Xbox 360 - Massive Shortages at Launch

[weleavefossils]

not that I don't like X-box, I just don't feel the need for getting it right now..but I have never asked.. how much is it?

[Hetz]

Come on Sarkus! You can't just drop a bomb on us and leave us hanging like this!

How come your store is getting even less than you were told earlier this week? Is it the same for all stores? How many are you getting now?

It varies by store.  Since my store was getting more than most, we got a larger cut.  They're also sending out more core versions now, even to stores that didn't have any reservations for that model.  It means that the few core customers will actually get theirs earlier.  Of course, that's more a function of MS' mistake in having two versions to begin with.

Ugh...yeah, way to go MS!

Anyway here is what another manager said on the IGN forums about his store.

I read the emails yesterday at my Gamestop and I found one that said "New Allocation Numbers". I was all happy that they were increasing our numbers but then I opened it. Instead of 12 premium and 4 core were getting 10 premium and 6 core. w00t!

Sp yeah, 2 more Core and 2 less Premium. Nice move, MS! Send out more of the retard pack that nobody in their right mind will want!   :roll:

[mikeg]

Warning, that is freaking hilarious.  I did see one today and yes they are ridiculously large.  It's like having another console sitting there only it does nothing but get warm.

[TheMissingLink]

[Calvin]

I lol both at the photoshops and the the way Microsoft is insulting gamers everywhere-not necessarily with the fucked up shipments, but by having the audacity to say they are increasing allotment while decreasing real 360s and sending more 3Shitties. Go to bed MS, you have seriously done some dumb stuff here lately.

[Hetz]

[Calvin]

Absolutely classic.

[Hetz]

One person posted that his EB went from 30 preroders that were guaranteed,  to 15 after an email they got yesterday...and 5 of those were now Core systems, so 5 people will have to choose if they are going to get a Core system or wait until god knows when for the next shipment to come in.

Here is an IGN story about the absolute clusterf*ck that this launch has turned into today...

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/666/666229p1.html

[Destructor]

Here is an IGN story about the absolute clusterf*ck that this launch has turned into today...

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/666/666229p1.html

Microsoft, a company that has enough money in its coffers to do practically anything they want, is acting so utterly stupid right now. WHY would they want to do this? Why couldn't they have started making consoles earlier? Is this console as rushed as it seems to be?

[mikeg]

If all of this shortage stuff turns out to be true, yes, I think things have been rushed.  Just hope the systems themselves haven't been slapped together to make an date they promised that in reality should never have been met.  I hate delays, but I hate poor quality even more.  


Only time will tell.

[Hetz]

Here is an IGN story about the absolute clusterf*ck that this launch has turned into today...

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/666/666229p1.html

Microsoft, a company that has enough money in its coffers to do practically anything they want, is acting so utterly stupid right now. WHY would they want to do this? Why couldn't they have started making consoles earlier? Is this console as rushed as it seems to be?

Microsoft has done everything they can to completely screw up this launch it seems. The console does seem VERY rushed. Dev kits went out late, lots of launch titles are being delayed, that stupid "Core" version of the system that will end up gimping all systems in the end as the devs go for the lowest system spec to support, mass shortages of systems...hell you might not even get one if you preordered all the way back in May for christ sakes!

This is just pathetic.

[Hetz]

Best Buy Launch #'s, it's not pretty....

My store is getting 35 of the Premium and 12 Cores.

Go here to find your store #:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat12092&type=page&_requestid=82745


