Sony Offers Gamestop Managers Prizes For Pushing PS3 Units

Is this a sign of Sony getting desperate or just being nice? Sony assigns a target sales number for each Gamestop store. These numbers are rached by looking at the PS3 average sales numbers from April of this year. The store manager in each district that sells the most PS3 units above the Sony assigned goal will be recognized as the winner. The manager who wins is then awarded 20,000 points to use on the Sony/Gamestop rewards website. On top of that, the manager of the number one store in the entire company wins an additional 10,000 points.

[ITR]

Someone should tell EBGames then.

All they push in the 3 stores here is Wii, 360 and DS Lite.

I wonder what the assigned goal is? I hope it's not more then 4 a week.
Heck at Super Target we were lucky to sell 2-3 a week.

[gta_cb]

yeh there are a couple stores in my town and the main one which is called GAME only manages to sell about 1-2 a week "at most" but yesterday another store had managed to sell 3 that day.

[gta_cb]

"Is this a sign of Sony getting desperate or just being nice?"

well im not to sure, i went into town yesterday to some local retailers, and they said that the PS3 still isnt selling that well, maybe 1 or 2 a week at most in one store, but in another store they sold 3 that morning.

but then they also say it doesnt pay to be nice in the world of business... although you got to admit it would be nice to have a price cut =p

i also said about the rumours about a price cut as sony are cutting the price of there standalone BluRay players, but they said they still dont think there is going to be a price cut anytime soon.

[ITR]

A price cut now would be too soon...maybe next yr when the big games hit next fall.

I'm still waiting on rumble and GT5(which gets delayed about every 3 months).
Still not sure if one game is worth the purchase of a PS3 though.

[nice_cuppa]

its hardly fair trading is it.

hummmmmmmmmmmmm,

[ITR]

Sony does this with Target too. Basically you take quizzes online and once you prove your Sony knowledge you get points..which you can use to get t-shirts, games, PSP and etc..

I guess they figure the more you know the better you can sell.

[Stormflood]

Blocking the sales of competitors products would be illegal, but giving healthy incentives to promote your own product isn't. It happens all the time, and is beneficial to both manufacturer and store.

[darx]

I thought that the next-gen didn't start until Sony said so? Based on that I figured everybody and their brother would be lining up to get theirs.

[Amplifier]

Sir...you are "flame baiting" that is why you get a disagree, that has nothing to do with the OT

Have a good day!

@mp

[solidt12]

The problem with Gamestop is that all of the employees are biased. They are all 360 fanboys or Wii and they tell customers to buy them not the PS3. I couldn't believe how they talk everytime I go in the store. I have the 360 and the PS3 and I think they should tell people the advantages of both system and let them make the decision instead of steering them toward there favorites. Hopefully this will help stop some of the steering and they will start telling the facts, but I doubt it.

[FirstknighT]

"The problem with Gamestop is that all of the employees are biased. They are all 360 fanboys or Wii and they tell customers to buy them not the PS3"

HAHAHA, that has to be one of the stupidest excuse yet!!! HAHAHA, keep them coming sony dummies! :)

[Kleptic]

While I disagree that ALL are biased, I have to admit the local store in my area is far from friendly with choosing...

I only go in there to find really old games used for like 3 bucks...If I can't find it new anywhere, I dig around in there for a while...its a great and cheap way to find early ps2 games that I never got around to playing...

But everytime I am in there, some coffee scrote asks me what system I have...then immediately starts chanting about the friggin' Wii...I have answered three different consoles to these gentlemen...1st I said a PS3, which got me a funny look and a "you haven't played super paper mario yet then have you"...Then I said I owned a 360...I was then informed of a game I had never hear of, Gears of something, I can't remember...Then I said I owned a ps2...which he just sort of assumed...and tried to sell me a Wii, and a 360...

its not that I care..I don't pay attention to those Wiitards opinions on stuff, especially if they are attempting to interest me in that dastardly toy...nothing against Wii owners...but I really dislike that thing...

[DrunKao]

"Gears of something" that's not funni Installshield.

[Amplifier]

I would have to agree whole hearted, when I purchased my PS3 back in January ran into this very thing and I didn't ask anyone's opinion just wanted what I came in there for.

Sad thing is they in all actuality they lost a sale(returned it the next morning and bought it from Wal-Mart) and they acted like it wasn't a big deal to them, so guess money isn't either.

This promotional should help kick start a better opinion of the actual product in which they sell.

@mp

[omansteveo]

Thats the dumbest thing ive ever hear i work at a Gamestop we sell whats selling period. If somebody asks me which is better i tell them the truth. The Playstation 3 has tons of cool features and but no games. People walk in our stores for games not features...everybody is like wow at all of the features but then they realize that they would'nt use any of them. So they go with the system with all the games.

