Class-action suit brought to Sony's PS2

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19 May 2003, 12:56 AM
dog$

Class-action suit brought to Sony's PS2

http://www.turnto10.com/money/2206477/detail.html

Nobody mentioned this yet?

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Consumer Unit Takes Complaints About PlayStation 2 To Sony
Electronics Company Promises To Resolve Complaints
By Consumer Reporter Audrey Laganas

POSTED: 2:12 p.m. EDT May 15, 2003
UPDATED: 4:32 p.m. EDT May 16, 2003
Teenagers Tim Bell and Adam Teper are two of the people behind dozens of e-mail complaints sent to News Channel 10 about Sony's PlayStation 2 video-game unit.

Bell and Teper describe themselves as dedicated "gamers" and dedicated to PlayStation 2. That is, until their PlayStation 2 units stopped working.

"It came to a point where certain DVDs or certain games would just stop playing and it would come up to "disc read error." And now, it won't play anything," Bell said.

It's a story now playing out in a California courtroom.

A Consumer Unit investigation revealed a class-action lawsuit has been filed against Sony, alleging Sony deceived thousands of consumers like Bell and Teper by marketing PlayStation 2 as a DVD player and a video-game unit.

"I knew it was going to play DVDs and at the time I didn't have a DVD player," Teper said.

The suit, which Sony is fighting, charges that in fact, PlayStation 2 is not a reliable DVD player and that playing certain DVDs can shut down the unit. Sony denies deceiving consumers.

"I can't even finish a game now. I start it and it will freeze. So, I have nothing really to play," Teper said. "I contacted them about three or four months ago through e-mail and I got an automated response saying that they'd have a representative contact me and nobody ever did."

So, the Consumer Unit contacted Sony about Teper's situation and that of other consumers. We faxed those complaints -- with a request for an interview -- to the director of public relations for Sony Computer Entertainment America.

"They called me and said if I sent them my name, that they would completely pay for shipping to send me a brand new PlayStation free of us having to do anything," Bell said.

Within 24 hours of receiving our fax, several consumers told us Sony contacted them and offered to fix or replace their PlayStation 2 units for free.

"They had my original e-mail, but it took something else for them to even get back to me," Teper said. "I feel that I was put down. They had so much credibility and everything for being the company that cares about customers and everything, and then this happens."

Would either Teper or Bell consider buying another Sony product?

"I'd have to think real hard about it," Teper said.

Bell said he'd have to look at other brands.

Sony declined an on-camera interview, but spokeswoman Molly Smith did say the company is committed to resolving the complaints sent by News Channel 10.

"There are a number of factors that may impact disc play. These factors include dust particles, dirt, fingerprints and scratches on the discs," Smith said.

"We stand by our product," she said.

Sony urges consumers with PlayStation 2 problems to contact the company at (800) 345-7669 or check the PlayStation 2 Support Web site.

If you're interested in more information about the class-action lawsuit, you can contact attorney Jonathan Shub at (800) 883-2299 or by e-mail at jshub@sheller.com.

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So far, no lawyer team that I can think of has really gotten anything past Sony, I wonder if this will be the first one to do so?
19 May 2003, 01:01 AM
Drewbacca

Sony will just replace them. It's something like 5 times as expensive to make a new customer in comparison to keeping one in business.

I thought Sony would've handled this better, but oh well.
19 May 2003, 01:01 AM
Melf

Re: Class-action suit brought to Sony's PS2

Quote:

Originally posted by dog$
"I feel that I was put down. They had so much credibility and everything for being the company that cares about customers and everything, and then this happens."

The price of being a fanboy. :lol:
19 May 2003, 01:02 AM
rezo

Quote:

"I'd have to think real hard about it," Teper said.

Bell said he'd have to look at other brands.

Bet those Matsushita Brand PS2s are looking mighty appealing now.
19 May 2003, 01:06 AM
Regus

Heh.

Oddly enough, somebody who used to work for Sony's distribution plant in this area. came into work today, he was shipping a PS2 back to the company because of disc read errors, and struck up conversation with him. We talked about the shortages back during launch and the shoddy quality of the product. He told me that sony diffinetly skimped on the internals of the ps2, and that they would have the units made in three seperate countrys in order to cut corners.