Stores 4 - 58 (Total 2424)
http://tinypic.com/fmjsll.jpg

Stores 59 - 152 (Total 4386)
http://www.tinypic.com/view/?pic=fmjvo8

Stores 153 - 204 (Total 3202)
http://tinypic.com/fmkhvk.jpg

Stores 205 - 255 (Total 2650)
http://www.tinypic.com/view/?pic=fmkjd3

Stores 256 -306 (Total 3128)
http://tinypic.com/fmkjo8.jpg

Stores 307 - 357 (Total 2912)
http://www.tinypic.com/view/?pic=fmkmew

Stores 358 - 409 (Total 2466)
http://www.tinypic.com/view/?pic=fmkmsk

Stores 410 - 461 (Total 2972)
http://www.tinypic.com/view/?pic=fmknqo

Stores 462 - 514
http://www.tinypic.com/view/?pic=fmko68

Stores 515 - 566
http://www.tinypic.com/view/?pic=fmkqc7

Stores 567 - 654 (Total 2464)
http://www.tinypic.com/view/?pic=fmkqxv

Stores 655 - 809 (Total 2026)
http://www.tinypic.com/view/?pic=fmksud

Stores 810 - 863 (Total 2312)
http://www.tinypic.com/view/?pic=fmkthc

Stores 865 - 1017 (Total 2108)
http://www.tinypic.com/view/?pic=fmku39

Stores 1022 - 1054 (Total 1020)
http://www.tinypic.com/view/?pic=fmkuhw

[stiffler]

Best Buy Launch #'s, it's not pretty....

My store is getting 35 of the Premium and 12 Cores.

Go here to find your store #:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat12092&type=page&_requestid=82745

What if my store is number 516?

My local BB (Alpharetta, GA) is a midnight launch store so we should have quite a few, but I'd like to know.

My local EB said that the number of 360's they were getting was "confidential" so who knows.  Confidential information!  They were setting up a lot of display stuff when I was in earlier.  Too bad they didn't have any accessories for sale or I would have purchased what I might need.

[adamsappel]

It's interesting that despite it being completely EB's and Gamestop's own fault for overselling pre-orders against Microsoft's wishes, Microsoft is being blamed (across the intarwebs, anyway) for the lack of systems at those stores. Granted, MS is doing everything else it seemingly can to screw up the launch, but EB/GS dug their holes themselves. I pre-ordered from GameRush, which would only let me do so once MS announced the launch and they had their official allocation (10 per store, I think).

[Calvin]

My store is getting 48 and 14. I am  still not sure I have the money, but I think I can probably get one if I get there at a decent hour. It will be tough to decide to go there or to Target though.

[mikeg]

You were smart Adam.  My local Gamerushes are the same way.  Should have preordered from them I guess.  


Still not sure, even yet, if I even want one.  Keep bouncing back and forth.  There just isn't a really really really compelling game on launch day.  

Kameo is looking more and more interesting though.  I keep watching vids hoping to be convinced.

[Hetz]

I updated the list to show all the stores now.

[Kevin Grey]

It's interesting that despite it being completely EB's and Gamestop's own fault for overselling pre-orders against Microsoft's wishes, Microsoft is being blamed (across the intarwebs, anyway) for the lack of systems at those stores. Granted, MS is doing everything else it seemingly can to screw up the launch, but EB/GS dug their holes themselves. I pre-ordered from GameRush, which would only let me do so once MS announced the launch and they had their official allocation (10 per store, I think).

I'm guessing that both Gamestop and EB talked to their MS reps re: minimum initial shipment numbers prior to putting the 360 SKU in the system and allowing preorders.  I'm sure MS is as surprised as anybody about the limited numbers and probably planned to have far more on the shelf when they announced at E3.  

I asked about my preorder at Gamestop tonight- I'm #23 on the list (preordered late August) and they are guaranteeing all preorders before Christmas.  Supposedly they are only expecting approximately six non-core units on launch day.  

Not surprisingly, they had *zero* preorders for the core system and those are available off the shelf for Day One purchases.  

Since my 360 is a Christmas present I have no problems waiting until then for a unit (my wife isn't letting me play with it until Christmas anyway).  And I'm still very anxious for launch reviews- if the titles I'm interested in have framerate issues , are incredibly short, or a combination of both, I still may cancel.

[Destructor]

So...let me get this straight - Microsoft has increased the availability of the Xbox 3shitty, the console that NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WANTS?!? Can anybody please explain the utter stupidity of that move?

And good - my Best Buy is getting 46 of the real system (and 12 of the shitty one). Maybe I'll go there if I'm gipped out of my Gamestop preorder from back in May (as I still don't know for sure if I'm getting one at launch).

[Rob_Merritt]

My guess is that the hard drive might be one of those parts they are having a hard time getting.

[Jumangi]

Looks like the core system could sell well at launch to just because of the people who might bite the bullet and get one of those so they can have a system at launch.

