Xbox 360 Hell: the itinerary
Congrats to HD Beat contributor, Richard, who did get his Xbox 360. I
had a few minutes this morning to tell you that I wasn't as lucky and I
just got back from Round 2 of trying for an HDTV gaming console.If I had it in me to Google Map my itinerary I certainly would, but I'm running on fumes right now. Instead, I'll give you the high-level play by play. The funny part is: as great a gaming machine this console is, I was trying to get my paws on one for the 360 Media Extender capability first! (Seriously!) If you're remotely interested in my trip to hell and back, click on the jump for the details as best as I can recollect; my lack of sleep might cause a missed stop or two!
10:05 p.m yesterday: laid out warm clothes and set two alarms; one for 11:50 p.m. and one for 3:00 a.m.
11:50 p.m.: woke up and checked various websites for on-line availability until 12:40 a.m.
3:00 a.m.: woke up, got dressed and double-checked for on-line availability.
3:26 a.m.: left house and went to Wal-Mart #1. Was 14th in line for 14 consoles. Major faux pas by leaving and thinking I could get a Premium system.
3:30 a.m.: stopped for coffee.
4:00 a.m.: Pulled up to Target where there were 40 people for 35 consoles.
4:05 a.m.: Pulled up to CompUSA; 10 people for 10 consoles.
4:10 a.m.: Drove to Best Buy where the circus was in town. All consoles spoken for.
4:15 a.m.: Pulled up to Toys'R'Us and there was nobody there. A call yesterday indicated that they may not get their shipment in time. I think they just didn't want folks camping out.
4:20 a.m.: Pulled up to CircuitCity: All consoles spoken for by campers.
4:40 a.m.: Drove to Wal-Mart #2. Worker told me they opened at midnight because people were camped; sold out in 10 minutes.
5:00 a.m.: Found a K-Mart with campers; all consoles spoken for.
5:10 a.m.: Found Wal-Mart #3 and was laughed at by night-crew. Another surprise midnight opening and an obvious sell-out.
Home by 5:30 a.m. where I jumped into bed for a few hours of needed sleep.
Woke up at 7:45 a.m.
9:00 a.m.: Returned to Toys'R'Us which magically had their shipment. All consoles spoken for.
9:10 a.m.: Stopped at Costco where they received 24 consoles. All 24 spoken for with a 10 a.m. early opening.
9:20 a.m.: Went to Sears where they opened early but only received 2 consoles. 30 people on a wait-list and they stopped taking names.
9:30 a.m.: Tried EB Games on an off chance. Duh.
9:40 a.m.: Tried RadioShack and was told that no consoles were released to retail stores; sales folks tried to help me with an on-line order, but already sold out.
9:50 a.m.: Wondered if Blockbuster was carrying the console: nope.
10:30 a.m.: Home from hell with nothing but empty coffee-cups to show for it.
Got an Xbox 360 horror story? Share in the comments so I know I'm not the only one; it would make me feel SO much better!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rapture @ Nov 22nd 2005 12:44PM
Yesterday, November 21, I learned that the Hampton Cove/OC Wal-Mart was getting 10 XBOX360s. At 6PM people were allowed to sit in 10 chairs in the Lay-Away dept. I got to the OC Wallyworld at 5:20PM. Theres were already 25 people in line. Some had been there since 10AM. So, I was screwed no way I was getting an XBOX360 from the Wal-Mart in the OC. Foulbreed and Hubcap met me there at about 5:20PM. They were also disappointed that they would not be getting an XBOX360.
We go to my house and start calling around various stores and retailers. At the Jones Valley Super Target, they were giving out tickets starting at 5:30am this morning. We decided that would be our best bet. We also decided to try Sams Club on South Parkway. 30 minutes before the Sams closed last night, FoulBreed joined as a Business member. As a Business member, you can enter the store at 7AM. I waited too late last night and couldnt upgrade my Sams membership, so I wouldnt be getting a system at the Sams.