Interesting conversation.
19 May 2003, 01:06 AM
Dyne

gayest thing i ever read.
19 May 2003, 01:16 AM
Tracer

Open one up. The cd-rom drive is not cased in and the fan blows right by it. Not a suprise.

lol @ rezo BTW
19 May 2003, 01:28 AM
Shin Johnpv

/me points at sony and goes HA!
19 May 2003, 02:02 AM
jiji

Kickass. I hope the suit is successful. Sony's quality assurance has been the worst in the console business since the introduction of the Playstation (until perhaps the GBA SP).
19 May 2003, 05:14 AM
unit003

Seems stupid they're trying to get a little change on the side because the system they bought decided to call it quits on them. I hope they lose this case.

* unit thinks of how dreamcast was buried...

...wait a minute, sony tried to kill sega!

BURN YOU CORPORATE MO'FO's, BURN IN HELL!!!

:evil:
19 May 2003, 06:28 AM
Xero_Kaiser

yeah, my PS2 stopped playing CD-ROMS and damn near raises the dead trying to play some DVDs but I'm too lazy to sue anybody over it
19 May 2003, 09:37 AM
Yoshi

Finally! A frivolous lawsuit I can get behind! :p
19 May 2003, 09:45 AM
Jeremy

Agreeance. Sony will probably just give them new systems and maybe some games and memory cards to try and shut them up.
19 May 2003, 11:36 AM
icarusfall

My jap system won't play my DDP-DOJ DVD without skipping to high hell. It plays the other Region-2 DVD's I have without a problem. You'd think a disk made to be played in the PS2 would be the one to work, but nooooooo.... :mad:
19 May 2003, 12:19 PM
Dolemite

Re: Class-action suit brought to Sony's PS2

Quote:

Originally posted by dog$
Bell and Teper describe themselves as dedicated "gamers" and dedicated to PlayStation 2.

Thus, announcing to the world that they have never even come close to touching a real live vagina.
19 May 2003, 12:27 PM
Frogacuda

Sony should be sued for their shoddy hardware and refusal to honor waranties, but this seems like a weird approach.
19 May 2003, 12:28 PM
Roufuss

Re: Re: Class-action suit brought to Sony's PS2

Quote:

Originally posted by Dolemite
Thus, announcing to the world that they have never even come close to touching a real live vagina.

Well, I'm sure the story of sticking it to Sony will be sure to get them quite alot of women.
19 May 2003, 12:41 PM
epmode

Quote:

Originally posted by icarusfall
My jap system won't play my DDP-DOJ DVD without skipping to high hell. It plays the other Region-2 DVD's I have without a problem. You'd think a disk made to be played in the PS2 would be the one to work, but nooooooo.... :mad:

you'd think, but it's not just an issue with your player. all japanese ps2s have trouble with that disc, mine included.
19 May 2003, 04:39 PM
Tyler_Durden

Quote:

Originally posted by Dragonmaster Dyne
gayest thing i ever read.

:confused:

Have you ever read any of these?

Anyway, good for them. I'm glad someone is finally acting on this, I've heard about too many broken PS2s. Btw, does anyone know of the types of DVDs that supposedly break the system?
19 May 2003, 05:02 PM
Captain Vegetable

You've got to be kidding me!

Read my typage: 90 day warenty!!!
For the most part electronic items function beyond their 90 days, but, legally, they do not have to.

Sony has this in the bag, even if some joke jodge doesn't throw it out.
19 May 2003, 05:38 PM
Korly

Quote:

Originally posted by Yoshi
Finally! A frivolous lawsuit I can get behind! :p

Word.
19 May 2003, 05:41 PM
Mr_Furious

I find it interesting that it may be some DVD movies that could be screwing up the consoles. I've never used my PS2 to watch movies (because it sucks for that) so I haven't had any problems yet (and it gets used a lot).
19 May 2003, 05:44 PM
Zerodash

So what? Everyone knows that Sony electronics aren't as reliable for the long-term as other companies'.

