Lik-Sang is Closed Down by Sony

[SegaVega]

And boy are the people pissed.

http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901

I don't think I like Sony.

[bawitback]

And boy are the people pissed.

http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901

I don't think I like Sony.

I've heard.

Not too much of a fan of Lik Sang in particular. I usually shop at Play-Asia. But from the looks of it, Play-Asia might be next to close.

[Cerulean]

Thanks Europe..............


So you guys think they'll have a going out of business sale?

[racketboy]

Thanks Europe..............


So you guys think they'll have a going out of business sale?

You would think so, but they also said no more orders.
Maybe they are just doing a liquidation to some other 3rd party ("Hey PlayAsia, what will you give me for all this crap we still have?")

[arion]

well that sucks...i liked lik sang..got most of my gamepad usb converters there

[Indy_aka_Rex]

I call bullshit on this. They pulled a similar stunt in 2k2 when they lost their modchip lawsuit, they canned orders, gave refunds and "shut down" their site - only to come back later, sans modchips, selling other items.

If Lik-Sang was in too deep, they should've stopped the sale of PSPs to the UK. Not to mention, if they were in the red - the blame wouldn't fall on Sony, but on them.

If that were the case, I guess we ought to blame PS2 for Sega's demise, and not the billion dollars in debt they already had.

[racketboy]

I call bullshit on this. They pulled a similar stunt in 2k2 when they lost their modchip lawsuit, they canned orders, gave refunds and "shut down" their site - only to come back later, sans modchips, selling other items.

If Lik-Sang was in too deep, they should've stopped the sale of PSPs to the UK. Not to mention, if they were in the red - the blame wouldn't fall on Sony, but on them.

If that were the case, I guess we ought to blame PS2 for Sega's demise, and not the billion dollars in debt they already had.

That crossed my mind too, but I don't think they had a formal announcement before -- I think the site just disappeared for a little while.

[Indy_aka_Rex]

I found this oddly hilarious:

God, Sony is such a copycat!

"It has been brought to our attention by Nintendo Of Europe and their solicitors that we are allegedly selling goods that should not be sold within the UK or Europe. We have been requested to stop selling any Nintendo products that are from Japan or the USA. While we do not agree with this action we do not have the huge financial backing like Nintendo to take this any further. So it is Today (Tuesday 13th May 2003) TQ Games officially announces it's closure. All pre orders have been cancelled, and as we never take payment until shipping there’s no need to worry about getting a refund on pre orders. All stock is gone and orders have stopped. Everyone who is waiting on something will be informed."

Someone posted that in the 1up forums - I wonder if MS has forced any independent importers to shut down also...

[Cerulean]

I do believe that Lik-sang did the same thing with M$.

[durkada]

I call bullshit on this. They pulled a similar stunt in 2k2 when they lost their modchip lawsuit, they canned orders, gave refunds and "shut down" their site - only to come back later, sans modchips, selling other items.

If Lik-Sang was in too deep, they should've stopped the sale of PSPs to the UK. Not to mention, if they were in the red - the blame wouldn't fall on Sony, but on them.

If that were the case, I guess we ought to blame PS2 for Sega's demise, and not the billion dollars in debt they already had.

I tend to agree -- to a point. Granted Lik-Sang is obviously not as strong an entity as Wal-Mart, or even Gamestop -- if they remained in business and had to pay the "damages" UK courts awarded, that may pose problems. I've not seen figures regarding how much money Lik-Sang is to pay Sony, so it could be a penny or a door-closing prize. Perhaps this is a legal maneuver on their own part -- close shop, thus nullifying debt, re-open shop debt free. I certainly do not have a clue how the legal system works over there...

Regardless, Lik-Sang has been around forever. For a long time, they were the import shop. Many of my imports came from them -- they were always fast and courteous, not to mention affordable. At least, play-asia and a couple small Hong Kong shops remain -- but for how long?

And yes, Sony can rot. Of course, this is no different than the mindless corporate pressure Nintendo has placed, nor their abuse of the legal system -- American justice, in particular, has some anal bleeding Nintendo has caused. And, I don't need to mention MicroSoft -- they may be in another league altogether.

Did Sega ever pull this shiat?

Not that I particularly blame the corporations -- they certainly do not engender love, but who in their right mind would love a corporation anyway? To stand on my soapbox for one moment, before being pelted by rotten vegetables, the real blame needs to be placed on the political institutions which are not acting on behalf of the citizens, but on high profile special interests. And to that end, the real blame needs to be placed on the people of democratic/semi-democratic societies who allow this shiat to happen.