<![CDATA[Consumerist: Dumb]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/consumerist.com.png <![CDATA[Consumerist: Dumb]]> http://consumerist.com/tag/dumb http://consumerist.com/tag/dumb <![CDATA[ Dallas School District Caught Using Random SSNs For Foreign Workers ]]> The Dallas Independent School District has been making up fake Social Security Numbers for foreign hires for years, even after being told in 2004 by the state's education board to stop because it's illegal. The numbers were meant to "expedite" the hiring process and get the employees on payroll, but they found their way onto Department of Homeland Security and IRS forms (which are kept in-district but shared with feds upon request), were used for criminal background checks, and in at least 26 cases were numbers in use by real people.

The Dallas Morning News doesn't mention whether or not the DISD will be contacting the people who have had their SSNs appropriated, but they did offer this detail:

The DISD-issued Social Security numbers began with "200" – a prefix assigned to people in Pennsylvania, and Mr. Phillips' office noted that many ended with sequential numbers.

In general, though, with the exception of the occasional criminal background check, the fake SSNs were supposedly kept away from any legitimate use, and even if your SSN fits the description above the odds are low anything bad has happened. We're just amazed at the school district's monumentally bad judgment.

"Dallas ISD faulted for using fake Social Security numbers" [Dallas Morning News] (Thanks to AttorneyWrangler!)
(Photo: Getty)

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Consumerist-5087589 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:48:58 EST Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5087589&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ FreeCreditReport Hires Ed McMahon To Rap In "Viral" Videos ]]> We're warning you now, so that you won't bother to fall for the "you-gotta-see-this!" absurdity of an 85-year-old former talk show announcer and sweepstakes pitchman reduced to self-mockery in order to make some money. We don't begrudge McMahon his career, but as you know we deeply begrudge "free"creditreport.com for its misleading name, commercials, promises—well, pretty much everything.

Here, courtesy of CNN, are the lyrics to the rap:

"When I retired, I was famous," McMahon raps in the video. "I had money and glory/I bought a house for 6 mill/I thought nothing could touch me/Until my credit went south, and debt started to crunch me/Next thing I know, instead of playing gin rummy, I was scrambling just to make ends meet/It wasn't funny."

After being joined by two scantily clad women, McMahon continues: "Got a bump from the media chumps, but that was temporary/Wife with bad credit was scary, so I got wise/I may have fallen, but I got back up/Now I'm back on the attack, like a ninja swinging nunchucks/I told the haters, 'Go on, take a hike'/It's my show now, and I can do what I like."

It will be released, presumably on sites like YouTube, in October. Watch it if you must, but remember: freecreditreport.com is a rip-off. If you want a free credit report, use annualcreditreport.com.

"Ed McMahon turns gangsta rapper" [CNN] (Thanks to Bryan!)

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Consumerist-5055030 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:03:41 EDT Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5055030&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Life Still Empty? Buy Videotaped Autographs From The Stars ]]> We can't really mock the self-mocking William Shatner for his miraculous ability to keep earning money as a celebrity, sometimes even by acting, so instead we'll roll our eyes at the dorks who are paying $150 and up for videotaped footage of Shatner reciting a personalized greeting into a video camera as he autographs a photo. And we'll be secretly jealous of the entrepreneur who came up with the idea.

...with the incidence of fraudulent autographs on the rise, Live Autographs bills itself as a service that helps authenticate the celebrity signature.

Shatner, 77, launched the business on Wednesday, signing pictures, mugs and even a toy "communicator" from "Star Trek," the 1960s TV space adventure that made Shatner a star.

Liveautographs.com's website lists Danica Patrick, Hulk Hogan, Carmen Electra, Steve Austin, Ted Nugent, Cindy Margolis, and Raven-Symone as other celebs you can purchase, as well as about half the cast of "Lost."

Oddly, Shatner isn't listed on the website, which makes us wonder if Trekkies bought up all his face time or he was just faking it for a press release. (Shatner is an investor in the company.)

"William Shatner signs off on new video autographs" [Reuters]

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Consumerist-5038330 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:48:08 EDT Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5038330&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Fred Meyer Says Cheese Is Not A Dairy Product ]]> Go shopping for cheese at the Ballard Fred Myer in Seattle, and you'll learn an interesting new fact about your food:

The check-er-outer lady looked at it a while and said (without the slightest trace of irony),

“I don’t think cheese is a dairy product.”

Oh. Um. Well. Yes. Um. WHAT?

“No, they don’t consider cheese a dairy product.”

With that newly created fact, the cashier refused to apply a store coupon for dairy products to a package of cheddar slices. When the columnist for The Stranger asked her who "they" are, she replied, "Fred Meyer Corporation."

The columnist and his coupon-wielding friend saved the coupon for another day and purchased the cheese at full price, but we have a feeling a lot of our readers would not have let Fred Meyer off so easily.

"Cheese: The Totally Other Food Group. Apparently. Maybe From Space!" [The Stranger] (Thanks to everyone who sent this in!)
(Photo of tomato plant: Aine D)

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Consumerist-5035959 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:04:00 EDT Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5035959&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Bad Customers And The Stupid Things They Say ]]>

Our reader Eyebrows McGee pointed us to a fun, albeit slightly depressing (if you're concerned about the future of the human race) website called NotAlwaysRight.com, where retail veterans post transcripts of their worst customer interactions. Read for fun, but also for examples of how not to behave as a consumer.

Me: “Can I help you?”
Customer:“I’m looking for non-fiction.”
Me:“What kind?”
Customer: “Just non-fiction.”
Me: “Okay…do you want history? Or science? Psychology?
Business?”
Customer: “No, just NON-FICTION!”

Customer: “Tell me; is your cleaning solution toxic?”
Me: “You mean the stuff we use to clean fresh ear piercings?”
Customer: “Yah, that stuff.
Me: “Well no sir, I don’t believe it’s toxic. There isn’t really anything in here that–”
Customer: “–because I ingested a whole bunch of it!”
Me: “Why?”
Customer: “I was out of mouth wash. I needed mouth wash.”
Me: “But it isn’t mouth wash…it’s used to clean piercings…”
Customer: “I know, do you think I’m stupid?! That’s why I’m worried!”

Customer:“These things don’t work! They are hard to swallow and I nearly choked to death.”
Me: “Ma’am, they are suppositories. You don’t swallow them, you insert them rectally.”
Customer: “What does that mean?”
Me: “You unwrap them and insert them in your rectum.”
Customer: “What’s my rectum?”
Me: “Ma’am, please forgive me, but your rectum is your butt hole.”
Customer: “Well up yours too!” *stalks off*

(This is not the first time someone misunderstood when we explained how to use a suppository. It’s the only time we can tell a patient “up yours” and get away with it!)

www.notalwaysright.com

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Consumerist-5009738 Mon, 19 May 2008 13:52:18 EDT Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5009738&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ CenterPoint Energy Thinks Your Fish Tank Is A Meth Lab, So Police Kick In Your Door ]]> You'd think between the reactionary CenterPoint Energy subcontractor who smelled vinegar and got worried, the police officer who asked for a search warrant, and the new-to-the-bench judge who signed the warrant, someone would have stopped to say, "Wait, what exactly did you smell? Something vinegary, huh? Yeah, that's not a meth lab." (After all, we were able to find two decent descriptions of what a meth lab smells like in less than a minute.) Instead, a 54-year-old former nurse and her 49-year-old husband were handcuffed and told to sit in their living room and not speak to each other while the warrant was executed.
"Ohmigod," Adams said as she recalled police breaking down her door and flashing the search warrant. "I just kept saying to them, 'you've got the wrong house.' "
 
Roehl said the drug task force was acting on a tip from a subcontractor for CenterPoint Energy, who had been in the home Friday to install a hot water heater.
 
"He got hit with a chemical smell that he said made him light headed, feel kind of nauseous," Roehl said.
 
The smell was vinegar, and maybe pickling lime, which were clearly marked in a bathroom Mr. Adams uses to mix chemicals for his salt water fish tank.
 
"I said, 'I call it his laboratory for his fish tanks,' " Mrs. Adams said, recalling her conversation with the CenterPoint technician. "I'm looking at the fish tank talking to this guy."
 
Police say there was no extended investigation, just an interview with the subcontractor.

"Police raid suspected meth house, only find fish tank" [Kare 11] (Thanks to Kristopher!)
(Photo: seanmcgrath) ]]>
Consumerist-5007362 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:13:48 EDT Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5007362&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Kmart Will Trade You A Bottle Of Coke <i>Or</i> Free Candy For A Sears Credit Card App ]]> Dan sent us this pic he snapped in a local Kmart and writes, "I remember a previous post on a Wal-Mart card that offered a 2-liter bottle, but I guess inflation caught up with big K as they are only offering 20-oz."

Starbucks grotesquely mishandled their free coffee stunt—they could have been collecting credit card apps all day long.

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Consumerist-377520 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:13:42 EDT Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=377520&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Ridiculous Tech Support Calls ]]> It is common knowledge that Canucks love to sing.In his Circuits column this week, David Pogue shares some of the most absurd calls he listened to when he toured a tech support center.
I learned that when they say, "Your call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes," that's only partly true. They also record your calls so they can pass around recordings of the funniest ones.

The agents gave him a CD of their favorite calls, and he transcribes a few of them in his column. We like this one:

A Canadian customer was calling to find out if there was a faster way to trigger menu commands than mousing up to the menus.

Agent: Certainly, sir. There are keyboard shortcuts for many of those commands. For example, suppose you want to trigger the Select All command...

Caller: Yes, I use that one all the time! How do I do it?

Agent: Well, you just press Control-A.

Caller (after a pause): Well, that's not working for me.

Agent: Do you have a text document open in front of you?

Caller: Yes, I sure do.

Agent: OK, now press Control-A.

Caller: I am, but nothing happens.

Agent: The text isn't highlighted?

Caller: No, there's no change at all.

Agent: That's odd. If you press Control-A, the whole document should be highlighted. Try it again. Press Control-A. Tell me exactly what's happening.

Caller (nearing his Canadian breaking point): Listen. I'm pressing Control, eh? And nothing's happening, eh?


"Tech Support Gets a Reprieve While Users Take a Hit " [New York Times]

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Consumerist-364934 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:49:58 EST Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=364934&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Gas Station Attendant Busted For Re-Using Customers' Credit Card Numbers ]]> con_duncecap.jpg A 23-year-old gas station attendant in Massachusetts has been charged with identity theft after a customer noticed that her card was used to make additional purchases a few hours after she'd been at the station. The attendant told his employers that the customer had come back to buy gift cards for her nephew, but police say the employee wrote down the card number and expiration date.

"The customers came in and evidently he took down their credit card number and expiration date," said Jim McDonald, manager of the gas station. "He was working with another employee. When the other employee left at 9 p.m. he bought himself three prepaid debit cards and since he had the credit card number and expiration date, he could manually enter it."

McDonald said Saumur bought one $100 card, and two $50 cards.