[socomnick]

lol thats a pretty dumb excuse Im sure there are sony supporters working withing the gamestop ranks.

[Grown Folks Talk]

being as i was a manager at gamestop, i have first hand knowledge that right on the application it says "Do you like Sony, or any of their products?". if you answer yes, you are automatically deemed unfit to work for the company. i wish people would quit with that BS. all of the employees are individuals. they like whatever they like. they sell what they have in stock to sell. upper management from time to time will want a push for certain items, but if an individual tries to talk you out of buying something it's because he/she is a jack@ss, not because of the company policy. half of the people are just trying to make their reserve/subscription #s and will try to BS you and say whatever they think will get you to buy something.

[toughNAME]

dude common.. thats jus fukin pathetic

[Kleptic]

yeah I am only speaking of the local store, which is the only one I ever go into...One of the dudes is cool, and doesn't hassle you...I am not saying that evyerone there tries to sell me stuff I don't want...its just obvious which system most prefer...whic sadly, at this store at least, is the Wii...and I am not expecting them to remember me or anything, but I remember them...and when i tell them the opposite of what I owned the last time, its funny to see how their attitude towards you changes entirely...

[FirstknighT]

The ps3 just isn't selling. Every month they decline in sales while the 360 still shines every month. Sony will probably do a Sega Saturn and have a "Buy the ps3 and get 3 free games"

[Why o why]

there called push strategies used by almost every company in every sector . just because you don't know about them doest mean they don't exist. the truth is out there teenager

[Nervsys]

Have Sony actually got that many?

[PS360WII]

Almost every company offers some insentive for there product. Some have a cash bonus if you get so many points/sales, some offer vactions, some offer watches, or as little as a key ring or pen. This is a tactic that is being used by more than just Sony.

[DrunKao]

I saw "Sony Offers Gamestop Managers Prizes For..." in the most recently commented on section and I thought to myself, "This i going to be sad." I was right.

[Krazy Ken]

If your product is superior than anyone in the market,
should it sell itself without needing any outside help? Just a thought...

[BIadestarX]

mmm... I went to 2 gamestop yesterday... and in both stores only the PS3 was demo. The 360 was on, but with no games on the tray... one can only view the dashboard while the PS3 had the new baseball game. I this would explain it. Those buys are trying to get those Sony points.

[PS360WII]

not even any arcade games?!

[ITR]

Samething here, EBGames had demos running on the PS3, but no demos on the 360/ Wii or PS2.

So you could only play the PS3. I asked why he said...manager said it's to boost sales.

Talk about BS.

[ps3gogetitt]

Stop doing this, it is wrong and does show some desperation on sony's part, the employees get paid to be there working and helping customers, if a customer goes there with intent on a 360 no one should try to convince them otherwise which is what's going to happen because there's extra loot to be had. Would you want someone selling you a hdtv because it get's them more commission?

[Monchichi025]

He said they still have the same PS3 in the case since December!!! And this is the Kmart in the Capital city of my state. (RI)

[omansteveo]

Dude i believe it, seriously at my work we sell maybe 1 to 2 ps3's a month...we even have 4 used ones.

[nobizlikesnowbiz]

Yea Sony's only making themselves look more desperate. Can't help their overall position in this thing.

[N4GayFanturds]

How about giving CONSUMERS an incentive to buy the PS3 by getting MORE games (and make sure their good) and at least package a free game or two for free if you're not gonna come down in price???!!

[darkvenom]

at all the little x-bots attacking Sony!.....So what's new, get a life little boys, what makes you think Micosoft ,and Nintendo aren't doing the same thing?where i work at we always get a rep checking on how their product is selling.,and making sure we push it first above all others.

[RAM MAGNUMS]

That Gamestop employees love their job and only tell customers the truth. If I worked at Gamestop I would have a hard time sleeping at night knowing I just bs ed someone into buying a ps3. I want my customers to have fun and remember me when they want to buy their next game or accesorie. With the ps3 I would have to tell the customer dont worry you are bored now but be patient in 2 years ps3 gonna be the best again. Yeah right go suck on a lemon sony. lol.

[tehcellownu]

at my eb and gamestop here the employees is more of xbox fanboys..sometiems they really show it..and i jus laugh in front of their face.because they sometimes tell stright up lies too about the ps3 or the wii...now that sony is givin out rewards i bet you their mood is goin to change...

