Comments on: How to get a PlayStation 3 for $100

Yep, there's a catch or two, but if you're the patient, credit-card-using sort, you'll ultimately walk away with a new PS3 for $99.99. Of course, it's a Blu-ray player, too.

[make_or_break]

Not a bad deal...as long as you can afford it. But isn't that always the case?

[loose_screw]

It's simple, people that can't handle credit responsibly need to stay far the h*ll away from this deal.

Don't blame credit cards for irresponsible human behavior. It's like blaming guns rather than the gunman for hurting people.

[tw1975]

"Don't blame credit cards for irresponsible human behavior."

This is indeed true.

[rickbroida]

Wow, didn't realize this would be such a polarizing post! Thanks for sharing all your thoughts, folks. I love reading the various viewpoints..

[transamman4u]

People who are uneducated are the problem with America. Knowledge is the key. I know people who bum lunch money in my office cause they always run out of cash. Whats the difference. Statisticly the world will end in 2012 according to someone study. My bank account balances draws interest on the balance. Which is high cause all my purchases are paid by AMEX. A months worth of checks sit in the bank drawing interest, then i pay the credit card off. I pay no interest. AMEX gives me points to spend for letting them host my purchases. Does this sound like a losing situation? Also get your credit report every year cause it's free and monitor your accounts. If your credit card company raises your limit call them and tell them to lower it or your going to switch cards. Also i have an uncle that has horrible credit. Cause he preferred to pay cash for everything his whole life. Tried to get a loan from a big cooperation and they said no. Reason well he doesn't have any spending history and his credit score was low.

[tw1975]

So you create a penny short of $3,400 of credit card debt to get a PS3 for $99?

.......................... I could get eight PS3's for that money, just to get $200 off the first one.

Nice try Sony, but I think I'll pass.

[nelsonpj]

The idea is that the $3,399.99 is spent on purchases you would have made otherwise. Therefore you are not creating any new debt. The credit card company is betting that you won't pay it off on time, prove them wrong and you'll get a great deal.

[rickbroida]

Wow, didn't realize this would be such a polarizing post! Thanks for sharing all your thoughts, folks. I love reading the various viewpoints..

[travisp11]

You need to read all of the fine details and be very careful when you purchase the PS3 from Sony. We ordered one back in december when there was a $150 credit you would recive after charging your PS3 to your Sony Visa. Well, between printing off the forms and not having them arrive on time and getting the run around from Chase Bank (The Sony Card is run through them) we ended never receiving the $150 rebate. After initially waiting a month and not having anything show up on our card we called the help line for the Sony/chase card and were told that a credit would show up after two to three months., Two months later we called and they/Chase they have no record of our paperwork not showing up, nor were they aware of any rebates and all of the e-mails and paperwork would have come from Sony. Sony told us that there was a limited time to send in the rebate in and that they would not let us send in another. Naturally, we didn't photocopy anything that we sent in but in the end it left us frustrated. Frustrated that Chase knew knowthing about a credit for a product they loaned us credit to purchase, frustrated with Sony for not giving us a second chance to fill out another rebate form and upset the paperwork didn't make it to the rebate center. In the end, please read the fine details and print off as much as you can (receipts, paperwork, rebate forms, etc.) before you buy and put your product on the Sony card. Rick, I know it is a good deal but you really need to cover your bases when it comes to rebates as we didn't.

[dupublic]

I took the $150 credit deal on PS3 purchase with new Sony credit card that Rick mentioned here a few weeks ago. It said you will "automatically qualify for $150 statement credit" in 8-12 weeks. Said nothing about mailing a rebate form or any action you need to take, except to make a purchase through SonyStyle within the promo period. But i guess you are referring to an eaven earlier promo? Sorry bout your troubles.

At any rate, does anybody know if the new promo $100 + 100 + 100 can be combined with the old $150 promo. I mean it almost sounds too good to be true. $450 credit for chariging $3,000 to your card in 6mo.

[dupublic]

Actually, i just checked... I already got my $150 credit - and only a couple of weeks after PS3 purchase. Kudos to Sony and Chase.

[ThatIsWhatSheSaid]

Just what we need - encouraging more people to freely use credit cards. SAVE, people!

[TristanPR]

Yep, those are your readers Rick.

They are so cheap that they dont know the difference between cashing on a habit (use of credit cards to help manage bills and so, while keeping the card debt free by paying it out every month) and getting into debt to get a video game.

I'm a cheapskate and therefore I try to use plastic over cash as much as I can (unless cash price is lower). Its just harder to take out the credit card to spend about $10. On the other hand, pocket cash seems to jump out of my pocket.

