By David Richards
The battle for market share in the LCD TV market is taking its toll with both Sony and Samsung now being slammed for not delivering the value add offers promised by retailers.
Thousands of the 28,000 consumers who purchased a Sony Bravia LCD TV on the basic that they would get a new Blu ray Sony PS3 gaming console are still waiting for their PS3 four months out from when the promotion was run. Meanwhile Samsung customers are still waiting for a small LCD screen promised with their large screen purchase.
Between December and January 2008 Sony grabbed a 40% share of the LCD TV market for their Bravia offering by bundling a Sony PS3 Blu ray gaming console. They promised that the screen would be delivered within 28 days.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald Sony Bravia LCD TV buyers have been waiting for up to four months for the company to make good on its promise to give them a free PlayStation 3 games console.
The SMH say that readers responding to last week's story about the Samsung delays complained of poor communication by Sony and rejected the company's claims it had run out of stock of PS3s, saying there was plenty of stock in most stores.
In a statement that did nothing to appease customers promised a PS3 with their new Bravia LCD TV purchase Tony Barbour, head of strategy and brand development at Sony Australia.
"This was an extremely successful promotion and the PlayStation 3 has been an extremely desirable product," he said. "Sony has worked as quickly as possible to fulfill customer orders, which include sourcing both Bravia LCD TVs and PlayStation 3 consoles from overseas, in order to satisfy the demand. We appreciate the patience of our customers during the delivery period." Said Barbour in a comment issued by their PR Company.
Neither Barbour, or other senior Sony executives returned calls to SmartHouse or ChannelNews to confirm why the delay had happened and more importantly why the Company did not order PS3 stock prior to the promotion which would enable them fulfill their marketing obligation.
Samsung PR Manager Jesse James said that the the Company has been a victim of its own success.
"The bonus LCD offer has been a huge success, well beyond what we expected" says James, adding that all concerned consumers should rest assured that it is not a matter of if, but rather when their orders will be fulfilled.
James said that Samsung will fulfil its obligations, in a matter of weeks.
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