NOV
7
2005
Xbox 360 "sell-out conspiracy"
Cunning plan or utter nonsense?
Cunning plan or utter nonsense?
Comments
I have heard from a Gamestop Mgr. that they only have 50 units for 15 stores. So I don't buy the conspriacy theory of it being engineered, too much credit, when they are just shooting themselves in the foot. The "numerous unit shortages and supply problems" all that comes natural to any Microsoft launch. It's just Microsoft trainwrecking in slow motion, WalMart wireless glitch and now this. They would, ideally, want to get the biggest bang with most units for Christmas, something they will fail to do. You have to hit ground running and have a good estimate of demand, too little misses the holiday impluse buyers that won't be back.
But 360 is a long term thing, tons of people see no need to upgrade, the legacy is still pretty viable, whereas with PS, everyone sees a need. 360 will be judged in the long-term, PS3 on impact.
I agree with Chris on this one. Partially.
If you think about it, a "sell-out" marketing strategy could prove to be a brilliant move by any company releasing a product surrounded by as much hype as the XBox 360. The die-hard XBox fans will wait until March if that's what it takes to get one, so their purchase is pretty much guaranteed. Those who are riding the fence about whether to go for a PS3 or a 360 will probably at least wonder if there is something they don't know that all the people who got Microsoft's new console do know, which may in turn draw them in. And with the usual Christmas holidays being as full of chaos and pandemonium as they always are, many people will just freak when they see that several stores are selling out of the new XBox, and will end up making that a high priority gift for little Tommy.
However, only 50 units for 15 stores does sound VERY understocked. That may have been for just the first shipment, if not an exaggeration of how few units those 15 stores will be acquiring. Most stores do not receive hundreds upon hundreds of consoles in each shipment, as they obviously do not have room for more than what that back room can hold. And if we're talking about a typical game store in a mall, that is probably about the size of my one-bedroom apartment, then they certainly don't have space for more than about 50-100 consoles at a time, barring the obvious fact that there will be a warehouse somewhere not too far away.
Microsoft more than likely did underestimate just how much of a problem the supply issue would become, but if they didn't, and they are planning a "sold-out" marketing strategy for the XBox 360, then I have to congratulate them for making such a bold move. I will personally be buying a 360 once the prices drop a little, so none of this really concerns me (especially since I am primarily a PC gamer).
Anyways, that's my two cents.
I agree it is a brilliant strategy, but it is also dissapointing. As a hard-core gamer and x-box fan. I think that a sell out strategy is wrong of microsoft to do to it's dedicated customers. I have already reserved mine and paid for it. What upsets me is that now I will probably have to stand outside the store 10 hours or even more than that. Just to ensure that I get the product I have paid for.
Gamer,
StarrKnight
I dont know why they would inadvertedly supply the people with less consoles. In my opinion and probably what they should do is that they should put as many systems as they can before the PS3 releases next year. If they want a good shot at winning the console race for this generation they need to build a solid foundation with the public as in supply and meet the demand. I reserved one way back in july this year at my local gamestop store and im around 68th in line out of 115 orders and i dont know if Im going to get mine that opening day. Im not a buisness investor but i know if they want to take the BIG #1 in this next console race they need to get as many consoles in the public's homes as they can otherwise they are digging themselves a hole in being 2nd for another gaming generation in a row plus it will look really bad from a buisness standpoint if PS3 sells more than the 360 when its coming out almost a half of a year later.
wat? r u kiddin me?!? i was so crazed that i pre-bought the system!! :(
Of course u could be working for sony. And making this all up. should i believe u? Should anyone believe u?
I put money on one in june and woke up today without my 360. microsoft shafted us....when will the next shipment be????? i'm 28th in line to get one, you think that was soon enough.
Think about it , in august they stopped taking orders for the 360 at 150 or so units( if you think about it thats really sad ) there were not enough orders, microsoft was screwed so they sold 400,000 units to pepsi and a bunch more to other advertizing agencys, that was still not enough so the decided to cut the remaining left between the USA, Asia, and Europe with 6,000,000,000 on the planet Bill Gates thought he could finally dump them if they were sold over a larger populas
and in doing so created a false shortage in the USA, his only true fan base .
