Xbox 360s available 3.5 days early (Friday, 2pm ET) from Circuit City
by Vladimir Cole 
{ Nov 13th 2005 at 7:45PM }
Whoa whoa whoa, what's going on here? Circuit City's website has promised that Xbox 360 units will be available at 2pm ET this Friday. That's a good 3.5 days (82 hours) ahead of schedule.
According to a Circuit City customer service rep we spoke to when we called 1-800-843-2489, every physical Circuit City location will be selling the console this Friday at 2pm ET. Just to be sure, we called again and spoke to a second rep at 1-800-843-2489: "Yes, it will be available this Friday at 2pm ET online as well as at our stores."
Better call in sick to work on Friday if you intend to snag one, though, because that line will be forming on Thursday at some locations. Also, be prepared to shell out more than you may have budgeted, as Circuit City will only be selling systems bundled with games.
Of course it's entirely possible that Circuit City's web team has just messed up with their updates of two separate pages (1, 2). We've seen bigger blunders, so it's not out of the realm of possibility. It's also possible that Circuit City is just being tricksy with their marketing and intend to take pre-orders only this Friday. Not cool, if so.
Update: Circuit City PR just got back to us with clarification.
[Thanks to Mark B. and the others who sent this in.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Tim @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
The way this was posted Friday is for preorders ONLINE. Not for sale in the Stores
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Tim,
I just spoke to Circuit City customer service. The representative told me that every physical location will be selling them at 2pm ET Friday.
swift @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Very intresting, any idea of what the games included in the bundle will be?
Jeffler @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Does this include The Source By Circuit City (its the Canadian Radio Shack, owned by Circuit City)?
Giddieon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Well is this not a great giant kick in the balls from Circuit City... Lets cater to the rich phuck the poor... this is great... Joe everybody gets held holding his balls while 800+ bundles will be sold to the rich folks with lots of money...
Thank you CC for making me not want to shop at your store ever again... I will wait and go to a rival store...
Phuck you very much MS for letting this Bull Shit to happen....
Dman @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
what phone # did you use? area code to please, my circuitcity city is closed
Griffon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Be nice if sombody can get the corperate office to to state this is true on Monday.
If so then then they are going to be breaking the street date. That means the cat will be out of the bag and everybody else is likly to do so also
greg @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
i just called them some guy said the 22nd but i will go there on fri they might have it
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Update again: I just called CC customer service AGAIN and spoke to a completely different rep. He confirmed that the info is true.
Mattso @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
How is this possible? It seems odd that one retailer would be able to do this while the rest have to wait. I wonder approximately how many systems each store will be getting for this early launch, and if they will then have a "normal" launch with more systems on the 22nd, without the required package deals.
The1 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
How can they do this? I may have to cancel my order at EBGAMES and get one from CC. I looked in the Sunday paper (CC MAG) and it states that the X360 will be available on the 22nd of Nov, go figure.
Pete @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
I called and talked to them, they said it will be available BLACK FRIDAY. That is not this Friday. So believe who you want.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Click here: http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/category.do?catOid=-14201&N=20012841+20014201&c=1
That's THIS Friday, not two Fridays from now.
Ellie @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
How is it that I am an employee in that department no less, and this is the first that I've heard of this?
jon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
geez you guys have to relax. dont cancel preorders at one spot just to try and pick one up at another. you're not even gauranteed, stick to the preorders and lining up for the 360.
Pete @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
It doesn't have a date on it. Just says friday....
sean feeney @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
i work for circuit city, and i have heard no plans of this, at all, i know black friday we will be selling alot, but as of 5 o clock today we will be selling them on nov. 22.
Pete @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
um, i already did vc.... that's what the man told me. I called the store at Christiana in Newark, DE. Take what you will from it, or be my guest and call yourself.
Jeremy Wright @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
I work at Circuit City and... Oh, nevermind, no I don't.
Personally this sounds like a muckup. If anyone's gonna do this it'd be Best Buy, since they're the official launch sponsor.
If CC got this deal, the people who will be most pissed are BB.
But, then, I don't believe this is true.
Mattso @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
And why the hell would they bundle the 2 racing games together with the core system like that? Package Madden in one of those bad boys and I'd be down... but I don't want to waste my money on these other games. The only game I DEFINITELY want is Madden... the rest I want to wait and see what the reviews say... play em at a friends house, or whatever. What a crock... I was hopeful I had found out something that would give me an edge, but forget these BS packages.
jason w @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
I will try on friday and if i get it then ill cancel my gamestop order. I will try for friday since I may be on the second shipment and I ordered in June.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Pete, I'm getting a different story from the reps I talked to at 1-800-843-2489.
Pete @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Well I hope you're right then! Because it would definitely be sweet not to have to wait until the 22nd and then hunting like crazy for one! I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
I called Sams the other week and he said that they were going to have them in stock on the 17th. Then I asked if they were selling them then and he said more than likely. But I asked about the 22nd and he had no clue that is when the major release date is. So if you talk to some guy that works in the back when they get them in stock you might be able to walk away with one early. Only time will tell what the deal is.
george @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
i called 4 circuit citys and they thought i was retard they said no it is not coming out on the 18th it is on the 22nd either they werent informed our its coming out on the 22nd
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
George: don't call local CCs. They're apparently not aware of this. Call 1-800-843-2489
Pete @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Just curious... why wouldn't the stores know this was happening if it was going to happen 5 days from now?