[Anything but Cute]

It's not right for Gamestop/Eb games employees to go around telling people that PS3 and XBOX 360 are the same thing, just XBOX 360 is cheaper. So if you go to Gamestop and they say good things about PS3, it could lead to more potential buyers.

[Krazy Ken]

"It's not right for Gamestop/Eb games employees to go around telling people that PS3 and XBOX 360 are the same thing, just XBOX 360 is cheaper."

This might sound like a broken record.
1) Parents are buying a "Video Games" system for their
kids to play GAMES. With the same title for
multiplatform, why would they want to spend extra $$
to have the same experience as the lesser console?
2) Hopefully, PS3 will come out with several WOW games
(maybe Lair?)that the 360 is unable to achieved. As
of right now, I do not see anything that stands out.

[THE_JUDGE]

companies have incentive plans. Microslop has the same thing!!! It's a website that "educates" people about there products and gives them free stuff for it. If you don't believe me pm me and I will give you a link. I would post it here but I don't want to have everyone supporting microsoft like that.

[ERommel]

LMAO. This is a joke I hope. Either way Sony comes out ahead they sell more units or the points are used at their store. I dont think it's desperation at all. I think it's an attempt at PR with little or no loss. Nothing is really coming out of their pocket. It's like Gamestop itself. When you trade in a system for store credit and buy something the store comes out way ahead. They got your money, and your old stuff and all you got was what you were going to buy anyways. Plus they make money on what you sold them. Useful yes, good deal depends, in the end does the customer come out ahead.....doubtful.

[Saint Sony]

I hump your leg if you hump mine. Sad?.. dunno, desperate at least.

[calderra]

Here's a wonderful thing to consider...
You walk into a Gamestop. Wii is the top seller, and everyone- employees and customers- rave about it. 360 is close behind, in sales and talk. PS3 is a distant third in all categories. PS3 is so far behind, this store and stores like it have to have special incentive programs to get employees to talk about it.

Do you blame this on employee bias, or on the system itself for not appealing to the public?

[Figboy]

there is *HUGE bias at most of the stores near my home.

the *TWO Best Buys near my house always have the PS3 demo stations turned off. ALWAYS. the Wii and 360 stations are always rearing to go.

the EB/Gamestop near my house also has every salesperson trying to sell me a Wii or 360, and give me and my roommates a disgusted look when we say we own a PS3, and they call it a crap system with no games (i guess they've never played Resistance, Motorstorm, VF5, or even Calling All Cars, then).

the EB at the Westside Pavillion seems like it was run by nothing but Nintendo fanboys, as all they try to push is the DS and Wii, and if you want a more graphically powerful system, the 360.

this one guy actually bought a PS3, despite the clerks insistance he get a 360, because he played the Motorstorm demo, and found it very, very fun. he had heard that there were no fun games on the PS3, so he had been holding out.

i told him that the 360 was a very good system, and definitely worth it if you want a solid games console, but if you were the type of gamer that enjoys games, movies, and some of everything else, then the PS3 is for you. it has a Blu Ray drive built in, it has HDMI, it has built in Wi Fi, it has free online gaming, it has a bigger hard drive (this was before the Elite came out), it's a reliable piece of hardware, and the games are coming.

he ultimately bought a PS3.

that's not a knock against the 360. far from it. but the guy based his buying decision off of his own personal preference, and he said he'd get a 360 later.

why people get $hit on for having different tastes is beyond me.

besides some hardware issues, the 360 is a great gaming console. besides some software issues, the PS3 is a great gaming console. i highly recommend them both, but it ultimately boils down to the type of gaming experience you like.

i love action/adventure games and rpgs. the 360 doesn't have a strong showing of those this year (outside of Mass Effect and Fable; Blue Dragon doesn't interest me. neither does Lost Odyssey and Eternal Sonata), but the PS3 does (Heavenly Sword, Lair, Folklore, MGS4, Ratchet and Clank Future, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune).

i'm not a big fan of shooters (i enjoy them, but i don't religiously play them), and i didn't really like Gears of War at all (i think Resistance is more fun, and controls better, oddly enough), and the 360 is *STILL primarily a shooter house, so it's no surprise that if you love shooters (and it seems apparent that shooters are *HUGE here in the states), the 360 is for you.

if you like action/adventure games, rpgs, and movies, then the PS3 is for you.

in either case, i don't blame Sony for offering incentives to stores to push their console, as i've seen salesfolk at EB and Gamestop come close to practically *REFUSING to sell a PS3 to a consumer that actually *WANTS one and is willing to part with $600 big ones. it's ridiculous. it's like they go all out of their way to keep you from getting the console you want.

fanboyism is *EVERYWHERE it seems.

[Lord Anubis]

It did wonders for Microsoft.