MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Horrible Sony Product Roll-out

KNI · 11-01-2010, 01:09 AM

I have to say Sony's roll-out of their new E-Readers is very possibly the worst I have ever seen, especially for a company of Sony's class.

I own a PRS-505, and have been extremely pleased with it. I bought my wife a PRS-300, and she uses it a lot as well. I watched the news of the new Sony readers with great interest. The PRS-650 especially looked good - imagine a PRS-505 with better contrast, the same resolution, a touch interface AND dictionaries. I was salivating.

Well, it was announced I think about September 1st - and I have yet to see one! But not for lack of trying! OK, I live in the boondocks of western Oregon. But. Wal-Mart is only showing the PRS-600 and the PRS-300. Same for Staples. Same for Radio Shack. I drove to Medford, 40 miles away to the Best Buy. They actually had the PRS-350 in stock - but only in a box inside a hard plastic sabot, and refused to open it and show it. But they had lots of PRS-300's and PRS600's for sale.

Sorry friends - since I own a PRS-505 I am not going to buy a newer unit until I can see it play. And indeed, why would anyone buy something in store if the buyer can not examine it and try it? Instead, buy it over the internet out of state and save money.

One of the problems clearly is that a lot of retailers have inventory of PRS-300's and PRS-600's and are not going to promote the newer models until they unload the old onto unsuspecting customers - which will only lead to unhappy customers when they find out they bought a unit that is already obsolete.

In the mean time many of these same retailers are showing Kindles and Nooks. I really don't understand why retailers like Best Buy, Target and Radio Shack would promote the Kindle when once it is sold the customer is going to be buying books from Amazon - one of their strongest competitors.

And in the mean time, I can't find a Sony unit within 100 miles to see what I might be buying!

Also, Best Buy at least is promoting the PRS-350, and the PRS-950 - and does not even acknowledge the existence of the PRS-650!

This has got to be master's degree course in how NOT to introduce a new product. I believe Sony offers the best package, at least for me, but the marketing of it is stunningly bad.

Wake up, Sony! Before it is too late!

11-01-2010, 01:09 AM	#1
KNI Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 31226 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oregon Device: Sony PRS-650	Horrible Sony Product Roll-out I have to say Sony's roll-out of their new E-Readers is very possibly the worst I have ever seen, especially for a company of Sony's class. I own a PRS-505, and have been extremely pleased with it. I bought my wife a PRS-300, and she uses it a lot as well. I watched the news of the new Sony readers with great interest. The PRS-650 especially looked good - imagine a PRS-505 with better contrast, the same resolution, a touch interface AND dictionaries. I was salivating. Well, it was announced I think about September 1st - and I have yet to see one! But not for lack of trying! OK, I live in the boondocks of western Oregon. But. Wal-Mart is only showing the PRS-600 and the PRS-300. Same for Staples. Same for Radio Shack. I drove to Medford, 40 miles away to the Best Buy. They actually had the PRS-350 in stock - but only in a box inside a hard plastic sabot, and refused to open it and show it. But they had lots of PRS-300's and PRS600's for sale. Sorry friends - since I own a PRS-505 I am not going to buy a newer unit until I can see it play. And indeed, why would anyone buy something in store if the buyer can not examine it and try it? Instead, buy it over the internet out of state and save money. One of the problems clearly is that a lot of retailers have inventory of PRS-300's and PRS-600's and are not going to promote the newer models until they unload the old onto unsuspecting customers - which will only lead to unhappy customers when they find out they bought a unit that is already obsolete. In the mean time many of these same retailers are showing Kindles and Nooks. I really don't understand why retailers like Best Buy, Target and Radio Shack would promote the Kindle when once it is sold the customer is going to be buying books from Amazon - one of their strongest competitors. And in the mean time, I can't find a Sony unit within 100 miles to see what I might be buying! Also, Best Buy at least is promoting the PRS-350, and the PRS-950 - and does not even acknowledge the existence of the PRS-650! This has got to be master's degree course in how NOT to introduce a new product. I believe Sony offers the best package, at least for me, but the marketing of it is stunningly bad. Wake up, Sony! Before it is too late!