How to deter PS3-shopping Amazon users en masse

Frustration begets sadnessAmazon-using gamers will not be pleased with this latest development. QJ reader Ted tells us of his recent experience in trying to order a PlayStation 3, and apparently, it wasn’t a particularly positive thing.

The highlights in displeasing PS3 fans are as follows:

Step 1: Open up a 20GB PlayStation 3 sale for 30 minutes, causing quite a number of people to order.
Step 2: Upon ordering, link to anything remotely resembling unavailability, yet send a confirmation notice to the person ordering.
Step 3: Wait three days.
Step 4: Send an email after the above-mentioned three days saying the item isn’t actually available.
Step 5: Make sure your sincere apologies have a postscript at the bottom of the email indicating that it’s an automatic email that can’t be replied to.

The customer discussions on the ordering page are currently very agitated with the matter. This information, while saddening to read, is unfortunately not surprising as Amazon also managed to create a waiting game of sorts out of Wii orders.

In any case, we’ve also placed a copy of the main body of Ted’s email to us below. Some minor editing though for swearing, though we understand the need for stress relief right now.

For Ted’s email, click on “Full Article.”

That kinda hurts really bad.Amazon-using gamers will not be pleased with this latest development. QJ reader Ted tells us of his recent experience in trying to order a PlayStation 3, and apparently, it wasn’t a particularly positive thing.

The highlights in displeasing PS3 fans are as follows:

Step 1: Open up a 20GB PlayStation 3 sale for 30 minutes, causing quite a number of people to order.
Step 2: Upon ordering, link to anything remotely resembling unavailability, yet send a confirmation notice to the person ordering.
Step 3: Wait three days.
Step 4: Send an email after the above-mentioned three days saying the item isn’t actually available.
Step 5: Make sure your sincere apologies have a postscript at the bottom of the email indicating that it’s an automatic email that can’t be replied to.

The customer discussions on the ordering page are currently very agitated with the matter. This information, while saddening to read, is unfortunately not surprising as Amazon also managed to create a waiting game of sorts out of Wii orders.

In any case, we’ve also placed a copy of the main body of Ted’s email to us below. Some minor editing though for swearing, though we understand the need for stress relief right now.

So here’s the letter:

On the evening of the 18th, Amazon.com opened up PS3 sales for the 20gb version for about a half hour. I can only estimate that tens of thousands of people placed an order, including myself. After that, it went to the same “This item is currently not available” icon. I, and thousands of other people, immediately got a confirmation email from Amazon such as this:

Shipping Details: (order will arrive in 1 shipment)

Order #:

Shipping Method: Standard Shipping

Shipping Preference: Group my items into as few shipments as possible

Subtotal of Items: $499.99

Shipping & Handling: $4.49

——

Total before tax: $504.48

Estimated Tax:* $37.83

——

Total for this Order: $542.31

Shipping estimate for these items: November 27, 2006

Delivery estimate: November 30, 2006 – December 4, 2006

1 “Sony PlayStation 3 (20GB)”

Video Game; $499.99

Sold by: target.direct

Remember, this was placed on Saturday. I was a veeeery happy man all weekend, even though the Browns lost. But then I get an email this morning (3 days later):

Greetings from Amazon.com.

We’re writing about your recent order for the Sony Playstation 3 from Target at Amazon.com.

Amazon.com recently encountered a problem that caused the Sony Playstation 3 to appear as available to order for a short period of time from Target at Amazon.com.

Unfortunately, this item is not actually available for purchase and Amazon.com has cancelled this item from the following order(s):

————————————————————–

002-6695551-XXXXXXXX

————————————————————–

If this product does become available for purchase on Amazon.com in the future, we will post updates to the product detail page.

We deeply apologize for the inconvenience this has caused and appreciate your patience and understanding.

Sincerely,

Customer Service Department

Amazon.com

Please note: this e-mail was sent from a notification-only address that cannot accept incoming e-mail. Please do not reply to this message.

WTF?! I understand mistakes but to happen with the hottest toy this time of year is complete bull****. We as consumers suffer because of their technical ineptitude? Not to mention letting us hang for 3 days before telling us they screwed up? BULL***!! All we get is a “I’m sorry” and encourage us to buy it from them again in the future “when it’s available”. Yeah, right!

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