The Plan:
We go to bed ASAP and wake up at 2:30AM to get in line at Sams (FoulBreed) and Target (me, Hubcap and Shyzza). I head to Target in Jones Valley. I was #5 in line at 3AM. Unfortunately the Target was only getting 4 systems. I call FoulBreed and break the news. We decide that FoulBreed would go to Sams and he would drop his 2 brothers off with me at the Wal-Mart on Drake. As it turns out, we were #s 11, 12, and 13 at that location. Unfortunately, we were 1 short again. That Wal-Mart was only getting 10 systems.
Thinking fast, I decide to take Hubby and Shyzza to CompUSA where I suspected that they would have 24 XBOX360. We get there at 3:30AM. FoulBreed had already arrived at Sams Club and was #3 in line (he was sure to get one). We get to CompUSA and are #s 9, 10, and 11 in line. We were sure to get one since launch-day soccer moms are supposed to be civilized right?
(BTW: Oh, FoulBreed ended up meeting a coworker that was #1 and #2 at Sams. They had been camped out since late yesternight.)
Well, we made a numbered list and everyone in line started signing it. Those that got there at midnight for the 9AM opening today were first of course since they were there first. As others showed up, they signed their name to the bottom of the list. It was frigging cold out there! Dark and breezy is a CompUSA in late November.
(BTW: Oh, as we passed Best Buy, there was about 12 tents setup. There looked to be about 50 people in line. BB was supposed to get about 40 systems.)
The people in front of us were high-schoolers. They talked about getting high, drunk, laid, and recruited for frats at Auburn and Alabama. We had to put up with this BS for 5 hours???
As the morning went on, the soccer moms started arriving. They were asking stupid questions like, When does the store open? and What is a premium bundle? and How many do they have? We told them we had a list and that they would be about #20 if they stayed. We didnt say much more. They would drive off in their BMWs sipping their coffee.
As it turned out, the soccer moms and dads would arrive and bully their way to near the door. They would try to play down our list throwing any kind of organization (these high school students had devised) out the door. Enter the mob.
7AM hit. FoulBreed got this Premium bundle from Sams. He drove to CompUSA and took my spot #9 in line. I came to work. CompUSA only had 8 Premium bundles. I was one short. FoulBreed bought a core system, as did his Hubcap and Shyzza. Shyzza ended up giving his system to a friend of his (who we met in line he had been waiting with us since about 4AM.)
I am now the owner of a core system. FB is buying an HD AV pack and an XBL headset for me. I will look for a harddrive later in the week or hope that stores get more Premium systems. The HD AV pack is $40. The harddrive is $100. The extra controller is $40.
So, I may not open my Core system. I may hope to find Premium systems at Target or Wal-Mart later in the week. Unsure about what to do.
Update: I'm now selling mine on eBay for $800: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8236285267
char @ Nov 22nd 2005 1:20PM
I got mine, but when I was leaving to get it, my car wouldn't turn. My power steering tank has busted a leak :(. So I just grabbed my bike, loaded up my trade ins, and headed out.
So a sore neck and 30 minutes of riding later I made it to my office, xbox on my back.
Char
fraeone @ Nov 22nd 2005 1:42PM
Well, I got totally screwed by Circuit City last night. I was #11 in line, out of 14 Premium consoles. After waiting for an hour, the manager came out and posted a sign stating that only 3/14 of the premium consoles would be sold without a bundle. Everything else included a $90 two year warranty, and some games/accessories that I wasn't interested in. I refused to be extorted like that just because some manager saw people lining up and smelled a way to boost his sales by a couple bucks. (That CC is also losing an HDTV purchase from me, I'm done with them) In the hour that I wasted at CC, all the other retail locations filled up. Stopped at about 10 stores, in all cases the consoles were already spoken for. I think I'm going to write a nasty letter to the CC District Manager.
What a crappy night.
dan @ Nov 22nd 2005 1:51PM
stayed up late on october 20th till midnight, went to futureshops website. ordered it. they mailed it yesterday and it arrived today. didnt even have to pay for shipping.
