http://www.ghoststorm.co.uk/?p=2750
As originally reported as a GhostStorm exclusive, UK high street chain WHSmith are currently selling ps3 consoles at a reduced price of £200 on the high street. We have since been in contact with WHSmith’s customer relations department to investigate the reasons why. They have confirmed that it is a clearance exercise, and that they will no longer be selling the console in their high street stores. When we again contacted them to ask why they were abandoning the ps3 console in – store, they told us:
“We are clearing PS3s to make room for any new products that may come from Sony in the future.”
Of course, this answer is vague enough to leave the door open to several more specific explanations. Perhaps they are giving up on the ps3 until the ps4 appears; though GhostStorm find this unlikely because a) WHSmith have told us that they will continue to sell ps3 software on the high street, and b) they have also told us that they will continue to sell the console via their online entertainment section (linked to from their main site at www.whsmith.co.uk).
Or maybe they’ve been told the ps3 slim will be ready to hit the streets in time for christmas, but not to let on?
Another possibility is that they’ve heard the ps3 slim rumours themselves, and are gambling on a release in the near future. However, cutting the price of the most expensive console you stock by a third, just because perhaps, maybe, a new version might be available at some point, wouldn’t be a particularly smart business move. This proves nothing; but it does provide a nice big chunk of fuel for the internet rumour machine.
In case you were wondering, WHSmith have no plans to discontinue the Xbox 360 console – and only a businessman whose IQ had dropped to single figures would stop selling the Wii.