Bill should of been true to his base fans, just like sony and nintendo are when launching in there countries first.
The only thing that will save the unit is if it is as good as the say, then eventually all will be forgiven.
If the PS3 comes out in the spring I'll probably buy that first, it looks to me to be a better system anyway
Also you look good if you sell out in USA when you sell a system thet isn't as well recieved in other countries,
I still stand by that microsoft couldn't dunp them in usa there are 17389 360 units for sale on ebay as i post this, thanks bill
i was trying to get a 360 on the day it went out but damn it was sold out everywhere because microsoft understocks there system since i cant get one because i know it will be sold out in all stores forgot xbox im just going to wait for ps3 to come out i think microsoft strategy to "sell out" is dumb it just makes shoppers give up and stop looking for it thats what i think i know sony will be better.. think about it xbox 360 is only sold out because not enough systems are in stores.. sony can put 100 systems in stores and it will be for sure sold out in seconds because face it sony is just better than microsoft...so microsoft is just putting down there buisness down by not putting enought consoles in stores....
They are only saying there is a shortage so people will get more hyped up for it and will rush in line for it
I agree with the others, Microsoft purposely held back units to create a buying frenzy. I used to be a Manager for Toysrus in the 80's and companies like Mattel and Hasbro did that kind of thing all the time. They would get the kiddies all wound up with their commercials and send the parents into a frenzy trying to buy the items because they were in small supplies at the stores. It was funny that once they had created the demand, they would flood the market so that the parents would scoop them up as soon as they saw one. Even if they werent going to buy one they would just because they saw one and got excited about seeing it on the shelf. This happened with the Cabbage Patch dolls, the Furbies, and Tickle me Elmo too. I hope this strategy backfires on Microsoft. I am one of the good gamers who pre-ordered his back in June and guess what, I didnt get mine either. GameSpot told me that I was 30th on the list and that they only had 20 available. What a load of crap. I will not buy into this kind of marketing and I will now wait for the PS3 and Microsoft can KMA.
yeah i was pretty pissed that they told me xbox was supose to be out on the 15th then it got push to the 22 now i have to wait near xmas to get it one kid got screwed out of an xbox ended up out in the rain at best buy cause of the shortage so they told him he have to wait until next year to get his i felt bad you guys should have been prepare along time ago before you even thought about releasing it i mean it should have been set to each country instead of world wide this is making everyone go crazy beside my self they need to have dates of next shipments cause people are going to get really annoyed with it
I personally phoned over 200 retail stores in the greater Pheonix metropolitan area in an attempt to locate one of these Xbox 360 consoles. First off, I was able to confirm exactly what was printed in this story...that even the largest retailers like Wal-Mart and Target only received a few dozen units at most. Second, it appears to me that Microsoft shipped ONLY bundle packages in this first go-round...meaning that a consumer could not actually even get his or her hands on an Xbox 360 for the $299 or $399 prices as advertised. Instead, anyone who camped out for two or three days to be the first in line for one of these units was unpleasantly surprised to find that they had to shill out $550 or more to get a unit pre-packaged with a few games, extra controllers, and other accessories that they may or may not have wanted. The rumor is that Microsoft is selling the system itself at a loss in a strategy designed to make the PlayStation 3 harder to market (the PS3 will contain a Blu-Ray optical drive when it is launched...and these drives are among the most expensive DVD laser systems on the face of the planet). However, Microsoft plans to make up the difference on the games and accessories, hence the pricey bundles that were shipped rather than the core systems. All in all, this is a pretty blatant attempt by Microsoft to manipulate its loyal consumers...and judging by the number of pathetic souls I saw camped out in front of ever single store I drove past on the night of November 21st, it worked like a charm.
if xbox 360 dosent come up with somthing fast ps3 is gonna smoke em'
when will x box 360 be availably in stores after launch
i have a xbox core and 1 premium..other accessories too..contact me if interested
I waited in line at Target. They received 28 Premium Bundles ($399) and 28 Core ($299). There were only 40 of us in line overnight. That means 16 people were able to walk in and buy a Core version without waiting in any kind of line. In fact, I left the store at 8:20 with my 3 premium bundles and they still had 2 Core Systems sitting there!