Travis @ Nov 22nd 2005 2:16PM
Instead of me going over it again just read my blog at
http://xbox360ratings.blogspot.com/
eBay @ Nov 22nd 2005 2:33PM
rapture: $800? that looks like $150...
Dustin @ Nov 22nd 2005 2:34PM
Welcome to the twilight zone. I'm so fed up with Microsoft and their stupid shortage crap. I went to Wal-mart in my town at 3pm. My girlfriend thought i was going to be way too early and called me crazy...I showed up...they were getting 12 consoles, and i was number 8 in line. after sitting for a while, someone said "you getting premium or core?" i said premium, and then they told me they only had 2 premiums in stock...what a waste...so i went to gamestop...they just opened like 2 weeks ago so i knew they weren't doing preorders...guy says they are getting 6 in and not until the next day. yeah right.. so i went to another store where i had to put my friggin name on a ticket for a RAFFLE TO SPEND $399...how lame is that? I actually came back at midnight for the raffle and so did about 100 other people...only 22 people got their xbox there...all premiums too.. So i get up extra early today since i have a final exam...went to target right next to campus..about 20 people in line...fingers crossed...woman comes out and gives out 8 tickets...screwed again...went to school...took my final...got 100% on it..hauled-ass to compusa...no luck there either...went to about 4 more targets, toys r us's, and best buys...no luck...came home and called dell...they said they have bundles in stock but not for long...got a quote for a pretty awesome bundle...placed the order online...got a confirmation email...called the sales rep back..he said they just took the bundles away and he can't sell them...now i'm not sure if dell's gonna ship or not.. i'm keeping my fingers crossed...it's not unusual for them to just not ship you anything without telling you though
dan @ Nov 22nd 2005 2:49PM
stayed up late on october 20th till midnight, went to futureshops website. ordered it. they mailed it yesterday and it arrived today. didnt even have to pay for shipping.
Lorem @ Nov 22nd 2005 3:09PM
Boot up it this morning and it's dead out of the box! Snap!
J @ Nov 22nd 2005 3:27PM
Amazing, with the 3 am wake up and "calling it quits" around 6 am your night pretty much mirrors mine. Camped out at Toys R' Us for 2 hours before I found out that they only had 8 consoles which were all spoken for.
SuicideNinja @ Nov 22nd 2005 3:38PM
I feel bad about getting one!
My girlfriend insisted that she get me one by my birthday (Thursday), and she camped out several cities away to get one. But she was the first one there, and had my trusty DS to keep her entertained for 8 hours. And the 4 hours it took for her to locate one.
She says I "owe" her...I'm not sure what I'm in for now...
Dave Zatz @ Nov 22nd 2005 4:09PM
No consoles for me either... granted I didn't try nearly as hard. It's OK - I'm not really ready to plunk down $400 as I'm not much of a gamer. In fact on Sunday I bought a new wireless controller for my old Xbox to somehow pyschologically prevent me from getting anew conoles today. I hope WIN covers your gas bill! :)
HX @ Nov 22nd 2005 4:19PM
Here is my tale of the Hunt for 360.
On my way home last night at around 1 AM I passed the Target near my house and saw that people were camping out. I headed home and went to sleep (just put in an 80 hour week at work to get a release out of a new product, Talkman T5, coincidently released on November 22, 2005; shameless plug: www.vocollect.com). I got up and arrived at Target around 7 AM to find out that they handed out the tickets for the 360s at 6:30 AM and they only had 6 of each SKU. So I proceeded to Sams Club where the line that had been standing outside prior to my arrival was now inside getting 360s. They had 20 of them and were already sold out. So I continued on my journey to Toys R Us where there was a line of about 20 people. I spoke with some of the people in line and they said that no one from Toys R Us had spoken to them yet. So based on my previous experience I decided not to wait in that line, instead I proceeded to Sears. I ended up third in line at the lower entrance. They opened up the doors at 8 AM, mind you there was a second line at the 2nd floor entrance. Well apparently they opened up that door first and by the time I reached the electronics department I was 5th in line. The cashier came over and said that they only had 2 360s. Needless to say, I gave up and went to work. I will be waiting patiently by the phone for the call from EB about my preorder. Until then I will live vicariously through my friends who preordered early enough to get one on launch day. The End!