Griffon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Reality check. Nothing ANYWHERE says a date. "Xbox 360 packages available Friday at 2pm EST*"
That can mean any Friday, including black Friday. I smell a huge disorganized rat. The repercussions for breaking a street date like this would be huge which means MS would have to have signed off on it. That could cause them all kinds of problems with other launch partners. I think they are using open language to yank everybody's chain and drive hype and nothing is going to be available early. Hope I'm wrong but I doubt it.
Also, man do those bundles SUCK. Two racing games? WTF, that is totally lame. Frankly you should just be able to choose any two games. Shit I don't even "like" racing games and they don't offer any equivalent packages with alts... that is just totally stupid and short by CC IMO.
Anybody know the policy, can I just not open the two POS raching games I don't caer about and exchange them for credit towards one's I might want to actualy play?
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Pete: I can reach a dozen people at a dozen different Wal-Marts who don't know what an Xbox 360 is, nevermind when it launches. Retail generally isn't staffed with super-techy people.
Pete @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
I'm just curious about why the guy would say Black Friday if he didn't know at all.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Have you called the 800 number listed above? If you get a single person there that gives you a different date, lemme know!
mike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
sure makes microsoft look kinda dumb with their big launch party in the desert thingy. i have a feeling that this is true and that soon you will hear of all stores releasing it early, just like what happens with cd's and dvd's and some games. man i hope it's true. and anyway, if the damn thing is done, why not get it out there? it's not like they are not going to be all sold in a matter of minutes, cause they are. i remember playing a buddy's ps2 3 days before it came out because he had ordered it online and had received it early.
Matt @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
I just want to know why Cicuit City is allowed to break street date...
Tavora @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
what's up with Circuit City adding a Universal remote to the premium package?
I dont mind buying the extra games, but the premium package already comes packed with a universal remote, I dont need another one. Anyone knows if this is a mistake? Someone at joystiq would be nice to check this out.
ZildjianKX @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Tavora, it doesn't come with a Universal remote, it comes with a media remote, meaning it doesn't have any number buttons on it.
Basically, you get the cheaper remote for "free" in the box.
BrandynQ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Tavora, the premium package comes with a media remote, not a universal. So although you won't need both, you're not getting two of the same thing.
ebothe916sav @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
They probably mean that you can start to pre order their packages that would then ship on the 22nd.
Robert @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Anyone else think the people at the 800# just looked at the website to check availability? And maybe the website was wrong?
Either way I'm waiting for the costco bundle You just can't beat that deal.
eric @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
There's a term for this, like soft opening or something like that. It's when a retailer offers a product ahead of a publicized schedule. There's a number of reasons this could happen. Maybe they want to alleviate any potential rushes, or gauge customer reaction. It could be to generate buzz or customer goodwill.
At any rate, I've seen this before with other stores.
Raaj K @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
I just called a rep. This is a deal ...
Buy the box at $590 ... put money down... Collect a ticket ... Go back to Circuit City on 22nd and collect your box. NO MS sign off ... no rule breaking ... just simple old pre-sale tactics :)
James @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Possibly a ploy to start getting others to break street date? It's the best way to avoid the mass hysteria. Just slide it out there, let word get out and everyone rushes out to their nearest game store. No camping out overnight or throngs of people at one location. I'm sure the fines suck, but you wouldn't be able to buy that kind of advertising. Let's see. I mean hell, people's stockrooms are already filling up with 'em. Why not?
Paul Atreides @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Damn, first EB screws up pre-orders, then GameStop re-allocates EB's share, then BestBuy secures many but don't take pre-orders, then Costco tells me they won't have them on launch day, and now, CC pretends to be special.
This launch is chaos.
Nodnetni @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Vc, I dont know if you were implying this above, but Black Friday is the friday after thanksgiving not before.
As for this launching early, i dont understand why CC would be allowed to sell it early, and BB, a partner in the launch, would not have the same opertion.
Shenanigans is what im saying.
Mattso @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Raaj, that makes a heck of a lot of sense... more sense than CC being the sole retailer to sell it 4 days early... anyone else hear the same?
Raaj K @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Thats my point ... as much as I would love to think of a whole weekend with the 360 that seems to be the semi-harsh reality I guess ...
See you all at Circuit City :)
Ruben76 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
What is this about Gamestop reallocating EB's Share?
T2 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Considering shipments have been already delivered and they're likely to receive shipments again on Tuesday (the day of the sale), this is a possibility.
Imagine all the happy people if this is true.
I can tell you one thing, the employees at all these places are either drooling over their own purchases or may already have their own units at home already.
DarkJosh @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
I played the in-store demo of the 360, I really don't see what all the hype is, looks and feels like the xbox out now. I would like to know why people are so excited about buying one, to change my mind.
Xbox 360 News @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
Worth checking out for sure...
Joshua Kulp @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM
I just spoke to their 800 number and the guy carefully explained to me that they will NOT be available on Friday. He said, and I quote, "The Xbox 360 bundles will be available in stores to PREORDER on Friday, you will then recieve them on the 22nd. First come first serve." He went on to say that the bundle preorders will not be available online, just in stores. He said the stores will physically have the system on Friday, but due to a manufacturers agreement, they cannot hand them over until the 22nd.