Pachter on the PSP Go: Sony is ripping consumers off |
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The US$ 169 PSP-3000 is a profitable device. They make money, so it costs less than that. The disc assembly for a UMD costs more than 16 gigs of flash does. So this new device doesn't cost them as much to make as the PSP-3000 and they jack the price up US$ 80... They're ripping off the consumerÂ… They're making a lot more money on the PSP Go than theyÂ’re making on the PSP-3000.
Pachter also noted that the Go's price tag was likely a move to compete with the US$ 299.99 16GB iPod Touch. Check out the whole thing in the video below.
Related articles:
- PSP Go UK price not yet confirmed
- E3 2009: More spicy tidbits on PSP Go: five to six hours battery life, same SDK as other PSP's, new video hands-on
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Comments [refresh]
It should cost the same as the 3K. If they wanna charge more because it is new and has bluetooth, then I'd say $199 MAX. $249 is just ludicrous!
The value is not determined by the manufacturer, it's determined by the people.
The people can scream and rant and rave, but the only power will come from the wallet.
I am looking at the PSP Go as a chance to pick up a PSP 2000/3000 on the cheap. Plus, tons of used games! So, it's exciting, but it's the exact opposite of what Sony wants. OTOH, if sony does do a buyback program/trade that will lower availability of used games... driving up costs? Hmmm...
"The disc assembly for a UMD costs more than 16 gigs of flash does" When did this happen? I thought that discs were cheaper which is why they haven't gone to memory sticks yet.
The price tag for the PSPgo is to high. Its going to be sold at the same price as the original Phat PSP was back in 2005. I would would rather buy a XBOX360 Arcade before buying this. Sure this thing has a 16GB hard drive and bluetooth, but if I'm gonna get this thing then I'm gonna wait for a price drop. Right now I am happy with my PSP 2000[Which btw has 5.00-6 M33 CFW installed on it :) ]
Just dont buy it.. It will make them think twice. Just dont buy it or you are stupid and waste your money on it. Dont buy it!
the ipod touch 16gig is 299.99$ soo you might want to fix that
This may have been true in 2005, when it came out. Now, you can get an 8GB SDHC card for $20.
I think he may be talking about the disc drive assembly in the PSP, not the cost of UMD production.
C'mon Sony, what the hell are you thinking? I thought they learned their lesson with the 600$ PS3, but I guess not. And don't come me with the "value" argument. It didn't work for the PS3, so why should work with the PSP Go? if a product is too expensive and there are cheaper alternatives, people just won't buy the product, value or not.
1- No second Analogue.
2- New memory format? Come one, I know you could have put a regular Mem Stick Duo slot in with no complications...
3- The price. Too high, I'd say $190 US would be a fair price, with a price drop of the older 3000 to $150 US.
SHUT THE HELL UP about no 2 analog stick, boohoo wah wah, go cry somewhere else! It's not a next generation PSP!!
Ugh, now that, that's out of my system... I too have 3 Problems with the Go.
1) Should have had a touchscreen since it closes and there is no other way to get through the XMB. (Yeah the L + R Shoulder buttons are exposed, but you can only get so far with those.)
2) Sony, its called a C-A-M-E-R-A...CAMERA; Say it with me, KA-MEH-RAH!! Come on, really? Should have been an AUTO addition to this.
3) The changing of the ports so that no old PSP peripherals are compatible. Bad Move.
Only real problems with this; if all of these where included then it would have been so worth the $250 price. (Though I'll probs still get one, its so small and... portable... he he he)
I think a touch screen would make it MORE of a "next gen" PSP than another stick, just saying...
It needs a camera.
That wouldn't be a huge upgrade or make it "next gen", because the PSP already has a camera. This would just make it built in.
(Like the Mic in the 3000.)
Ha ha, yeah, I realized that as I typed that and still chose to keep it in because its a logical way to interact with the XMB. Oh and come on, games don't need touchscreen, contrary to Nintendo's belief, touching can be a very very bad thing!!! :X
Another stick would make you have to change the way games are programmed, btw, hence why I have that in my not needed category (and I hate the two stick deal)
so why would you request a gh3y crappy touch screen and camera
Buy a D@mn ipod touch
Buy a D@mn 9 mega pixel camera
but dont be complaining about lame baby fads.