DT @ Nov 22nd 2005 5:04PM
When I saw 5 people camped out at my ghetto K-mart at 9pm for a 7 am opening I knew I was in for a long night. These 3am guys shouldve scoped the scene out the night before (8-9pmish).. it mightve saved you some time. either way the most rediculous launch ever and will likely turn off more customers than draw them in.
Billy Dee Williams @ Nov 22nd 2005 5:05PM
UPS man came Saturday with my Mt Dew Every 10 Minutes XBox 360 with Kameo. 'nuff said.
Brandon Stephenson @ Nov 22nd 2005 5:50PM
As I walking into my local Target I looked at my wife and said, "Hey it could be worse, I could be one of those Jackasses waiting in line in 30 degree temperatures to get a Xbox 360 now instead of waiting until after the holiday season when there will be more that enough available."
Come on, I'm sure the Xbox 360 is amazing but how much is your dignity worth?
Dan @ Nov 22nd 2005 7:50PM
Worse:
http://dancameron.org/archives/886/xbox-launch-lines/
Clayton @ Nov 22nd 2005 9:14PM
I have a crap story. I preordered online at ebgames, and was told that it was going to be here on launch day. Everything went OK and the order was processed and shipped. Nice big box arrived today at noon. I got my system all set up, put in PDZ turned on the console. The game started up and FROZE. PGR3....FROZE. COD2....FROZE. EBGames can't do anything because they don't have a console to replace mine with. After three hours on hold with Microsoft Tech support, I have to send my broke system in for repairs. The earliest it will be back is 10 or so days. THAT blows.
Lazyguy @ Nov 23rd 2005 2:05AM
I toke the bus to the mall this morning before going to school.
I walked in walmart
I walked out with a 360
I got on the bus
People looked at me funny
I got to school
Carried it around in 5 layered bags
I got home
Im cramming for 3 tests
I didnt open it yet.
Draven @ Nov 23rd 2005 9:11AM
June 31, 2005 17:45 - Pre-ordered XBox 360 and Quake 4 from Electronics Boutique.
August 17, 2005 13:32 - "Core" and "Premium" Bundles announced and made known to me. Called EB to check that my pre-order covered the $400 Bundle, which it did.
November 11, 2005 13:20 - The day after my birthday! I go to EB with some birthday money and ask about my pre-order. "Everything is fine," I'm told.
November 17, 2005 14:03 - EB manager calls to tell me I've been bumped to the second shipment, and hints that I should come pay in full, and I go in and do so. The manager promises me that being on the "fully paid" list means that I'll definately get an XBox 360 at launch. I'm so happy about that, I buy Kameo and an extra controller while I'm there, and plan on buying the extended warranty from EB when my console arrives.
November 19, 2005 12:47 - Call EB with a question about the warranty. Ask about my pre-order while I'm on the phone. I'm told "Everything is fine," again.
November 21, 2005 15:43 - I call EB, and hold for 15 minutes (understandable on the day before launch). Since the manager handles the pre-orders for the 360 himself, I speak with the same man again. He seems mad that I'm calling him, and rude on the phone. "Nothing has changed, you're still on the second shipment! That'll be some time before Christmas, for sure!"
Disappointment follows.
November 22, 2005 11:30 - I spend most of the morning dreaming about what could have been. I get a call on my cell phone. The caller ID says Electronics Boutique. My heart skips a beat, and I pick up the phone. "Hi, this is John calling about your pre-order." I act mildly interested, even though I'm secretly dry humping my desk chair in excitement. "Your Quake 4 pre-order is ready whenever you can come get it, sir." I manage to restrain myself from violence, but I explained to John that his store already screwed me out of my 360 and still has all my money. I asked him what I need with a game that I can't even play, and requested that he go to hell. I'll get my Quake 4 when my console comes in.
