UK Reader Store - Opening Spring!

[scanman01]

Lastest information from Sony is that the UK Reader Store is opening in the Spring.

For further information click on "Reader Store" on your eReader and a message will be displayed.

[Darkhorse_01]

I own many Sony products. In general, I have been satisfied with them. However, the PRS-T1 is the exception. I bought this item largely after being convinced by the Sony Centre that E-Pub would allow me access to all the titles I wanted via the library system but, it is already clear that the VAST majority of UK public libraries don't offer this service AND HAVE NO PLANS TO DO SO. Sony also told me that a new book would be downloadable from the Sony e-reader store in a matter of seconds and that the store would be up and running by Christmas. I feel strongly that I was sold the reader inappropriately by means of unethical sales practices and that if I had known this at the time, I would have bought the new Kindle instead.

Why a company such as Sony has resorted to such low tactics is beyond my comprehension. My perception of this brand is now badly damaged. It is not the modern way for companies to behave ethically or with integrity but, this behaviour by Sony is frankly, shameful. Those responsible ought to be ashamed of themselves and their corporate image.

[carpetmojo]

Darkhorse - I'm afraid this is the problem with a "franchise" retail system.

I've read many posts - from here and abroad - with complaints about the behaviour, selling tactics and knowledge of staff in these Sony Centres.

Plainly, the advice given regarding Libraries was economical, veracity -wise, and plain incorrect, if not a downright lie.

However, certainly in the UK, the Sony centres are nothing to do with the Sony company, and this is not always apparent in these premises.

That may seem strange, but it is a model adopted by many manufacturers, over a wide gamut of consumer kit.

I don't know what "official " training the staff have, or if Sony checks them in any way, but I have also recieved bad advice from a (no longer in business) Sony Centre, about TVR 's actually, and I walked out when I soon realised that I - Mr. Tech Dunce, frankly - knew more than the sales assistant.

And by a long way - and I'd only done a self-administered crash course on Google etc,, over a couple of days.

So that part was down to the Centre, and if it was me, I'd have been down there making a nuisance of myself pretty quick - don't forget, your contract of sale is with the retailer, not Sony. And that "contract" is enforcible for "a reasonable time".

However, the Reader saga is, sadly, incomprehensible. I can see some possible reasons why things haven't materialised, but as they've had a Store in US for a while, so would seem a good model to work from, it does seem odd the UK one seems so difficult to get going.

But anything large-scale, complicated, and involving I.T. invariably seems to take longer, costs more, and has more teething problems of varying degrees - especially if it also involves Government ! - than is originally factored in !

But I did have high hopes when the Potter saga began - but that too seems to have gorn quiet....:smileysad:

But I have to say, I knew these problems regarding the T1 full facilities not being in place - but, like the x50 generation that came before, it  is such a good piece of kit ! 

[ZumbaChumba]

Dear Mr G
Thank you for your email addressed to Mr P, who has passed it to me to reply on his behalf. I am sorry to read of the issue with the reader store and fully understand your concerns and dissatisfaction.
I can appreciate when you are eagerly awaiting a product or service it can be incredibly frustrating when the release date keeps getting pushed back. The reasons for the delay was quite simply the site was not where we wanted it to be in time for release.
As such, we took the long view that it was better to delay than to rush a product out which did not meet our high standards. I imagine your next question would be why would Sony get into this situation and the simple answer would be with security being the forefront of our minds we would prefer to make sure all was in order before committing to this new and exciting enterprise regardless of the delays.
I trust the above goes some small way into reaffirming your faith in Sony that we still prefer quality and innovation rather than rushing in to the unveiling of a new service which in the long run was not able to meet the customer’s needs.

blah blah blah....  They have had 2 years to sort this out, and still in a mess...