"Gas Attendant Accused Of ID Theft" [MSNBC]
(Photo: Getty)

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Consumerist-357287 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:43:44 EST Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=357287&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Mann Free Movie Tickets Settlement Requires Your Credit Card Number ]]> con_graumanschinesetheatre.jpg Between December 2006 and January 2007, Mann Theatres in Southern California printed the expiration dates of credit cards on receipts. If you were one of the lucky suckers who saw a movie there during this period and paid via credit card, Mann's lawyers want to make things right by giving you two free movie tickets and some free popcorn. However, to qualify for the free tickets, you have to provide your credit card number. This is like the end of "The Lion King" where the new cub is held aloft—the circle of life continues.

(Thanks to David!)

"Mann Theatres owes you free tickets and popcorn" [Metroblogging Los Angeles]

RELATED
www.manntheatressettlement.com

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Consumerist-347527 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:02:50 EST Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=347527&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ What's Inside This Big Box From IBM? ]]> I bet something good is in here! Ooo, what could be inside this box that IBM shipped to a reader—retail-packaged software? Peripherals? Maybe a hard drive with air padding? A logo-emblazoned hoodie? Monogrammed pencils? A kitten?


Nope: it's two replacement trackpoint nubs, smaller than a lapdog's nipples.

con_tinynipplenubs.jpgWe know some of you don't like these "big box-tiny product" posts, but they highlight the waste and incompetence of current shipping methods, and remind us of how messed up the supply chain remains, despite years of fine-tuning. As long as companies increase profits by passing costs on to the consumer instead of seeking out and addressing these inefficiencies, we're going to see higher and higher levels of government-style red tape and bureaucracy. And big boxes with big shipping fees with tiny products inside.

"Reason #2389 Why IBM is a Ridiculous Corporation and Why My Next Computer Will Be a Mac" [Optimus Crime Toronto]
(Thanks to Sofi!)

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Consumerist-347235 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:14:44 EST Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=347235&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Worst Business Reply Postcard Ever ]]> Can you spot what's wrong with this Business Reply postcard? That's right, The Huntsville Times wants you to write down your full contact information and credit card number on a postcard and send it through the mail where anyone can see it. Hellooooo, identity theft.

badhunts.jpgHere is the email tipster Clinton sent to the newspaper:

Dear Huntsville Staff,

I purchased the Sunday Paper today and began reading it. In amongst the paper, was a Business Reply Card from the Huntsville Times with a subscription special. I was considering the offer when I noticed that response asked for a Credit Card Number, Exp Date, and Signature. While this is not uncommon to be sent for postal purchases, I have never seen it on a business reply card that has not even the security of an envelope. Anyone who picks up the BRC now has your credit card information and can go shopping.

In these days of personal ID theft, I think you should case requesting CC information on Business Reply Cards and write a notice in the paper not to use the BRC in conjunction with your CC information.

As good stewards, I think this approach is only prudent.

And here is their response:

Mr. Wylie,

First of all let me say a personal thank you for purchasing a Sunday paper and voicing your concern on the rack reply card. Your points on credit card thief are VERY valid and over looked on our part. You are correct on the issues. In creating this form we did not intend to be so careless on protecting our future customer's information. I am looking at re-working our forms now. I would like to offer you a two week free subscription of our everyday delivery and ask you to consider subscribing to The Huntsville Times. After the two free weeks, you can pay $20 for 20 weeks delivery of the Sunday paper, which will save you $.50 per Sunday copy, not to mention the time it takes you to go buy on out of the rack. Just let me know and I can get it set up for you.

Thanks again for the insight; I promise I will get it taken care of.

Thanks,
Darren T. Mack
Sales and Promotions Manager

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Consumerist-345569 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:16:33 EST Ben Popken http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=345569&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Wal-Mart Joins The Stupid Shipping Gang ]]> A reader writes, "As part of our Christmas shopping; we ordered several DVD's, video games, and a phone card from Wal-Mart's website." The items trickled in over several days, then "this showed up. A 10X11X5 inch box, an air-filled air bubble, and one thin phone card taped to the bottom of the box."

Companies, this has got to stop! It's wasteful and annoying. It's stupid. It can't cost that much to hire someone to put together a shipping program that uses different package sizes for different types of products.

Stop wasting so much material and making the consumer complicit in your waste. Ever heard of envelopes? Use envelopes. Figure out the logistics. It's not as if Christmas season only passes by the Earth every 75 years—prepare your facilities and employees to handle the annual, predictable increase in fulfillment.

con_amazonenvelople.jpg Despite Amazon's novel hard-drive-shipping technique, they've at least begun to address this. We ordered a single book from them last week and it arrived in a flat package, stiff enough to protect the book but malleable enough for our insane mail carrier to somehow fold it like an origami Cthulhu temple so that he could shove it into our mailbox. So we know you can do it, companies. Stop being lazy. And fire the shipping facility manager who let that card get shipped out like that. (What? It's not Christmas anymore.)

(Thanks to Ian!)

RELATED
"Crate & Barrel's Wooden Spoon Packaging Is Very Efficient"
"Amazon Is Unable To Ship A Hard Drive In Proper Packaging"

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Consumerist-337690 Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:22:24 EST Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=337690&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Amazon Is Unable To Ship A Hard Drive In Proper Packaging ]]> Amazon should take a closer look at how they're shipping hard drives, because the current plan just isn't working.

I live in California and my best friend lives in Connecticut. For Christmas I sent him a 500GB Western Digital drive, from Amazon.com.

When he received the package, the drive had been damaged and was not usable. Most likely because it was packed without any protective padding at all! (See attached picture). Aside from the single plastic bubble, there was nothing to prevent the drive from being damaged.

My friend had the drive RMA'd from Amazon, and told the Amazon representative what had happened. When the second drive arrived, he was astonished to discover that it was packed exactly the same way! Once again, no protective wrapping/padding, and the drive was again damage in transit.

On his second call to Amazon, he was told by the rep that "we can not guarantee" that it would ship safely, and was offered a store credit. Which makes me wonder, what's the point of store credit if you can't get undamaged products!

Shortly after his call, Amazon sent me an automated email requested feedback on their customer service. I replied with the following:

— This sensitive electronic device was shipped without protection, and arrived damaged. After being RMA'd, it was again shipped without protection!

An Amazon representative could not guarantee that if it was again RMA'd that it would be shipped correctly, and offered store credit. This is unacceptable. All I want is the drive to be shipped correctly. —

Hope this is of interest to you!

Cheers,
Joshua

Say what you will about annoying "packing peanuts," in this case they would have saved the hard drive. Unless there's something else you want from Amazon, we think you should ask for a refund, rather than store credit. That way you can buy the hard drive from a retailer that can figure out how to package it properly. Like you said, what's the point of store credit from a place that can't ship what you want without breaking it?

Amazon's executive customer service email: ecr@amazon.com

(Photo: Joshua)

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Consumerist-335797 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:29:08 EST Meg Marco http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=335797&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Early Sesame Street DVDs Have "Adults Only" Warnings ]]> con_sesamepryor.jpgThe producers of Sesame Street have slapped volumes 1 & 2 of the eternally running children's show with the following warning: "These early 'Sesame Street' episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today's preschool child." Why? Cookie Monster carries a pipe in one recurring parody—and then eats it. Oscar the Grouch is too grouchy and mean. And in the first episode, a grown man—Gordon—asks a little girl to come home with him for milk and cookies... and she does!

Virginia Heffernan of the New York Times tries to get to the bottom of the warning label, but the executive producer's response seems kind of underwhelming:

I asked Carol-Lynn Parente, the executive producer of "Sesame Street," how exactly the first episodes were unsuitable for toddlers in 2007. She told me about Alistair Cookie and the parody "Monsterpiece Theater." Alistair Cookie, played by Cookie Monster, used to appear with a pipe, which he later gobbled. According to Parente, "That modeled the wrong behavior"—smoking, eating pipes—"so we reshot those scenes without the pipe, and then we dropped the parody altogether."
Hmm, we wonder if the producers of Sesame Street have ever seen Wonder Showzen?

"Sweeping the Clouds Away" [New York Times via Slashdot]

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Consumerist-324198 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:19:08 EST Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=324198&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ LoJack Foils Customer's Car Theft Scam ]]> I am installing LoJack, don't forget If you're going to report your vehicle has been stolen and then hide it in a friend's backyard with license plates you grabbed from your boyfriend's house, then make sure it doesn't have a LoJack system installed first. A woman in San Diego did just that in an attempt to prevent it from being repossessed, but as soon as she filed the report with the police, they activated the system and traced the vehicle.

The woman "was arrested on suspicion of filing a false vehicle theft report with intent to deceive and falsely reporting a crime to a peace officer." No word yet on whether she'll be charged for insurance fraud, although we would imagine that would be part of the whole "we found your unstolen car" package.

"LoJack undoes scheme to fake SUV theft" [Sign On San Diego] (thanks to Stacy!)
(Image: LoJack)

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Consumerist-318428 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:25:18 EDT Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=318428&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Bed Bath & Beyond Forbids Cell Phone Cameras ]]> con_forbiddenbbbphoto.jpg Bed Bath & Beyond tries to prevent shoppers from doing any online comparisons or research, because it has a "no photos" policy in its store. I discovered this yesterday when I used my cellphone to take a no-flash, silent photo of a coffee grinder. A store associate walked up and said, "You can't take photos of merchandise. It's store policy."

We proceeded to have a conversation about this policy, where I explained that there are good reasons to let customers take quick snapshots of products, and he explained that "every store has a policy like this" and that "it's been around for forty years," and if I wanted a photo I could go to their website. He also said the policy was to prevent spies from stealing trade secrets. (He actually just said "You could be a spy," but I'm assuming he meant the retail kind, and not the Polonium-210 kind.)

In all stores I've been in, I've been allowed to take photographs of products with my cellphone. I do it now without even thinking about it—and often, if I decide to buy the product, I go back to that store because that's where I first saw it. It's like a DIY brochure for the item.

I called the corporate office and asked whether this was really a company-wide policy, and the customer service rep kept repeating that it was, that she was sorry for my inconvenience, and that if I wanted to take photos I had to ask for permission from a District Customer Service Manager, who would take my name and reason for the photos and then contact the store to set up an appointment. So now you know what you need to do if you want to snap an impromptu photo of an item.

Bed Bath & Beyond: you have a reputation for treating your customers with respect, so please grasp that here are at least half a dozen reasons a shopper might want to take a photo:

  • He might be going to meet someone he wants to show it to.
  • He might want a good image of the box that includes any model numbers and product information for reference when he looks up product reviews online.
  • He might want a "real world" photo of it from a specific angle to match it with existing products he owns, or products for sale in other stores, and he doesn't want to rely on the manufacturer's beauty shot.
  • He might want to compare a different model in another store side by side with this one, and using cell phone photos makes more sense than buying and returning the product.
  • Maybe he wants to send the photo to his mom right there from the showroom floor to see if this is the grinder she wants—and if so, then he will buy it right then.
  • Or maybe he just doesn't have pen and paper with him (after all, why do you need to carry a notepad when you can take a photo of the product?)

