Xbox 360

[ak]

Amazon.com will soon be selling the Xbox 360 Core System for only US$100!

This is part of their cool, new innovation that asks customers to vote for one item out of 4 that will be marked down for sale. Details here

P.S. What do you think about this purchase (given the super-low price)? Also factor in the NTSC woes for people like us in PAL region. Thoughts welcome.

[ak]

We can buy starting Thursday.

There'll only be 1000 units available though.

[kaytee]

Dont worry about the NTSC thing. One twitch from a tecchie at Sheeba and you will have a MultiSystem XBOX. Thats what I did with my NTSC PS2 which I got from the US.

This offer sounds too good too be true though. Whats the CATCH?

[ak]

No catch. Amazon wants to be top dog during Christmas season. This tactic will not win them business but will get tongues waging.

OK, there is a kind of catch: since there are only 1000 units for sale, it’s going to be on a first-come-first-serve basis. Meaning everyone better be ready with their credit card on Thanksgiving Day which in this region is Thursday, 23 Nov, 11am (PST).

[ak]

Can someone here (perhaps Mad, he of Aramex) clarify the custom duty angle?

If one were to use the S&S service, will there be any customs tax for this item? If yes, approximately how much?

[ak]

Well, I WILL be buying this. Unless someone tells me the custom tax will be great...

The purchase window will be small. So I'll need to be fast and furious.

Amazon has a terrific page for tips on How To Buy at this promotional price. It explains all the nitty gritties there.

For others who are interested, here's the fine print. (It's no problem for me thanks to Aramex):
Please note that none of the candidate items ships (from Amazom) internationally.

[kaytee]

I'll stay wait for PS3.

[madali]

Customs shouldnt be an issue. Personal shpts, such as items coming from S&S, generally dont get custom duties. If they do, it will be 5%, so thats basically 5 USD.

[ak]

Cheers, mad!

[ak]

This is such a fantastic deal that I have goosebumps!

It's not only the idea of buying a Xbox 360 at garage sale price but the whole anticipation of being one of the first 1000 customers to click that button and clinch the deal!

I read messages about people are going frentic, camping out in front of their laptops waiting for Thu, 11am PST. (OK, so they're only winding their alarm clocks but you get the picture.) We're assuming the Xbox should be completely sold out within 30-60 seconds flat. That's a real time window giving the huge anticipation for this sale. I have to hand it to Amazon for this wicked marketing strategy. It's pure genius. And that's a professional opinion.

Here' s a message for them:

Hi, everyone. Erin Miller from Amazon.com, back to remind you about an amazing offer we started a few days ago called Customers Vote. In case you missed it, Customers Vote puts you in charge this holiday season. Each week for the next four weeks, we're offering four products at really low prices, and your vote will decide which product wins. It's the perfect shopping democracy! If you voted already, thanks so much. But remember, only one vote per customer per week. So be sure to tell you friends to vote for the item that you're rooting for. And if you haven't voted, what are you waiting for? Here's your chance to determine which of the following four items will be this week's winner.

We've got 1,000 brand new XBox 360 core systems--each for just $100.

[kaytee]

It would be great to see their website crash on that date and time just coz the server wasnt able to handle it.

[ak]

This is fucking Amazon we're talking about. They probably have half the world's servers in their basement as backup!

Although there has been fun talk about some unscrupulous buyers sabotaging most of the cities power stations so they can have a better chance at getting that Xbox! Don't you just love America?

[madali]

Considering the time it takes for Etisalat to relay your message to Amazon.com, there would already have been a billion requests from USA

[ak]

It would be great to see their website crash on that date and time just coz the server wasnt able to handle it.

You may have been right, kaytee. Hours before the sale begins accessing Amazon is down to snail's pace! Half of North America must be on it right now, in anticipation. What the frack are these nerds doing? This is a website not a fracking Rolling Stones concert tickets lineup! Camping out *on* the website hours in advance is not going to get you your crummy Xbox! (That's rich coming from me! OK, I guess now I'll just leave that page window open. Tick tock, tick tock....)

Before I go I wonder how much potential hard dollar business Amazon will be losing as a result the overloading of the website. As it is Amazon has undercut the value of the item by 66%, and it will only sell 1000 units. Marketing wise, in the grand scheme of things, they lose the battle but will win the war.

[ak]

I missed it - had to run an important family errand. Not feeling butch but what can you do, eh.