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Tue, 07 Jun 2005 09:27:35 +0200

6th June 2005

As you may all know, Sony have indicated that the Sony PSP will be released in September 2005. It is the opinion of many that this expected release date will not be on track and in all probability will most likely be nearer the festive season, with greater appeal to the Christmas shopping market.

Remember when the PS2 game console was released? The demand was so great that a lot of people could scarcely get their hands on one. And, where you could get one, this had the effect of a significant 'bumping up'of the selling price to an extortianate level for some eBay traders.

Lately, you will find a number of eBay traders offering what appears to be very low priced PSP Value Packs. BEWARE! What you should not forget is the hidden costs to you. These include excessive postage/shipping costs (anything up to £30.00). Add to this, that you, the customer may then be expected to pay all the import taxes on the unit upon delivery of your PSP and there you have it - another hidden cost that could add anything up to a third on the price already paid. This is because PSP is not yet available in the UK, which means that the Value Packs presently on sale here are imports from the USA and Japan to name a few. Shipping from these countries will incur import taxes. Whilst these import taxes are being incorporated in the final asking price by UK retailers, some eBaybay traders do not, which has the effect of making the PSP appear far cheaper on eBay. However, if you add the excessive postage/shipping costs to the import taxes you will have to pay, you soon realise that 'cheap'is not all it lives up to be.Be mindful of the fact that imports from some countries may not offer you the same, if any, warranty and therefore the protection you would automatically get when purchasing from a reputable supplier. To give you an example, the manufacturer's warranty on some merchandise targeted specifically to the US market is approximately three months, whereas due to different requirements in the UK, this could be up to one year.

Please also be aware that as with any merchandise, there is always the chance of being duped i.e. merchandise with country specific design being passed off as the genuine article in another it was not intended for. You may in all probability be paying far more than you bargain for, given the fact that you may have no comeback in the event your unit develops a fault and need to be returned. Do your homework!

I aim to bring you the latest relevant articles, news and views in the near future, which will include free downloads for your psp. In the meantime why not contribute to our future articles. Simply email me your questions, suggestions and ideas for future issues. We are particularly interested to learn and to share your knowledge and experiences of the PSP. olga@gtechplus.co.uk

Olga Graham-Try
Want to know more about the Sony PSP and some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)? Visit http://www.gtechplus.co.uk
Visit the official Sony site and see the PSP in action: http://www.us.playstation.com/Content/sites/65/info

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Sony PSP: ebayer-be-aware

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