“We’re Not Changing Tack” on PS4 Preorders Says SimplyGames Director
Einfogames previously reported how many customers who had placed preorders for Playstation 4 systems through SimplyGames have been contacted and told that they must now put down more money in order to keep their launch day system. Customers of the UK retailer have been offered the option to either upgrade to a non-Sony authorized bundle for between £415 and £470; those who refuse and have placed an order for the £350 base model will lose their preorder for launch day.
SimplyGames director Neil Muspratt responded to the extremely negative public reaction to this announcement by accusing the press of having “stirred [the controversy] up.” He cautions critics that not all PS4 preorders have been affected by this decision and the policy will change:
We have no stock left. All of our day one allocation is sold, and our offer was manifested by how the distributor has allocated their stock to us, so we’re not changing tack.
He explained that SimplyGames took preorders based on the number of units they expected to receive from Sony but the actual shipment will include more bundles than they originally projected. With the limited supply, the non-bundled PS4s have to be rationed based on when the orders were place. After all standalone systems have been allocated to preorder customers at the front of the line, the remainder of preorder customers must now decide whether to cancel the preorder or upgrade to a bundle.
He insists, “The vast majority of customers have understood what is going on and have updated their order.”
The extra cost of these bundles SimplyGames is requiring people to buy comes primarily from a second controller.
Muspratt’s responded specifically to questions regarding the required upgrades by saying:
This is a retailer-led initiative, it arrived through some of the choices that we’ve had to make, manifested by how the distributor has allocated their stock to us. It’s not uncommon knowledge that Sony has bundled some of their consoles now.
The problem with this explanation is that the bundles SimplyGames is offering consumers are retailer created bundles. The official bundles Sony is marketing are available at SimplyGames’ website for £399, so why are they insisting that customers must upgrade to the £415 or £470, which include an extra controller and charger cord?
In contrast to Muspratt’s remarks, Sony has denied responsibility for this situation in their previous statement, insisting that “Sony is not and would not force anyone to buy something they don’t want.”
