there are 20 ps3 at my local bestbuy if you guys want some send me 400$ and i'll send some over to yall

Underestimated demand is part of the problem, and they had probably calculated it better for Europe.

Add to that that the PS3 is far closer to profitability (or above it, who knows) in Europe because of the stronger euro, then why wouldn't they wait until the cheaper version comes to the US and then try to build it up again there, while keeping their strongest region supplied anyway...

(i'm not saying that it's the only reason, but sony wouldn't ignore the fact that it's probably smarter to keep their best region flooded and the 'lost' region a bit in the dark)

The Euro is still better off than the dollar though. After taxes are deducted, a PS3 sold in Ireland costs around €250, which is still greater than $300.

COULD backfire... I doubt they build their strategies based on "could"'s so I don't see why that's a reason to suddenly transfer a possible surplus of consoles to the US.

In my city (about 2-3 Gamestops) they were completely sold out for about a week.

Ok ok, I think we can all AT LEAST agree upon this.. That if there really ARE significant shortages, that Sony is obviously doing it on purpose. Either for financial reasons, or for artificial demand, but it has to be purposeful. In other words, they are not cranking them out as fast as they can with all factories working to 100%.

I refuse to believe a multi BILLION dollar corporation mega giant can only eek out 45,000 PS3s in the US in a single week. Especially when they have easilly managed 90,000 in previous weeks there, not too long ago.

If in fact 45,000-55,000 per week IS all they can manage in gaming's largest market in the world, then Sony is in major trouble.

Really the only way to get one is online. And even there you have to search. Best buy for example is sold out. Walmart only has a couple bundles available but no $300 slims. My uncle recently bought one from Amazon. He checked all the Gamestops locally. They all say that when they get them they usually sell within a couple days. In either case, they were all sold out. He had to go to Amazon.

CGI-Quality and Metallicube, mark all lines with an X that apply to you:

X I do not read what other people write

X I do not read what other people write, particularly if it is true

X I do not understand what other people write, particularly if it is true

X I do not want to understand what other people write particularly if it goes against my beliefs

X I do not understand how mass manufacturing works

X I do not understand that only those goods are received that were actually ordered before

X I really believe goods are manufactured and delivered independent of seasonal periods

X I really believe US is the only country that counts

X I like to ignore reality if it doesn't fit my fantasies

X I like to invent conspiracy theories

(I made your choices a little easier by precrossing thre lines that aplly to both of you)

Look, i wrote EXACTLY how the situation is (and several other people did the same in this thread, too). And in at least two other threads as well. There simply seems to be no way to hammer the plain and simple facts about mass manufacturing (as they apply to the PS3) into your head. This is not the only thread you play dumb for whatever reasons as far as I remember (and I rather do not want to remember). If you insist staying ignorant, go to your nearest university and ask around and read the literature. Again, do something for your education, there is no way I can enlighten you, apparently. (And yes, I HAVE worked in many projects with companies and people that make mass manufactured gadgets, even with people that make the machines that make console parts and similar stuff). Simply accept the fact that some people actually know how certain things work - I may not know how to cook a good meal, raise a flag on Iwo Jima, but maybe it may just dawn to you that I might know how this pecuiar thing works. And once again a thread has now ended for me.

no ps3 visible in Bestbuy for 3 weeks in a row up here in canada where I live...