At least one of those reasons could lead directly to a sale for the retailer during the same visit, and several of them could lead to a future sale—yet Bed Bath & Beyond insists on a shortsighted policy of trying to control its shoppers' behavior so they can't make smart decisions.

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Consumerist-311853 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:00:05 EDT Chris Walters http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=311853&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Sony PSP Flog Removed ]]> Sony stripped the PSP flog from the internet this afternoon.

In its place, nothing. Just white. Alliwantforxmasisapsp.com, the former gaping eyesore is now a bed of purest snow.

Good thing we had the foresight to make a copy of it. — BEN POPKEN

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Consumerist-222306 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:26:30 EST Ben Popken http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=222306&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ PSP Flog Not Greg Meyerkord's Fault ]]> gifzipatonigreg.gifGreg Meyerkord, the man whose name appears on the PSP flog domain registration, has put up a website to debunk all the haters.

Its title is, "alliwantforxmasistobeleftalone." To wit:

    "My employment at the Zipatoni co. ended in 2000. While employed by the Zipatoni co. I created a register.com account and used that account to register domain names.The process worked like this:

    1) Account Executives would contact me by phone or email with requests for domains they needed registered.
    2) I would then register the domain names and reply to them in an email that the domains were registered.
    3) I would then snap, clap, and flourish my hands..."

Now that he's unmasked the banal process, Greg would like a little peace and quiet.

"I'd like to be left alone," he writes. "The damage has been done. I can't erase the pages of posts. I can't be uncalled a douchebag. I can't be uncalled a lot of names I've been called through the years, but at least the people calling me those names had an idea of who I was."

Beware. The internet has several pairs of meanypants. — BEN POPKEN

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Consumerist-222104 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 08:59:45 EST Ben Popken http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=222104&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Greg Meyerkord Interviewed-ish ]]> gifzipatonigreg.gifReader Nolen decided to harass/contact Greg Meyerkord , the guy whose name appears on the PSP flog domain registration....

Nolen: In the wake of your successful PSP site, I would like to interview you for a position in the Defense Dept. I think you could really teach those guys something.

Greg: I didn't do the PSP site. I haven't worked for Zipatoni in 6 years.

Nolen: Um hum.

Greg: What kind of response is that? "Um hum."

Nolen: You should read this and then defend yourself in public if you are not involved. THOUSANDS are people are laughing at what has been attributed (at least in part) to you. http://www.consumerist.com/ read the article about PSP......and you.

Greg: Thank you for alerting me to http://www.consumerist.com. I haven't worked for Zipatoni in 6 years. After I left, they changed the Register.com contact info, however, they upgraded their Register.com account and Register.com must have screwed something up. I got this info from my friend who still works at Zip. I'm not really sure how I can go about defending myself on this matter. I think the PSP site is so goofy that it really doesn't warrant the amount of energy that people are spending on it. Also, I'm a little surprised you would want to interview a "douchebag."

Previously: Meet The Douchebags Behind The Sony PSP Flog

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Consumerist-221787 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 09:26:33 EST Ben Popken http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=221787&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ We Reupload Heinous PSP Flog Videos Sony Removed ]]> UPDATE: The 807 comments that were on the Dancing Petey video, after the jump.

Sony takes 'em down, we put 'em back up. Here's the flog they were originally on.

What really kills this Petey video is when he starts humping the ladder.

This cements AVEX's slot at CMJ 2007. — BEN POPKEN

PREVIOUSLY:
Meet The Douchebags Behind The Sony PSP Flog
Sony's PSP Blog Flog Revealed

A video capturing the site in its entirety.

And the 807 comments that were on the Dancing Petey video....

this guy can't dance
Comment By joe schmoe At 12/4/2006 11:11 AM
with skillz that sad, you don't even deserve a gameboy.
Comment By J_Holbrook_$$$ At 12/5/2006 9:51 AM
OMFG! IMHO that is teh LAWLZ funniez! I SMP! Srsly. 'O'RLY?', You may ask. Yes, RLY.

Out.
Comment By Young Squeezy At 12/5/2006 7:33 PM
This site is truly crumbelievable.
Comment By Professy At 12/11/2006 3:21 PM
Wow. They actually did delete my previous post. What losers.
Comment By True Gamer At 12/11/2006 1:23 PM
Where'd my comment go? I merely suggested that Elite Beat Agents would be a better game for people.

The DS, I hear it has two screens
Comment By Hater At 12/11/2006 3:23 PM
This is retarded. As a gamer who is part of Sony's target audience I'm insulted not just by the integrity of this website, but that this reflects how intelligent Sony's marketing department thinks I am.

Good job turning consumers off your pr0duct.
Comment By Tim At 12/11/2006 3:24 PM
Dumb Site.
Comment By s0nEE At 12/11/2006 1:25 PM
Hey Sony - I own a PS1 and PS2. You have cemented me never owning another of your gaming products. Good job!
Comment By Former Fan At 12/11/2006 3:25 PM
I love bees. Yo what is up. Hello to Sony. I'm just testing this out to see if it will run through a filter and retard my comments. This is pretty funny. How desperate Sony must be to invent this Web site.
Comment By Tim At 12/11/2006 3:26 PM
Hey Sony - I own a PS1 and PS2. You have cemented me never owning another of your gaming products. Good job!
Comment By Former Fan At 12/11/2006 3:28 PM
Thiss ess da bestest sight ebar!!!
Comment By jeremy At 12/11/2006 3:30 PM
Registrant:
the Z IPATONI co.
Gregory Meyerkord
555 Washington Ave. 3rd Floor
St. Louis, MO 63101
US
Email: greg.meyerkord@z ipatoni.com


http://www.z ipatoni.com/contactlist.html
Comment By Invalid name At 12/11/2006 3:30 PM
I love bees. Yo what is up. Hello to Sony. I'm just testing this out to see if it will run through a filter and retard my comments. This is pretty funny. How desperate Sony must be to invent this Web site.
Comment By Tim At 12/11/2006 3:32 PM
the DS has two screens you say?
That's like twice as much as that PSP thing has, no doubt it must be better then!

oh, btw, lame site oO
Comment By Dooomed At 12/11/2006 1:33 PM
Oh, and once again, Sony proves they are completely inept.
Comment By True Gamer At 12/11/2006 1:35 PM
Soooooooo puthetic Sony.
Comment By Disgusted Gamer At 12/11/2006 3:35 PM
If you want a PSP badly enough you should get together with an ad agency. Then try to sell the product through a lame website while attempting to speak down to what you consider your target audience.
Comment By Jim At 12/11/2006 3:35 PM
I emailed and called Sony to complain. I promise I will introduce legislation to fix this problem.
Comment By Nancy Pelosi At 12/11/2006 3:35 PM
Hey C&J,

Ur site is teh ****.

So which one of y'all is this dope cat?

Registrant:
the ZI P ATON I co.
Greg ory Meyer kord
5 55 Washingt on Ave. 3rd Floor
St. Lo uis, MO 631 01
US
Email: greg.meye rkord@z ip aton i.com

I loves me some Z IP ATON I marke ting Bull****. Thanx WHO IS!!!

Sony Sux the w ng.
Bi te it
Comment By Jonny Bob At 12/11/2006 3:36 PM
Interesting, the word adver-tising is blocked from being posted here.
Comment By Embarressed At 12/11/2006 1:36 PM
Hi Sony! Hope your little psp sells better now that you have torqued off a bunch of your target m.a.r.k.e.t.!

Ever since the rootkit, I have refused to buy anything with Sony's name on it. And I have been successful too!
Comment By k At 12/11/2006 1:37 PM
from the Zeepp a a thone i w eb sit e :

b u z z mark eting means gett ing into consu mers convers ations [...] We kno w we can 't contr ol the dial ogue [...]

In de ed.

(sorry for half words, trying to get posted)
Comment By TOnytheZipper At 12/11/2006 1:37 PM
this was a good idea
Comment By m!ke At 12/11/2006 3:37 PM
How many consumers has this website activated so far?
Comment By john At 12/11/2006 3:39 PM
Activated or Pissed off and insulted?
Comment By Jonny Bob At 12/11/2006 3:41 PM
This is worse than Ali G's bad hip hop references, and he does it on purpose so it's forgivable. Guess Plato was right.
Comment By helvetica At 12/11/2006 1:42 PM
.......................................................... __ . __........................
........................................................./'`: : `\,—-`. .....................
......................................................../|,-'` `\(o)_\,—--,,,_...........
.................. ~* `"\,............ _ _.........( `\(o),,_/` : o :
Comment By Nobu LLet At 12/11/2006 3:42 PM
What's up Z-men. I'm writing to laugh at Tom. I knew him in HS. Once a loser...
Have fun at your craptacular job.
I hope they pay well.
Comment By John At 12/11/2006 3:42 PM
Activated, or agitated?
Comment By True Gamer At 12/11/2006 1:43 PM
I am totally insulted. But, by spreading the word, just like zi-p-pa-t-o-n-i, I am doing my best to make sure this does not work.
Comment By iam At 12/11/2006 1:44 PM
@ Kingz

Yeah, dude. We get it. It's total BS, and I believe we're all calling these Z ip atoni guys out on it.
Comment By True Gamer At 12/11/2006 1:44 PM
hey john, who is tom? He in charge?
Comment By iam At 12/11/2006 1:45 PM
I'm Activated!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment By Activated At 12/11/2006 3:45 PM
Anyone sent this to dvorak.org/blog yet?
Comment By iam At 12/11/2006 1:46 PM
Mi casa es su gato.
Comment By sam At 12/11/2006 1:48 PM
S ony, this f ake site is so re tarded.
Now this tactic will get fed to the media and they'll all report on how S ony has to resort to such schemes to try to reach their target m arket.

Here's an idea, make something that is affordable AND works for gaming.
Comment By K1 At 12/11/2006 3:49 PM
I am getting a DS for Xmas!! YEAH BABY!
Comment By marco At 12/11/2006 1:51 PM
Better idea, K1... make something that has decent stuff on it instead of rehash what is on the PS1.
Comment By k9 At 12/11/2006 3:51 PM
Yay Marco!
Comment By k9 At 12/11/2006 3:52 PM
what's really ironic is that you have to use 133t5p34k to get past some of the wordfilters.
Comment By MassiveDamage At 12/11/2006 3:53 PM
All I want for Christmas is a DS lite to replace my aging DS that I got at UK launch. And Wii Play.

Just to test, is it only the mar| Comment By Bleh At 12/11/2006 1:53 PM
Whoa dudes, this vir-a-ll markkketing is bodacious!
Comment By soneextreme At 12/11/2006 1:54 PM

Mi casa es su gato.
Comment By sam At 12/11/2006 1:48 PM

Wtf did you do to my cat?!?!?!?

If you did something to it i'll hunt you down and make you watch this vid over and over clockwork orange style
Comment By Knives At 12/11/2006 3:54 PM
My DS is really awesome, I get my own flow on with it, yo. At only $129 there's plenty of cash-money left for games, yo.
Comment By DS At 12/11/2006 3:54 PM
You should buy a more Deserving System.
Comment By Batmanbegins24 At 12/11/2006 3:54 PM
I'm sorry guys. This is a fake site. You've caught us. We'll be taking it down as soon as possible.
Comment By jeremy At 12/11/2006 3:59 PM
I doubt this message will reach whoever it needs to, but S ony desperately needs to stop hiring these b ozos to do their ma rketing. This website is as bad as the PS 3 baby ads, which are as bad as the PSP dust ball ads, which are worse than the most annoying Old Navy ad you could possibly think of.