November 22, 2005 12:49 - Lost all faith in Microsoft and Electronics Boutique. Especially that particular EB. For PS3 and Revolution (if and when), I will definately make other arrangements besides working with EB.
Sometime in December - I finally get my 360. Maybe.
Am I alone in thinking that getting the console a month after the launch date defeats the purpose of pre-ordering? And because EB had my money, I couldn't even make the attempt at waiting in line at another retailer. (Which I'm pretty sure was the EB manager's intent all along.) Right now I have two games and a controller for a system that I'm miles away from touching. I'm considering getting a full refund and waiting until next year to buy.
zelig2 @ Nov 23rd 2005 10:55AM
My original plan was to swing by Wal-Mart at 3:30pm to see if there were any people in line but I got out of my last meeting that day a little late. So I called instead only to find out the line was full. At that point I called Best Buy and were told that there was already 7 people waiting in line (for the 9am opening). Once that happened my friend and I ran out of the office, grabbed some warm clothes and a folding chair and booked it to Best Buy where we were #19 & #20 in line with Best Buy getting 42 Premium. If I hadn't called that early we were going to be showing up at 10pm which would have been way too late. Calling ahead of time to find out the camper status was your best bet.
My favorite part was when people showed up at 7am and stood in the back of the line. Everyone started laughing. Needless to say they walked back to their cars once the employees told them they weren't getting anything.
joe @ Nov 23rd 2005 12:47PM
My XboX 360 Launch Experience
it long but worth it, the craziness of this launch i will never forget
I reserved my copy of xbox 360 on June 8th from game stop, i put my $50 down and was told come in and pick it up launch day.
So my mind was at ease until about two weeks ago when all this internet hype about storages and all this other jazz
So i started calling to figure out if i'd have to kill someone to get this thing.
I found out after a few days of trying that my gamestop(note i live in NYC a city of 10 million ppl) was only receiving around 20 or so consoles, mine you when i put down my deposit it was seen as odd to do so a full 6 months ahead of time. So i was a little annoyed that gamestop happily took my $50 when in the back at the gamestop HQ they knew "hey we took 50 pre-orders from store #112 today, wait were only shipping 10 units to that store, maybe some one should let them know"
but i had to wait till five days before launch to NOT get a phone call telling me that i wouldnt be getting mine in the first shipment, but that i would have to wait till the next (gamestops cutoff was all order in the month of may even though i ordered mine 7 days later in the first week of June.) so gamestop screwed me, but my will to get this did not end.
So i figured after reading more online that my best shot was waiting on line at a large retailer as they had the buying power to obtain larger quantities of the 360, so i did some more research and found the 3 best buy's near me each had NYC midtown-166 Brooklyn -Caesar bay-58 the other nyc-60
With a midnight launch for the mid-town best buy i figure hey it 6 pm i just about to get out of work ill just go right over there now and get on line for the midnight opening, while after walking from 11th to 5th in the rain and getting lost once, i was soaked and pissed. I walked up to the door and ask a employee where to go and what to do for the launch she (with the most annoying smirk on her face point around the corner) i walked around the corner to see 160 other dickheads waiting in line i tried to find the bring or end of the line but had to ask another best buy employee doing crowd control where is the back of the line, he say "there are no more spots on the line" so after walking in the rain and sick i look at the #1 as*hole in line a short little Mexican who waited there since 2pm i said "screw it"
after hoping on the train and going back into Brooklyn i was angry. I got home took a shower and convinced myself that the 360 wasnt worth it and that the launch games were mediocre at best. I sat down and was reminder or and over again about the launch even having to endure a live broadcast from right were i was standing two hours earlier. So i changed the channel and decided for myself after hearing another rumor from my friend that a best buy in Brooklyn would have a midnight opening i opt to go there to check it out, now its around 830pm now i get to the best buy and walk up to a line of maybe 40 people, i have a fianc?ait in line while i go up to ask for more info, i get up to the guy and i say is this the line for the midnight opening and he say and this is a direct quote: "this is the line for the 9AM opening" now its raining out cold and already wet, i look at this guy like he has three heads and in disbelief that people were going to wait 12+ in the cold rain for this i said to myself, for get it I will get it soon or later.
