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Xbox 360 Still in Short Supply

Posted by Zonk on from the that's-a-big-ouch dept.

Spad writes "The Register is reporting that the Xbox360 is likely to remain scarce well into the spring, citing component shortages and a lack of manufacturing capacity. In an interview with USA Today, Circuit City said that due to the shortages they won't be promoting the console, as there's no point throwing resources at a product it can't sell. Microsoft had hoped to ship 2.75m consoles in the first three months, but are currently well short of that mark, having shipped a mere 600,000 units since its launch two months ago." Supply issues continue to harm the system's sales, moving back the Australia launch of the console until late March. Update: 01/27 15:19 GMT by Z : Despite these setbacks, Next Generation reports that Microsoft expects to ship their goal by the end of their fiscal year.

3 of 89 comments (clear)

  1. The Holiday Season Speculation by eldavojohn · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I remember there being speculation that the reason you couldn't acquire an Xbox 360 was because Microsoft was purposefully halting production. Many people thought that perhaps Microsoft was up to business tricks and shorting themselves on the production of these devices in time for the holiday season.

    The net effect, of course, to be able to create such a hype that everyone needs one regardless of how much it costs.

    I don't think this effect occurred, however, as I don't seem to need one.

    And so I waited in expectation for the flood gates to be released as wave after wave of consoles hit everywhere. And I waited. And waited.

    Is it possible that they were seriously having a hard time producing the units before the holidays? Or is this just their marketing tactic biting them in the ass with retailers balking at the cruel fates Microsoft tried to assign them?

    --
    My work here is dung.
    1. Re:The Holiday Season Speculation by CastrTroy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think that they may have had lower production than they thought. Either due to difficulties producing them, or a marketing tactic. The result is however, that they only have a short time left until the other two consoles come out. If they don't sell as many units as possible, then they've missed their chance. When you are first to market, you are supposed to sell as many units as possible, so that by the time the competitors get their product out, nobody wants it because they have already bought your product.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  2. At this rate... by elrous0 · · Score: 3, Funny
    The PS3 and Xbox 360 can both launch on the same day.

    -Eric

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.