nordlead said:
ok, I'm not getting into the over/undertracked thing, but I'm hoping to clarify some stuff. Financial statement that I'm about to quote - http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/07q4_sony.pdf "*Beginning with the quarter ended June 30, 2007, the method of reporting hardware and software unit sales has been changed from production shipments to recorded sales" The 06Q4 results reads as - http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/06q4_sony.pdf "*Production shipments of hardware and software units are counted upon shipment of the products from manufacturing bases. Sales of such products are recognized when the products are delivered to customers." As noted, recorded sales mean sales to retailers, where previously they were just reporting what they manufactured. Due to this, If you just look through the financial results you get a wrong number (high by about 2.3m units for PS3, and I don't know if there is a proper way to fully count PS2 sales since their chart only goes back to 2006). However, Sony does have a web page that shows actual sold to retailer numbers - http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/data/bizdataps3_sale_e.html However, reading through all the other Q4 financial reports I didn't see any notes stating that they count shipped as soon as they get an order. I'm under the believe that Sony follows the same reporting practice as Nintendo and Microsoft where a sale is recorded when products are delivered to the customer (or essentially no longer in Sony's possession). |
Booking revenue under GAAP requires that revenue is reasonably assured and the goods have been delivered. Most of the time, retailers that have good credit pay within the month after recieving a shipment (Accounts receivable for mfg/accounts payable for retailer)
I'm not sure if the same rules apply for recording sales numbers. I think the order just has to be confirmed.
"Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, IT IS THE LEADERS of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is TELL THEM THEY ARE BEING ATTACKED, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. IT WORKS THE SAME IN ANY COUNTRY." --Hermann Goering, leading Nazi party member, at the Nuremberg War Crime Trials
Conservatives: Pushing for a small enough government to be a guest in your living room, or even better - your uterus.
Currently Online 
