Here are my experiences with Sony's wonderful pre-order system. The company line was that this would ensure people get their machines with no queues, the more cynical thought it was so Sony could either increase expectation/demand or so they could run the margins as close as possible between supply in Japan and the US, and not pissing off Europeans too much. I've finally got the purple&black wonder, but what effort!
 | Decide I want a PS2 afterall. They are out on the 26th October. |
| 23/9/00 - go to Tempo, on Old Kent Road, and pre-order. I pay my £25.00 and am told I should get some correspondence within 3 weeks, and it WILL arrive before Christmas. I tick the box for using Email communication. |
| 14/11/00 - I get a letter confirming my order. |
| Sony release a statement saying UK deliveries will be delayed till 24th of November. |
| The neighbours upstairs flat floods, a small stream of water hits directly onto my 29" Sony TV, video, and Playstation... |
| TV doesn't work, I get a 20" replacement till the insurance comes through. |
| Sony release another statement saying numbers will be reduced due to chip shortages. |
| 10-27th November, I go to NZ. I take my PSone for a friend to use, as a PS2 should be waiting when I get back! |
| 28/11/00 - TV still broke, in addition the replacement has ceased working too! I return this and get a full refund, there is no word of my PS2's arrival date... |
| 9/12/00 - WAHOO! A letter arrives from Sony it says "I am pleased to inform you that your Playstation 2 has now been despatched to Tempo, Old Kent Road and is ready for collection." Unfortunately I am going away for the weekend (we were packing the car). |
| 10/12/00 - after unloading I jump into the car and am at Tempo with papers inhand - the response "sorry no PS2's have been shipped to us, it might be 2 weeks before the next shipment" <growl> I speak to the manager, he says that they are at the warehouse, but will probably be Tuesday week before they get to the shop (trucks deliver every Tues and Thurs), it is currently Monday, that's 9 days! You could probably drive to Moscow in that time, what the hell are they doing in that warehouse? |
| I check on Tuesday on the off chance, nope nothing. |
| 13/12/00 - telephone Tempo: "yes we have playstation 2's in stock", I ask again because my hearing faded out with shock, this is confirmed. I am in the car within seconds, upon arriving another blow as I find out the woman I talked to was confused, a shipment of PSOne's have arrived, still no confirmed date on PS2's! I am mightily pissed, but can't form words to convey my displeasure at getting through peak hour traffic to be denied for a second time - the staff withdraw to a safe distance till I stomp out of the "shop". |
| 15/12/00 - If at first you don't succeed... Friday; so they may have showed up yesterday. (the same?) woman as last time answers the phone, she decides to consult someone else (encouraging), and says that they will probably be in by next Thursday (discouraging). If this is true, and I have had 4 different answers so far, it would mean a staggering 12 days (incl. the Sunday) from first being told they are in the warehouse! |
| 19/12/00 - After the work lunch thing we had I headed off once more, The dispirited faces when I asked about PS2's in stock didn't give me hope, as did the fact that they had to call and check the storeroom. A confirmation didn't instil joy, more resigned fulfilment at having this episode finally over. Once it appeared I got through payment exceedingly quickly (for London), and grew steadily more happy as I headed home. I am now in the third place.... |