So i went home disappoint again i feel asleep and said maybe ill go to the one near my job in the mourning but i didnt get my hopes up. So i get a phone call at around 5am from my friend he says that while the line at the best buy has grown there is a small line forming at the toys r us, so i asked him how many people he says less then 20 so i say ok i get up out of bed and throw on some close take a car over to the best buy/toy r us shopping center and get in line
I wait from 530 am to around 845, now the line has grown to nearly 100 people, and i was about 30th in this line, the store manager of toy'r'us after walking around inside for over 1hr and 30 mins (we could see inside) post a sign on the widow
" WE ONLY HAVE 20 CONSOLE AVAILABLE"
This is were pandemonium broke out, now brooklynites are special people and where u combine the cold and all the bs the people got angry in total shock that i had just sold outside for 3 hours after doing all this other running around only to not get it i was angry. So i thought to myself where can i go that wouldnt have huge lines like this.
then it dawned on my COSTCO after all you had to be a member($100 fee) so my friend and i jumped into his card and raced over to Costco, after getting lost briefly and then parking we got out to the store at around 9:45 the store opens at 10, while there was a big line at the door all of there were there oddly enough to buy food or all things. So my friend and i "skipped" them and stood at the front of the line. After waiting a few more minutes we were able to talk to the manager and show him our cards and he let us in. Once i felt the slip in my hand i relax FINALLY it was mine, so i then ran up and happily pocked down my $479.99 for the kameo bundle(360w/HD extra controller, game and recharge) i made out, i then waited a little longer for them to official open and then went up stair and bought 3 more games(PDZ was only $43.99) steal, i think ran home connected it to my pc monitor and started playing.
the morale of this story
Is that a certain giant software company should think out there launch plans much better as this consumer will never wait in line in the cold again for something that is going to sit on the shelves in japan but is flying off it in the US. And if they ever do it again that this certain consumer will just upgrade their pc and download them games for free (and point his nose up to the console market)
the 360 is a 10
the hype and bs to get it is a 0 out of 10
BTW dont forget the I was paying them $600 for all this.
Joe @ Nov 24th 2005 10:09AM
Thats why it pays to reserve a great system like the xbox 360. i reserved mine at a local gamestop. got a call saying i was on the first shipment list. waltzed into gamestop when i was comfortable leaving my house and walked out with a 360 and a copy of madden 06 for it. reserving is the way to go. for all you campers have fun freezing your heads off waiting for a system your not guranteed to get.
Lisa @ Nov 24th 2005 10:23AM
Horror Story! This past summer my son asked me to buy him an Xbox system so he could play on-line against his friends (whatever). He said a used system would be fine. I said for an extra $20 I will buy the brand new unit. I took him to Gamestop and was told there was a newer system coming out in Novemeber it was called Xbox 360 and this system was going to be the hottest thing at Christmas. I asked when will it come out. He said Nov. 22nd. Hmmm my sons birthday. We left the store and discussed pros of getting the new Xbox 360. If I bought the old Xbox then when the new games for 360 start coming out my son would want them and you can't play them on the old system. Another trip to Gamestop and we were told the new system would play the old games. Ok, seems like a good idea. The Xbox 360 comes in 2 versions a core system for $300 or the next step up $400 comes with a load of accessories so now I have gone from $149 to $400. So I tell my son this is alot of money, you can't have a paintball birthday party and the Xbox 360. He is going to be 13 so its a good way to break the party pattern.Some of his friends are still having them (paintball, scuba diving etc). He says ok Xbox360, no party. Back to Babbages (owned by Gamestop). I ask are you SURE it will come out on 11/22. I explain about the birthday agreement. They say yes it is coming out on 11/22 BUT you should leave a deposit of $50 if you want one. SO I left my deposit. A few weeks