Thats, that crap a 3yr old would enjoy.
1. a lame low rez camera
2. some half @$$ touch screen that will only welcome sorry @$$ game develepor apps and fill the whole entire psn with trash!
you flamed the guy in your reply about the second analog stick, and you need to check yoself. Its thee BEST hardcore portible game consloe up to date. And iam pissed about the missing second joystick. Sony corporation needs to man up and say f/k game sales!!! Sony is delivering quality games and that is wha reall matters.
and you know what yea it needs the crappy camera. Skype is gh3y!!! Go Messenger was 100 times better and had tons more features!!! They said they were canceling the service because of lack of users. Well if the released the stupid camera in america they would have gotten tons more users!!!!
that is gh3y how they claimed people didnt like it because they said their cellphone had better quality. BS!!!
You can make new games able to use the standard PSP controls for one stick, and the new stick, too.
:)
And, some BIG games on the PSP, like Socom, can have patches made for the second stick?
1-I think the PSP works fine with one stick, and IMO is great, I think is should remain with on stick and leave the dual sticks for home consoles...but if they make it dual analogue sticks for the next gen PSP I wouldn't mind either XD.
2-The new Memory format is stupid, they're making you buy them...one of the other reasons I wont buy the PSP GO.
3-The price it high yes, they removed the UMd drive and put 16GB internal HD and the price might be the same almost...
The one thing is pretty stupid IMO is that they release Digital Download games at the same price as the UMD version...
that 249 Price point is just crazy.... They should have set the price for the PSP go @ 199 MAX. I still think it's a bit high since an arcade 360 is basically the same price.. but come on SONY... screwing over the consumer isn't a good idea.
A 3k cost $169, then you add in a 16GB memory stick, and that's like another $80 or so. So the price tag isn't all too bad. Besides, it's a new look, lighter, and had bluetooth now, though I'm not sure how far having bluetooth will do for the Go.
Though I have to say, a new memory stick format really does f things up. I mean, I've spent hundreds of dollars on memory sticks alone already, back when the 4GB was $49. ATM, I have 4GB for music, and 3 8 GB for videos. I don't even want to mention my 16GB stick.
The PSP Go is a more portable PSP...
I think its price is something rather expected. Go ahead and complain about the price. Its actually just normal that the smaller the toy, the more expensive it gets. Its not becoz of the cost price but the value of it.
The PSP Go may cost cheaper to produce but the value of it as a more portable and totally redesigned PSP would make no wonder of its price.
I know sony wants to move ahead with the times but the fact they cut out memory stick support is really... well yeah. Even with the 16 gb hdd I would have preferred if they left it a memory stick slot rather than M2 .
I mean I recall buying my first 4gb memory stick 2-3 years ago for $79.99 on sale at best buy.
Um, dude, you suck at typing and you just proved my camera point and I've explained the need for a touchscreen, but once again, let me try and put this in stupid terms.
If the system is closed it means no using the buttons to go through the XMB. Touchscreen would mean it doesn't matter id its closed because you'd have another way to use the XMB.
I don't want a iPod Touch, i'm happy with my nano and I have a digital Camera, I meant for interaction with games like invisanimals (however its spelled) and like you said, video chat.
Oh and hopefully they improve the Web Browser!!! COME ON!! PLEASE!! I HATE THE CRIPPLEDNESS!!!
No, ssouthparkk, just NO. It's not needed. NO, just no. What joy is there to shooters on a handheld device? nothing. Keep that on the big screen.
I already have two PSP's (1000 and 2000), so I wouldn't buy this even if the price wasn't preposterous.
It's a preference, and MOST DO want a second stick. So it's only logical that they add a second stick....
Sony knows there's tens of thousands of people ready to queue up at midnight on launch day and pay whatever it costs, that's why they'll put a ridiculous price on so they can strain as much money as possible from people desperate to have the latest thing, so if you buy on launch day you playing right into their grubby little hands.
God no, a touchscreen is retarded.
Second analog is needed more than a stupid touchscreen
smaller screen
different game format
less battery life
much more expensive
incompatible accessories
Oh, that's probably why.
If this article is true, I should go kill myself for purchasing the psp 1000 on opening day for the same price...
ofcourse that was more than 4 years ago, I had the included 32mb stick for the longest time, until the 1 gig came down to $100.
A Bluetooth receiver is only $10. I'm more than happy with my 2K and the 8gig SDHC card I got for it that only cost $15.
...and then launch straight into crying about no camera? Pot meet kettle.
You can get a 16GB SDHC for about $35 - $40 and Bluetooth receivers are cheap as hell now. This is probably about Sony trying to bring down the overhead on the PS3 construction. Which, while cheaper than in 2006, is still selling at a loss.
My mum lost my 1gb stick when she was moving in a dresser.
It had all my gamesaves and porn and ***** on it.
i know i wouldnt need more then 16 gigs, and i dont know anyone with more then 16 gigs on their psp. it is possible to get more, but buying more memory is not necessary, unlike the current psp.
The market will decide if it is a ripoff or not. There is a lot more to the value equation than raw materials. Who cares about Michael Pachter.
I still have mine, although I don't use my psp phat or 1gig that much anymore since I bought an 8gb along with a slim on opening release last year when it was going for. That will soon change though, when I mod my psp phat into my computer, it will have a place in my heart forever.
I agree that a built in camera would make the price more reasonable. However, I was hoping that the next installment would have a built in keyboard of some sort (I'm still pissed that there isn't an official add on peripheral for the psp versions already out). I wish they added that in for the go instead of putting all their investments in making it lighter (and the outcome of that was a smaller screen). So yeah, I'm not getting this (at least not until it gets a price drop). For now I'm content with my psp 1000.
IS TOOO MUCH, I THINK ITS GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING NEW THAT THEY HAVENT SAID B/C OFF THE PRICE IF NOT THEN ITS SUCK. IT SHOULD HAVE HAD TOUCH SCREEN FOR XMB ONLY.
typical skimming pricing scheme by sony to introduce new products.... lol~
just because it didnt work previously doesn't mean it will work this time... lol... read the market...
200+ $ for that *****??? are hey *****ing crazy????
sony go eat copro )))))))))))))))
YES!! Exactly! makes sense!! Touchscreen for XMB!!
no reason why I buy a PSP Go!
I can spell ha look at how you spelled your name.
But forget all that yo i agree with the touch screen.
If it were available then yes it should only be used for and only the menue feature but with that said we dont need it.
Honestly i thought you meant it for games. You said you previously wrote up something stating you didnt mean it for games but i did not see that.
I seriously dont see why people want to use touch screen for games.
Its lame, screw the ds i hate its success and its only a fad and hopefully it will end!
But other than that o see what you mean. I just wanted to get my point across no matter who read it ya kno.
If only sony corporation thought like us.
Strickly games everything else is extra. Just like the iphone strickly phone service, everything else is extra! I dont care how advance technology is! Sony corporation and everyone else needs to focus on games. Thats what matters most (if it a gaming device)
Off subject
But the use of brand new memory sticks is just dumb. I own many memorysticks despite the 16gigs. I wanna know why they did that. Features like that really grind my gears!
I hope the psp "go" does not sell at all! It, by no means fits the desire of the consumer (Mr. Obvious). Why not a second analog for psx classics and future support? Why the bad design? why the new format? My take on it alongside the second analog is that they should shoot for two extra triggers by splitting the existing two in half and morphed for comfort! Smart eh, thoughts?
This is my first post ever on this site by the way lol!
And I think personally that the touchscreen and camera idea sucks. There will be no need for it any time soon, not until the psp 10,000!
people complained of how the ps3 was 600 dollars when it came out but during xmas season but people still bought the damn thing so idc about the price bc i will not buy one on the release date the price will probaly go down but if it dosent i see a dsi with my name on it XD
Agreed! And I hope they do VC for hanhelds on DSi and soon!
It is now dirt cheap to make flash memory i think it is .02 cents per chip and i think umd are .08 cents per disc
check the prices again 16 gig ms pro duo are like 35 bucks now... and the ms pro duo tops out at a theoretical 2 TB m2 tops out at theoretical 16GB so ill go with a psp2000 with a 32 GB chip tyvm
someone did put a touchscreen on a psp and it worked
if you wont a 2nd joystick just buy a razorx and make it internal
all this and more at
http://www.acidmods.com
So apparently no one even realizes that for FLASH MEMORY you have to pay per GB. So 16GB of of flash memory is CERTAINLY going to jack crap up.
Don't believe me.
http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2309p020id121946.htm?rd=1
Look at the picture. You don't even HAVE to read!
$75 PER GB!
What's $75 * 16?
Oh boy...$1200!
=D
Oh let's tack on additional things like the mother board, parts, screen, buttons and the whole enchilada and that's more tacked onto the $1200.
Stop complaining about price theres a reason for it.
Am i getting one? Not likely I'll probably be getting a 3000 if anything honestly. But at the moment I still have my 1000 running fine. Sure load times are slow but i load em off the stick and the PSP Go is made for that!
Portable storage you don't need memory sticks or ripping from UMD's. It's just convenient with an actual flash drive.
I'll agree with you guys it's silly of them to not include compatiblity with the accessories the PSP 1/3000 has. But AGAIN it's a portable system to REDUCE clutter. It's sleek and compact. That's what it's designed for. It would of been awesome to implement a camera and a mic inside and rock the Skype convo a hell of a lot more heh.
But either way...that's my two cents -_-;
The PSP Go is: ugly, still has only 1 analog stick, and costs way too much. I'll stick with my psp PHAT.
E3... I agree no one gives a flyin duck about the PS2 anymore. Yes sony it has survived a long time, here is your gold star sony.
MAG and GT5 look awesome. i cant wait to get my hands on them.
Do not forgot that this PSP Go is not PSP 2... It is the next PSP 4000 after PSP 3000. They go ahead with PSP Go instead. I am not going to buy it because they will release PSP 2 in the near future but not at anytime sooner unless it is poor sell (Please let it to be poor sell) then I think they might redevelop the PSP 2. :)
i keep seeing ppl saying "it doesn't have a 2nd analog stick! boo-hoo" :( first of all this is just a "makeover" for the PSP, its not a PSP 2 or whatever, its still the same old PSP that just now slides up and has a few "extra" features.
my second problem is that $0NY is going to be selling the digital games as the same price as the UMD games... come on! i think the price for digital games should be about $10-$15 cheaper cuz now they don't have to put it on a disc (which they have to pay for) and then come up with a nice picture for the UMD (which they gotta pay for) and then they gotta make UMD cases (which they gotta pay for) and then they gotta make another nice picture for the UMD cases (which they gotta pay for) and then they also have to package it (which they gotta pay for)
now the digital games all they have to do is upload it to a server (which they gotta pay for).... ok what else do they have to pay for???? hmmmmmmm idk!
thats 6 things (that i know of, sure there are more) that SONY has to pay for to produce UMD games and thats 1 thing (that i know of, theres prolly more) that SONY has to pay for to produce digital downloads. thats like a 6-1 ratio. so maybe digital games should coust 6X less than UMDS????
I agree everyone should stop whining about the second analog stick, the Psp go is just a facelift and adding extra controls would mean different control schemes on Psp go compared to earlier Psp's, and it's the same point with the touchscreen, and adding a camera and gps would be alright because they already add-ons for other versions.
yes, this is bad - "PSP GO f*u*c*k* yourself" have not 2nd analog stick... i'm very sad!!! maybe they make it later???
i wanna 2nd analog stiiiiick!!!!
))))))))))))))) ))))))))))))))) ))))))))))))))) ))))))))))))
Seriously, I'm not talking about ebay, and the crap. I'm talking about REAL local retail stores and the like. Anyone can find cheap sticks on the net, it's a matter of whether it's legit or not.
Just visiting sites like Bestbuy, Target, Walmart, Radioshack, and all that, and there is no such thing as a
I'm sorry but if you look at your source, that's prices from back in 2005, flash doesn't cost $75 a GB anymore. For a 16GB M2 card, which is probably what they are using in it (and yes it's considered flash memory), it's only $85, so there goes your $1200.
So if it is ok for the 16gb ipod touch to cost $299 why can't the PSP GO cost $249?
What exactly does the ipod touch do that the psp go can't? its smaller and more targeted at playing music but thats all.
Sony will reprice it when they need to. Lets get a bit more money back into the playstation group first. Sony doesn't have bottomless bits of pockets like microsoft.
More profit for sony is a good thing for us playstation gamers as it will mean more invesment.
Not to forget the materials used in making a UMD Disc, less plastic will be used which will mean a greener world
Ipod is more expensive because of many things eg. better wifi, better internet browser, better sound quality, built in speaker, touch screen, smaller, lighter, better looking, accelerometer, better ui, youtube function, massive app library etc. etc.
plus apple brand is more widely recognised as quality and a brand you can trust as they actually bother to advertise unlike sony with the psp (well in the uk at least).
Despite what you may think they have nearly the same speed of processors and the ipod has double the ram of the psp go.
Despite this I still prefer the psp simply because it has the better games. It however does not need to be priced in the UK at the ridiculous price of 230 pounds(equivale nt to $370). If you americans think you're getting ripped of think again...
anyone else notice in mag the flying man in like the first 5 seconds
it made me laugh so hard
Sony will get the picture and stop production of PSP altogether or make something worth 249 dollars for a change!
If only everybody used the internet...
Your spelling isn't good. You spelled strictly wrong. It's strictly not strickly.
What if Sony knows they're ripping us off? What if they're doing that on purpose? Maybe they just want us to talk about the price and about how high it is. Then suddenly they drop the price and say that they listened to their "consumers'? That would make them look good and would persuade people to buy their products because they know they can influence Sony. They probably plan to make it around $200 and just want to see our reaction about the higher price
But he forgot to include the fact that new moulds and processes have been made in order to manufacture the new PSP Go, whereas the old PSPs all use the same 4-5 year old moulds, which means the overheads for producing those have now been paid off. The new PSP is a brand new product, so they have had to invest, and this high price tag reflects the investment. You'll probably find that they are using other proprietary components like the battery and screen, so these would also have a high initial price for Sony.
Their not Ripping us off. I mean the PSP Phat was released at this price. Plus its perfect for people that does not want to carry their umd and 8 umd disc holder cases with them during road trips or plane flights so all you need to take out is your psp go and bluetooth Ear Clip Headphones that Sony released for Ipods and the PSP Go.
There are so many articles about the PSP Go on this website, yet it seems most people that comment here haven't read them or more probably, have not understood them. The PSP Go is not a successor to the current PSP lines. It's not a 4000, 5000 or whatever. It is a PSP GO, a new product dedicated to a different group of people. Personally I don't see why you would compare the price of a XBox360 with the PSP Go. The 360 is a game console for home use, the other is a portable gaming device. I want to see you playing your 360 during a bus/train ride, using a car battery ? And why exactly should a game sold digitally cost 6x times less ? Did it also cost 6x less to develop ?
Or do you think the only thing you are paying for is the packaging ? When the VHS format was slowly surpassed by the DVD, there weren't any free DVD version give outs either. Or do you walk into your local DVD shop and say 'Hey I bought this DVD last year, I want the Blueray version for free now." These companies have to earn money. Sony doesn't have a magical money tree in their backyard, where they get their money from to develop all those shiny gadgets for you spoiled brats. So Pachter whines about Sony, I don't want to know what he has to say about Apple who rips costumers of on a yearly basis. If you don't want it, DON'T BUY IT !
"pod is more expensive because of many things eg. better wifi, better internet browser, better sound quality, built in speaker, touch screen, smaller, lighter, better looking, accelerometer, better ui, youtube function, massive app library etc. etc."
* Wifi - Not noticed any problems with it myself
* Internet Browser - For me I'd only have an internet connection at home with my PSP, so would use the PC instead. It works, but with no keyboard or touchscreen can be a bit annoying.
* Sound Quality - You'd expect the iPod to be better at that, but again I've not noticed the PSP to be any worse (though I'm comparing it to a 4th Gen 40Gb Ipod and my wifes IPhone.
* Built in speaker - So the PSP Go's stereo speakers are not any good? Use headphones rather than annoy the commuters
* Touch Screen - Ok, but the PSP has real buttons which are much more usefull for gaming and skipping tracks etc.
* Smaller, Ligther, Better Looking - Yes the iTouch really does aim at a different market. The ITouch is a dedicated music playing devices, with smaller everything (screen included). It plays basic games as well. The PSP is a dedicated gaming device, with good video / music support. I'd use a PSP Go for catching up on TV, playing games, and possibly music. Though more likely I'll use my N97 (with 32Gb + 16Gb) when it finnaly comes out
* Accelerometer - I do like those marble type games that use it. Other than that...
