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Sony explains why UK didn't get a PS3 price cut

by Steven Williamson on 23 July 2007, 11:43

Tags: PlayStation 3, Sony Computers Entertainment Europe (NYSE:SNE), PS3

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Playstation blog, Three Speech has interviewed David Reeves, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and asked him why the UK have only been offered PS3 value packs, rather that the price cut that has been offered in the US.

The US market has received a $100 reduction in the price of the PS3, whereas UK consumers have been offered various value packs (check out the best deals on PS3). Reeves made the following statement on why the price hasn't been reduced in Europe.

If you're a consumer — and we introduced the PS3 in March for £425 or 599 Euros – let's say you bought one at the end of April and have been using it, playing Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm. We've only been on the market for three and a bit months. Our thought process was: "Wait a minute – we're actually not doing too badly – we're not selling as well as Wii or DS – but seasonality-wise, compared to, say, PS2 at the same time we launched it in 2001, we're actually doing quite well on a regional level". It's exactly the target that we sought. July is not really a gamers' month unless you get a big, big title. So we thought if we reduced the price, we'd annoy a lot of people. We did think about it, but we also felt that it wasn't doing that badly. In the US, they've been going for more than six months, so they took the decision that going down in price was a better thing to do than a value pack.

Reeves does have a point, I wouldn't be too happy if I'd just bought a PS3 for £425 only to find out that there was a substantial price drop in the first few months after the launch. Perhaps, by the end of September (6 months after the UK launch) we'll see the price cut we've all been waiting for.

The full interview is an interesting read. Reeves talks about retailer competition in the UK, whether the PS3 will be a real contender over the Christmas period and his views on grey-market imports.

Check out the full interview on: Three Speech


HEXUS Forums :: 22 Comments

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seems odd they didnt bother when they did this with ps1 and ps2
that just stinks of fish to me. like listy said, they've never cared about it before.
the only reason they're not dropping the price is because they know punters over here will still stump up the cash. The local neds will still save up their gyros to go out and buy it because its got sony written on it. As the cost of production gets lower, if price is constant, they make more money. Considering they're still losing money on each console produced. I would think that rampant cost recuperation(sp?) would have a significantly larger impact on the price model than say, “we dont want to anger people who've already bought one”.
I asked Sony why us owners who forked out a hell of a lot of money for a PS3 and extra games, controllers etc are not going to be offered some kind of compensation package, I mean 3 months and they're giving away 2 free games and an extra controller, thats more than I've got now, not very fair at all Sony, you'll do well to actually look after your customers for once, I aint giving this one up, this was the reply below: Feel free to email the guy ;-) He completely dodges my question stating that current owners should be offered the same deal:

Dear Mr */*/*/*/*/

Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding PlayStation 3 (PS3).

I apologise for the delay in my response.

I understand from your e-mail that you feel aggrieved that there has been no
price cut of PS3 in the UK, or indeed, Europe. As you are aware, Sony Computer
Entertainment Europe (SCEE) recently announced the availability of a PS3 Starter
Pack. The Starter Pack adds an extra SIXAXIS wireless controller and two First
Party games. This offer adds substantial value to the overall basic PS3 pack
offer.

SCEE has no plans at this time to reduce the price of PS3 in the UK or Europe.

I trust that this information goes someway to explaining our position on this
matter. Should you require further assistance or have any other hardware
related queries, please contact the PlayStation Careline on 08705 99 88 77,
where an agent will be happy to assist you.


Yours sincerely,


Mehul Thakrar
PlayStation Consumer Care Team
Sony Computer Entertainment UK
Careline: 08705 99 88 77 (National Rate)
E.Mail: Help @ uk. playstation. c o m
Web: h t t p : / / w w w .playstation . c o . u k
Steven W;1156984
Semi-official UK blog, Three Speech has grilled David Reeves on the lack of a PS3 price drop in the UK. The Sony Europe President believes that a price drop now would anger those gamers who have already bought the console.

And angering them would do what exactly? They already have a PS3 ;)
Oooooh, this is just like the Iraq war all over again.

First it was WMD, then terrorism, then regime change.

PS3 we have had, Exchange Rate, Value for Money, and now aggrieved current owners.

Nothing like a good lie!