Interesting.

So they are just basing this off opinion. This is in stark contrast to the facts (preorders) from other retailers.

I expect the demand will be greater for X1 then some on the internet want to claim. I also expect PS4 to be much lower than the internets proclaim.
I have no interest in either console atm but I have to admit that X1 has a much better line up so far.

At this point, it really doesnt matter what retailers say, especially in the US and UK, any gain in marketshare that the PS4 obtains against its competition during the next gen will be all positive for Sony and its platform.

Is the retailer the Microsoft Store

The xbox one is already more popular than the ps4.
The only news available for the ps4 is the 1.5 millions pre order and being more powerfull.
Xbox one made worldwide news with the DRM, then the 180, then Kinect 2 then the secret sauce, then a free game in europe, then all the post trying to make xbox one as powefull as ps4. Then the "having the best launch library ever". If all those news havent made the xbox one more popular i dont know what will?

Which preoders from which retailers?

Any way, preoders number are just a very small percentage of a very long race, probally less than 3%.

It´s that hard to think Microsoft has the competence (and money) to lead the next gen?

But his consumers aren't really gamers either

The key is that this is a fairly upmarket department store, with little focus on technology. They normally have a floor, mostly for TVs and occasionally computers and tablets etc, but normally only a small corner for games.

He could be completely correct and it as others have mentioned it will be utterly meaningless in grand scheme. The video game market has grown so much that you can have various niches that are counter to the overall market.

This generation has a massive example of that. Looking at North America, Europe or Asia in a vacuum would create a drastically different image of who did and did not do well as opposed to global picture.

Welp someone had to say it to make some news.

All of them.

Yep, and?

They seem rather incompetent from my perspective, but that doesn't mean they can't lead. The evidence simply doesn't point in that direction.