. We had taken 70 reservations and recieved 10 systems. It's no because the company sucks, it's because Microsoft ran into unexpected delays. The numbers GameStop is providing are numbers based on what Sony has said will be available to the company. If Sony goes back on their word (which is likely) then of course GameStop won't have the systems. GameStop is just covering it's tracks for future, and likely, lawsuits that would be filed if they didn't give that disclaimer. If Sony delivers, I am sure everyone that ordered one will get it.
Pat @ Oct 10th 2006 12:23PM
THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN:
First of all, this post is WRONG. You are GUARENTEED a system if you are one of the 16(or 8) people to preorder a system. I was there and I've known the salesperson for 7 years that she has worked there and she is NOT going to do some stupid bullshit by selling them on EBay. That is a JOKE. If you preorder it today, you WILL have one on the release date.
Joe Mama @ Oct 10th 2006 4:23PM
I dunno, it seemed like a pretty fair way for them to do it. But you're always gonna have the whining contingent, n'est ce pas?
I snagged #8 in Tucson :)
Hooray beer!