PS3 UK sales rocket... then plummet
Official sales monitor charts console's curved trajectory
Sony's PlayStation 3 has been on a rollercoaster ride here during the past two weeks, rising to an incredible peak - then plunging rapidly back toward the ground. At least, that's what the next-gen consoles sales figures have done.
The PS3 arrived here on 23 March. During its first weekend on sale, some 600,000 consoles were shifted across Europe, netting Sony €400m once games and accessory sales were factored in too.
In the UK, the console broke the launch weekend sales record, with 165,000 PS3s being sold, according to local retail sales monitor ChartTrack. That compares to the 105,000 Wiis and 50,000 Xbox 360s Nintendo and Microsoft shifted in their own launch weekends.
Move forward to week two, however, and PS3 sales plunged 82 per cent, ChartTrack admitted, according to a GamesIndustry.biz report. The company wouldn't say how many units had been shifted, and would have preferred not to have revealed the launch figure had not public clamour demanded it.
But it's not hard to estimate the number: 29,700, based on ChartTrack's two figures.
To what extent that's due to limited availability is unknown. But anecdotal evidence garnered from Register Hardware readers around Europe suggests at least some stores had stock once the initial fanboy furore had passed.
That leaves us with price. As we revealed last week, the UK is one of the most expensive places to buy a PS3 - though we should point out that New Zealanders and Irish residents are being hit harder than the Brits on this. The UK price is almost double what folk in Hong Kong pay, a differential that can't be explained by freight, import duty and sales taxes alone.
And this despite the fact that there are fewer components in the European PS3 than in the units sent to Japan and the US.
Sony Europe may have to address its new console's pricing sooner than it may have planned.
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COMMENTS
No need to apologise for Sony
I have to chuckle at the inevitable Sony apologists that appear when such articles as this are made public. Why is there any need to make excuses for a huge international conglomerate? Especially when they are abusing the good nature of the British with their [Sony's] disdainful treatment of our market!
There is no escaping it - the Sony PS3 is over-priced and under-specified in comparison to its home and American market. Why exactly is that? Sony cannot offer any reasonable explanation, and it has already been pointed out that the cost of getting a PS3 into a shop does not in any way justify the huge cost difference (100% more than the Hong Kong buyer!). No, this is pure corporate greed in an attempt to soak what is percieved to be one of the richest economies in the world - the UK.
But Sony are due to catch a bit of a cold on the PS3 this time. The buying British public seem to have offered an entirely justified snub to the PS3 for all of the reasons that are written about. We care not about Blue Ray, we care not that Sony want it to be a "Home Entertainment System" - in the PS3 we simply want a next generation games console. When it is marketed as something else, and at a huge premium, we vote with out feet and wallets. Sony can refuse to listen at its peril.
Of course, Sony is absolutely right, I can afford a PS3, additional controller, HDMI cable and all of the other stuff that is not in the box. But, and this is the crux of the matter, I don't want to afford it. Not when I know my Hong Kong, American and Japanese cousins are getting way more for way less capital outlay. Get that Sony? I don't want to!
The Reason Why the UK PS3 Costs 425 pound
I think the reason why the ps3 is costing the uk gamer alot it mainly due to the goverment they tax almost everything that is Imported to the UK.
Sony maybe charging alot for the console but i believe that if the UK Goverment didn't tax products like the ps3 then it probably be 60 pound if not more cheaper.
Sony are only charging this amount to make up for the loss in tax payouts
Think First
It's incredible, some of the comments lambasting Sony for the pricing. The fact is the RRP of £425 has been driven by retailers desire to have bigger margins on the console. So how one can lambast Sony for that is beyond me.
Comments like "Maybe this will teach Sony a lesson... "Treasure Island" is loosing its sheen! £425 for a console and £50 retail for game " border on fanboy delusions.
Check the facts. First party games are £40 (£10 less the Microsft 1st party games).
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