It looks like the rumor is true, PS3 is getting a price cut!
PS3 Fanboy has received some reports from around the nation that PS3s have been sold for $499 today. Here's a rundown of the findings from around the country:
1. A reader confirmed to PS3 Fanboy that he was able to buy a PS3 for $499 at a Target in an unspecified location. The site called up the store and they
CONFIRMED that the console is listed as $499 in their computer.
2. Two units were sold in an undisclosed Circuit City location for $499.
3. A Rancho Cucamonga, California Target location has the PS3 listed for $499 in their system.
Also, the piece at PS3 Fanboy has been picked up by
Digg and one commenter there has stated that he got one from a Target location for $499.
Another article at
Kotaku has even more confirmation of a price cut, with Target stores in Bend, Oregon and Beavercreek, Ohio both confirming that the console is $499. However, they also mention that stores in Los Angeles and West Hollywood, CA, Dayton, OH, Orlando, FL, and Littleton, CO have the system for $599. In other words, this price cut is not Target-wide yet, it's just a few renegade stores breaking the rules and implementing the new price before the "official price cut day".
Kotaku commenter SPIKE1856 offers some insight on Target's price change policy:
"I can tell you why some Target stores have the price cut in place and others do not--Target's price change day for the Electronics department is Monday. If a store's price change team gets ahead of pace, they have the ability to start early on the next day's workload. Since Saturday and Sunday are not price change days, this means that Monday's price changes can be activated on Friday, effectively three days early. The price change team at my store, sadly, is definitely not ahead of pace at the moment and so our PS3's are still priced at $599.99."
Could the price effect be taking effect as you read this? Is it real? Am I dreaming? I don't know, but this whole situation is very intriguing. Tomorrow, I plan on doing some investigative journalism (and buying some DVD-R discs) and seeing if the local stores have the PS3 marked down in their systems.
However, when all is said and done, this is the second worst kept secret of the year, next to the Xbox 360 Elite. I bet Sony is wishing they could be more like Paramount Pictures and the
trailer for that new J.J. Abrams movie. Seriously, go to that link, it's incredible.
UPDATE:
I went to the local Target in Mankato, Minnesota, and here's what I saw under the PS3s they had...
Sorry for the crappy camera phone photo, it's all I had at the time.
PS3 is now Four Hundred and Ninety Nine US dollars...
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Sony should have learned from history. Almost 8 months old and already dropping 100 bucks. Wonder how much they are losing now.
Good job Sony. How is that arrogance doing you now?
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Still can't afford one 
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did the 20 gb's ever go on clearance? even with that it was prolly still too much haha
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Still outside my price range, though the games coming out so far blow the 360 out of the water.
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Hmmm with 5 blue ray movies it is not to bad a deal but I will still wait. Plus I would prolly never watch the movies. Plus I would need a new TV. My wife asked me last night if I want one now. I said no i would have to buy a TV as well.
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I have no clue how they can afford to subsidize sales this much, but I guess they must find it important to fight the money battle against mighty MS. On the other hand, Microsoft is making possibly one of the most expensive warranty recalls in history on the 360. They do seem to be taking excellent care of their customers though and also extended the warranty to 3 years.
I'ld say it's too expensive but I bid on a Sega Katana (Dreamcast dev unit) yesterday (and lost) but I really don't like buying new when I can get the same thing used 5 years later for a fraction of the original price.
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Another thought
The Japanese have been enjoying a lower price on the ps3 since launch, so maybe Sony can afford such subsidies after all.
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It's still going to hurt their bottom line, but they have to do something to jump start sales.
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maybe when it's $200 or less I'll buy one....but, like Tynstar said, I would need a new TV first, since I don't even have a HDTV yet.....
i wonder how much that is hurting sales of the PS3, lack of people having HDTVs....outside the video game and movie collecting world, i don't really know too many people that own HDTVs yet....hell, I'm so avid about watching movies and I still don't have one, so I can't see too many casual gamers / watchers running out to get one....
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Lets see if this price drop can make its way to England. Some how I doubt it.
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I wonder if they'll try to match prices with the X360 in Canada. Up here a PS3 is either $160 or $200 more than a X360. It would certainly help the overstock in stores right now.
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After hearing some rumors, I wonder if this price drop is a result of them switching from hardware to (the problematic) software emulation that Europe has been getting since their launch this spring.
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I will just buy a used for 400 maybe
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I can't believe that they are discontinuing the 60GB PS3. Sony really wishes that the PS3 buyer takes it in the ass.
This sucks, I do want a PS3, but for the price they are asking it's just flat out expensive.
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