Xbox 360 Packages Available Friday 2pm EST at Circuit City

[ezzkmo]

Joystiq has the story (http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000653067811/) on how Circuit City (http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/genericContent.do?oid=136791&c=1&cm_re=sub%20marquee-_-Xbox%20360%E2%84%A2) will be selling Xbox 360's a whole 3 and a 1/2 days early. Here's a quote from their research into the matter:

According to a Circuit City customer service rep we just spoke to when we called 1-800-843-2489, every physical Circuit City location will be selling the console this Friday at 2pm ET. Just to be sure, we called again and spoke to a second rep at 1-800-843-2489: “Yes, it will be available this Friday at 2pm ET online as well as at our stores.”
Holy wow! Good luck getting one, but if you do you'll be the envy of your friends and Jetherik's Weekend Gamer topic this weekend! :p

STAFF NOTE - Now confirmed to be untrue. (http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000177067878/). Thanks to Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com) and digitalfirefly.

[Atorak]

Um....wow?

I might have to jump to a Circuit City just for the hell of it Friday. This, I've GOTTA see.

[Ozymandias]

Wouldn't get too excited on this one. Microsoft won't (can't!) allow any retailer to have an advantage over any other retailer or they'd have a revolt on their hands. Either MS will up the release date by a few days (and let everyone do it - and Circuit City already knows), or Circuit City will get slapped down. They won't want to risk getting lower allocations beyond the initial batch by breaking the street date.

Bummer, though. :(

[ezzkmo]

after more research, it seems it may be a preorder, people are getting mixed answers. but it might be a first come, first serve ticket thing they are doing in the stores. show up friday at 2pm, wait in line, then get your ticket so you can come back and get your system without hassle on the 22nd. if this is the case, it sure as hell is misleading all over their damn site.

[Ludoc]

After reading through the coments on Joystiq I doubt this story is true. A couple of posts there that basically said, "I called the number, CC will only let you pre-order on Friday, not actually buy." This whole thing is most likely a case of "telephone." I'm sure we all remember playing that game in kindergarden, and how distorted the original statement was by the end of the game. purple monkey dishwasher.

[bobbler]

After reading through the coments on Joystiq I doubt this story is true. A couple of posts there that basically said, "I called the number, CC will only let you pre-order on Friday, not actually buy." This whole thing is most likely a case of "telephone." I'm sure we all remember playing that game in kindergarden, and how distorted the original statement was by the end of the game. purple monkey dishwasher.

There was always one kid who'd purposely screw up the phrase. That jerk.

[Suicidal ShiZuru]

Ha, funny...

[KamaItachi]

purple, monkey, dishwasher.

[ezzkmo]

although its not really a case of the telephone game when circuit city's site flatout says they're available friday.

[Deadend]

purple, monkey, dishwasher.

You were that jerk!

Yeah if CC breaks the street date, I assume there will be much in the way of pain. In the wallet.

Wl-Mart is probably the only company that can get away with street date break though. As no one wants to risk Wal-Mart not selling their shit.

[hund_]

Wal-Mart is probably the only company that can get away with street date break though. As no one wants to risk Wal-Mart not selling their shit.

yep they do it all the time.

[Deathbane27]

Microsoft would probably be willing to spurn Sprawl*Mart if they annoyed them enough...

[pomeroy]

Meh...I'll give them a call on Friday and see if they have 'em. If they do, I'll pick one up. If not, no skin off my back.

[Lutheran]

Im waiting , I am sure there will be some available real soon within the next month or 2..If not no big deal.

[Lutheran]

From what I am reading elsewhere they are just doing first come first serve presales on Friday and releasing the product on the 22nd..

[dolbex]

From what I am reading elsewhere they are just doing first come first serve presales on Friday and releasing the product on the 22nd..

This is what they are doing. I guess it's your last chance to preorder... :p

[Zeal]

I like how this thing comes out in a few days and there's zero hype.

[Suicidal ShiZuru]

But the jump rope! The jump rope!!!

~Another note about the lack of hype is how no news stations mention it. Usually you hear something about its release or how there is some event at a local store for a console launch, but nothing. Unless that changes in the next few days...

[FallenStar]

~Another note about the lack of hype is how no news stations mention it. Usually you hear something about its release or how there is some event at a local store for a console launch, but nothing. Unless that changes in the next few days...


Last week I was watching the news here in Dallas and they had a small piece about it and how it would be the hot item for consumers this holiday season. On ESPN2, during The Hot List, the had some guy from IGN doing a preview. Of course they were hyping the sports games, but it was there anyways.

[fitbabits]

I like how this thing comes out in a few days and there's zero hype.
I disagree - there's plenty of hype, just not a lot in the way of advertising.

[bapenguin]

No way this is happening. If someone breaks a street date a lot of times the entire retail chain is punished and gets the lowest priority come the next event or product or whatever.

Not only that, the general rule is, if one retailer breaks the street date in your area, you are allowed to break it as well in order to compete.

[Murmillo]

I like how this thing comes out in a few days and there's zero hype. The hype is with the rabid fanboys. Who else can they sell a $400 console too?

[Syrinx]

Looks like they are doing the same bundle thing as Gamespot and EBGames with this. You can't just preorder a Premium system, you have to get the additional controller (no biggie) and PGR3 + Need for Speed.

[fitbabits]

The hype is with the rabid fanboys. Who else can they sell a $400 console too?
Hush! Dinnae forget the $300 'Core' pack! :rolleyes:

[drakkarim]

i'll wait, maybe a year or two, and see if i still don't give a sh*t :)

[Axiom]

I like how this thing comes out in a few days and there's zero hype.

I have seen some TV commercials for it. But honestly, why should they spend a ton on advertising when the thing is going to sell out for the next several weeks anyway?

[DigitalFirefly]

Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000177067878/) has an update on this

Circuit City will begin selling a limited supply of Xbox 360 bundles on www.circuitcity.com beginning 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, 2005. These units will ship on 11/21/2005; customers who opt to pay extra for next-day delivery can do so to get their Xbox in their homes on 11/22/2005.

We are not selling them earlier in our stores; I apologize for the misinformation you received from the call center. We will have Xbox 360 units for sale in all Circuit City stores nationwide beginning 10 a.m. local time on 11/22/2005. They are first-come, first-served as we did not allow any preorders

[SMES]

The meager advertising does seem to point to "shortages" being a serious problem. It's some rule of marketing that you don't want to create too much more demand than there is product, because if a million people want something and only 200k can get it, that leads to a lot of resentment.

Weak advertising indicates MS is hoping word of mouth and the hardcore set will be the primary purchasers. And since the ration of Premium to Core packages is like 10 to 1, that seems to be the case.

[mister_slim]

The meager advertising does seem to point to "shortages" being a serious problem. It's some rule of marketing that you don't want to create too much more demand than there is product, because if a million people want something and only 200k can get it, that leads to a lot of resentment.
And a lot of news coverage.

Which is rather cheaper than advertising time.