Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Plans Deliberate Xbox 360 Shortage
An anonymous reader writes "To ensure an immediate "sellout" of the Xbox 360 on launch day (therefore getting lots of media buzz about their new console), Microsoft will simply restrict the supply down to a trickle. My favorite part of the article: "In addition to limiting the per-store stock of consoles and having the retailers prepare to prominently note the unit's "sold out" status, Microsoft has allegedly asked Norwegian retailers to sign an agreement that they'll sell out of the consoles on the launch date."
Looks like it's not a rumour.
The force that blew the Big Bang continues to accelerate.
"Hey remember back when the PS2 came out? They tried to sell it earler than the competition, so they released a sub-par console quickly rather than wait, and didn't have nearly enough consoles to cover demand."
"Yeah, and they're the leaders of this generation..."
"Exactly, so you know what we have to do to beat Sony... release it even earlier, even buggier, and in even shorter supply!"
"Yeah, in fact, let's make the supply so damn low that it will sell out even if it fails sales targets! Then people will be impressed and buy the console once it gets back in supply."
"But how about the people who get one at launch? When they pay so much for a buggy system because of its short supply and there's barely any good games for it, won't they get pissed?"
"Yeah, but what are they gonna do? They already bought the console. And they'll completely forget about it once the good games come out (around the PS3/Revo launch)."
"Sounds good to me."
"When the atomic bomb goes off there's devastation...but when the atomic bong goes off there's celebraaaaation!"
I wonder if I could make much profit scalping a couple.
Hey, everybody! Check out the all new Cartmanland! It's our Graaand Opening! Cartmanland has over a hundred fabulous rides , six roller coasters , and tons of great surprises! And the best part is: You can't come!! That's right, because at Cartmanland, only I, Eric Cartman, can get in! That means only I can ride the all-new Tornado Twister, a roller coaster that splashes in the water! Wow! It's the greatest amusement park in the Colorado area! And nobody can go!! Especially Stan and Kyle!! HAHA!! So come on down to Cartmanland now! But don't plan on getting past the parking lot, 'cause remember:
So much to do at Cartmanland, but you can't come! Especially you, Stan and Kyle.
Congratulations! Between you and the parent poster you've just posted the two most predictable comments in the history of slashdot.
Feel free to mod me "-1 - Angry Jerk".
This little tidbit is my favorite in that article:
"Xbox.com: Tell me another cool thing about the guts.
JR: Well, we want to discourage hackers, so this time around we didn't put any screws on the outside of the box and have multiple tamper evident labels. So with Xbox 360 we'll be able to tell if they've cracked the case.
Xbox.com: And of course, just like the original Xbox, cracking the case immediately voids your warranty.
JR: Of course."
Karma: Chameleon (mostly due to the fact that you come and go).
Good read, I liked this part...
Xbox.com: Tell me another cool thing about the guts.
JR: Well, we want to discourage hackers, so this time around we didn't put any screws on the outside of the box and have multiple tamper evident labels. So with Xbox 360 we'll be able to tell if they've cracked the case.
Sounds like a challenge !
Heh. This reminds me of the opening scene in Max Barry's novel, Jennifer Government. In it, some (fictional) Nike executives get together and decide that they're going to:
a) restrict supply of their new super-super-hot Nike Mercury shoes to a trickle, so the kids go *nuts* for them, then:
b) unload a few hundred thousand on the market at a hugely inflated price, and THEN:
c) since Nike knows they'll lose that "can't-find-'em-anywhere, selling-like-hotcakes" prestige once people realize they can get Mercuries anywhere, they start shooting a few of the people who buy them to further build street cred.
d) PROFIT!
So, uh, if you're lining up to buy a 360, just watch out for snipers.
Writerati
The same was true of the Tickle-me-Elmo. Pet Rocks. Beenie-Babies. It's well known in marketing that the appearance of scarcity increases demand.
Yes, convincing the public that there was a shortage of rocks was quite a feat.
This is not a dream, not a dream...we are transmitting from the year 1-9-9-9.
Wrong, that would be Google!
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/11/03/131624 6&tid=217&tid=166
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/11/01/18 14207&tid=217&tid=123
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/11/01/142421 7&tid=217&tid=129
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/10/31/192721 2&tid=217&tid=185
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/10/31/14 14203&tid=217&tid=17
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/10/30/186219 &tid=217&tid=98
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/10/29/224121 1&tid=136&tid=217
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/10/27/163824 3&tid=109&tid=217
are going to provide a free copy of Dianetics, to go with the new XBox. Why get one bestseller when you can get two?
Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
News Flash:
Steve Ballmer Responsible for Lingbergh Baby Kidnapping.
Sony or Nintendo could shut down XBox 360 with a one page ad in a gaming mag like EGM and then do another spot in New York Times. The ad would just have to say:
1 million units made, less then 100,000 unit sold. Do the math.
You say things that offend me and I can deal with it. Can you?