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Microsoft could soon offer a subsidized Xbox 360 for $99 along with a two-year contract for Xbox Live Gold in an attempt to popularize the Xbox as the main digital hub in living rooms across the U.S., according to an online report. As early as next week, Microsoft may start offering a 4GB Xbox 360 with Kinect sensor plus a two-year commitment to pay $15 per month for Xbox Live Gold, giving you access to the console's online services.
Is Microsoft SERIOUS?! They must be outta their minds if they think people will fall for this...
It's a hell of a lot cheaper to just buy the 4GB xbox and kinect bundle upfront and separately, then getting a 2 yr contract.
I thought the same, but this may work for people that don't have all the money up front and choose to make monthly payments instead of saving up money?
Microsoft could soon offer a subsidized Xbox 360 for $99 along with a two-year contract for Xbox Live Gold in an attempt to popularize the Xbox as the main digital hub in living rooms across the U.S., according to an online report. As early as next week, Microsoft may start offering a 4GB Xbox 360 with Kinect sensor plus a two-year commitment to pay $15 per month for Xbox Live Gold, giving you access to the console's online services.
Is Microsoft SERIOUS?! They must be outta their minds if they think people will fall for this...
It's a hell of a lot cheaper to just buy the 4GB xbox and kinect bundle upfront and separately, then getting a 2 yr contract.
Lets see, $299.99 for a retail price xbox plus Live for 2 years = roughly 400 bucks or so. 99 bucks for the console and 15 bucks a month for 2 years = roughly 460 bucks. 60 dollars over a 2 year span is like... 9 cents a day or something like that?
If you don't have the 400 bucks up front this might not be a bad way to go. Sure you're spending a little more, but it's over time so it might suit people who don't have the upfront $$.
Microsoft could soon offer a subsidized Xbox 360 for $99 along with a two-year contract for Xbox Live Gold in an attempt to popularize the Xbox as the main digital hub in living rooms across the U.S., according to an online report. As early as next week, Microsoft may start offering a 4GB Xbox 360 with Kinect sensor plus a two-year commitment to pay $15 per month for Xbox Live Gold, giving you access to the console's online services.
Is Microsoft SERIOUS?! They must be outta their minds if they think people will fall for this...
It's a hell of a lot cheaper to just buy the 4GB xbox and kinect bundle upfront and separately, then getting a 2 yr contract.
Why won't people fall for this? They already do fall for it with an iPhone, Android, iPad, etc.
iPhone 4S 16Gb retails at $649 contract free, or $299 with a minimum $20/month for 2 years data package but the monthly cost with lowest minutes of voice (and you can't get it without voice) would be $59.99 minimum through AT&T and that's just for 300MB/Month, voice, and messaging is $0.20/message Sprint has it for minimum $69.99/month unlimited data. Just that $20 data package and price of phone results in a "cost" for the iPhone of $779.
What's the difference? You're paying money down and a mandatory service charge for a phone, why is a console any different?
Why won't people fall for this? They already do fall for it with an iPhone, Android, iPad, etc.
iPhone 4S 16Gb retails at $649 contract free, or $299 with a minimum $20/month for 2 years data package but the monthly cost with lowest minutes of voice (and you can't get it without voice) would be $59.99 minimum through AT&T and that's just for 300MB/Month, voice, and messaging is $0.20/message Sprint has it for minimum $69.99/month unlimited data. Just that $20 data package and price of phone results in a "cost" for the iPhone of $779.
What's the difference? You're paying money down and a mandatory service charge for a phone, why is a console any different?
They also spend insane amounts of money renting things rather than just buying used stuff, going to IKEA, etc.
Just what America needs...to be in debt for playing video games
Well as I showed, America is in debt for buying cell phones, and has been for many years, how many people do you know who buy contract free and unlocked cellphones? More to the point, how many people do you know who keep that same cell phone once the initial contract has expired? You don't need a cell phone, you've only been convinced it's critical to your life, you don't need a cell phone that also lets you email, browse, text, or play Angry Birds. Did you know that the fastest expanding sector of gaming is Mobile, so people out there are already in debt for playing video games.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gallowsCalibrator
What is this, I don't even.
If you can't afford the console, either save up or buy it used.
So, does that mean you should only use cash to buy a console? Is a credit card OK to buy one with?
It's a sales model that's been used for at least a decade or more in other consumer electronics products, some of which result in you owning the equipment, others where you just lease the equipment. I've already mentioned cell phones, but you can own a TiVo box (with lifetime service for an additional $499 one time charge, or $14.99 a month), or a cable box, or a modem for your internet provider most people either lease to buy (via their cable contract) or lease via the same contract (at a nominal monthly fee). Same thing here. Just out of interest, how many devices do you have that are bought and paid for without the need for a service contract? Has anyone played WoW or other Pay-to-Play OLG? Would you have been prepared to pay $950 for lifetime service? Or did you pay $50 entry and $14.99/month for 60 months or more?
Quote:
Originally Posted by kazyn
Why save up when you can have it now?
You're making this seem trivial, but ignoring much of the current must have gadgets that already exist that use this exact sales model. People don't save up to buy lots of things that they could well do without, or do without a prestige version that they just can't afford to pay cash. Yes it's a games console, but why is that any different to a cell phone, or TiVo, or remodeling your bathroom, or leasing a car?
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