Sony’s Play Station III™ – Don’t Have It? Don’t Worry

At midnight all over the United States people went crazy. For days they had parked themselves outside of stores, on sidewalks, in tent cities for the opportunity to be the first to purchase the new Sony Play Station™. And at midnight the gates were opened and riots ensued, people were trampled and run over, and at least one young man was shot. Was it worth the price? Well some of you talk about the money making opportunities – on-line auctions are news stories with bids for sales exceeding $3000.00 and buy-now’s being listed as much as $8,000.00 for a product that can be bought off the shelf for $500.00. What is the matter with everyone? Can you not wait – do you really have to have it today? Or next week? What would happen if you weren’t actually able to buy it until next year? Would your whole world come crashing down around you? Would you starve to death, die from some horrible disease; lose your job, your family, your home? Let’s get some perspective here, people!!!

And for Sony™, and the retail outlets, where is your responsibility? Ever since the sugar shortage way back when, the marketing geniuses have discovered a way to sell product, no matter what the product, by creating a false shortage. I can remember the rush to grocery stores to buy sugar, because once it was gone, well you might never be able to get sugar again or at least at a reasonable price. And then a miracle happened – sugar became available once the prices rose and the panic ceased. In the meantime, people were fighting in the aisles over a bag of sugar. Then it was the gas shortages – not the most recent one, but back in the 70’s when you had to get gas only on the day designated by the numbers of your license plate. Again fights broke out, panic ensued and then after the prices rose they fell back a “little, little bit” (but never back down to the price before the shortage) so everyone felt relieved and blessed that prices has fallen and gas was plentiful again. Sound familiar. And the Cabbage Patch™ dolls, Tickle Me Elmo™ and so on and so on. Think about it – every year just before Christmas there is one or more “got to have” toy that is in short supply. There have been television shows and movies made about the ventures to capture the “last one”. Only it’s not so funny in real life. People are hurt, spend money they have no business spending, and children’s hearts are broken because they didn’t get this latest hyped toy. I know business is business and we all strive to make money, but where is your social responsibility in all this?

Sony™ if you really are going to release an additional 750,000 units before year end as all the news broadcasts are reporting, then why push the buttons for this panic? For a little “free advertising” thru the hype that only lasts a day or two at the most? If you truly had a product worth the splash then you wouldn’t have to resort to cheap tactics. And the retail outlets, how can you justify these riot prone events just to make a few sales which you would have made anyways. I don’t know who is fooled more by the marketing schemes – the stores or the consumer. You are in the business of selling to the individual, of finding ways to make shopping satisfying to your customers, you should know better.

And for you consumers – stand up and don’t be duped by these marketing schemes. And while we are at it – how about not spending every cent we have on the newest, greatest gadget. They all go down in price as soon as the next one makes the scene – who’s the fool the guy who waits and saves money or the one who has to be the first on the block and pays many times over?