[Andrew Mallon]

My store's getting 58 premiums and 18 cores.  There's a Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears, TRU, Sam Goody, Super K-Mart, Target and 2 Gamestops all within a mile of that Best Buy. Even without a pre-order, I figure I should be able to pick up a 360 at one of those stores when they open.

[Sarkus]

My store's getting 58 premiums and 18 cores.  There's a Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears, TRU, Sam Goody, Super K-Mart, Target and 2 Gamestops all within a mile of that Best Buy. Even without a pre-order, I figure I should be able to pick up a 360 at one of those stores when they open.

Best Buy is getting more than most, so they are probably the best bet for non-reserve customers.  However, even their numbers are not huge.  

It will also probably vary by area - it may be like the PSP where big cities saw a higher demand than more rural areas.

We'll see.  I'm not enjoying having to tell customers they won't get one on day one.

[Sarkus]

It's interesting that despite it being completely EB's and Gamestop's own fault for overselling pre-orders against Microsoft's wishes, Microsoft is being blamed (across the intarwebs, anyway) for the lack of systems at those stores. Granted, MS is doing everything else it seemingly can to screw up the launch, but EB/GS dug their holes themselves. I pre-ordered from GameRush, which would only let me do so once MS announced the launch and they had their official allocation (10 per store, I think).

First, MS is not opposed to pre-orders.  Second, they promised a much bigger launch than this at E3.  Third, GameStop had two kinds of pre-orders: a guaranteed that only lasted until the end of May and non-guaranteed that came after.  All the guaranteed people are fine.

In the end MS has to take responsibilty for 1) giving away a crapload of systems (at least 10,000), 2) creating massive hype that they can't support, and 3) not coming out and admitting there were going to be shortages when they probably knew it some time ago.

[The_Man]

I updated the list to show all the stores now.

How are the Best Buys going to handle selling 50 systems to hundreds of people?  Just curious what method they use.

My Wal MArt is going to set up 30 chairs at 2 PM on the 21st.  The 30 people that are in those chairs at midnight get a system.  KInda sucks.

[depward]

The Hastings in Moscow, Idaho nearby is having an Xbox "launch event" at midnight.  I really wonder how many systems they're going to have.  I mean, it's a small town (with Pullman, WA being nearby).  But they're both heavy in the collegiate age demographic.  And how many systems is that dinky store in a dinky city going to have?!  And they're having a "launch event"?!  Nutty.

[TheMissingLink]

My Wal MArt is going to set up 30 chairs at 2 PM on the 21st.  The 30 people that are in those chairs at midnight get a system.  KInda sucks.

LOL, that's pretty lame.  Let's reward the unemployed schmucks!

I almost think a raffle or something would work better.  In this day and age, there shouldn't be shortages like this.  Craziness.

[Soulchilde]

I think MS is taking to much blame here.  What they wasn't supposed to HYPE  thier next-gen console?   EB & GS over-sold pre-orders and now MS is taking the blame.  Just don't seem right


Next, must of us if not all of are serious gamers.  Imo, we have seen this before with the release of a new systems.  Everytime this seems to happen we get pissed, but it never fails that we get caught with our pants down.

Too be honest I want my 360 that I won, but honestly the money to be hand by ebaying it is looking entirely too good.  Still pondering what I am going to do

[Hetz]

It's interesting that despite it being completely EB's and Gamestop's own fault for overselling pre-orders against Microsoft's wishes, Microsoft is being blamed (across the intarwebs, anyway) for the lack of systems at those stores. Granted, MS is doing everything else it seemingly can to screw up the launch, but EB/GS dug their holes themselves. I pre-ordered from GameRush, which would only let me do so once MS announced the launch and they had their official allocation (10 per store, I think).

First, MS is not opposed to pre-orders.  Second, they promised a much bigger launch than this at E3.  Third, GameStop had two kinds of pre-orders: a guaranteed that only lasted until the end of May and non-guaranteed that came after.  All the guaranteed people are fine.

The way the shipments are being cut a Gamestop, I wouldn't be so sure of all the May preorders being filled....or do you know this for a fact? Is Gamestop saying that every preorder done in May will have a system on the 22nd?

