The BBC's show Watchdog will be helming an investigation into the reports that PlayStation 5s from Amazon were swapped for random objects while in transit.
Successfully completing an order for either of the new next-gen gizmos - the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S - was a serious challenge, owing to the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the global economy. SIE CEO Jim Ryan is pretty proud of the PlayStation 5's performance so far, but he recognised that it hasn't been smooth sailing. "Of all the things that I've learned this year, one is that I wouldn't plan on doing another big console launch in the midst of a global pandemic, and I wouldn't recommend it to anybody else," said Ryan in a recent interview.
"It's been difficult, it's been challenging from the production side, not being able to get anybody into the factories in Asia... Before we started production, we had to do all the manufacturing preparation by camera remotely. I mean, just imagine that for a precision device like the PlayStation 5," explained Ryan, though he is thrilled that "absolutely everything is sold" and the console secured the biggest launch in the company's history. After the stress and worry attempting to check-out with a PlayStation 5 at any one of the online retailers whose sites collapsed under the traffic, at least you'd be able to put your feet up and wait for the console to arrive at your door.
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Or... not. Sadly, a not-insignificant number of people unboxed their deliveries to discover that the console had been swapped for air fryers, cat food, bags of rice, and other doodads. Others had their consoles show up to be "delivered", but they themselves were empty-handed, meaning that the courier had run off with the PlayStation 5. One person managed to record CCTV footage of this happening, and brought it before Amazon, and the company then confirmed that this was one of their employees and that they would be sacked as a result.
"We have very high standards for our delivery service providers and how they serve customers," said the company in a statement to the Oxford Mail, and added that it would "put... right" the problems that have occurred. In the meanwhile, the BBC's consumer issues show Watchdog is asking for Amazon customers to come forward with their reports that their PlayStation 5 order failed to be fulfilled. Already, presenter Matt Allwright has had an "amazing response" to the call.
"I'll be working through everything with the team and seeing how we can take things forward," he continued on Twitter, and added that stories of failed Xbox Series X and Series S orders also count in the documentary. "People need a bit of escape and hope right now. I don't underestimate the positive effects that gaming can have. A big question also to be asked about launching both so close to Christmas."
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Allwright encouraged people not to opt for PS5s or Xbox Series Xs that appear to be on sale, as these stocks will almost certainly be fake. Indeed, fans have been stung by scalpers, and one group in the UK has "no regrets" over their flipping of almost 3,500 PS5s for a quick profit.
Featured Image Credit: Resetera user Kyonashi, SonyTopics: PlayStation 5, News