Now watch as I do a magic trick! This message will disappear!
Comment By D-stab At 12/11/2006 1:59 PM
Did any of you realized that by blowing the cover of Zi pa toni the site will get even more publicity now?
Bad publicity is still publicity and the blogs mentioning this will bring even more traffic to the site... which nobody cares for anyways.... I hope they didn't do this on purpose but you never know...
Comment By None At 12/11/2006 1:59 PM
Okay, you can't spell the name of the v i r a l m a r k e t i n g company. I even tried the word z i p p e r and it would not work. Now my pants fell down.
Comment By dalek At 12/11/2006 4:00 PM
Dear Sony,

Are you losing as much money on this as you are on the PS3?

Luv,
G4m3rZ
Comment By The world At 12/11/2006 4:01 PM
No. Bad publicity is just that. Bad. I don't buy sony products because of the rootkit. Lots of people don't either. Why? Bad publicity.
Comment By dalek At 12/11/2006 4:01 PM
Posting bashful things here= more fun than psp :D
Comment By Knives At 12/11/2006 4:02 PM
this was a good idea
Comment By m!ke At 12/11/2006 4:04 PM
Its hillarious that most of those coments are from S0ny reps.This has to be the worst v1ra1 mar ke t1ng campa1gn ever.Its so bad that it makes me want to buy a second Deserving System.I had a PSP but sold it due to the fact that the games were horrible.PS3DO looks to be heading in the same direction.The '$360 box' at launch games looks and play much better than PS3DO launch games.And games that are out for both system are better on the $36O.

W116O FTW!!
Comment By Batmanbegins24 At 12/11/2006 4:04 PM
Dude, my 2600 is more fun that a psp. That's why I sold it. Totally crap games.
Comment By dalek At 12/11/2006 4:04 PM
This site is believable, that's what I like about it!
Comment By Giant Enemy Crab At 12/11/2006 4:04 PM
@Charlie

Dude, we understood you're from Z1pat0ni the first time you posted. It really didn't take you repeating the exact same post for us to really grasp the desperation there.

@Jeramy

Ah, now if only you were actually from Z1p. However, if it just so happens that Z1p is trying to take this down, could someone make sure to get it archived or something? We wouldn't want all this glorious incriminating evidence to be lost, now would we?
Comment By True Gamer At 12/11/2006 2:06 PM
The DS, I hear it has 2 screens.
Comment By Yeahrly At 12/11/2006 4:09 PM
I heard about this train wreck/website from a colleague and wondered if Tom Kasperski(sp?) is still a VP there.
Comment By I_am_john At 12/11/2006 4:12 PM
boooo
Comment By Deathmonkey At 12/11/2006 2:14 PM
zi pat oni appears in the who is! They are a mar ke ting tea m!
Comment By wiiwin At 12/11/2006 4:15 PM
yo dogs, enough with the hatin'

These guys just want some PSP love.
Comment By oldskoolpsp At 12/11/2006 4:16 PM
hohoho: all of them are getting baleeted. But then 100 more pop up. They should just remove this abomination of a site and just go on to promoting Huggies or something.

THEIR HEAD ASPLODE!

by the way, looks like they upped the post timer.
Comment By dalek At 12/11/2006 4:17 PM
HAY GUYS, WHAT'S GOIN ON IN DIS V IRAL M ARKETING?
Comment By LolPSP At 12/11/2006 2:17 PM
.............I think I'm going to go play my n-gage. :D
Comment By WWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHEEEEEEE At 12/11/2006 4:19 PM
The funniest part is that they are speaking some kind of hip-hop-net-speak that nobody actually uses, at least nobody who would buy a PSP.
Comment By grotto At 12/11/2006 2:19 PM
The funniest part is that they are speaking some kind of hip-hop-net-speak that nobody actually uses, at least nobody who would buy a PSP.
Comment By grotto At 12/11/2006 2:20 PM
Hay guys, what's going on here??
Comment By Viral Vincent At 12/11/2006 4:21 PM
yo! peep this!

the psp's screen is as big as how much of a mistake this site is, mirite???? lololollerskatescopter

also pimp rides and have you heard? wmds are the bomb!
Comment By streetcr3d At 12/11/2006 2:21 PM
If you two hep cats want, I can loan you the $8 to make your domain info private. Cause we roll mad deep like that. Gyeah.
Comment By Mr Payback At 12/11/2006 2:23 PM
I am teh ghost of Lik-Sang past and Iam going to wiiiii all over u
Comment By Lik-Sang At 12/11/2006 2:25 PM
Nintendo DS Lite
Comment By working At 12/11/2006 2:26 PM
PEEP DIS

Yall are hatin' up the wrong tree.

PSP IS F'N ILL SON, AND DAT'S DAT.
Comment By oldskoolpspfagoat At 12/11/2006 4:26 PM
fooking garbaaage
Comment By arsebandit At 12/11/2006 2:27 PM
Oh shiz.........

SHOOP DA WHOOP
Comment By gman At 12/11/2006 4:28 PM
artards
Comment By gamergirl At 12/11/2006 2:31 PM
Hey dudes, this site is GNARLEY!!!
I have some totally awesome marketing ideas I'd like to share with you and I really know how to sling the lingo of the kids these days (my grandson keeps me hip). Maybe I could wrap too!!
Comment By Tom DeRose At 12/11/2006 4:33 PM
?????
Comment By ???? At 12/11/2006 2:39 PM
Tell your friend Jeremy to get a Wii instead. Not only is it more fun, but the company that makes it, Nintendo, doesn't degrade and insult its target mar_ket like Sony does with garbage like this.

I previously disliked Sony because of their poor-quality pr_oducts, but now I am thoroughly offended that they would do something as low as this. I will be sure to pass along word of this site and what Sony has allowed their mar_keting agency to do anytime I hear any of friends or relatives express plans to purchase a pr_oduct from Sony.
Comment By Cosmos At 12/11/2006 4:42 PM
This is a m a r k e t i n g ploy by Z i p o t i n i.
Comment By Jackson At 12/11/2006 2:42 PM
HA HA HA.
We're laughing all the way to the bank.
Stop crying and go home!!! Don't you have something better to do with your time?
Comment By dorkboy At 12/11/2006 4:43 PM
OMG i would totaly buy a psp but theres no final fantsay games!! and my brother died when he waited for a ps3 :(
Comment By Frankie At 12/11/2006 4:43 PM
Someone call Jerry, one of his kids have escaped.
Comment By Stefan At 12/11/2006 2:55 PM
Dorkboy, it's hard to understand how you're laughing on the way to the bank, because it's evident you're simply a raving fanboy with no connection to Sony other than buying their products.
Comment By Morkboy At 12/11/2006 4:57 PM
You see this? YOU SEE THIS? Don't underestimate teh social networks. They're mad. Oh, yes.
Comment By Bleargh At 12/11/2006 4:58 PM
All i want for Christmas is a Nintendo DS and a copy of Nintendogs.
Comment By Jimmy At 12/11/2006 5:00 PM
YO stop SPammin my BLOG... da psp is pwn, if u cant feel da flow then step off hatas
Comment By charlie At 12/11/2006 5:04 PM
eh
Comment By what At 12/11/2006 3:13 PM
@OldSkoolPSP...(whatever tag change you wish)

Stop trying to run damage control and 'convince' us to 'stop hating' on this horrid site. It's not run by two guys that want a PSP really badly; no one would want a PSP.
Comment By True Gamer At 12/11/2006 5:13 PM
What better way to a d v e r t i s e than to represent gamers as w a n n a b e gangsta m o r o n s who live in their parents basements in their late twenties?
Comment By hata At 12/11/2006 3:20 PM
Does some guy hi up in a sony office really think 'This is what kids think is cool!' Jesus...
Comment By Drew At 12/11/2006 5:22 PM
YO stop SPammin my BLOG... da psp is pwn, if u cant feel da flow then step off hatas
Comment By charlie At 12/11/2006 5:22 PM
high* eesh
Comment By Drew At 12/11/2006 5:23 PM
YO stop SPammin my BLOG... da psp is pwn, if u cant feel da flow then step off hatas
Comment By charlie At 12/11/2006 5:23 PM
' YO stop SPammin my BLOG... da psp is pwn, if u cant feel da flow then step off hatas'


Stop. Talking. Like. A. Retard.
Comment By Dangerous-Dave At 12/11/2006 5:24 PM
First...I better not get added to a mailing list for giving my email address.

Second...Sony...PLEASE stop trying to be 'hip'. Please START focusing on product and games and opening a REAL dialogue with your users to make your gaming products better.

I've owned a PS1 (2) and a PS2 (3 of em...quality issues) but have held off on the PSP because of your ability to launch technologies and then dump them or make them unusable (UMD). Why the heck did you not a: make UMD burnable like with minidisc and b: force game makers to tighten their code so load times would be less (we know it can be done).
Comment By Ksparydad At 12/11/2006 5:25 PM
So...in summary...

1. Come out and identify yourselves as Sony and asks for and listen to your user base comments.

2. Make UMD burnable ASAP and include UMD discs with DVD/BR/HD movie releases for 2 or 3 bucks extra

3. Build in ALOT more memory on the PSP or GIVE me a bigger Memory Stick

4. Make PS1 games downloadable without the PS3 NOW.
Comment By Ksparydad At 12/11/2006 5:26 PM
This is a mark-eting fiasco. Your bosses should really shut you down before this gets more publ-icity; everyone I know dislikes Sony more after seeing this.
Comment By Al At 12/11/2006 5:26 PM
' YO stop SPammin my BLOG... da psp is pwn, if u cant feel da flow then step off hatas'


Stop. Talking. Like. A. Retard.
Comment By Dangerous-Dave At 12/11/2006 5:26 PM
webbot.fetch('response'): 0582 - overflow error

0582: contant system administrator
Comment By charlie At 12/11/2006 5:30 PM
YO stop SPammin my BLOG... da psp is pwn, if u cant feel da flow then step off hatas
Comment By charlie At 12/11/2006 5:36 PM
you, who are writing this, are what? 40 years old?
Comment By slothrop At 12/11/2006 5:39 PM
Haha the word is out. What a bunch of clowns. You actually thought this site would be a good idea? All you're getting for Christmas is a pink slip.

u feel dat homes? u just got pwnd.
Comment By DEAD_PIXEL At 12/11/2006 5:39 PM
hilarious. a bunch of lab rats. ur being studied.
Comment By guess what At 12/11/2006 3:44 PM


hilarious. a bunch of lab rats. ur being studied.

You're giving these mo-rons too much credit. There's no secret clever plan to learn how we feel from this site, it's just a ploy gone horribly wrong.
Comment By Al At 12/11/2006 5:47 PM
HAY I LOVES ME SOME PSP
Comment By ZIPATONI At 12/11/2006 4:00 PM
Look people, I can impersonate Charlie too.

