It's not looking pretty for Xbox 360 availability for November 22nd, if various indications
are to be believed.
First, we've got readers writing to tell us that store managers at Electronics Boutiques are calling them to bump them off of the first allocation of Xbox 360 pre-orders. Writes one reader:
This is something you might want to follow up on, but I just received a phone call from the EBGames store manager (Gainesville, FL) saying that the launch stock they were allocated is a LOT less than what they are now getting. Although I reserved with them over 6 months ago - even before there was an official MSRP - I was told that I didn't make the list and would be on the second shipment.
Have you pre-ordered an Xbox 360? Call the merchant you pre-ordered from and let us know if you'll be getting your Xbox 360 on time.
Second, analysts project low availability. Research analyst Mike Wallace predicted that only 1.5 million Xbox 360s will ship this calendar year, with less than a third of those (400,000) available in the United States on launch day, according to 1Up.com.
Third, it's human nature to desire objects only after they appear to be scarce. Marketing campaigns can certainly stir up demand for a product, and so far it looks like Microsoft's been doing a great job at that. But nothing makes for a holiday season toy frenzy like simple utterance of the dreaded word "shortage." We've covered this before.
At this point, signs indicate that the Xbox 360 is going to be damned hard to obtain this holiday season. We'd love to be wrong on this, so here's hoping.
