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Sales boom for cut-price Xbox

http://australianit.news.com.au/arti...nbv%5E,00.html

Quote:

MICROSOFT's aggressive price cut to Xbox is paying dividends, with retailers reporting "unbelievable" sales of Xbox at the weekend.

The Xbox launched in March at $649 but sluggish sales in the first month forced the technology giant to slash the price of the Xbox by 40 per cent.
Friday was the first day that the console cost $399 and retailers say the new price is a winner.

John Redenbach, Toys R Us merchandise director, said sales of Xbox on Friday and Saturday were 2.5 times the entire launch week.

"Unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable," he said. "We were surprised - we thought it would be good, but it was spectacular."

Toys R Us took reservations from customers in the week leading up to the price - counting for 25 per cent of sales at the weekend, while the rest were from people walking in off the street.

Independent sales figures are not due until Thursday, but other retailers describe a similar boost in sales.

Steve Wilson, marketing director for Electronics Boutique, said "it was almost like launch all over again".

He estimated the chain did about 60-70 per cent of the sales it did at launch, but he was unsure if it would stay strong.

"That's the several million dollar question," Mr Wilson said.

"It's no secret sales previously weren't staying strong, but whether they've now tapped into a wider market, I don't know."

Independent figures show Xbox was outsold three to one by its rival Sony PlayStation 2 in the two weeks before Microsoft bowed to economic pressure and announced the discount.

Microsoft had predicted it would sell 100,000 consoles in the first three months but was on track to reach just 30,000 before the price cut.

The Xbox is now $100 cheaper than the PS2 at $499 but Sony maintains it will not be caught in a price war.

The dynamic will shift again when Nintendo launches its GameCube console on May 17. The GameCube was originally priced at $399 but Microsoft's move forced Nintendo to drop the price to $329 before the console was even launched.

Mr Wilson said history indicated the market could not support three competing consoles.

"Someone will lose," he said. "I don't think there's room for three players, but I'm happy to be proved wrong."

In the previous console wars, the original Sony PlayStation and the Nintendo 64 knocked out the Sega Saturn. Sega developed a new console, the Dreamcast, but early last year the company conceded defeat and abandoned the hardware game to focus on games development.

this comes as no surprise...they needed that price cut big time, and soon made it a reality. And apparently it's paying off big time.

Wow, they're finally selling their console! Too bad they didn't cut the price before launch, this Friday is N-day! And all people know the Cube is way cheaper...

over there, cube's price advantage won't play as big of a role as it does here in america.

Quote:

Originally posted by BigJustinW
over there, cube's price advantage won't play as big of a role as it does here in america.

....because? :confused:

Quote:

Originally posted by Perfect Stu

....because? :confused:

Here in America, you pay 50% more than GCN to buy a Xbox, and 33% less than xbox to buy a cube

Over there you pay 17% less than Xbox to get an Cube... and you pay 21% more than GCN to buy an Xbox

(in other words, the price differential isn't as big, so it won't make as big of a difference)

Quote:

Originally posted by BigJustinW
Here in America, you pay 50% more than GCN to buy a Xbox, and 33% less than xbox to buy a cube

Over there you pay 17% less than Xbox to get an Cube... and you pay 21% more than GCN to buy an Xbox

(in other words, the price differential isn't as big, so it won't make as big of a difference)

Oh okay. Makes sense. I wonder which system will sell better over there? :)

Quote:

Originally posted by Perfect Stu

Oh okay. Makes sense. I wonder which system will sell better over there? :)

Me too...

If I had to bet I would say Gamecube, but who knows...

Quote:

Originally posted by Angrist
Wow, they're finally selling their console! Too bad they didn't cut the price before launch, this Friday is N-day! And all people know the Cube is way cheaper...

No, really? That's because the Xbox includes a hard drive and DVD player and more. Also the Xbox is worth more... if you knew that Angrist.

Quote:

Originally posted by Bond

No, really? That's because the Xbox includes a hard drive and DVD player and more. Also the Xbox is worth more... if you knew that Angrist.

I do know that. But we've discussed that before. Most people won't even use their modem.

I'm sure that the Cube launch will be better than the Box one, but that's because the XB was too expensive... but I still think the Cube will sell more.

Quote:

Originally posted by Angrist
I do know that. But we've discussed that before. Most people won't even use their modem.

Where in Bond's post did he say Modem?

I also think Nintendo will sell more at launch, 100% because of Name recognition. But name recognition can only carry you so far, look at what Sony did last generation.

Good point. Everyone thought the Saturn was going to clean the Playstation's clock last go round. But hey, look what a massive company with strong arming tactics can do to the industry with no name recognition in gaming.

Oooooh wait, that kind of reminds me of another compay that is breaking into the gaming industry...:D

Quote:

Originally posted by Angrist
Most people won't even use their modem.

Angrist, you must be able to read minds. Maybe you should be the new host of 'Crossing Over.'

I can read minds to!
....
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I can see that....
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BOND DOESN'T LIKE ANGRIST!

Just call me Kreskin:D

Quote:

Originally posted by The Strangler
I can read minds to!
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I can see that....
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BOND DOESN'T LIKE ANGRIST!

Everybody knows that. He doesn't like me, so I don't like him ok?