Topic: EB games releases PSP bundle for $399

[Avinash_Tyagi]

PSP bundle

date of shipment 03/29/2005

a bit pricey if you ask me, seems the price of the hardware itself is priced at around $200-$225.

[Flames_of_chaos]

I wonder whats if the "free accesory" is chosen for you or if you have a limited selection of crappy accessories.

[Avinash_Tyagi]

Probably it'll be chosen for you, I'd guess it would be the smallest memory card they carry.

[Flames_of_chaos]

I will laugh if the free accessory is the key chain strap thing, but those Memory Card DUO prices are insane. Looks like a hefty investment to get the full features out of a PSP.

[Artimus]

3 games is 150. So that's what? $250 for the system!?

[nickmitch]

Let's see:
PSP = $200
3 games = $150
pre-total = $350
that leaves $50 for a  256MB for a total savings of 5 dollars.
Math is knowledge and knowledge is power.

[Flames_of_chaos]

if you read the extra tid bit TVman EBgames is charging and additional 5 dollars for the shipping because of weight and size.

[foolish03]

Yeah i talked to a eb rep and he told me the bundle is going to be the only thing available.  No separate psp unit.  I know alot of consumers will not go for that.  If this bit of information is true sony will definitely hurt itself.

[couchmonkey]

EBGames knows there are enough hardcore Sony fans out there to snap up every single machine EBGames can get in its initial shipment, so its going to make tons of money by doing it this way.  If any don't sell (which I highly doubt), they can always sell them individually later on.  But seriously, if you look at what people are willing to pay for a hot new game system on Ebay, a bundle like this seems like a bargain in comparison.

I don't like it either, but I think it will work.

[Pale]

EBgames and other stores like it prey on people thinking that bundle and bargain are synonyms.  These stores really get more and more disgusting as the industry becomes more and more mainstream.  I wish more game publishers would open up first party online stores.  Hell, I'll even pay a little bit more to know that i'm not promoting the garbage that goes on in some of these places.

[Ian Sane]

"I wonder whats if the 'free accesory' is chosen for you or if you have a limited selection of crappy accessories."

Considering that console launch bundles often come with third party controllers and other useless junk that no serious gamer would buy themselves I'm assuming it will be the same here.  EB uses launch bundles to sell crap that no one else would buy otherwise.  Considering what kind of junk the GBA had they'll probably include some screen protector or crappy carrying case.  Portables are the worst for useless junk.

I'm not surprised that EB is only selling the PSP as a bundle because I'm pretty sure that what they did with the PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox.  That's common practice with launches.  It's total bullsh!t but it's common.  And it works really well with casual gamers which the PSP is going to attract.  It will not affect Sony or doom the PSP.  Those who buy launch bundles are either too stupid to notice they're being screwed or are too hardcore to care.

[kennyb27]

I loved my bundle that I got when GameCube launched.  It had the GCN, Star Wars Rogue Leader, Wave Race, Luigi's Mansion, a MC 59, and an extra controller.  Of course mine didn't have any crappy third party stuff.

[Flames_of_chaos]

Well look at that link again they updated it so the real price will be between 399.99 to 549.99

[KDR_11k]

Damn, that's pricey. I think we have laws against forcing people to buy bundles here.

[Pale]

When I am anti bundle like my post above, I'm referring to stores who create bundles and only sell the merch. within them.  Yes, some bundles can be good...when they don't involve fleecing the public.

[nickmitch]

Since they expect you to get $40 games and if they don't charge you sales tax then you'll be saving more (assuming the sales tax for a $400 purchase is more than the $5 shipping fee) than what I had said earlier.

[odifiend]

EB Games DOES charge sales tax.  Usually they ship it from the closest store.  But you get your merchandise pretty fast though.

[Ymeegod]

"One PSP accessory of your choice from a list of launch accessories ($29.99 -149.99) "

Geewiz, who would be dumb enough to get a $30 accessory instead of using all $150 :0.  I would get the 1GB memory card myself :0 which is $149.97--I'll let them kept the two cents .

[Bill Aurion]

Um, you have to pay the extra...

(Hence the price being $399.95 to $549.95)

[Ymeegod]

.  That's a raw deal then.

$250 for the value pack.
$120 for 3 $40 games
$30 for the acc
-----

$400 even--so this bundle deal doesn't save the consumer jackshit which is kinda the point of having bundles is it not?

[Avinash_Tyagi]

You know if Nintendo tried pulling this, the internet would be flooded with comments like "nintendo is teh doomed!"

[KDR_11k]

which is kinda the point of having bundles is it not?

In this case the point is to sell the customer* more than he wants. I mean, who'd buy three games for the PSP at launch? EB just wants to make sure people don't buy it without games to throw it at eBay or as a MS-based media player.

*= I resent the idea of labeling the end user a "consumer", that's degrading and implies a parasitic relationship, the consumer only consumes, he does not contribute anything (last time I checked the market was fueled by "sales"). Customer implies a symbiotic relationship as it exists in the market (a customer buys a product and gives money in return). If companies started to treat us more like customers we wouldn't see bullshit like Steam or StarForce screwing the legal customer while rewarding the illegal copiers with an experience superior to the legally available one.