I spent about 2 and 1/2 hours online on that site on Friday. That was a frustrating experience. Luckily, I was one of the few that did manage to successfully checkout.

They offered me the biggest ripoff in the history of online shopping. One of the many steps asked if I wanted guaranteed delivery of my system on 11/22 for $100.43 or expedited delivery guaranteed by the end of his week for an additional $43. I said no and went with the standard delivery method guaranteed by 12/6. I was bummed it would take so long, but I'd probably end up playing Halo 2 the most anyways, so I wasn't missing out on much. I received a couple confirmation emails on Sunday. One email included a FedEx tracking number. Apparently they shipped the xbox 360 separately from all of the other accessories-delivery date 11/23. So, for $100.43 I could have had it yesterday or today for free.

I'm not too sure about all that as well. Definitely something going on behind the scenes.

Nah. I prefer it this way. These people had all come early, and barring some emergency were perfectly willing to stay all night anyway. Why make them wait all night?

:lol: I love the first respsponse to the post in that link. I agree. Make 'em wait, earn that 360.

Not sure how true this is but...
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/gen...topic=24742306

also it should be kept in mind that a lot of stores might've been short on 360s because of missing shipments. I know at the TRU I work at, we got emails from TRU's all over the U.S reporting that a bunch of 360s were missing from their shipments.

I forgot who ships us our systems, since we have a couple companies that do, but it has happened on many occasions, including the R-Zone I work at, that systems have been missing. When those Pokemon XD bundles came out, we were supposed to have 2 boxes with 8 total, when we opened it up we only had 2 total. I'm not sure who does it, but a lot of times the boxes are opened up and taped up with tape that isn't the same color as the original tape (clear, then taped over with brown shipping tape).

Just a warning.

I went to Best Buy after I got my 360 from Costco, and an employee there mentioned they sold all their systems except for a few they held onto in case of bad out of the box system returns...might explain the changes in numbers at some stores.

Well, after going throught the seven stages of grieving, I've finally accepted the fact that I probablly won't get the xbox 360 till february '06. I guess if I tried hard enough(calling all stores, showing up at opening time, paying more than retail) I would get one, but I just don't have the energy or patience to wait in the cold at this point. This was the last time I'll ever get up at 5am and go to 10 stores to get a video game system. I must be nuts for doing that. Pre ordering doesn't seem to help as many people still won't get their system till next year.

It will be fun though, the day I can just walk in, pick the best looking box I can find, and just walk up to the register without all the nonsense.

well, after all the pain of waiting outside overnight, having to settle for a core system and all that - I got a call tonight from Gamestop. Someone on the first shipment list didn't come get their premium system, so since I was first on the second shipment list, it's mine. :lol:

Since I already have all my stuff set up, I'm selling this 2nd one to a friend of mine at cost.

If your friend backs out, LMK as I would be willing to buy it from you. With us both living in MI, that could be easily arranged.

:clap:

I applaud you. Too many greedy bastards out there trying to make a quick buck off the unfortunate. Another board I visit, a guy bought 6 from a mom & pop place (whom he is friends with). Not only that, but he got them early. Broke street date. Now they are all on ebay. I hate hearing stories like that.

You know I'd look out for my fellow Michigander, but only a severe unfortunate accident on Thanksgiving would prevent my friend from buying it off of me on Friday ;)

it's not a big deal. The thing is, me and my boys (all in our 30's) all planned on getting one so we could play together. Since we are all over the country, this would be an easy way to "keep in touch" and have some fun like we used to do back in the NES days. One of my boys just couldn't get out of work to stay overnight with us, so I had made him the offer of my Gamestop one. I don't know, maybe I'm an idiot not to be greedy, but it's been a downer that only some of us were able to score one so far (one of my boys waited 7+ hours at best buy, then was told all they had left was the $1,000+ bundles - which he just couldn't swing)

Anyone know when more will hit all the stores?

Not sure if this is true:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6140371.html

^ If the stores are going to be stocked every week, then this Ebay boom should die pretty quickly.

And the people who paid $1000 are going to feel a bit silly.

Unless there's a HUGE AMOUNT that flood the shelves, I can't see how this shortage will subside. Right now, every college kid without a job will be hunting these things to turnaround and sell. The adults who buy them don't have this kind of time and when they show up at the stores, it'll be gone and they'll be forced to go to Ebay.

If anything, it could get even worse as Xmas draws nearer.

Most of the stores I asked said their next shipment won't be for 2 weeks! At this point, I don't care anymore. I have already wasted 2 days of running around like an asshole looking for one and came so close to getting one at least three different times. I guess I'm just not meant to have one right now. I'll try again after christmas.

Better yet, just return the games and accessories you don't want to BestBuy. Same thing happened to me. I was forced into a bundle at BB. Showed up a few hours later and returned everything I didn't want. Everything is sku'ed individually. Only downside was that I could only get store credit (no expiration date). I guess I could've argued with them, but didn't bother. I'm sure if I did it a few days later, they wouldn't have known any better and given me a refund.

I'm not an employee, but I was at the launch and was fortunate enough to get a premium.
Here's the deal: at the check out counters were xbox promotional dvds (came in a dvd case with the words "ARE YOU READY?" on the cover) and inside was a coupon booklet for (just mentioning the good stuff):
-$10 off any video game $29.99 and over
-$5 off any greatest hits, platinum hits or player's choice
-$10 off any video game accessory $29.99 and over
-$10 off any PC game $29.99 and over

This was pretty sweet, as I got perfect dark for $40 and another wireless controller for $40. I was able to grab two of these promo dvds.
Here's the kicker ... at my launch, the employees handed out photocopies of the coupons an hour before opening to everyone in line (even though the coupons specifically states "No copies"). I had no problem using the photocopies at the store. I imagine anyone else with a photocopy wouldn't have too hard of a time using it. If rejected, try it another time/another cashier.
Before you even ask .... No, I cannot scan or upload anything until monday because I'm at parents' home for the holidays.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...oupons15yn.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...oupons24gn.gif

I just took a stack of 4 or 5 them since they were just sitting on a counter at the bb. The $10 off a game coupon is pretty sweet.

Is anyone still scrambling trying to find one? I went to 3 stores last night - and the asst. manager at Toys R Us said they wouldn't be getting a shipment until March.

If Microsoft underproduced or withheld product intentionally for the launch - why not deliver for a "second" launch - and give a date - rather than make us pinball around town?

Just a thought ....

Brody

Oh that's just complete horseshit.

There is no way Microsoft wouldn't pump these things out as fast as they can.

I'm sure they will be hard to get before Xmas, and easier after. Just like every other new console that launches near the holidays.