later I go back to buy some games and extra controllers for the birthday and I am told I should PAY IN FULL to GUARANTEE that I get one. The people who pay in full can come in and pick up first and be GUARANTEED they will get it on 11/22. So of course I PAID IN FULL. On Nov 21 I went in to Babbages (gamestop) to ask what time I should come in tomorrow 11/22 to pick up my sons BIRTHDAY PRESENT Xbox 360 and I am told that they only receieved a partial shipment. Did I reserve my unit. I said not only did I reserve it I PAID IN FULL for it because I would be GUARANTEED to get it on NOV 22. He said I will check the list. He came back and told me I was # 87 and that they only got 15-20 but that when it comes in they will call. I asked when is the next shipment and he said next week but we don't know how many we will get. He said anywhere from 2-15 units per week. At this rate my son may not even get it for Christmas. I don't have to tell you how screwed I was the night before his birthday that I had no gift for him and that nothing could compare to that. All the presents from family and friends were also Xbox related. I am not crazy enough to sit outside on a line all night so that was not an option. I did drive from obscure store to store hoping I might find one. How ridiculious of me to think I could find one. As I walked into a Target a man was walking out hugging his Xbox 360 at 8:06 am so I was hopeful but he said it was the last one. I happen to think that 13 is a milestone birthday so I would like to thank Microsoft and Gamestop/Babbages for ruining my sons memory of his 13th birthday. Not only did he NOT get any of his presents (Xbox related)He had to face going to school the next day and telling his friends when they asked how it was that he did not get it. I will never forgive Gamestop/Babbages for what they did. I will never buy anything in their store again, unfortunately I can not say the same for Microsoft because I am at their mercy since they are a monopoly as far as technology. As for my son he took the news like a man and got some lame in comparision gifts but is still hopeful that it will come before Christmas. What do I do if it doesn't get here in time for that? I also have to mention that I paid the balance due for $430.00 on my American Express card which had to be paid in full so I am out the money and can only wait for the weekly delivery.I was told the manager was fired. Yeah, right. And that makes things better? They did not offer any consolation whatsoever. PLEASE don't shop there. There are plenty of other stores that sell this kind of stuff without using reserves deposits and pay in full SCARE TACTICS.
Bobby @ Nov 26th 2005 9:27AM
I have had an Xbox 360 reserved since July paid in full by August but do I have one NO. I have 3 games and a play and charge kit sitting at home before launch date. EB Games tells me thay may have some more in a week or so and I may not get one then I was number 38 on the list but people who had not paid for theirs got one before me who has paid in full and I'm still waiting for my system. Needless to say I will never shop at EB Games ever again.
Henry Silvia @ Jan 3rd 2006 11:16AM
I got a call from a buddy at 9am 11/21 who was @ Walmart, he sez 44 units, 22 of each, he is in slot #9. At 12pm I get nervous about being in the top 22, so I bail work, fortunately I had 2 folding chairs in my trunk. Arrived @ 12:30 to occupy slot 15. I called another friend who was on the fence about wanting/caring about 360. He arrived to occupy slot 24 - Presumably 2 slots late for a premium.
The hours seemed to fly by for those 12hrs with a cool bunch of people, serveral were personal friends. As fate would have it TWO people in line ahead of my #24 friend decided (oddly) to buy Core systems, and he ended up with the #22 LAST premium. We both bought PGR3 and have been loving it ever since.
As a interesting side note, my friend who was previously on the fence, fell so in love with the 360, he cancelled an order on a new sport bike to put the money into a 50" Sony SXRD (The most amazing set I have ever seen) - His first HD set; He was planning, prior, to wait til 2009 when he HAD to buy HD!!
I also managed to score another Premium 360 (with thanks to the friend that was #9 in the original line) for a friend who missed out on the launch. This was a secondary shippment @ the same WalMart just before xmas.
Any fellow LIVE gamers, feel free to add me, I'm bigbrain28