Do you really think the company would post here without deleting the comments?
Comment By CHARLIE At 12/11/2006 6:01 PM
PLEASE tell me this is a Joke.....
Comment By Visar At 12/11/2006 4:05 PM
It's an Ad compaign
Comment By Chris At 12/11/2006 6:06 PM
S o n y , I demand an apology for being treated like a f u c k i n g i d i o t.

Al raises excellent points....why is 'z i p a t o n i' a u t o f i l t e r e d if this s c a m is not created by them?

Quit underestimating your t a r g e t m a r k e t. We're not r e t a r d e d.
Comment By Ryoshi At 12/11/2006 4:08 PM
v iral mar keting you say?
Comment By joey At 12/11/2006 6:10 PM
Yeah I am CHARLIE too. This is a joke. and I am laughing as hard as anyone. It's far funnier than anything i could think up.
Comment By CHARLIE At 12/11/2006 4:11 PM
Mar keting for du masses
Comment By Charlie At 12/11/2006 6:11 PM
November NPD Sales Data:
1. NDS ~ 918,000 (8.1 mil LTD in the US)
2. PS2 ~ 664,000
3. GBA ~ 641,000
4. 360 ~ 511,000 (3.8 mil LTD in the US)
5. Wii ~ 476,000
6. PSP ~ 412,000
7. PS3 ~ 197,000
8. NGC ~ 62,000

Sony's getting their asses stomped! Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. :)
Comment By Seth At 12/11/2006 6:14 PM
Don't delete my posts...you can't run from the truth. :)

November NPD Sales Data:
1. NDS ~ 918,000 (8.1 mil LTD in the US)
2. PS2 ~ 664,000
3. GBA ~ 641,000
4. 360 ~ 511,000 (3.8 mil LTD in the US)
5. Wii ~ 476,000
6. PSP ~ 412,000
7. PS3 ~ 197,000
8. NGC ~ 62,000

Sony's getting their asses stomped! Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. :)
Comment By Seth At 12/11/2006 6:24 PM
we have nothing to do with this be quiet :(
Comment By zipatoni marketing At 12/11/2006 6:24 PM
we have everyhting to do with this. Why be quite?
Comment By zipatoni marketing At 12/11/2006 4:25 PM
Charlie,

Stop talking in ebonics

<3 Mom
Comment By Charlie's Mom At 12/11/2006 6:26 PM
YO stop SPammin my BLOG... da psp is pwn, if u cant feel da flow then step off hatas
Comment By CHARLIE At 12/11/2006 6:26 PM
I am activated!
Comment By [+.. ] At 12/11/2006 4:27 PM
I am activated!
Comment By [+.. ] At 12/11/2006 6:28 PM
All I want for christmas is a decent trade-in price for my PSP. Maybe I should make a \/IR/\L /\/\AR|

Everyone will fall for it!
Comment By [+.. ] At 12/11/2006 6:32 PM
I wasn't sure it was possible to tarnish the Sony brand name any more than they already have... I can't wait until this gets mentioned on large sites like GameSpot and IGN.
Comment By SPJ At 12/11/2006 4:32 PM
liek ALL EYEZ WANTS ES A PSP FO' SHO, YO!
DAWGZ
LOLOLOOLOLOLLOLOLERSKATEZ!!
Comment By mumbo_jumbo At 12/11/2006 4:32 PM
'I wasn't sure it was possible to tarnish the Sony brand name any more than they already have... I can't wait until this gets mentioned on large sites like GameSpot and IGN.'
lol, too late! they've already been outed on kotaku, digg, joystiq, as well as the UK site the guardian
Comment By mumbo_jumbo At 12/11/2006 4:34 PM
LOL - what a joke.
Comment By Eric B At 12/11/2006 4:35 PM
'I wasn't sure it was possible to tarnish the Sony brand name any more than they already have... I can't wait until this gets mentioned on large sites like GameSpot and IGN.'
lol, too late! they've already been outed on kotaku, digg, joystiq, as well as the UK site the guardian
Comment By mumbo_jumbo At 12/11/2006 4:35 PM
Yo I wanna get tha PSP for chrizlemas peeps.

Consumer activating its where its at fools!
Comment By ZiperThorn At 12/11/2006 4:35 PM
We welcome our new pwnage overlords.
Comment By zipatoni marketing At 12/11/2006 6:36 PM
Yo dog dat off DAHook! I getn me one of dem PSP 4 xMas 4sure!!!
Comment By poon4xmas94 At 12/11/2006 4:37 PM
YO stop SPammin my BLOG... da psp is pwn, if u cant feel da flow then step off hatas
Comment By Charlie At 12/11/2006 6:40 PM
hey whats up guys?
Comment By Charlie At 12/11/2006 6:40 PM
The P S P abso lutely rocks for home brew. Sh ame it su cks for comme rcial games. And mar|< eting camp aigns...
Comment By nastyp1rate At 12/11/2006 6:41 PM
pleez keep spamin my blog. luv u.
Comment By J At 12/11/2006 6:42 PM
C0RP0RATE WH0RES!!!!!!
Comment By Pomp At 12/11/2006 4:42 PM
You guys can delete our comments, but we'll just keep posting. Then you can rig this site so that only your employees can post, but gamer sites are still going to be reporting on this atrocity of public relations.

If you guys had any brains, you would take down this site immediately and replace it with an apology begging for forgiveness from the thousands of customers you just stereotyped and offended.
Comment By Insulted Consumer At 12/11/2006 6:42 PM
So how does it feel to be so completely out of touch with current society you come off as a functi0nally retard3d 0ld f4rt?

You had to live a seriously sheltered life to think this sh1t is even close to how people really are. I see a bunch of r1ch tru5t fund babi3s trying desperately to come off as 'h1p'.


Su Comment By Yorgrish At 12/11/2006 6:45 PM
luv u.
Comment By corporate whore At 12/11/2006 6:47 PM
You could get a Wii for the same price, and it's like 10 times more awesome.
Comment By chenry At 12/11/2006 4:48 PM
You guys can delete our comments, but we'll just keep posting. Then you can rig this site so that only your employees can post, but gamer sites are still going to be reporting on this atrocity of public relations.

If you guys had any brains, you would take down this site immediately and replace it with an apology begging for forgiveness from the thousands of customers you just stereotyped and offended.
Comment By Insulted Consumer At 12/11/2006 6:49 PM
the psp is a dead system
Comment By theone At 12/11/2006 4:49 PM
I hear theyre remakin cd-i zelda games 4 psp... best system 4eva!!
Comment By Giant enemy crab At 12/11/2006 4:49 PM
Here's a hint:
When targeting the 'hip' consumer sector (that sector being the urban 20-something crowd) make sure you hire mark3ting personnel that are well versed in street vernacular. If you're ever in need of someone that can provide you with insight on how to cross-over into a demographic you know NOTHING about please feel free to look me up as a consultant. You see, i was raised around the people you lock your car doors when you see approaching, yet you reach out to them because of their affinity for impulse purchases and irresponsible spending habits; i know these people, yet i've managed to stay alive long enough to become a learned individual. Your street lingo leaves much to be desired.

Seriously, look me up, my email address should be on file. The people you've hired to appeal to me and my 'peoples' are the kids we used to gank for their lunch money in high school.
Comment By DirtyMack At 12/11/2006 6:49 PM
this is the worst m@rk3ting scAm i've ever seen.

i don't mind vir@l m@rk3ting and s***, but when you pretend to be real f***ing fans and you're actually a m-a-r-k-e-t-i-n-g group that's f***ed up!

also, what kind of 'real, street' site wouldn't allow cussing in the comments? burn in h3ll, a$$holes!!!
Comment By DANNY-G At 12/11/2006 6:49 PM
PSP = DEAD
PS3 = CR@P
SONY = DEAD
Comment By DANNY-G At 12/11/2006 6:51 PM
This is truly sad.

Sunk to a new low this time.
Comment By Sony PR- 'Are we hip yet?' At 12/11/2006 6:51 PM
Is it just me, or is everyone getting 'Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.'
Comment By Disgusted At 12/11/2006 4:52 PM
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A NINTENDO Wii!!!!
Comment By DANNY-G At 12/11/2006 6:52 PM
You know, making the terms 'vrial markting' (properly spelled of course) and the name of the company that owns the website 'forbidden' words. it becomes pretty obvious that this isnt a legit site.
Comment By Notabot At 12/11/2006 4:54 PM
Forget the PSP dude. What you want is a wicked old skool Tecmo Football LED game. Faster response time than the PSP, with a vastly better battery life, it's what the cool dudes are playing this season. The PSP was so last year.
Comment By yousuck At 12/11/2006 6:55 PM
November NPD Sales Data:
1. NDS ~ 918,000 (8.1 mil LTD in the US)
2. PS2 ~ 664,000
3. GBA ~ 641,000
4. 360 ~ 511,000 (3.8 mil LTD in the US)
5. Wii ~ 476,000
6. PSP ~ 412,000
7. PS3 ~ 197,000
8. NGC ~ 62,000
Comment By scuk my dcik Snoy! At 12/11/2006 6:57 PM
I'm guessing these will all be deleted and comments disabled completely very soon.
Comment By Bill Gates At 12/11/2006 4:59 PM
Wow. . . and people had a problem with the DS at one time? ? ? This just makes me want to puke. . . and then fart. . . and then puke some more. . . I feel sorry for all of you who own a PSP. . . To deal with this. . . 'PSP, PSP, PSP, PSP' Sony will not be forgiven so easily for this. I was actually thinking about buying a PS2 after I just bought the Wii, because I know it has some great games. . . but I don't want any part of this. I hope Microsoft and Nintendo are watching this so they know what never to do!. . . Is it me or does this guy look like he's 28?
Comment By J-bot At 12/11/2006 4:59 PM
All I want for christmas is a decent trade-in price for my PSP. Maybe I should make a \/IR/\L /\/\AR|

Everyone will fall for it!
Comment By [+.. ] At 12/11/2006 6:59 PM
Let me take a shot in the dark, the more we sp@m the more you guys get pa!d because of the traffic?

But also the more we sp?m with h@tred the more S0ny realise how b@d an idea this was.
Comment By scuk my dcik Snoy! At 12/11/2006 7:00 PM
Yo homes dont let deez foolz talk u down u doin the rit ting ya dig Dees foolzz cantt handl the psp cuz it so HOT an tat jess gurl she HOT too hook up a brotha ya heeeeeerd or we ain frens no mor an i gota talk u down den.
Comment By Da Soni Cru At 12/11/2006 5:01 PM
1) downgrade your psp to 1.5. google for this.
2) go find devhook and download. google for this.
3) go to the pirate bay or some other reputable torrent site and download free games. google google google.
4) when you get tired of the garbage on PSP go buy yourself a NDS Lite and actually have fun with a handheld.

ggs with your pos vira1 m4rketing z i p a t o n i.
Comment By how to pir8 games on psp At 12/11/2006 7:01 PM
cool another soft sell pitch for the psp that rides on the coattails of the x box for bringing in the suburban white trash youth demographic!
Comment By zipatony At 12/11/2006 5:02 PM
Yo homes dont let deez foolz talk u down u doin the rit ting ya dig Dees foolzz cantt handl the psp cuz it so HOT an tat jess gurl she HOT too hook up a brotha ya heeeeeerd or we ain frens no mor an i gota talk u down den.
Comment By Da Soni Cru At 12/11/2006 7:03 PM
wii60 FTW!
Comment By ture gamer!!!111!!one At 12/11/2006 5:04 PM
Well, part of the problem is that there are a TON of words that aren't allowed on this blog, which is kind of surprising considering how obviously authentically street these radical dudes are.