[Hetz]

I think MS is taking to much blame here.  What they wasn't supposed to HYPE  thier next-gen console?   EB & GS over-sold pre-orders and now MS is taking the blame.  Just don't seem right

MS deseres some of the blame. Not having enough systems to cover people that prerordered the system 6 months ago is really bad. They tried to do a worldwide launch and it is blowing up in their face with no country getting enough.

[Soulchilde]

I think MS is taking to much blame here.  What they wasn't supposed to HYPE  thier next-gen console?   EB & GS over-sold pre-orders and now MS is taking the blame.  Just don't seem right

MS deseres some of the blame. Not having enough systems to cover people that prerordered the system 6 months ago is really bad. They tried to do a worldwide launch and it is blowing up in their face with no country getting enough.

I understand where yu are coming from, MS is trying something new witht he Worldwide launch.  If they pulled it off they proved it can be done if it fails ....Well i don't think many other will try



Honestly, I think MS should have tried two regions.  The NA and Japan should have been it.   MS wants Japan very badly.

[kire321]

I don't have time to read the entire thread, but I buy very few games & will be waiting for Oblivion to buy a 360, by which time any shortages will be over & hopefully the price will have dropped.

[mikeg]

Kire, I think you might end up being the wisest of us all.   The ONLY game I feel I HAVE to buy the system for is Gears of War.

[kire321]

Kire, I think you might end up being the wisest of us all.   The ONLY game I feel I HAVE to buy the system for is Gears of War.

You're too kind; but it's only becuase I'm too picky for my own good when it comes to games; I always have a pressing desire to hang out in it's forums for 6 months before I buy anything. After that, I only buy RTS, racing, RPGs, & party games. & it then it has to show considerable gameplay prowess, I honestly don't care about graphics.

Note: I admit it: I cringed at Arena's graphics when I downloaded from Beth & I appreciate progress in terms if of AI & physics.

You probably shoudn't reply this; it'd drag this thread of topic. (Maybe I shouldn't have posted this.)

[Scott]

Everyone turns to quickly.  A couple of months ago, we had lots of 360 love, now nothing.  Everyone here complaining about lack of systems now, we'll be complaining in a month about lack of games after they get their systems.  Then they'll complain when the 360 isn't as powerful as the PS3.  Jeez.  Relax, its a game system...  

[Arkon]

No complaining here... all I got is love for my 360.  Already bought a game and some accessories.

[Hetz]

For all of you that can't get a system on launch day....here is the manual in PDF form that you can read over and over and over again until you are able to score one!  

http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms/blobs/retrieve.cgi?attachment_id=581228&native_or_pdf=pdf

[Fellow]

Everyone turns to quickly.  A couple of months ago, we had lots of 360 love, now nothing.  Everyone here complaining about lack of systems now, we'll be complaining in a month about lack of games after they get their systems.  Then they'll complain when the 360 isn't as powerful as the PS3.  Jeez.  Relax, its a game system...  

Hey now, I'm still getting one at launch, and am REALLY looking forward to spending some quality time with PGR3, Kameo, and PDZ, not to mention see how some of those backward compatible titles look like in their new respective resolutions (+AA).

That said, yeah, everything you said above will happen. Why? Because it always does. There _will_ be a lack of systems, and there _will_ be a lack of good titles, etc. etc. Time will remedy them, but for the immediate feature, it is what it is.

[Sarkus]

The way the shipments are being cut a Gamestop, I wouldn't be so sure of all the May preorders being filled....or do you know this for a fact? Is Gamestop saying that every preorder done in May will have a system on the 22nd?

Obviously the situation could change again, but as of right now everyone who did the "guaranteed" sku (which was cut-off very near the end of May, I don't know the extact day) will get one.  In fact, most stores have a least a few more than that coming.

I do take issue with the suggestion that GameStop (or anyone else for that matter) oversold on reservations.  Let's not pretend that MS, like every other company in the gaming business, doesn't like having sales guaranteed through pre-sale offers.  When a manufacturer publically talks about numbers at E3 that manufacturer is making a committment.  When a manufacturer hypes a product for months and months they need to be sure they can meet at least a good portion of the demand they are creating.  Blaming retailers for product shortages is absurd.

[Hetz]

Here is one Wal-Marts plans....expect most to be like this: