Sony to screw the consumer again • Non-Gaming • Online Shopping • Eurogamer.net

bivith 15 Nov 2005 09:09:24 2,469 posts
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Sony are fixing prices by forcing online stores to pay extra for their product, thus ending the savings from buying online.

hateful gits

Why do these companies never learn? They can't force us to shop the way they want us to, and trying to just makes us hate them for it!

Edited by bivith at 09:19:19 15-11-2005

ssuellid 15 Nov 2005 09:13:21 19,142 posts
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"Manufacturers, including Sony, are charging shopping websites wholesale prices between 10 and 15 per cent higher than their prices to high street stores, the trade group that represents online sellers says."

Bastards.

technos 15 Nov 2005 09:16:09 1,345 posts
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It's all over, Sony.

pjmaybe 15 Nov 2005 09:19:47 70,666 posts
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I wonder when this will take effect.

I bet you it won't be till after christmas

Peej

UncleLou Moderator 15 Nov 2005 09:22:42 40,723 posts
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Don't think it's a bad idea. Online shopping sucks.

/devil's advocate

ssuellid 15 Nov 2005 09:25:40 19,142 posts
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Its a con. Most of the high street stores - especially the big retailers have online stores anyway. Just an excuse to keep the big retailers sweet.

bivith 15 Nov 2005 09:25:55 2,469 posts
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Unfortunately, according to the article, Sony started it, and other manufacturers are following.

Kay 15 Nov 2005 09:26:19 21,321 posts
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Sony don't seem to do anything right at the moment, do they? Just now I've been reading about the dodgy DRM software that their music CDs use for copy protection.

K

pjmaybe 15 Nov 2005 09:30:32 70,666 posts
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Aye - Love the fact that most of the security companies are designing stuff to take that software out

Peej

GrandTheftApu 15 Nov 2005 09:32:40 6,117 posts
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It seems to mainly refer to electronics, I couldn't see any explicit references to gaming.

pjmaybe 15 Nov 2005 09:33:42 70,666 posts
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Didn't this happen with Levis and the Supermarkets a while back?

Just a way of "top" brands like Sony ensuring that they're not made to look cheap. Which is ridiculous.

Peej

ssuellid 15 Nov 2005 09:35:04 19,142 posts
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pjmaybe wrote:
Didn't this happen with Levis and the Supermarkets a while back?

That was grey imports and Levi seemed to win by using the value added shopping experience at Levi authorised Stores excuse. Was against Tesco.

Deleted user 15 November 2005 09:36:15

Sony denies penalising internet shopping sites, arguing that it is rewarding stores that can demonstrate its products.

No....that's penalising internet shopping sites.

Fuckers.

bivith 15 Nov 2005 09:42:47 2,469 posts
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GrandTheftApu wrote:
It seems to mainly refer to electronics, I couldn't see any explicit references to gaming.

Nobody mentioned gaming. except you

GrandTheftApu 15 Nov 2005 09:57:00 6,117 posts
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bivith wrote:

GrandTheftApu wrote:
It seems to mainly refer to electronics, I couldn't see any explicit references to gaming.

Nobody mentioned gaming. except you

Ah well I must be the only one who doesn't buy Sony electronics then.

jellyhead 15 Nov 2005 10:03:45 24,356 posts
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You'll not be alone for long, i think that soon there's going to be a queue of people waiting to not buy Sony anymore.

Khanivor 15 Nov 2005 13:38:38 44,800 posts
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Does anyone else think that Sony's finances are in an even worse state then they are letting on?

All of these desperate and despicable measures to claw every last penny out of their products looks like despair to me.

Or maybe they just want to be the most hated consumer company on the planet.

sam_spade 15 Nov 2005 13:45:29 15,745 posts
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Did anyone see about that patent that allows a Cd/DVD/Blueray be tied to a particular unit?

Could see the end of second hand sales/swaps/lending from mates.

jellyhead 15 Nov 2005 13:48:42 24,356 posts
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sam_spade wrote:
Did anyone see about that patent that allows a Cd/DVD/Blueray be tied to a particular unit?
Could see the end of second hand sales/swaps/lending from mates.

there's a thread somewhere from earlier on in the week.
That's going to earn them some friends isn't it?

Freek 15 Nov 2005 13:49:55 7,682 posts
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"No, not the future, we don't want it, it scares us!!"