C'mon guys, fill that bank (and retailers) with overhead, put as many transactions as you can in your credit card, as many as you can afford at the end of the month so that they dont see a penny from you in fees.

Rick, this is a hell of a deal for disciplined cheapskates!!! Specially those that have a hard time looking to the PS3 $400 price tag

[NavyMustang]

I can't believe that the editors at CNET allowed this "story" (errr advertisement) to make it to press. What a bunch of garbage. Is anyone out there stupid enough to believe that you're getting a good deal here? The only people that this would even be "good" for are those who ACTUALLY pay their entire credit balance before the interest charges kick in. MOST of us don't and therefore incur hundreds in finance charges.

In our current economy, with millions suffering because of their misuse of credit, it is a disgrace for a respected company like CNET to run this article. Pay the extra $200 upfront and avoid the hundreds more in finance charges that Sony is going to reap!

[FillTheGap]

NavyMustang your post is nonsense. If your here because your a cheapskate you would not carry a credit balance!!!! Rule number one to save money, pay off your credit card. For all of those people with a credit card balance, here is a great way to make money.

Give yourself 12% or more (assuming thats your interest rate) guaranteed return on your investment. This is a deal of life time, any investor would take 12% with no risk in a heartbeat. All you have to do is pay off your Credit Balance and guess what you just did that. If you have a credit balance, don't come here to look for more crap to buy, pay off your balance first and then come back after you snagged your 12%.

If you have a balance why in gods name would you think it's a good idea to buy a PS3?

[Hyper_Dude]

We've talked about this deal for months on the Amazon boards. Where have you been?

Also, this deal, as with other dealsm, is not for everyone. Obviously, if you don't normally spend a lot of money on your credit card, you should just look for the Sony Visa deal that gives you $150 off a Sony purchase of $300+. That's the deal I got my PS3 with. If I'd know of this deal, I would have used it given I easily spend this amount on my credit card, and paying off the balance as I normally do would make this an awesome deal.

[zgreenwell]

Or you could wait about 2 months for the price drop everyone knows is coming. It wont be for $99, but that is far less hoop jumping. Its not like what is suggested is a quick solution anyway.

[rkinne01]

Ok let me get this straight you have to spend a few thousand dollars to save $300 on a PS3? No wonder we're in a recession if people are dumb enough to go thousands of dollars in debt to save a measley $300 on a video game console.

[FillTheGap]

Nobody said go into debt, Rick your fans are killing me...... I am assuming you don't know this but you can use a credit card and pay off the balance every month. For example you buy this stuff called gasoline and groceries with your credit card and then give the credit card company a check for the balance you incurred. You paid nothing and in fact the cash you did not spend until 20 or so days later could have even earned you interest....

[brianh431]

That is the dumbest crap I have ever heard. So you have to go into $1500.00 in debt to get a $99 dollar PS3. Just buy the $400 PS3, save $1100 in debt and who knows how much interest over the next 30 years your are paying that off.

[FillTheGap]

You are not impressing me either with your brilliance Brian, read the reply above!!!!!!

[marksteiner88]

this very reasonable if you use credit cards wisely- pay each balance monthly and on time. it works like these- use your new sony visa card in your everyday purchases, for sure it will be more than $500 in a month, and at the $1500 and $3000 mark (total since you opened the account) you'll get a $100 credit each. the card has no annual fee. that is if you want a PS3 and a visa card now. but if you carry a balance, it's not worth it.

[runningshoes007]

that is way too much work.

[noyoudidnot]

this is BULLSHHHHHT!! WHY PAY 3,000.00 in 3 months for ps3?? more easier going to craigslist and buy one for 300.- 350.00 heck even at pawn shops now u can pick 60gb ps3 for 299.00

[noyoudidnot]

matter of fact i bought 80gb an 60gb ps3 at local pawn shop for 590.00 300 for 60gb 290 for 80gb

[Icehearted]

I guess i8t depends on how people spend, and if this falls into your normal habits anyway it's an okay deal. Frugal fellas like myself might think this is seriously way too much hassle to save(?) $300.

[C433Z]

soo, I have to spend $3400 to get $300 in return?

[Zacm05]

No price is worth it for a PS3. I am not interested in Blu-Ray or any of the games on the PS3. PS2 was great, but PS3 blows, especially with the lack of developer support. Microsoft is a sucky company, but I much prefer my Xbox 360 to anything else. No go for me on this deal or any deal toward a PS3. You would have to pay me to get one.