But guess what? No matter what, ALL electronic devices will break down. Nothing lasts forever.

Part of being a "dedicated" gamer is knowing that sometimes, you just have to REPLACE some things- especially if you USE them.

ah, well.
19 May 2003, 08:08 PM
piku

So wait, is this article suggesting that if I gave Sony a call they would replace my Playstation 2 that skips while playing dual-layer DVD's for free?

Or just if I get a local tv station to complain?
19 May 2003, 08:11 PM
Dyne

Quote:

Originally posted by Tyler_Durden
:confused:

Have you ever read any of these?

Anyway, good for them. I'm glad someone is finally acting on this, I've heard about too many broken PS2s. Btw, does anyone know of the types of DVDs that supposedly break the system?

its a $200 videogames system....not some fucking car or something. sometimes i wonder what people do with all their free time and i guess making lawsuits over something you bought breaking is pretty damn popular. its an electronic device made by SONY....it WILL break. thats like sueing because your ice cream fucking melted or something. i swear....anything for attention.
19 May 2003, 08:23 PM
Jeremy

Dyne, yeah it WILL break, but the things shouldn't break as often, or as quickly, as the PS2s (and PSXes for that matter) do.
19 May 2003, 08:24 PM
GameHED

Quote:

So what? Everyone knows that Sony electronics aren't as reliable for the long-term as other companies'.

But guess what? No matter what, ALL electronic devices will break down. Nothing lasts forever.

I dunno, all my nintendo systems were pretty robust. No excuse.
Even 'dedicated gamers' should be pissed.

Remember when (everonye's fave) Itagaki from tecmo mentioned they purposely make them this way so people are forced to buy new units? I believe him. It's the secret to the huge ps userbase. Great tactic sony! Make each gamer buy 3 units, sell more systems, boost developer confidence in the system, obtain market dominance. :D
19 May 2003, 08:31 PM
Ryan

Quote:

Originally posted by epmode
you'd think, but it's not just an issue with your player. all japanese ps2s have trouble with that disc, mine included.

My JP PS2 plays the DVD without any troubles.
20 May 2003, 01:35 AM
Viper

Quote:

Originally posted by GameHED
Remember when (everonye's fave) Itagaki from Tecmo mentioned they purposely make them this way so people are forced to buy new units? I believe him.

Wasn't it Capcom's Shinji Mikami who made that comment? I don't recall ever hearing Tomonobu Itagaki criticising Sony.
20 May 2003, 01:54 AM
jiji

Quote:

Originally posted by Black Arts Viper
Wasn't it Capcom's Shinji Mikami who made that comment? I don't recall ever hearing Tomonobu Itagaki criticising Sony.

Yeah, that was Mikami. I remember hearing that now (didn't sound quite right being attributed to Itagaki).
20 May 2003, 02:46 AM
Gohron

The main thing I've seen leading to the PS2 shutdown has been collection of dust...

The thing takes in a lot of dirt and it'll often cause it to read discs wrong, but if you take it apart and Aresol everything out it'll work as good as new.
20 May 2003, 09:59 AM
Scorp23

my ps2 broke due to a defect and sony fixed mine free of charge, and sent it back really quick too, they said 15-20 days, i got mine back in 7
21 May 2003, 04:53 AM
Clash!

Well I am on my 3rd PS2 thanks to Sony. Both of them just stopped working normally. And I did nothing but pure normal wear and tear. DVDs just stopped working the first time around, and games would just lock for no good reason, even brand new games right out of the case. Thankfully I purchased it at Wal-Mart where they let you exchange something you purchased back in 1991.

Its a cry baby law suit, but Sony really needs to do something about its crappy products.
21 May 2003, 08:34 AM
cigsthecat

Quote:

all japanese ps2s have trouble with that disc, mine included.

Not all japanese PS2's have trouble with it- mine plays it just fine. I wonder if it's a certain model that has issues.
21 May 2003, 04:37 PM
Saint of Killers

Quote:

Originally posted by GameHED
I dunno, all my nintendo systems were pretty robust.

I guess you never owned an original NES.