Here's a few 'naughty' words they don't want you using:
vir@l
m@rketing
@dvertising
h3ll
f**k
s**t
...and any other curse words you can think of.
Comment By DANNY-G At 12/11/2006 7:06 PM
wigger
Comment By Not a fricken moron consumer At 12/11/2006 7:09 PM
I think we need to have a good o'l fashion witch hunt here. Sorry J and Charlie, but I don't think any one's fooled.
Comment By J-bot At 12/11/2006 7:09 PM
seriously this site makes me never want to buy a sony system ever again
Comment By Protoman At 12/11/2006 5:10 PM
Surely there's a site that archives such wonderfully bad a d campa igns?

Coke's Zero Revolution and this company's previous attempt with S o ny street graffiti art should live on in history.
Comment By Person At 12/11/2006 7:11 PM
cool another soft sell pitch for the psp that rides on the coattails of the x box for bringing in the suburban white trash youth demographic!
Comment By zipatony At 12/11/2006 5:11 PM
Please, while you're removing this comment and the 200 other negative comments above it (again), have the decency to do one honest thing in your life and inform sony of just how bad they screwed up by ordering this a_d. This is simply so insulting to anyone who truly loves games, the only reaction you will likely get is a decreased willingness to buy anything sony branded.
Comment By Please, Z1pat0ni At 12/11/2006 5:16 PM
I just can't believe they are trying to defend themselves. I hope we see this crap on CNN or something like that. It'll be great to spread the word about this craptacular site. I can't wait for the next time Sony has an event, and people start bustin' out the instrumental for this 'foo of a music score.'
Comment By J-bot At 12/11/2006 7:17 PM
Sony is on it's last legs and won't last much longer this site proves just how desperate they are...Buy A DS Instead
Comment By Nintendo PWNS!!!!1111 At 12/11/2006 7:19 PM
Why would anyone buy a psp....its the same price as a wii for gods sake
Comment By sony sucks At 12/11/2006 7:19 PM
DS>PSP
Wii>PS3
Nintendo>Sony
Comment By 1337 At 12/11/2006 7:20 PM
J0ystiq picked this story up.
I wonder how long it'll take before it shows up on the Associated Press and FOX News?

SONY made a big mistake hiring these people. This is going to do long-term damage to the brAnd at a time when they're already suffering from poor consumer image due to the battery recalls and major personell shuffling at the highest c0rp0r@te levels..
Comment By Paul San Pedro At 12/11/2006 7:24 PM
Thank you Sony. You just sold me a Nintendo DS.
Comment By Enlightened At 12/11/2006 7:35 PM
come on AP and FOX pick it up.


Pleez?

luv u.
Comment By ZIPATONI At 12/11/2006 7:35 PM
Nintendo Wii
Comment By Benson Jones At 12/11/2006 7:38 PM
HAY GUYS... GREAT SITE DAWG

I WANT A DS NOW PWN LOL
Comment By LOL At 12/11/2006 7:38 PM
I am a completely hardcore gamer yo!
Subway - Eat fresh.
Comment By Benson Jones At 12/11/2006 7:39 PM
And end all the fun now?
Comment By ZIPATONI At 12/11/2006 7:41 PM
yo this is the mad tight yo. i wants me a psphreeee reals bads yos. ands thens i is gonna shhoot you in the face with shutthefarkup
Comment By sev4 pri1 At 12/11/2006 5:43 PM
WOW so many comments! This m@rketing must be working!? Right guys? Right?

I smell a big promotion for the genius at Z1PAT0N1 ;)
Comment By OMG At 12/11/2006 7:48 PM
awesome site dood, consider this consumer activated!
Comment By consumer At 12/11/2006 7:49 PM
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A DS!!! NINTENDO RULES!!
Comment By NINTENDO At 12/11/2006 7:51 PM
I noticed under Jeremy's 'Bio' He is both a 'playa' and a 'hater'. I'm a seventeen-year-old, caucasian nerd, and even I know that that is contradictory. Why would someone both play girls and hate those that do the playing?

F A K E
Comment By Papa Kapp At 12/11/2006 7:52 PM
It's dangerous to go alone. Take this.
Comment By Wicked At 12/11/2006 7:54 PM
Just want to say if someone at Sony reads this, what you did to Liksang was the most disgusting thing I've heard of in recent memory. Thanks for helping me decide to buy a Wii.
Comment By LIKSANG At 12/11/2006 7:55 PM
you dawg this shizzle is off tha nizzle bizzle

Jackass.
Comment By Viral Marketing, Toot Toot! At 12/11/2006 7:58 PM
i already have a psp and this makes me ashamed to be associated with it

thanks, sony
Comment By viral marketing At 12/11/2006 6:03 PM
Just close this. It's for your own good.
Comment By I Hate You At 12/11/2006 6:06 PM
SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS SONY ROCKS
Comment By Whatever Yo At 12/11/2006 8:11 PM
This site is almost as bad as a PSP.
Comment By LOL Sony At 12/11/2006 6:11 PM
S O N Y SUS O N Y SU CK S ROFL CK S ROFL S O N Y SU CK S ROFL S O N Y SU CK S O N Y SU CK S ROFL S ROFL S O N Y SU CK S ROFL S O N Y SU CK S ROFL S O N Y SU CK S ROFL S O N Y SU CK S ROFL S O N Y SU CK S ROF
Comment By ROFL At 12/11/2006 6:12 PM
Sony rocks NOT
Comment By abuzar At 12/11/2006 6:13 PM
teh intranet: 1
sony m@rkete r s: 0

p wned...
Comment By gerald ford At 12/11/2006 8:13 PM
I hear that the DS is BETTER than sony. This is just a m4rketing site by sony. You guys are liars. The DS actually has games. The Xbox 360 has games worth playing not some sh*t Sony throws at us gamers and expects us to play. The wii actually has REAL motion sensing. The PS3's is tacked on and don't say its not, remember when sony fanboys were all over the 360 for not supporting 1080p because to you retards 1080i is not REAL HD. Well using this idiology the Ps3 is a gimmick with its gimmicky motion sensing.
Comment By abuzar At 12/11/2006 6:14 PM
PSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKSPSP ROCKS PSP ROCKS
YOU HATERS S U CK GENETAL HERPIES

ANYONE THAT DOESNET BY A PSP IS A LOOSER AND SHOULD D I E NOW

REMEMBER THE WORLD TRADE CENTER WAS BLOWN UP BY BUSH

OSAMA ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!
Comment By Whatever Yo At 12/11/2006 8:14 PM
I hear that the DS is BETTER than sony. This is just a m4rketing site by sony. You guys are liars. The DS actually has games. The Xbox 360 has games worth playing not some sh*t Sony throws at us gamers and expects us to play. The wii actually has REAL motion sensing. The PS3's is tacked on and don't say its not, remember when sony fanboys were all over the 360 for not supporting 1080p because to you retards 1080i is not REAL HD. Well using this idiology the Ps3 is a gimmick with its gimmicky motion sensing.
Comment By abuzar At 12/11/2006 8:18 PM
I'M HIP DAG NABBIT
Comment By Charlie At 12/11/2006 6:19 PM
Wow, seems a lot of words are blocked.

Q: How many middle-aged executives with nothing but disdain for their customers does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Two, but I don't know how they got in there!
Comment By !tooT tooT, gnitekram lariV At 12/11/2006 8:19 PM
ftp.alliwantforxmasisapsp.com
ftp.alliwantforxmasisapsp.comftp.alliwantforxmasisapsp.comftp.alliwantforxmasisapsp.com
Comment By HACK THIS SITE At 12/11/2006 8:21 PM
Thank you all for you comments.

Yes. We are over 30 and yes we do live in our step mother's basement.

No. We don't know when our lives turned to crp and we decided that being in markting meant being mindless sellouts.

Yes. We will take the site down as soon as we pay for all the bandwidth your comments generated.
Comment By Charlie and Jeremy At 12/11/2006 8:22 PM
Not that anyone who matters is reading this, but, Sony, you can do better. In fact there was a company selling PSPs very well... called Lik-Sang. I wonder what happened to them?
Comment By Jeff At 12/11/2006 6:22 PM
It's dangerous to go alone. Take this.
Comment By Wicked At 12/11/2006 6:23 PM
Vira1-M@rketing for the lose?

Hah. Look at the wordfilters. XD Man.

Soo...

<_<

>_>

Buy a Nintendo DS
Comment By Pata Hikari At 12/11/2006 8:25 PM
I hope I get a DS for christmas.
Comment By Brian West At 12/11/2006 6:25 PM
Thanks for making the decision to sell my PSP for me.

V1r@1 /\/\@rk3t1/\/G PWNS
Comment By septim At 12/11/2006 6:25 PM
I already own a DS and dignity.
Comment By _s_____ At 12/11/2006 6:28 PM
I bought a PSP when it first came out and have had nothing to show for it. No games, no fun, nothing. I finally got rid of it at Blockbuster for $90. Yeah, I lost over $400 on the system, memory card, and games, but at least I'm rid of it.

Boo to Sony. I'm glad to be rid of the PSP, and in no way will I be touching a PS3.
Comment By Sony Blows At 12/11/2006 8:28 PM
wow, until I came to this blog I didnt even know lik-sang was forced out of business by sony. I'm glad they put up this wonderful site and someone posted about it so I don't buy any of their products ever again.
Comment By Brian West At 12/11/2006 6:29 PM
You know, this would be a great place to match people up for the DS. Anyone playing Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin? I'm looking for some people to join me for Boss Rush mode. Send your friend codes!
Comment By DSFan At 12/11/2006 8:30 PM
I r nubtard, lawl.

Whee, I can post with the same name as the people who 'run' the blog!
Comment By CHARLIE At 12/11/2006 8:31 PM
PSP = New Coke
Comment By SonyGoesDown At 12/11/2006 8:31 PM
Guess you guys won't be seeing that Christmas bonus, huh?

Sony is the new Microsoft, people love to hate them; you just gave them one more reason.

I can't *believe* you guys made the same sort of mistake that lonelygirl15.com made. At least they were clued-in enough to have used an anonymous registrar.
Comment By Steven At 12/11/2006 8:32 PM
NICE V.I.R.A.L.M.A.R.K.E.T.I.N.G!!! $ONY
Comment By VIRAL MARKETING At 12/11/2006 8:33 PM
I love my PSP! I can download movies from my computer onto my PSP and watch them anywhere! It has really cool games too, like that new Mortal Kombat game - it's so cool! FATALITY! LOL

What I REALLY love though is how you can get on the internet with it - you can't do that with the DS! Ha! I get to talk all over the intertubes while you DS n00bz can run home crying.

