PS3 Experience
Well I attempted to get a Playstation 3 at launch, but no dice. This all started a few weeks ago when after doing some research I realized the absolute potential that these units had. The potential to sell like CRAZY on eBay. I really could care less about console gaming, and am definately not willing to spend hundreds of dollars to sit in front of a TV. Ok so maybe I do enjoy the occaisonal game, but not enough to warrent buying a system for myself.
Then here comes the PS3. Can you believe that these systems sell for $660? Holy moly! I'm fairly certain that kids these days cannot even come close to earning that kind of money mowing lawns or delivering papers. So who is the target demographic? ME! That's right, the Nintendo generation has matured into consumer whores, and we LOVE our stuff. I love to buy stuff too, but these days it hasn't been techy. I know people want these things, I know there is a huge supply shortage, and I know rich people will pay ludacrous amounts of money for 'em. Here in starts my adventure.
After calling around many stores on the Wednesday before launch, I got a good idea of how many each store had recieved. Brian also did some recon work, and talked to a delivery guy...So we knew where they were going. Thursday morning I went to Futureshop in Langford to get a rundown from their manager. I couldn't find 'em, so I talked to the nearest cashier. She wasn't entirely all that useful but mentioned that they were definately getting less than 20. I figure, 10-15 would be a good number, considering Futureshop nationwide was allocated 1500 units. After some quick counting and poking around the FS website, there were 121 locations
So my 10-15 estimate was bang on.
On my way out of the store I see 6 kids already outside waiting in the PS3 line. Appearently those nuts were there all night already. Gross.
I then boogied down to London Drugs and talked to the techs there. They hadn't got their shipment in yet, but figured they would get 4. The London Drugs on Quadra got that #, so this seemed accurate. Now what to do? Well I did as my heart said and drove to UVic to work on assignments
Later that night I discovered that Futureshop was posting an exact # of units. My drive down there right at closing proved they only had 10 units. Ok crap'en cakes - there are 12 people already staked out for the night! Well I decided there is no sense staying over night there. I went down to London Drugs, they got 5. Oh MAN there were already 8 people outside. Didn't look like all of them were staying over night, but 5 of them sure did. So poop, I guess my only chance of getting one would be to try costco. Appearently in the states they each got a few, so why not. I drove to costco to find NOBODY there! Wow, things were looking up...but if there was nobody there by 11pm, why would there be anybody there at 6am?
So alarm goes off at 6 am and I get my ass down to FS for opening at 8. I stand inline as "guy # 11". I was hoping so bad that somebody's credit card didn't go through. Unfortunately I was in a lineup of nerds with excellent credit.
London drugs opened at 9, so I attempted the same thing. Nope...Although 1 guy offered to sell me his "voucher" for a couple hundred bucks. I could've done that, but then again my capitalist ebay plan would have 200 bucks on the line. Nah, I drive a 500 dollar beater for a reason.
Last stop, Costco. I get there and some dude in a truck had pulled right in front of the main doors. So I'm guy # 2! WOOT, heck yeah I'm going to get one! So i sit there from about 8:40 ish to just before 10...Then some costco employee comes out
"What are you guys doing?"
"We WANTS PLAYSTATIONS!!"
"We don't have any"
Dammit.
So I go home, tail between my legs and crawl back in bed.
Maybe I should try and get a Wii...
Then here comes the PS3. Can you believe that these systems sell for $660? Holy moly! I'm fairly certain that kids these days cannot even come close to earning that kind of money mowing lawns or delivering papers. So who is the target demographic? ME! That's right, the Nintendo generation has matured into consumer whores, and we LOVE our stuff. I love to buy stuff too, but these days it hasn't been techy. I know people want these things, I know there is a huge supply shortage, and I know rich people will pay ludacrous amounts of money for 'em. Here in starts my adventure.
After calling around many stores on the Wednesday before launch, I got a good idea of how many each store had recieved. Brian also did some recon work, and talked to a delivery guy...So we knew where they were going. Thursday morning I went to Futureshop in Langford to get a rundown from their manager. I couldn't find 'em, so I talked to the nearest cashier. She wasn't entirely all that useful but mentioned that they were definately getting less than 20. I figure, 10-15 would be a good number, considering Futureshop nationwide was allocated 1500 units. After some quick counting and poking around the FS website, there were 121 locations
So my 10-15 estimate was bang on. On my way out of the store I see 6 kids already outside waiting in the PS3 line. Appearently those nuts were there all night already. Gross.
I then boogied down to London Drugs and talked to the techs there. They hadn't got their shipment in yet, but figured they would get 4. The London Drugs on Quadra got that #, so this seemed accurate. Now what to do? Well I did as my heart said and drove to UVic to work on assignments
Later that night I discovered that Futureshop was posting an exact # of units. My drive down there right at closing proved they only had 10 units. Ok crap'en cakes - there are 12 people already staked out for the night! Well I decided there is no sense staying over night there. I went down to London Drugs, they got 5. Oh MAN there were already 8 people outside. Didn't look like all of them were staying over night, but 5 of them sure did. So poop, I guess my only chance of getting one would be to try costco. Appearently in the states they each got a few, so why not. I drove to costco to find NOBODY there! Wow, things were looking up...but if there was nobody there by 11pm, why would there be anybody there at 6am?
So alarm goes off at 6 am and I get my ass down to FS for opening at 8. I stand inline as "guy # 11". I was hoping so bad that somebody's credit card didn't go through. Unfortunately I was in a lineup of nerds with excellent credit.
London drugs opened at 9, so I attempted the same thing. Nope...Although 1 guy offered to sell me his "voucher" for a couple hundred bucks. I could've done that, but then again my capitalist ebay plan would have 200 bucks on the line. Nah, I drive a 500 dollar beater for a reason.
Last stop, Costco. I get there and some dude in a truck had pulled right in front of the main doors. So I'm guy # 2! WOOT, heck yeah I'm going to get one! So i sit there from about 8:40 ish to just before 10...Then some costco employee comes out
"What are you guys doing?"
"We WANTS PLAYSTATIONS!!"
"We don't have any"
Dammit.
So I go home, tail between my legs and crawl back in bed.
Maybe I should try and get a Wii...