* Better UI - The UI suits the interface, I think sonys XMB is pretty damn good. The iTouch interface is the best touchscreen interface I've used (fat fingers and all), but I find most of the systems core options, text entry etc limited.
* YouTube - I'd expect more of this sort of thing to start appearing on the PSP, like Skype did. Does YouTube work in the PSPs Web Browser?
* Massive App Library - PSPs Real Game library.
In summary the iTouch / iPhone hasn't grown up as a games machine yet. Unless all you want is PopCap style games.
P.S. UK pricing is UK pricing having traveled to Japan and Dubai this year I don't think we get ripped off as bad as I thought. Yes things are cheaper in the US, but the UK is not the *most* expensive of places.
Lmao
1. Why they go this high with the price its becuz...they want to earn some money back from the old psp version..cuz as he said it cost more to make an psp 3000 then go..
2. no Memory ***** its becuz its goes legal omg did I heard it right legal..hahah not gonna happend there's always way to crack that thing cuz everything is possible...just wait sony..anyway i gonna buy it anyway..looks awesome XD
3. good thing is its faster...cuz it load of the inside right..
4. just shut up about 2nd analog geez guys..not gonna happend till the new real PSP 2 is coming ..maybe just maybe...
5. WTF no i need bluetooth for...I have it on my phone geez..
6. not to mention WTF indeed wtf over the 200 hundred dollar are those guys get bonk by Kratos or something...I understand but still wtf..
7. good lines up for the psp .. :) GT psp, Tekken, Dissidia, Resident evil And some other cool game..to lazy to call all that been announce
You fail. Stop typing in CAPS please.
I paid over $80 for a 4gb 1 year ago. I got a 4gb for my phone this year and it was $14.... Really not cool.
Sony is losing a lot of money per PSP unit sold (the 1000, 2000, and 3000s units, obviously) only in hopes that they can make up via game sales in form of the UMD. They may actually be making a profit per PSP Go sold, or maybe they are just taking less of a loss per unit sold, I would assume the price point they put on it that they are making profit per unit sold, which is generally a good idea for products a company makes... lol... Having said that, you may be asking "Why can't they still take losses on the PSP Go's and make their profit from digital games sales?" Well it's not exactly the same as UMD games sales. They've gone over to digital games sales for this system which means a more direct competition with devices such as the itouch/etc. They can't expect to be selling digital games for $30-50 when the iTouch has a huge library of games that are $5-$10, many of which people will claim are better or more innovative at least than the PSP games. Now don't get me wrong, the huge AAA titles such as God of War, etc, they will still have some high price points, and they will most certainly still be bought by consumers. However, You can expect the average game to be from $15-$20. Now what does that mean for us, a bigger investment into the system originally, but cheaper price point for each game (and not having to deal with those UMDs), what does it mean for Sony, they aren't going to be making a great deal of profit from game sales, and it's economically and commercially sensible for them to raise the price a bit.
They have no other choice.
By refusing to allow any user-made code since way back in 2005 and continuing that decision ever since, they've shot themselves in the foot, as an unhappy user base will, ultimately, not buy your products any more.
Hence the big loss Sony is taking in UMD sales.
Most people now get their games from homebrewers, or pirate the ISO.
Since Sony can no longer make money on software, they've abandoned any pretense of making PSP hardware affordable, and now all their profits will be derived directly from jacking up prices on the PSP Go! and any future hardware products.
Nintendo started the ripoff on handhelds scheme with the DSi.
I have an iPod Touch. The vast majority of the stuff on the App store is gimmicky garbage. Very few apps are doing anything worthwhile with the touchscreen and motion sensors.
Honestly, I don't think the PSP Go was designed for existing PSP users. It's more like an attempt to make it appeal to non-gamers. Personally, I think Sony is making a big mistake.
I would rather see a new PSP with a second analog stick. They also need to release the blasted camera, especially since Invizimals basically requires it.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type++search_query+Invizimals+aq+f
Yeah, it's kinda gimmicky, but it shows potential and innovation which is something the PSP needs more than being turned into an iPod wannabe.
There are plenty of non-virtual computer DIY shops that sell MS and SDHC for cheap as well as online. Just because you want to waste money because you want to tell your friends that you bought it at WalMart doesn't make it smart or right.