One hundred lucky — and patient — customers, some who had been waiting in line since Monday, filed into the Rockville Circuit City store promptly at midnight, scoring the coveted PlayStation 3 game console.
Although almost 200 people braved the line in yesterday’s rain and wind, the store was one of six Circuit City stores across the country to sell just 100 PlayStations during the “Midnight Madness” sale.
Store Director James Higgins said the customers were well-behaved considering how long they had been there. Other stores this week had to deal with unruly crowds.
“We thought they’d be a little more, you know, vigilante, but they’re actually very good about what they’ve been doing,” he said. “We were hoping for the best, and we got the best.”
Manufacturer Sony Corp. has a limited supply of 400,000 units for North American customers. The short supplies and strong demand could cause problems for Sony during the Christmas season.
The consoles, which sold for $500 and $600 depending on the version, are half a year late. Sony’s North American unit says it will have 1 million to 1.2 million more units before the new year.
In Palmdale, Calif., authorities shut down a Super Wal-Mart after some shoppers got rowdy late Wednesday and started running around inside the store. In West Bend, Wis., a 19-year-old man ran into a pole and struck his head racing with 50 others for one of 10 spots outside a Wal-Mart.
At a Circuit City Stores Inc. location in New York, potential buyers traded accusations of line-cutting and tried to avoid fights amid heightened emotions.
This article is based in part on wire-service reports.
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