yeah indeed I'm pretty damn jealous of that amount of saving, means you would be picking up the 3g model for 70 less than the standard wifi one costs, crazy good value for money.

Explosion

Recently Target lowered its 3G PS Vita Launch Bundle from $299.99 to a staggering $179.99–that’s a $120 price drop! I personally went to a Target to confirm the price, but throughout the purchase it was clear that Target had made a mistake with the price change. Employees did everything they could to keep me from actually buying it–from claiming it had a different serial number (it plainly had the same number on the box and the website) to attempting to peel off the features sticker which proved it was the same product. Then, they tried to say it was an online discount only, when the online page clearly said it was available in-store only. After about an hour of negotiations, I finally got the PS Vita for the heavily discounted price of $179.99, but it’s clear that someone at Target made a mistake.

The price on Target’s website has changed back to the original $299.99, and there’s no indication anywhere that it went on sale. Likewise, no Target employees were notified about the price change. There’s a slim possibility that the price drop was a spoiler of what’s to come–a PS Vita Christmas price drop, or perhaps a new Vita model that Target needs to make room for. If it’s the former, it could mean that Sony is finally listening to sense and dropping the PS Vita price to something consumers can afford. How they plan on making a profit off of that kind of price is a mystery, but I’m not complaining. If it’s the latter option–that Sony is going to release a new model of the PS Vita soon–perhaps a price drop for the initial unit is the store’s choice, and not Sony’s.

Of course, the most likely option is still that Target made a huge mistake or revealed a Black Friday discount a month early. If you do attempt to purchase the PS Vita at this price, good luck to you. Your best bet is to attempt a price match either at Target or another retail store–although they don’t normally sell it at this price, many stores are obligated to price match even absurd discounts.

Clearance sale, nothing more.

Just as I thought. Someone at Target was an idiot and will get in trouble. The system flags transactions like that. If the employee knew what they were doing they would stick to it being a online only deal. The website clearly said it was an online deal. The only thing they said was in stores was the specific model since you can look at the stores in an area for the model but it then says pricing is different. The mistake came from giving the guy the online price. On top of that the reciept looks weird... I just got a TV that they lowered the price down for I'm gonna have to find that reciept and report back... What is concerning me is the "return by..." date. That doesn't make any sense.

Anyway the mystery is solved... LOL! at the doom and gloomers...

http://www.target.com/p/playstation-vita-hardware-3g-bundle-with-8gb-memory-and-at-t-data-connect-black-playstation-vita/-/A-14007120#prodSlot=medium_1_4

The TPC was suppose to be 279 not 179... and you can clearly see where it says "online price"

"Note: Prices, promotions, styles and availability may vary by store and online."

"$279.99 Online Price"

Surely not before the Christmas holiday season; isn't it too early?

yeah indeed especially considering AC:Liberations and Declassified are coming out between now and christmas I really doubt they'd be clearing out stock before christmas when they know some of those will end up underneath trees. Besides like Nsanity said, he was still able to find the exact same bundle with the same serial number as the one which was discounted in Target stores, which means they didn't put it on sale to clear those units... since they still have a good deal of them left.

So, is this the reason the PS3 did not have a price cut with the new slim model? Is it like they are making money on PS3 to take loss on Vita?

The 3G model has probably sold all of 2 units. Therefore its being cut out now I'd bet. Need shelf space for WiiUs.

Agreed, the Targets and Bestbuys here in the East Bay in CA are still on their first shipments of their Vita stocks.  The Fry's in fremont CA tried to move systems by selling the 3G for $249,  and WiFi for $199 to no avail.  The biggest problem the Vita is facing is the lack of a concept or unique feature.  The 3DS at least has their glasses free 3D as an incentive that differentiates itself from what a smartphone or tablet could do.  The Vita doesn't have that luxury, and the fact that most games are visually not that much diffrent from the 3DS; compared to how it was bet the DS and PSP doesn't help. 

I love how this thread is still getting responses even after a target employee tells you guys whats what... but conveniently ignore him its coool