Reserve your PS3 at CompUSA now!
by Ed Stasick 
{ Nov 12th 2006 at 1:30PM }
Today's Sunday ads feature this beauty from the fine folks at CompUSA. Buy a big-ass Sony TV and we will allow you to purchase a PS3. It's capitalism at its best, but it doesn't really favor the fanboy. Of course, you could auction off the PS3 to pay for the TV and consider this your ticket to a free (or nearly free) HDTV. Or you could just return the TV, claiming that it wasn't your cup of tea. Anyone going to take advantage of this offer?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Carl @ Nov 12th 2006 1:47PM
does any one know if you could really just return the tv, there could be restrictions on that
The1 @ Nov 12th 2006 2:37PM
How, no one can stop you from returning a product.
Derek @ Nov 12th 2006 3:54PM
I just got back from the Brookfield, WI CompUSA. They said, while buying a TV does give you a reserved PS3, it may not be from the first shipment on Friday. They "do not know how many they will receive."
You can return the TV, but you loose the reservation. Dunno what happens if you return after you have the PS3. Nothing, I'm assuming. I want to call again tomorrow to confirm with a different manager, but this sounds like I'm being jerked around or its a lame ad.
Anonymous @ Nov 12th 2006 9:03PM
I work at a CompUSA, I wont say which so I don’t get in trouble buy here is how it works. CompUSA corporate is taking all the PS3 Sony is shipping to CompUSA and sticking them in one central distribution hub, we call it a cross dock, and when Nov. 17th comes around this dock will send out however many PS3's a store needs to fulfill the reservations. From what I have heard even after the launch CompUSA has a deal with Sony that CompUSA will only be selling the PS3 along with a 40inch (or bigger) HDTV as a bundle. This bundle strictly comments that if the TV is returned the PS3 will be returned with it or a return will not be possible. Sony will be monitoring and auditing this closely. Apparently this was a marketing plan from CompUSA and Sony because all of our ads show Sony TVs with the PS3 and we are pushing the Sony TVs more than any other TV when selling PS3s and TVs. The disclaimer says that this is sold as a bundle and must be returned as a bundle.
Derek @ Nov 12th 2006 11:22PM
Thanks for the inside info. None of these details are in the adverstisement and it seems the red shirt I talked to today has no clue whats going on. Without explicitly saying so in the ad, I don't know how they are going to pull that off though.
patrick @ Nov 13th 2006 12:39AM
well at least we know now how sony plans on making money on the ps3.
John @ Nov 13th 2006 12:21PM
I just wanted to get a free HDTV and sell the PS3 on ebay but the three CompUSA stores in my area told me that they sold out within 10 minutes of opening today. Too bad I didn't see this yesterday!
Sam @ Nov 13th 2006 12:29PM
I just called four CompUSA's in my area. Two of them said they sold out in 10 minutes from opening (no more TVs). One lady didn't know what she was talking about, but she said that they are still taking the preorders and still have the TVs in stock. The final lady I talked to said that they have a couple TVs left, and are taking preorders, but there is no guarantee on when the PS3 will come in... it will probably be after Christmas. She also said that they will not be putting them "in-store", they will call you and hold it for 48 hours for you to come pick it up.
So, anonymous CompUSA worker... do you know anything about when they will go out? If I go pick up a TV and preorder today, am I going to get a call on Friday to come get my PS3?
Anonymous @ Nov 13th 2006 9:38PM
Mr. Anonymous red shirt at your service. From the buzz around work we are unaware of how many PS3s Compusa as a whole will be recieving but from all the emails I have recieved and the talk around the office it looks like on Friday all the preorders done so far will be filled with actual PS3s. It is true that we are holding those PS3s for 48 hours and after that 48th hour they are shipped back to the cross dock. Most CompUSA stores do not have a large selection of TVs available for purchase except stores that were formally CompUSA Goodguys MegaStores like Glendale, Rancho Cucamonga and Long Beach, in the southern california area, check local listings for these combo stores, our website still states they are combo stores and these stores get priority on TV shippments and have a huge selection of TVs. Remember you can buy ANY TV at CompUSA as long as it is HDTV and 40inch+ you get to prebook the PS3 for friday. Any other questions just post em :)
Anthony @ Nov 14th 2006 4:16AM
My friend and I just bought two tv's from compusa and we are going to get the ps3s on friday. If we dont we can take the tvs back and that will be that. I just hope we dont get stuck with a cheap 20gb unit. Hopefully they will have enough supply us. We were 4th and 5th to buy a tv since start of the ad.
Chris @ Nov 14th 2006 5:24PM
I went to the Woodland Hills store and the man there had no idea about the unit availability on the 17th but he did say there will be a 15% restocking fee for any returned TV's. That was kinda the deal breaker for me. Mr. Anonymous red shirt...do you know if CompUSA can still fulfill all the reservations on the 17th?
Anonymous @ Nov 14th 2006 10:21PM
Still a go for PS3s on Friday, all reservations will be met as far as I know!
Dan @ Nov 17th 2006 2:06AM
I got a TV on Monday and went in on Thursday night to scope things out. The manager said that only 1 of 10 playstations were "working" making delivery extremely limited. I was #2 on list. Any news about these "broken" playstations?
Anthony @ Nov 17th 2006 8:50PM
Screw Compusa. LIke I said my friend and I bought two tvs on Monday and today at 10am when the store opened, they said they had no PS3s delivered at their store. WHat kind of garbage is that. Every other store in North america got atleast one and several compusas got none. They said they might get them in by monday. Well i think it will be more likely when the second shipment comes around and thats if sony decides to give them any. Talk about bad busines ethics. DONT EVER SHOP AT COMPUSA.................
Especially the one in long beach on pch, yeah im putting them out there like that. Maybe they should keep their end of the deal.
Jerry @ Nov 20th 2006 11:34AM
First one to buy the "bundle" at COMPUSA-Columbus on Sawmill Rd. No PS3 for me-yet. When I called, the first person said that they had received 3 and sold them. When I talked to a manager, he said that they received "zero". You can make your own evaluation.
rufus @ Nov 20th 2006 8:06PM
i bought the TV/PS3 bundle in atlanta and the store is telling me they have not received any yet and don't know when they will. i normally like CompUSA, but this experience is making me not want to say kind words.....anybody know if CompUSA is doing anything to resolve this problem? (aren't there legal issues with "truth in advertising" or should i say lack there of?)
Daniel @ Nov 20th 2006 9:04PM
Same with me. I was 2nd on list in cleveland, oh. The manager said they didn't get any and they'd call me when they came in. This is worse that just a joke. This is plain out false advertising. I think CompUSA is looking for a class action law suit.
I GOT Mine @ Nov 20th 2006 10:44PM
I bought my TV the Sunday before the PS3 came out and theycalled me on the launch day to let me know I was the only one to get the PS3. When i picked it up I asked one of the workers if I could return my tv and he said i would have to return my PS3 as well. I then took my tv to another CompUSA and they let me eturn it without returning my PS3. So to make a long story short, got my PS3 and took my tv back. TAKE THAT COMPUSA, you cant screw everybody!!! :}
rufus @ Dec 4th 2006 10:41PM
Well, it's now December 4th and i still don't have my PS3 from Compusa....they keep telling me they are getting a few in randomly and i should be next but now they won't return my calls AND no PS3.....anybody actually get their PS3 from Compusa or do i smell a lawsuit? they can't legally do this can they? sony is shipping weekly to many stores (albeit 1-3 units) so why isn't compusa getting their presale ones?