European PS3 marketers are crazy

[Funkmaster V]

[QUOTE=m0zart][QUOTE=Steerforth]Mozart - I would love to stand in line to get a PS3 if it meant I got a brand new TV for my trouble. But do you view that as a sign of desperation? Or is it just something Sony can do to prop up their product with help from another Sony division, something MS and especially Nintendo would have trouble doing?[/QUOTE]

If they had announced it in advance, I would have thought "total desperation".  But since it was only announced to those who were actually in line and registered to be in their basement area, I see it as a "thank you" to customers for being loyal.

Of course, it *is* something Sony can do too, since it is a company that is involved in television manufacture among other things.  Hardware companies can give away free things when it really suits them.  It's still expensive, even for them, but it's good PR.

[QUOTE=Steerforth]I know some people frown on the whole launch day/EBAY thing, but hey, if the demand is there someone should make a little money off of Sony hardware,[/QUOTE]

I agree.
[/QUOTE]

No my friend, you bought it hook line and sinker. This is called SPIN. This is a way to get their new TV name out in the press too. 120 people benefited from this. 120! That's all!!!!

SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN

A thank you? LOL! M0zart, think for one minute. "Thanks for buying our more expensive in Europe but worse in Europe system. Here's 120 TV's because you paid $200 more for your PS3's than the Japs and the Yanks."

So you understand how bad they are screwing Europeans? Please don't bite so easily at the Spin teet.

Funkmaster V

[Funkmaster V]

PS: I got so blinded by someone else's ease to swallow the spin pill that I forgot to say that the European PS3 commercials are nuts. I just don't get it. Old men and crapping women don't make me want to live life or play video games. WTF?

I'm an American, and somebody gets paid big bucks to decide what makes what sell where, so I'm no expert, either. But God... that's the biggest pile of dung I have seen in awhile. The American PS3 commercials aren't great, either.

The PS3 is great but we are all too stupid to realize it. FLUSH!
Funkmaster V

[m0zart1]

[QUOTE=Funkmaster V]No my friend, you bought it hook line and sinker. This is called SPIN. This is a way to get their new TV name out in the press too.[/QUOTE]

And when Microsoft was giving out two measly free games for spending all your time in a month gaining points, that was "giving something back?"  Talk about "spin".  Here's the thing about any marketing campaign, contest, or otherwise -- it's ALWAYS "SPIN SPIN SPIN".

Microsoft giving away games for instance was just a marketing spin to promote their points system.

[QUOTE=Funkmaster V]120 people benefited from this. 120! That's all!!!![/QUOTE]

Yes, the 120 people who were in line.  If you are a company trying to push your unpopular product, and 120 people show up, I think it's a great thing when they are rewarded.  Do you have any proof that if it had been 500 in line there wouldn't have been 500 TVs?  Would you have been happier if nothing had been done at all?!?  OH THE SPIN!!!

[QUOTE=Funkmaster V]A thank you? LOL! M0zart, think for one minute. "Thanks for buying our more expensive in Europe but worse in Europe system. Here's 120 TV's because you paid $200 more for your PS3's than the Japs and the Yanks."[/QUOTE]

LOL, take your own advice.  PS3 -- the WORST in Europe?  Give me a break!  It is far from the worst.  It might not be the best right now, but it's still attractive to many people.

Besides, who do you think a "thank you" has to be directed to?  Because it wasn't directed at you it's not a "thank you" ?  Tell that to the people who got the TVs.

[QUOTE=Funkmaster V]So you understand how bad they are screwing Europeans? Please don't bite so easily at the Spin teet.[/QUOTE]

Oh please, NOBODY is being screwed.  Those who don't want it won't buy it.  That's their choice in action.  Those who think it is still worth it given the price -- they will buy it.  No screwing action there either.  Maybe they aren't getting as much, but it's still up to each and every individual to decide if it's "worth it."

There's no such thing as being "screwed" in a force-free market.

[QUOTE=Funkmaster V]SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN[/QUOTE]

Time to switch to decaf.

[MrCHUPON]

[QUOTE=Funkmaster V]
No my friend, you bought it hook line and sinker. This is called SPIN. This is a way to get their new TV name out in the press too. 120 people benefited from this. 120! That's all!!!!

SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN

A thank you? LOL! M0zart, think for one minute. "Thanks for buying our more expensive in Europe but worse in Europe system. Here's 120 TV's because you paid $200 more for your PS3's than the Japs and the Yanks."

So you understand how bad they are screwing Europeans? Please don't bite so easily at the Spin teet.

Funkmaster V
[/QUOTE]
I can't wait to hear your conspiracy theories about Area 51, Global Warming, and - oh oh - The DaVinci Code is a real story, right? Right!!??!?!?

The two sides m0zart was discussing were desperation versus thanks. Regardless of any spin involved, of which there was, of course, m0zart's point was simply that this TV thing wasn't an act of desperation due to the salient points HE already provided. But because you're so busy ranting about who's spinning whom, you didn't realize that, did you?

