Price
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Source: PlayStation
One of the most popular gaming systems ever has just become a bit more affordable. Sony has announced a price reduction for the PlayStation 5.
As spotted on HypeBeast Sony has dropped the ticket on the PlayStation 5. While the savings are only about 50 dollars this marks the first price cut in the console’s history. Starting this week the PS5 is priced at $459.99 at GameStop; but Pro Members can get an extra discount of $23 dollars via their membership benefits. Additionally, the system is available at Monoprice for $449.99.
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This news comes to the gaming community as a welcomed surprised as inventory on the PlayStation 5 was very limited due to global chip shortage in 2020 and just started becoming more available at the beginning of 2023. Since its release Sony estimates they have sold over 40 million units. The PS5 has been generally well received by critics for its performance and design. Additionally, the DualSense controllers are widely regarded as the best controller ever.
Back in May the Sony PlayStation 5 Project Q was announced as the consoles handheld counterpart. The Project Q features an 8 inch LCD HD screen and with DualSense controllers on each side. This device will allow users to stream their PlayStation 5 games while on the go. “Later this year, we will launch a dedicated device that enables you to stream any game from your PS5 console, using remote play over Wi-Fi,” said Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment said at the time of the announcement.
It is unclear if the PlayStation 5 will remain discounted or if other retailers will also sell the console at the new price. Currently several mass merchant chains including Target are still selling the system for $499.99.
Photo: Sony
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Source: TELFAR / Telfar
One of the hottest accessory imprints is trying to change the game again. Telfar is rolling out a new pricing model.
As spotted on Business Of Fashion the New York City based label is changing their approach on how they sell their uber popular bags. This week the company announced they are restructuring their pricing model with a goal of empowering their consumer base.
Starting with their forthcoming collection, all of their bags will be released at the wholesale price. From there pricing will increase depending on the demand. Once an item sells out of inventory it will remain at that final price for all future drops. Founder Telfar Clemens explained their strategy in an exclusive interview with Fast Company Magazine. “Many brands use price as a barrier to entry. I never wanted that for my brand,” he stated.
This is just yet another move in Telfar’s approach to disrupting the luxury category. Previously Telfar launched their “Bag Security Program” where consumers can pre-order bags prior to production and receive their piece months later. The initiative is a direct response to the difficulty of purchasing bags upon launch (they sell out quickly). In 2021 they launched their “Telfar TV” feature on the Telfar app to combat bots.
Photo: TELFAR
If the price of an individual streaming subscription plan were adjusted for inflation in 2023, it would cost $13.25 instead of roughly $10 a month, Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl said on Wednesday (March 8) — a statistic that doubled as a plea for streaming companies that have yet to raise fees to get in line.
While several of the big music streaming companies — including Apple, Amazon and Deezer — have raised their baseline prices recently, the biggest one of all, Spotify, has so far held off on raising the $9.99 pricetag on its U.S. premium subscription plan. Though Kyncl didn’t specifically address Spotify on Wednesday, when he spoke at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, he said companies that haven’t raised their prices are playing a role in the undervaluing of music.
“We are the lowest (cost) form of entertainment,” he said. “We have the highest …engagement, highest form of affinity and lowest per hour price. That doesn’t seem right. It should change in an orderly fashion.”
While Kyncl is far from an unbiased commenter on price hikes — music labels stand to gain significant revenues from DSPs raising their subscription prices — Kyncl says the 12 years he spent at YouTube has shown him companies can raise prices if they have a product consumers cherish.
“YouTube TV has grown its subscription from $35 to $70 while growing … because they have a superior product,” Kyncl said.
During the wide-ranging presentation, Kyncl also expressed empathy for executives at TikTok who are at “a company that’s kind of embattled today with lots of different institutions around the world.”
“As someone who’s kind of gone through that, it is much better to have friends and not fight a war on every flank,” he added, recalling the contentious relationship YouTube once had with the music industry.
TikTok is engaged in ongoing negotiations over remuneration to rights holders, a group that includes Warner Music Group (WMG). On Wednesday, Kyncl noted WMG is open to a friendlier dynamic with the popular music discovery tool so long as it works for “both sides.”
“That’s all I look for, fair setup on both sides and to grow a business together,” Kyncl added.
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Source: Prince Williams / ATLPics.Net
Cardi B continues to be the voice of the people. Her recent vide rant on inflation is everything and then some.
As spotted on CNN the Bronx, New York native recently felt a ways after her last grocery pick up. She took to social media to vent and it started with a tweet that explained her frustration. “Naaaaaa grocery shopping prices are ridiculous right now You might as well eat outside !!” she wrote. She followed things up with a second post with some receipts saying “B*** why lettuce cost 6 dollars where I live at ?”.
As expected her opinion was met with both support and criticism online. She soon filmed a video explaining why she feels so appalled at the soaring prices of food. “Let me tell you somethin’: When I be complaining about food prices, and y’all motherf***ers be like, ‘Ain’t you rich? Why you complaining about this?’, that just goes to show me, when you become successful, when you have money, you gonna go broke soon because y’all not budgeting,” she said.
Bardi went on to further detail her stance. “I get a summary of the money that’s being spent in my home every week. So, when I’m starting to see that groceries is, like, tripling up, it’s like, ay, yo, what the f*** is going on? I wanna see for myself what the f*** sh*t is being spent on, and when I go to the f***ing supermarket — I went to the supermarket — I’m seeing that everything tripled up” she revealed. “That lettuce was, like, $2 a couple of months ago, and now, it’s like f***ing $7. Of course, I’ma say something! The f***! ‘Cause if I think that sh*t is crazy, I can only imagine what middle-class people or people in the hood is motherf***ing thinking. So, yes, I’m going to say something”.
You can watch the entire clip below.
Photo: Bernard Smalls
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