Consumer: I have internet, I am going to use and you are comming with me into the 21st century, bitch!

"Mommy!!!! I don't wannnnnaaaaaaa, waaaaaa, i'm rising prices on you!!! waaaaaaaaaaaaa"

GTBurns 15 Nov 2005 13:54:04 1,772 posts
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I've always bought Sony (apart from my Xbox) and invested in a Sony Vaio laptop a few months ago - it's a lovely piece of kit. However, I've been trying to convince their technical support that there's a problem with the Vaio Zone software. (Very nice 'looking' software that plays DVD's, music, and photos, etc.)

Basically, it has an import function (.exe) file that is 116K worth of software. Left to idle it slowly - but surely - consumes up to 100% of the 1.73 GHz processor!

Have made numerous calls and given detailed reports - will they listen? Will they fuck?! I've rarely come across such constricted, inflexible and thoroughly idiotic 'support'. Offers a little insight in to just how arrogant they are as a company. I own 2 Trinitron Wides, 2 Sony stereos, a Sony amp, Net MD Walkman and the lappy. This episode has made me consider whether or not I'm ever likely to buy Sony again.

The Vaio Zone software is now uninstalled and will stay that way until they patch it. Though that appears unlikely to happen as - despite numerous reports from consumers - they seem totally unwilling to accept that there's a problem.

like. no. fucking. clue.

Edited by GTBurns at 14:03:37 15-11-2005

unwashed 15 Nov 2005 13:54:16 1,857 posts
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Sony are truly the dumbest of the dumb. I only know one bloke who religiously shops for Sony, and wont have anything else. though he lives at home with his parents, pays little/no rent, earns at least �30k a year and drives a Honda S2000. Other than that, nice bloke!

ssuellid 15 Nov 2005 13:57:19 19,142 posts
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For a lot of people Sony = the best well known brand you can buy.

For a while this was true with TVs and walkmans but they lost the plot, had a few patents expire and have been struggling for a few years. - excluding the PS2.

GTBurns 15 Nov 2005 13:57:59 1,772 posts
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unwashed wrote:
...drives a Honda S2000.

Good car that, mate - hate to say it but it is technically excellent. Not everyone's cup of tea granted but probably the most reliable sports car available.

But who really wants a reliable sports car!?

jellyhead 15 Nov 2005 13:59:05 24,356 posts
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GTBurns wrote:

unwashed wrote:
...drives a Honda S2000.
Good car that, mate - hate to say it but it is technically excellent. Not everyone's cup of tea granted but probably the most reliable sports car available.
But who really wants a reliable sports car!?

You watch Top Gear by any chance?

drumbaby 15 Nov 2005 14:24:07 2,688 posts
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sam_spade wrote:
Did anyone see about that patent that allows a Cd/DVD/Blueray be tied to a particular unit?

Could see the end of second hand sales/swaps/lending from mates.

Total bollocks apparently.

Boundy 15 Nov 2005 14:30:04 959 posts
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jellyhead wrote:

GTBurns wrote:

unwashed wrote:
...drives a Honda S2000.
Good car that, mate - hate to say it but it is technically excellent. Not everyone's cup of tea granted but probably the most reliable sports car available.
But who really wants a reliable sports car!?
You watch Top Gear by any chance?

He must do or hes Richard Hammond at least or was it James May that said it?

Freek 15 Nov 2005 15:56:29 7,682 posts
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Boundy wrote:

jellyhead wrote:

GTBurns wrote:

unwashed wrote:
...drives a Honda S2000.
Good car that, mate - hate to say it but it is technically excellent. Not everyone's cup of tea granted but probably the most reliable sports car available.
But who really wants a reliable sports car!?
You watch Top Gear by any chance?

He must do or hes Richard Hammond at least or was it James May that said it?

Clarkson proclaimed it to be the best sports car ever made, they mocked him for it, now he got back at them with the survey.

jozz 15 Nov 2005 16:18:53 4,871 posts
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Never got an old Ps2 then?

I find it incredibly cheap to try make us pay more just because the product we decide to purchase is done so online. Alright fair enough, actual shops have you pay more because they have extra overheads to take into account before they make a profit, but for Sony to say, well we want you to pay more....just because we want more money is a complete insult to the consumer. Justified by their excuses or not.