Sony offering free PlayStation 3 with HDTV purchase
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Dec 28th 2007 9:28PM
posted Dec 28th 2007 9:28PM
[Thanks, Stephen]
posted Dec 28th 2007 9:28PM
The percentage of sales people that recommend Samsung HDTVs.
Salespeople are also becoming less likely to recommend LCD sets over plasma sets, which goes against the industry trend.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
I really think they should be making a profit on them before they start giving them away. Just an idea.
If you can't sell them, give them away for FREE. Sony will do anything to get Blu-Ray to be the winning format.
Microsoft giving away for free their HD-DVD development software to their small limited studio supporters is a complete dead end. It'll do absolutely nothing for gaining market share, given the fact that their 360 HD-DVD external add-on drive is selling SO well...NOT. Another marketing strategy totally failed like Toshiba practically giving away their A2 with 10 HD-DVD for $100. LOL.
Sony giving away "free" PS3 with their Bravia TVs is SMART. Direct to their customer base for increasing market share while maintaining profits on the sale of their TVs. Kudos to Sony for their customer focused efforts.
No more than Toshiba will to have HD-DVD as the winning format.
To the HD DVD fanboys up here.
You guys -do- know that Toshiba was giving away (and maybe still is) its HD DVD players with the purchase of a Plasma/LCD at Best Buy right? And that it's doing the same deal over in Australia right now (and probably in the us soon), as reported recetly (Dec. 21st) on engadget?
So before throwing the rocks, check your facts to avoid looking like douchebags, thank you :)
As per the PS3 not selling, I let the facts speak for themselves, when sales have been increased by more than 200% since the new model arrived (40gb).
Why so defensive HD DVD people? Isn't there a "massive" wave of $99 A2 buyers coming our way?
This is (probably) an awful deal for consumers. If you really have to buy it from the Sony Rewards store, I'm guessing the price is inflated over buying it online at Amazon or even at a Best Buy. That means your PS3 isn't really free - it's built into the inflated cost. Not to mention getting a new credit card for this deal is lame... You're better off signing up with cards when they give you $250 cash for doing so.
If the Sony Rewards store has great prices, then my mistake -- but I just don't think that'll be the case.
Hopefully it won't be more of the same thing that amazon was doing with THEIR card...
http://www.amazon.com/review/RH17OXR68N8ZE/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?%5Fencoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000U9ZCS6#wasThisHelpful
even people with good credit were getting credit limits on the card below the cost of the television...
will be interesting to hear from someone who takes advantage of this
Oh the sweet smell of desperation. I've not really thought of BOGOs or some sales as desperation but it's becoming extremely obvious they are VERY nervous.. giving away PS3s overseas, giving away PS3s here.. they are just giving them away in hopes that it will continue expanding Blu-Ray base. Of course, as always this is a dead end. Especially if people who might need a TV buy a cheap HD DVD player. Then it complete negates the giveaway, which will most likely happen anyways.
Oh sweet desperation. They've finally slapped themselves on the head and said..DAMN we should be really getting some units in people's hands, HD DVD will be whooping our ass very soon. SH*T what are we gonna do?!?! Oh I know..let's give PS3s for FREE. That will get them into people's hands. LOL..
So Toshiba must be desperate too, right? After all, they're ALSO giving away HD DVD players with the purchase of Toshiba HDTVs.
Desperation? Bullshit. It is a non-uncommon promotional effort. Keep in mind to get this deal you have to:
1. Sign up for a Sony credit card, which gives them a cut of all your purchases on that card.
2. Buy a Sony HDTV directly from Sony - which means paying a higher price *and* they get more of a cut of the purchase price than a set bought from another retailer.
They're probably making more money on this deal than if you bought the same TV and PS3 at Best Buy, let alone from online discounters.
That's hardly desperation.
The margin on HDTVs is pretty good, especially when you buy direct from Sony. They get their usual wholesale margin, plus the retail margin that normally goes to the reailer, AND the price is higher too boot. Win-win-win. The retail margin alone more than offsets the cost of the PS3. They sell more TVs, they get more PS3s into homes - which translates into more games and BDs sold - AND they get back-end from the credit card you need to use to buy it. That's smart business, not desperation.
Seriously, some of you HD-DVD fanboys are in serious defense mode. This isn't even targeted to you, so why the comments? As if a potential buyer of a Sony TV and/or PS3 is going to read your comments and say I'm not going to buy it because the handful of HD-DVD fanboys on this site don't like it.
Just because many of you don't like Sony(for whatever reason) doesn't mean they don't make fine electronics which includes the PS3 and their TV's. And despite what some of you want to believe, the days of people saying the PS3 is too expensive are over for the most part.
Since the 399 40GB model and their top of the line PS3 now going for 499, they have been selling remarkably well.
Why some of you HD-DVD fanboys have to pollute a Sony TV and PS3 thread is beyond me.
I don't know, maybe the same reason the Blu Ray backers start their crap in every HD-DVD thread? It's like you're all 12 year olds with nothing better to do than scream MINE IS BIGGER!!!!! I'm speaking on both sides of this issue. No one comes out of this nonsense looking better than the other. I'm just glad there wasn't an internet around to witness the great VHS vs Beta debate. That would have left a swath of destruction in it's wake. Everyone just enjoy your HD, whichever color it comes in.
So much for this promotion.
If you examine the very limited list of HDTVs that this offer applies to, you will note that 2 of the TVs are the KDSZ60XBR5 and the KDSZ70XBR5 - TVs that will never be offered for sale (especially prior to the end of the year). In fact, when you try to purchase them on SonyRewards, it will tell you those items are "out of stock" - when it should note they will never be produced.
With that said, its no doubt cheaper to find a the other models discounted elsewhere and then buy the PS3 yourself.
Well, I benefited from this promotion while it was active in Europe, in November. Bought a Sony 40" V3000 for €1900, got a PS3-bundle (2 controller, games Motor Storm and Formula 1, BR Spiderman 3, value of €599) for free, which made up for a very good deal for me =)
Of course, this suited my personal taste. I was a PS2 user, wanted to switch to PS3, and Blu-Ray is fine for me; I wouldn't have bought a new screen then if it were not for that promotion, equivalent to 25% off. Additionally, the PS3 they used in the promotion in Europe was the 60Gb model: the one they discontinued, I guess that promotion was also a way of clearing up stock while trying to win over BR-users. Consequently, my PS3 is also PS2-compatible =)
Conclusion: very happy with my current set-up, and the good deal!