I LOVE MY PSP!
Comment By Mark Foley At 12/11/2006 8:33 PM
The X-Box 360 is a state of the art gaming monster who needs a portable system?
Comment By Bill Gates At 12/11/2006 6:34 PM
Sony, die already.
Comment By I-HATE-SONY At 12/11/2006 6:34 PM
PSP = New Coke
Comment By SonyGoesDown At 12/11/2006 8:34 PM

YO stop SPammin my BLOG... da psp is pwn, if u cant feel da flow then step off hatas

You don't know what half of these words mean, do you?
Comment By !tooT tooT, gnitekram lariV At 12/11/2006 8:35 PM
Anyone wanna swap Wii Codes?

You can use this webpage:

http://www.configurationspace.com/wiimail/

to send a message to my Wii. My code is at the bottom of the page. Add me and then send me your code.
Comment By Blaine At 12/11/2006 8:37 PM
PSP = New Coke
Comment By SonyGoesDown At 12/11/2006 8:37 PM
Ha ha this is on Wikipedia and multiple blogs and soon IGN your screwed Zappiconi
Comment By Wikipedia At 12/11/2006 6:38 PM
Protip: when working on an online job, make sure the European member of your team doesn't think your site is full of sarcasm.
Comment By VI-RAL At 12/11/2006 6:39 PM
Sony, you can go screw yourselves.
Comment By Dynendal At 12/11/2006 8:40 PM











Comment By asdf At 12/11/2006 8:41 PM
XD psp. but really, is this what sony spends its money on? no wonder ps3 flopped
Comment By homer At 12/11/2006 6:42 PM
Sony admitted in late 2005 to hiring graffiti artists to spray paint advertisements for the PSP in seven major U.S. cities including New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. The mayor of Philadelphia has filed a cease and desist order and may file a criminal complaint. According to Sony, they are paying businesses and building owners for the right to graffiti their walls.[14]
Comment By wikipedia At 12/11/2006 6:43 PM
Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.

Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.

Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.

Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.

Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.

Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.

Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.
Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.
Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.

Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.

Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.

Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.

hahahahaha. Digg says hi.
Comment By Hi There At 12/11/2006 6:45 PM
this 'blog' makes me want to vomit with rage
Comment By BUTT-LIP JONES At 12/11/2006 6:45 PM
Wait for it....wait for it... the PSP isn't worthy enough to be a paper weight.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Comment By Hi There At 12/11/2006 6:47 PM
Hey stop dissing us. We are consumers for consumers. We made this site for YOU. We're on your side.
Comment By Zipatoni At 12/11/2006 6:48 PM
you folks are such amateurs.

NEVER LIE TO THE CONSUMER. THE MAR-KET DOESN'T FORGIVE.

friggin amateurs.
Comment By richard futaba At 12/11/2006 8:49 PM
No.
Comment By ZIPATONI At 12/11/2006 6:49 PM
This site is great and has persuaded me to purchase a PSP (PlayStation Portable). I have never seen a finer attempt at ma rke ting.

P.S. Basche is dead.
Comment By Marquis Halim Ondore IV At 12/11/2006 6:50 PM
M A R K E T I N G P L O Y ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Comment By Jeff N. Lerch At 12/11/2006 8:50 PM
You know, between Gears of War, Zelda, WiiSports, Lost Planet, and the whole truckload of quality titles premiering for the little handheld that could (read: not PSP), I don't even think I have time or any money left to purchase your junk handheld.

As a former employee of Best Buy, I saw firsthand how many parents came in, bought their kids a PSP vs. how many people actually bought games for it. They're all just collecting dust on people's shelves, or being used for illicit purposes.

This site reeks. Ilovebees was genius. OurColony was fun. Emergence Day was mysterious. This is i diotic.
Comment By Sidescroller At 12/11/2006 8:50 PM
*jedi mind trick* you will buy our PS3, you will buy our PS3
Comment By Sony At 12/11/2006 6:50 PM
y
o
u

s
u
c
k

a
t

l
i
f
e
,

k
i
l
l

y
o
u
r
s
e
l
f
Comment By asdf At 12/11/2006 8:51 PM
This site is great and has persuaded me to purchase a PSP (PlayStation Portable). I have never seen a finer attempt at ma rke ting.

P.S. Basche is dead.
Comment By Marquis Halim Ondore IV At 12/11/2006 8:51 PM
PSP = Pullin' Sum P3n1s3s. Which is what these wankers are doin' to each other.
Comment By Charlie_up_Jeremys_@rse At 12/11/2006 8:52 PM
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way— in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
Comment By Charles Dickens At 12/11/2006 8:52 PM
OMGWTFROFLCOPTERZZZ I l0ve tHiS bLoG I aM gOnnA aSk mY m0m iF sHe cAn bY mE oNe p$p fOr cri$$m4$ sInCe mY daD iS iN prIsOn fOr lOnG tImE aNd I cAnT haVE wII c0s oUr tRaIlEr is t00 smALl fOr a TV aNd I cAnT mOvE aRoUnD wItH tHe cOnTroLLeR iN oUr TrAiLeR sO it iS teH suXX0Rzz I wAnT a Ps3 tOO i HeEard yOu cAn UsE PsP as H-D-ScReEn bUt JuSt fOr PsIII iS thAt truE and I hEaRd PSP pLaYs DS gaEms t00 aNd tHaT iS tEh c00l yO woRd MaN nIcE bLoG i luv ItT!
Comment By s0nY iS tEh c00l At 12/11/2006 8:53 PM
This site makes me literally angry with rage!
Comment By Thissite At 12/11/2006 8:53 PM
'Hey stop dissing us. We are consumers for consumers. We made this site for YOU. We're on your side.' - which side is that? 'The side you carry your wallet on'
Comment By Charlie_up_Jeremys_@rse At 12/11/2006 8:54 PM
AAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!
'Sorry, your comment contains words that are not allowed on this blog.'
IT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR THE WORD W.II TO BE POSTED!!! AAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
This is why I hate Sony. They think their customers are retar.ded.
Comment By You can also get a W.ii for $250, Sony At 12/11/2006 8:55 PM
wii
Comment By charles At 12/11/2006 6:56 PM
D i e S O N Y - your m @ r k e t i n g d e p t . needs to be quart ered and b u rn t a li ve.
Comment By Matagasca At 12/11/2006 6:56 PM
Xbox 360 > PS3
Comment By Joseph Valencia At 12/11/2006 8:56 PM
What are you talking about? You can browse the internet on the DS with it's Opera Web Browser. Not only that, but the DS ACTUALLY has games to play!

-New Super Mario Bros
-Starfox Command
-Magical Starsign
-Final Fantasy 3
-Harvest Moon DS
-Mario Kart DS
-Metroid Prime Hunters

...Need I go on? The DS is CLEARLY the superior system.
Comment By Seth At 12/11/2006 6:56 PM
A screaming comes across the sky. It has happened before, but there is nothing to compare it to now.
Comment By Thomas Pynchon At 12/11/2006 8:57 PM
This is the most ridiculous stuff I ve ever seen in my whole life! It makes Vanilla Ice sound like Bethoven and Fred Durst look like a real gentleman! Sony is dead...
Comment By S0WN3D At 12/11/2006 6:57 PM
terry-bull site
Comment By boo-dog At 12/11/2006 8:58 PM

Comment By S0WN3D At 12/11/2006 9:00 PM
$249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS
$249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS
$249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS
$249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS
$249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS
$249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS
$249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS
$249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS
$249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS $249 PSP DOLLARS

Comment By $249 PSP DOLLARS At 12/11/2006 9:00 PM
we be just tryin to represent u guys... regular playas just tryin to get their gaem on, but now u gotta do all be dis then... u guys are noubs, pwnd!!
Comment By charlie At 12/11/2006 7:01 PM
It's dangerous to go alone. Take this.
Comment By New At 12/11/2006 7:01 PM
PS: 'any publicity is good publicity' is no longer true. Welcome to the age where the consumer is starting to get better at REALLY having that perfect information that is necessary for true caplitalism.
Comment By richard futaba At 12/11/2006 9:02 PM
Sony after their PSP 'graffiti' stunt: All I was for Xmas is the charges dropped.
Comment By Jake At 12/11/2006 7:02 PM
ridge raccccccerrrrrr
Comment By kaz hirai At 12/11/2006 9:06 PM
this is 5tup id, you are insulting every geek on the planet with the leet speak. if there were any good games for the psp you wouldn't sony wouldn't have to go this bull 5 h 1 t fake website route. the videos su x0r too.
Comment By fanboy At 12/11/2006 9:07 PM
V I R A L
M A R K E T I N G
Comment By andrew At 12/11/2006 7:07 PM
Sooo...

How about that Wii?

It's totally better then the PS3
Comment By Pata Hikari At 12/11/2006 9:08 PM
Metal Gear Solid 4 all!

http://www.torrentspy.com/torrent/939787/Metal_Gear_Solid_Portable_Ops_USA_PSP_ARTiSAN_NTSC

p.s. psp sux
Comment By konami At 12/11/2006 7:10 PM
You know, between Gears of War, Zelda, WiiSports, Lost Planet, and the whole truckload of quality titles premiering for the little handheld that could (read: not PSP), I don't even think I have time or any money left to purchase your junk handheld.

As a former employee of Best Buy, I saw firsthand how many parents came in, bought their kids a PSP vs. how many people actually bought games for it. They're all just collecting dust on people's shelves, or being used for illicit purposes.

This site reeks. Ilovebees was genius. OurColony was fun. Emergence Day was mysterious. This is i diotic.
Comment By Sidescroller At 12/11/2006 9:15 PM
rootkit, batteries, Betamax, UMD, minidisc, disc read error, lik-sang, and now, alliwantforchristmasisapsp.

Clap. clap. clap.
Comment By S0nISuxx At 12/11/2006 9:17 PM
You all is haters tymes 4. Dis is lee-git. Don't know why youse thinks this is a schill. Are site was registered through an external provider. We don't work for sony. And for all you dissin' my skillz I'm down for a one on one rap off or settling it street stylez if you feel me playa. Teh.
I own a Nintendo DS and I love it. I would still like a PSP for shizzle. But the DS is just as solid.
Comment By cousinpete At 12/11/2006 7:21 PM
WICKED!
COWABUNGA!
AWESOME!
Man this site gets me so pumped because it's so X-Treme DAWG!

Enjoy Coca-Cola.
Comment By Benson Jones At 12/11/2006 7:21 PM
Firs/t cam/e the ill/ega/l graf/fit/i.
The/n cam/e the rac/is/t squirr/els.


Now we get this. Li/p-s/ynche/d 'metal,' and ultr/a-whit/e 'ra/p' with allu/sion/s to pimp/s.

