Another reason why I'm not a fan of Sony Entertainment

[zba78]

http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901&

More info here: http://xbox.ign.com/articles/741/741408p1.html

This is corporate giant stuff again. Really annoying. Can't wait till the wii comes out

[fingal]

I see your point ... that's quite depressing but I'm not surprised. Even a cursory read of a book like 'No Logo' would suggest that large companies regularly use tactics like this. My personal response is to increasingly boycott products from companies using such tactics ... however I'm no longer involved in gaming (apart from late night Wesnoth sessions ) so I'm not likely to worry Sony overmuch.

I don't drink coffee from high street shops though ... They have a record of putting small independent retailers out of business as a deliberate policy. Of course they publically deny this, but the private face of a company is often very different from its public face IMHO.

Personally I prefer small independent shops and public markets for buying stuff. Keener prices and friendlier faces. Apart from my regular health food shop where I have a gaggle of adoring women discounting most of what I buy. Why? Don't know! Going to give them a huge Xmas card this year.

[zba78]

...Personally I prefer small independent shops and public markets for buying stuff. Keener prices and friendlier faces...

I agree 100% with that. Bring back the 'community'. Daily we are made to feel more and more like a number, a statistic, and I for one find this sad.

[Dapper Dan]

Personally I prefer small independent shops and public markets for buying stuff.

I also agree fingal.

I'm a small business owner and it's sad how small businesses are being gobbled up by giant retail outlets. I'm not sure what the answer is, but it's heart rending to witness three mom and pop Drug stores that have been in business for fifty or more years in a small town being put out of business in less than three years as the result of a single giant super drugstore moving into town. Twenty years ago, I could go to a boat and rv show and see several small fishing stores and tackle shops showing there wares. Not any more. There all gone now. All of them have been put out of business by Wal-Mart. The small business owner can't buy wares in the huge volume Wal-Mart and others can, consequently they must pay more for products wholesale. They then have a choice of selling at the price Wal-Mart charges or ask a higher price. Either way it's a losing proposition. But a lot of it is our fault too. We'd rather buy a twelve dollar pair of shoes that won't last a year than to buy a pair of quality shoes for eighty dollars that would literally last a lifetime with proper care.

[fingal]

But a lot of it is our fault too. We'd rather buy a twelve dollar pair of shoes that won't last a year than to buy a pair of quality shoes for eighty dollars that would literally last a lifetime with proper care.

Yes I agree there too ... I've done it myself: felt like I didn't have time, then I've gone out and bought cheap shoes. We should all take responsibility for our own actions. For example I'm the world's worst at buying good clothes, but now I've realised that I must make more effort.

There's something seductive about convenience, so that it makes us depend on it. But now I think, a little more sweat and actually ... less convenience are better in the long run ... in some cases. For me part of buying something is the interaction I get from the vendor ... A smile, a conversation. Maybe even an after hours drink. Living in a large city really makes me miss those things.

I like the mental image conjured by 'mom and pop' drugstores.

[techieMoe]

For me part of buying something is the interaction I get from the vendor ... A smile, a conversation. Maybe even an after hours drink. Living in a large city really makes me miss those things.

I like the mental image conjured by 'mom and pop' drugstores.

Perhaps I'm just odd (okay, I know I am, but that's besides the point), but I actually prefer clinical detachment from the people serving me at a store. I don't go shopping for social interaction; I go in, get what I need, and get out. I like to not be hassled or asked "how I'm doing" by an hourly wage teenager who really doesn't care.

Now, if I know the person who owns or runs the store personally, that's a different story. For years I drove an extra 30 miles out of the way to go to a particular video game store because the guy who owned it was someone I knew and enjoyed talking to.

[Tainted_Girl]

Wow! That's harsh. I bought a couple of imported items from them. I don't see how it violates EU safety standards when all PSP consoles were in conformity with all EU and UK consumer safety regulations. Lik-Sang also shipped them with genuine Sony 100V-240V AC Adapters that carry CE safety marks. So it's like suddenly Sony is telling the High Court of London.........

Sony:The PSP from Japan is defective once it enters the European atmosphere and then becomes a weapon of mass destruction.

High Court of London:Well in that case I firmly agree that importing it should definitely be prevented.

Sony:Also that laptop you bought from us was also defective. It might also be imported.

High Court of London:...................

[Salgat]

Why exactly do they not make games that are accepted universally on any PS3? Why make different regional PS3? You would think theyd just put several languages on the PS3 menu and have the language default set to your region. I mean in the end they are going to sell the same amount of PS3s. Oh and Sony, I hated you before, but well now I really hate you.

[fingal]

Not everything is going Sony's way it seems. Read this. I suspect they're having cultural problems in their organisation. Eg., they're all stupid.

[bigtomrodney]

Perhaps I'm just odd (okay, I know I am, but that's besides the point), but I actually prefer clinical detachment from the people serving me at a store. I don't go shopping for social interaction; I go in, get what I need, and get out.

I have to agree here. There are circumstances where I need the voice of experience and a knowledgeable vendor. This is particularly true in the case of services - a barber for example. But when I buy something I don't go for the experience. I may return for it but I set out to buy the product I need and I prefer to do so without hassle and at the right price.

Small businesses can't meet the bulk buy power of larger chains. I know what I want. If I don't I'll ask or do some research but the thing that appeals the most is having a large selection at low cost to me. I have in the last few years had a big turnaround in the way I view the market. It took a while to learn and to break brand loyalties but the only way I can win as a consumer is if I remember I am the market. The best service offering will get my custom. The best price will get my custom. The best experience will get my custom. This is not a nice thing for the large or small vendors to hear but it's the way things should be. I do not owe anyone my business and it's about time they started to realise it.

This is why I don't use Microsoft products, they believe the market belongs to them and constantly rebrand standards and lock in consumers so they feel they have no choice. Much like insurance companies should realise they are in a risk business and stop hedging their bets by increasing my premiums.



Sorry I had to say that. And to be honest since I have changed my attitude I have had much better service as a consumer.