Sure, giving something away like this is a great avenue for good press and a PR associate's dream. But, the point - again - was that this wasn't an act out of desperation. What kind of good does it do for Playstation 3 sales the world over, or in the US, to say, "Hey look, we gave 120 people in the UK free TV's for waiting in line!" Like m0 said, if they had gone, "Stand on line and win a free TV," sure, that's an act of desperation. You're providing people an incentive to buy your product because you get something free as well. With the way it actually happened, people had no incentive to stand in line to buy the thing except that they wanted the PS3 already. I'm not sure how much simpler it could be, but I guess someone's too hyperactive to stop himself from biting down on the CONSPIRACY THEORY OMG teat.

[feilong801]

Okay, I have to say it, if only for the comedy:

We are being a little hard on The Funk.

I understand his sort of hyper-caffeinated "eye roll" at Sony here. It's a nice gesture for those lucky enough to be in that particular line, but it's certainly not out of the goodness of their heart.

Not that there is anything wrong with it. It just is what it is.

m0zart is correct when he says that you can't be screwed if you don't buy the product.

Getting screwed is more like buying a system that gets zero support (no, not talking about the Gamecube... more like the 32x or Virtual Boy).

Of course, one can argue if that even counts. Some due diligence would have revealed that those systems were going to fight an uphill battle, at least I remember thinking so at the time they were released (moreso for the Virtual Boy).

-Rob

[m0zart1]

[QUOTE=feilong80]We are being a little hard on The Funk. [/QUOTE]

Have you read his post?  Don't you think that he was stretching a bit?  Don't you think he was being a bit hard on me?

[QUOTE=feilong80]I understand his sort of hyper-caffeinated "eye roll" at Sony here. It's a nice gesture for those lucky enough to be in that particular line, but it's certainly not out of the goodness of their heart.[/QUOTE]

Rob, no company does business out of the goodness of their heart.  It's all about money.  It's all about making money.  And as you said, there's nothing wrong with that.  It is what it is.

It doesn't have to be "out of the goodness of their heart" to be a proper "thank you".  It doesn't even have to be exclusively a "thank you".  It can have several purposes, and still be a "thank you" to the hardcore and faithful Sony fans who stood in line.  I also stand by my evaluation that it was not a sign of desperation.  If it had been preannounced, I would be more skeptical.

Understand that I think Sony has really messed up in this generation.  They had it in the can, and their arrogance and stupidity ruined it.  But that doesn't mean I am going to see flaws and stupidity in EVERYTHING they do.  I can't see a single reason for an eye roll at giving away 40+ inch HDTVs to the Sony faithful who showed their loyalty by standing in line.  Who else would Sony be giving such a thing to?  If Nintendo were the one giving things away at the Virgin store in London on opening night, especially something prized at around 2000 quid, would you call it spin?  If it were Microsoft, would you roll your eyes?  You'll have to excuse me if I am skeptical that *any* of you would.

Only a few short months ago Microsoft was praised for giving some loyal gamers two measly games for buying and playing a TON of 360 games for their points.  And a good gesture it was, but it was hardly out of the goodness of Microsoft's heart.  It was a marketing gesture, plain and simple.

[feilong801]

Yes, he was stretching.

My post was, to be sure, just a silly excuse to say something ridiculous like "We are being a little hard on The Funk." Don't mind me, I have a strange sense of humor.

Maybe he shouldn't have made the "sucking on the teet" comment, that sort of made it seem more like an attack.

I do agree that there is nothing wrong with what Sony did. If anything, Funk's attitude is really indicative of how far Sony's reputation has fallen with some. But, as we've seen with Nintendo, things can be turned around.

I will say that having cute mascots like Mario, Yoshi, etc. sort of help you avoid being perceived as some uncaring corporate monolith. Maybe Sony should develop some cute bunny and make a platformer with him/her? (-:

-Rob

[bluemonkey1]

[QUOTE=m0zart]
Oh please, NOBODY is being screwed.  Those who don't want it won't buy it.  That's their choice in action.  Those who think it is still worth it given the price -- they will buy it.  No screwing action there either.  Maybe they aren't getting as much, but it's still up to each and every individual to decide if it's "worth it."

There's no such thing as being "screwed" in a force-free market.


[/QUOTE]

Except that they shut down the biggest importer to Europe so that we can't import anymore.  Lik Sang would have won the battle too but couldn't afford the legal costs.

[Funkmaster V]

You guys are missing a few key points of my arguement and have made up some of my points they I didn't even say. Here is what you need to know:

#1 The Europeans are screwed whether they buy the PS3 or not. The system is worse than ours, and $200 more. They have no option to buy what we have. (Most people don't order imports) They are screwed out of their choice.

#2 Sony gave away TV's because they know their PR is sh*t. They weren't being "nice". They are trying to repair their public image.

But hey guys, believe what you want. You believe Sony is nice because it gave away 120 TVs. Awesome. High fives all around

Funkmaster V
PS: Also, educate yourselves and learn the correct meaning of SPIN. I think some of you don't know what it means.

[Adamant1]

[QUOTE=Funkmaster V]
The system is worse than ours, and $200 more.
[/QUOTE]

400$ more