Somethin/g claimin/g to be hones/t but horribl/y trans/pare/nt.
Inten/tiona/l typo/s with impro/babl/y prope/r gramma/r.

I hop/e someon/e gets fi/re/d for this. And I'd imagin/e Zi/p is in dange/r of losin/g all its busines/s. Who would trus/t them after somethin/g this poo/rl/y though/t out?

And this filt/er syste/m...
Comment By mosquitocontrol At 12/11/2006 9:23 PM
get off my internet.
Comment By to the ad company that did this... At 12/11/2006 9:24 PM
Hey zi |p|pa, sup? Regis trar ashun says Hi! Stop being stoopers. We know why you stopped the cahmment sistum!! Mispells to be safe
Comment By Ceralor At 12/11/2006 9:25 PM
this is so very very weak
Comment By john At 12/11/2006 7:26 PM
N Fan(g) boys have taken over, its better to scratch this page and start elsewhere.

The page is lame though.
Comment By Marquis Halim Ondore IV At 12/11/2006 9:28 PM
z|p? what? This is blocked? shut up.
Comment By Ceralor At 12/11/2006 9:28 PM
Heh, good job idjit...

you're so funky-fresh hip with tha S-to-tha-ony mizzarketing company, me and my peepz is gonna play tha PSP like we 'pwn' it.

Seriously, who signed off on this crap... take him out back and shoot him, this is the worst a.d.v.e.r.t.i.z.i.n.g i've ever seen..

And good job registering this site in your c0mpany name, fool.
Comment By yeahright At 12/11/2006 9:31 PM
Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this son of York;
And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Comment By RichardGloucester At 12/11/2006 9:32 PM
yo

uh

check check it

the psp is wack
and that's a fact
sony don't know jack
i'm on the attack

peace we outta here
Comment By whatup At 12/11/2006 7:32 PM
D:

D:

D:

D:

D:
Comment By I am so confused At 12/11/2006 7:33 PM
lets buy eevry psp 4 holaday cheer!!!!1111 its got cool gaems liek fanal fantassy & pokemans!!!!1111 tats rite kids buy urself a MS PS3P TODAY ITS GOT BLUE RAZE!!!!
Comment By omfgsoney At 12/11/2006 7:34 PM
Yo yo yo yo check it dawg!
Diz site is the shiz dawg yo fo realz OMG LOL WTF LOL LOL ROFL ROFL
Uz R COOL, GIMME PRODUCTS YO SELL ME THE SHIZZ YO
Comment By benson jones At 12/11/2006 9:37 PM
Wow shame on you Sony for putting up this fake fan site.... you guys must really be hurting for sales.
Comment By Joe At 12/11/2006 7:37 PM
Yo Sony dawg mebbe u sodn't make rizacest advizzytizmunts.

OUT. (Just like a black person would say, get it?)
Comment By Terrible At 12/11/2006 9:37 PM
D:

D:

D:

D:

D:
Comment By I am so confused At 12/11/2006 9:40 PM
DESTROY HIM MY ROBOTS!
Comment By Elvin Atombender At 12/11/2006 7:41 PM
MY PSP HAS MORE RESMOLUTIONS THAN U
Comment By omfgsoney At 12/11/2006 9:44 PM
dudez psp is teh pwz0r!!! imma gunna get 7 psps cause they rok soo hard!!!!111one
Comment By psp pimp At 12/11/2006 7:46 PM
Oh, and by the way.....both of your systems are currently failing.

Can anyone say GG?
Comment By Sh!th34d At 12/11/2006 9:46 PM

ACTIVE consumers ACTIVATINGconsumers

Comment By wut At 12/11/2006 7:48 PM
EOT FOF GG NUB
Comment By Sh!th34d At 12/11/2006 9:48 PM
Nice v1ral z1p@t0n1. It's not hard to do a whois.
Comment By zipatoni At 12/11/2006 7:48 PM
_
_|_ _ | _
| |_|(_ |< \/(_)|_|
/
Comment By Joe Blow At 12/11/2006 9:48 PM
Nice v1ral z1p@t0n1. It's not hard to do a whois.
Comment By zipatoni At 12/11/2006 7:49 PM
Yeah we know what WHOIS is.
Comment By Genius At 12/11/2006 9:50 PM
nice v1ral z1p@t0n1, it's not hard to do a whois.
Comment By zipatoni At 12/11/2006 7:51 PM
nice v1ral z1p@t0n1, it's not hard to do a whois.
Comment By zipatoni At 12/11/2006 7:52 PM
nice v1ral z1p@t0n1, it's not hard to do a whois.
Comment By zipatoni At 12/11/2006 7:53 PM
nice v1ral z1p@t0n1, it's not hard to do a whois.
Comment By zipatoni At 12/11/2006 9:56 PM
~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~
Comment By N1nt3nd0 At 12/11/2006 9:59 PM
~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~ ~~~N1nt3nd0~~~~~
Comment By N1nt3nd0 At 12/11/2006 10:01 PM
MY POKEMONS.....LET ME SHOW YOU THEM
Comment By POKE-MONS At 12/11/2006 10:02 PM
I just threw up a little bit in my mouth
Comment By lolz!!!!!11 At 12/11/2006 10:03 PM
MY POKEMONS.....LET ME SHOW YOU THEM
Comment By POKE-MONS At 12/11/2006 10:03 PM
|_)(_ |_) (_ | |\/
| __)| __)|_|/\

Comment By Raptor5001 At 12/11/2006 8:06 PM
I don't understand this v 1 r a l m @ r ke t ing so here's two turtles doing the nasty.
Comment By nohablaingles At 12/11/2006 10:06 PM
|_)(_ |_) (_ | |\/
| __)| __)|_|/\

Comment By Raptor5001 At 12/11/2006 10:06 PM
Who here hates the PSP's @D campa!gn as much as I do?
Comment By Sh!th34d At 12/11/2006 10:09 PM
WTF? Someone not liking the PSP? What is this madness?! GTFO.
Comment By LOLPSP At 12/11/2006 10:11 PM
goddarnit, i cant bold this crap.

|_)(_ |_) (_ | |\/
| __)| __)|_|/\
Comment By Raptor5001 At 12/11/2006 10:11 PM
you gotsta play by the rules to bash sony and z1p
Comment By rules At 12/11/2006 10:14 PM
Yo yo yo, lovin' 'dis v.i.r.a.l. m.a.r.k.e.t.i.n.g., holla atcha' boy, ha ha!
Comment By Freddit At 12/11/2006 8:19 PM
Sony


Lost another one to DiTech

'pwn it' what the hell it that sony? Trying to be 'hip' 'cool' 'gangsta'?
Comment By Viral At 12/11/2006 10:20 PM
Why you h8ers h8ing on our site so much?
We juz 2 d00dz that wantz a Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable ) real bad yo.
We dun noe no dam ad agency yo.
Comment By Charlie At 12/11/2006 10:20 PM
Alright guys. You managed to delete four of my posts that bypassed the censor (PROPERLY, unlike certain others), and yet you leave EVERY other insult? Are you some kind of new-age Christian group? Or just trying to follow a strange plan to get the least criticism possible now that you've ruined everything for Sony?
Comment By Teggles At 12/11/2006 8:20 PM
Why you h8ers h8ing on our site so much?
We juz 2 d00dz that wantz a Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable ) real bad yo.
We dun noe no dam ad agency yo.
Comment By Charlie At 12/11/2006 10:23 PM
Ill tell you what, If you agree to take this site down.. I will BUY YOU a PSP. Thats right.. you win. You get the PSP.

Somehow I dont think your gonna accept my offer tho, because what good is a PSP to a markting company trying to sell hype to customers.
Comment By Mike At 12/11/2006 8:37 PM
Nintendo is awesom
Comment By troy At 12/11/2006 10:37 PM
Someone in #moap is a real hater.

Poor Kritz.
Comment By Lawl At 12/11/2006

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Consumerist-221650 Wed, 13 Dec 2006 17:16:22 EST Ben Popken http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=221650&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Meet The Douchebags Behind The Sony PSP Flog ]]> We found the Myspace profiles for most of the the marketing douchebags who appear on the PSP flog, pretending that they are kids who want their parents to buy them a PSP for Christmas.

Take a good look because we bet five dollars the whole site is gone by the weekend. The videos were already yanked from YouTube.

Why are we posting their Myspace profiles? Because we hate liars. Also, as a warning: kids, don't drop out of B-school or J-school. Get an English degree and learn how to tell compelling stories before you inflict another viral pile on the world.

"Charlie"- Greg Meyerkord, Zipatoni employee. Wishes he budgeted $10 extra dollars for a private domain name registration. Greg hasn't worked for Ziaptoni in six years. He is an innocent bystander in this sordid affair.

• "Jeremy" - Real name: Jeremy. Plays guitars in AVEX. Fought with beard over who got to lead the band.

• The Band: AVEX. Myspace page. Selling out is the hardest part.

• Tomiwa - Myspace page. "Who I'd like to meet: the Creative Directors at Weiden and Kennedy." Sorry kid, your recent availability notwithstanding, W&K is closed to hacks.

• Jessie - Myspace page. "Who I'd like to meet: Ashton Kutcher." He only dates cougars, and Demi is already with child.

Remember, "don't just wear it - pwn it!!1!" — BEN POPKEN

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Consumerist-221617 Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:10:04 EST Ben Popken http://consumerist.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=221617&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Sony's PSP Blog Flog Revealed ]]> UPDATE: Videos pulled from flog. See them here. UPDATE: Meet The Douchebags Behind The Sony PSP Flog

We're a day late and a dollar short to this story, but the forces of the internet outed a marketing company working for Sony for creating fake PSP blog.

The ps3do site says it's written by "Charlie" who wants to get the parents of his friend, "Jeremy," to buy "Jeremy" a PSP for Christmas. The domain name is registered to the Zipatoni marketing company.

In the video above, witness the dancing and rapping skills of Cousin Pete, supposedly one of the blogger's cousins. Despite being 35 and having an empty loft to shoot his crumbelieavable marketing video in, he too wants his parents to buy him a PSP for Christmas.

Witness their friends Tomiwa & Jessie. When they're not busy loudly ordering bottles of client's middle-shelf vodkas, they enjoy wearing PSP shirts the bloggers made. Hey look, you can download the iron on here. Hey look, you can download this greeting card here. Hey look, you can download the lyrics to this hardcore video "our band" whipped up here.

Pretty pretty please, make us into a meme.

Congrats, douchebags, you're a fucking meme. — BEN POPKEN

All I Want For Xmas Is A PSP [Official Site]
'all i want for xmas is a psp' - Is this Sony's attempt at viral marketing? [Something Awful, where the video was first discovered]
All Sony Wants For Christmas Is A Better Marketing Company [Kotaku]
Sony gets ripped for a bogus PSP blog [AdFreak]


Registar's info for alliwantforxmasisapsp.com

Registrant:
the ZIPATONI co.
Gregory Meyerkord
555 Washington Ave. 3rd Floor
St. Louis, MO 63101
US
Email: greg.meyerkord@zipatoni.com

Registrar Name....: REGISTER.COM, INC.
Registrar Whois...: whois.register