that target employee should be fired for leaking information that was given only to the Assets Protection division. even though it was true.... we were given a very limited number of consoles, and told that further shipments would not be based on console sales, but on accessory sales. ridiculous, i know, but microsoft is pushing the software and accessories over their own hardware. so if you really want your local Target (or whatever store you want it from) to get more x-box 360s, buy more merch!
i think this whole shortage is a scam like some of u have said, there is no shortage microsoft did this on purpose so that u want it even more and u know its funny that ebay has thousands of them for nothing less than double the price thats BS ,,,but if microsoft dont get the next 2-3 shipments out soon then ps3 will take the console race again, i am a big fan of xbox and never realy liked ps3 but if i have to wait till feb or march well im gonna wait cause sony wont have any shortage ,,,then i will compare ,,,but i have a feeling that everyone will have a xbox that really wants one before the end of the year because bill gates and microsoft cant be that stupid not to get while the gettin is good i mean come on its christmas everyone wants the 360 ,,,,,,so dont everyone get ur panties in a bunch just wait a couple more weeks ,,,,,,,
i had an xbox 360 reserved and fully paid for and still didnt get one on the first shipment day of nov.22 due to shortages however i dont think that it would be purposly done as a marketing strategy that would not make since they want to sell as many systems as possible not upset potental customers by having delays where they cant get them this is peak holliday shopping times and im sure xbox 360s are on many christmas demand lists so im sure microsoft is doing all they can to get systems to the people who either have them reserved or are wanting them now
I just read that Microsoft plans to have 300,000 Xbox 360's available for the European launch on Dec 2nd. And that they are going to have at least that many for the Japanese launch on Dec 10th. Do you realize that those were probably our 360's and that they are going overseas instead? If you go on Costco's website and look up Xbox 360 it will tell you it will not be availabe until Spring of 2006 and that Gamestop's site says ETA is 2/28/2006. It doesnt look good for anyone waiting for their preorders to be filled. Basically, Microsoft is screwing the American public so that they can make sure Europe and Japan gets their share of the 360's as well. So rather than piss off the European and Japanese markets, Mircrosoft would rather piss off their loyal American fan base. I bet Sony doesnt do that to the Japanese market when they release the PS3.
CANT WAIT TO PLAYSTATION 3 ..MICROSOFT YOU SUCK..ITS APPARENT THIS WAS A MARKETING SCHEME ..
Will we get another shipment of xbox 360's before christmas....If so when or how soon
I think microsoft has made a huge mistake unless shipments increase durrastically and fast. If I dont have a 360 soon, I will feel compelled to just wait it out alittle longer and see what ps3 has to offer. I am sure alot of other people feel the same way . 360 has time on its side fro the moment, they need to take advantage of that.....
So, when are they coming back to shelves, I really want one for Christmas....
Listen, losers I got mine in Mexico and they had plenty of them over there! I was on vacation and saw plenty to buy two or more!!
where can I get one I want one for Cristmas but I can't find one in
Preordered and paid for a 360. Was told they where expecting 40 and I had gotten on that list. Number 39 I believe. 360 was released and the store got 16, however they where told to expect a shipment in each week. 2 weeks later I was told that they would only get one extra shipment before christmas. Last week that shipment came. 2 consoles were all that arrived. Unforunatly I will be away for a couple of months, so hopefully when I get back I'll have one. Starting to wonder if maybe I should try to get my money back.
I cannot believe that the only thing on my son's list cannot be purchased because people are waiting for doors to open and buying up all the systems. This is a joke and to think that they turn around and want over a 1,000 dollars for them. Give me a break. So instead of giving him what he want on Christmas, he can just get games for his PSP and play them until after the first of the year, when I can buy one for what they are really worth.
wen will they have more xbox 360
systems in stock
i looked at almost every website its all sold out.. AND on ebay there like 1,000 bucks
sheesh i hate it wen they do this ..same thing happened to me AGAIN...wen i wanted a nintendo ds they were ALL sold out..now that i want a 360 there sold out...
i think that it is a load that they can go and "manipulate" our desires for better graphics and gameplay. give me a break here. i will not bow down to microsofts petty bull pucky.
Typical M$ crap.
I wish they'd just get out of this market