$150 for premium Xbox 360 - so what's the catch?

by Ross Miller on Dec 9th 2005 5:15PM

How desperate are you for an Xbox 360? At 7PM (ET) today (and today only), American Express' "My Life, My Card" website is giving out 200 premium bundles to Cardmembers for the unbelievable price of $150.

There is only 200 in stock so you will have to be pretty quick when 7:00 rolls around. You can view more details here (warning: PDF file).

[Update: As Aaron has pointed out in the comments below, those who sign up for American Express cards today will NOT be able to use this deal. Sorry.]

[Thanks, Jason and Tommy C.]

Source

Tags: Xbox-360

Reader Comments (46)

Those are 200 units that SHOULD have gone to retail stores... I know that wouldn't make a dent but I hate hearing that I can't get one and Microsoft is still basically giving them away.

PLEASE ALLOW 2-3 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY

NO EBAY FOR YOU

2 to 3 weeks, I want one now. Heard rumor of second shipment this weekend (here http://www.ps3portal.com/?view=article&article=226), but I'm not sure if it's true.

Don't even bother. Their servers can't handle the load.

"NO EBAY FOR YOU"

Is ebay shutting down in 2-3 weeks?

by then there won't be much of a demand on ebay, or at least for double priced units

why should they go to retail stores? AMEX is just as entitled to buy those for their own promotional use. You really think M$ gives AMEX those boxes? .. LOL .. never. I'm sure AMEX eats the $150 in order to get new members in which they will probably make that money back in a couple months. Little effort. Big payoff. Just business. AMEX is a "retail shop" if you go into their shopping area.

Dear Canada:

Fuck you.

Signed,
American Express

Why is it that Canada never seems to get cool offers like these, I would so sign up for a card to get a 360.

They actually had sales for these at Noon and 3pm EST today. The last one is at 7. Tried for both and failed. They do this all the time with other things too. This isn't a 1 time thing for the 360.

well, there's probably some other catch, like they're all sold out by now, having at 12 and 3, and you probably have to stay signed up for a certain period, and maybe soemthing like minimum purchase each month

I don't know what the big fucking problem is. I got a 360 at launch.

Damn...I didn't qualify for a card :-(

I would've bought it for $150 but not $300 or even $400.

I woke up on launch morning around 10 and remembered the 360 was releasing that morning. I left my apartment building, walked across the street to target and got a 360. no lines. no fuss. 10 mins total outside. went back home. i live in new york city...

i dont understand..

Wow, check out Tuesday's deal: Range Rover Sport HSE for $5000 instead of $56,000.

at robert

I never said Microsoft GAVE them the 360s for free. I'm simply making the point that Microsoft should be putting their whole focus on getting 360s to REAL retail stores. And calling American Express's online shop a "retail STORE" is like saying bungie is a retail store because they have an online gift shop.

I have been trying all week on that website for various items, and each and every time it says that their servers are overloaded. I'm starting to wonder if anyone has gotten through.

Don't even TRY to apply for a new card...it's too late. I just did and they won't give you the CC number over the phone, and you won't get the card till the 23rd...SOL.

I had heard about this offer, and have already tried for some of the other items. Server just coughs and dies on you. I'll try again for this, but don't have any real expectations. Fingers and still crossed however, and my amex card is in my hand...

I'll let you know how I do...

Also, it's 200 consoles TOTAL, so it's probably something like 66 at 12, 67 at 3, and 67 at 7.

I just applied and got my new amex number right away.

"Dear Canada:

Fuck you.

Signed,
American Express

Why is it that Canada never seems to get cool offers like these, I would so sign up for a card to get a 360."

--That does suck, but then again it is called *AMERICAN* Express.

so i clicked on it at exactly 7pm on three different computers and two of them said that i missed it and the other one still says contacting server...wtf

Well, I tried and failed... for six minutes now I've been staring at this 'connecting to server' screen. I opened the page in a nother browser, clicked the 'I WANT IT' link and I got a 'missed it' notification...

so much for that one

Hrrmmm. stupid server can't handle the load... I've spen 6 minutes on the contacting server screen and I KNOW I have to have been one of the first two-hundred to click "I want it"... at least I think so.... I clicked it at exactly the right time.... whatever, guess I'll be waitin' outside best-buy on next sat anyway.... :S

I hit the button on 2 different PC's at 07:00:00 and I'm still "Contacting server..." at 7:10.

After 10 Minutes mine still says "Contacting Server..." as well. What to do...?

damn...i missed it :( When the clock said 6:59 I clicked it and it just sayed there "connecting to server for about a few secconds and at 7:01:35 It said that I missed it :(

cry, because someone already got it

yeah right! I'll be here all night!

has anyone gotten one yet? should I just stop sitting at the "Contacting Server... " screen???

I tried to get one but it is difficult, as some people have fast computers that can get to Amex servers immediately as soon as the item is available (in a certain specified time). My partners' computer sucks very much it swallows! (I better get a 360 this xmas, as he keeps hinting that I will open a big box)

I got one... but then when I tried to add it to my shopping cart is said:
"MISSED IT All items are in members shopping carts."

No gays.

Yep. Contacting server on my computer.

Opening up a new window shows it's sold out, which means we're all S.O.L.

Anyone get through?

Grrrr... well I'm gonna wait it out, because I just went and tried in a different window and it said "Missed It..." so maybe it's trying to authenticate something???? I dunno...

Dear Canada:

Fuck you.

Signed,
American Express
=============================

Well it is AMERICAN Express... hehe.

40 minutes and still contacting the server...
has anybody gotten through yet?

You're wondering why its not available for Canadians considering AMEX isnt really accepted in Canada ?

4 computers. 1 failed. 3 said contacting server for an hour. Failure. :(

Give up people...its already been an hour and 15 minutes. I didn't have a card but my mom did so I had her try plus I was trying to connect with all 3 of my computers here at work.

Amex is accepted in Canada.... I could go out and get an Amex card whenever I wanted. That offer was ONLY available to American Amex card holders though, why I am not quite sure.

Thanks a lot joystiq.

There were probably tens of thousands of people trying to get 200 xbox's before you added this entry. Last thing anyone needed was more people trying.

Ratio was easily 10000:1. If not more.

Good fucking luck getting one.

FYI, it was 200 xbox 360's for the whole day, split up over 3 different times.

Huey2k2,
There are tax implications with some of the more expensive items: Discounts that are more than $600 are reported to the IRS as income by AmEx. A 1099-Misc or something like that. And, a US buyer would end up paying all the taxes on that. BUT, if you're a canadian citizen, you don't have to pay US taxes (obviously), and, the tax implications fall entirely on AmEx. Which is why, it's a Stupid� idea for AmEx to open this promotion to canadian citizens. At least, that's my informal and uneducated guess on the matter. IANATA, I Am Not An Tax Accountant, although, I did work for three of the big four audit firms as an IT consultant...

two hours and sixteen minutes and still contacating the server, i think i win

Get over it "rip"...you do realize that American Express probably has well over a million members, right?

Limited to 200? well no catch needed.. Just a stunt pretending to offer card-members items.. It is however more creative than what one might have expected.. 200 free 360s. which it almost is when you take in account the overhead for contests and special events (shipping, logistics, angry calls.)

I just wish i saw this before 7pm,, i could have found SOMEONE with a AMEX card.. somewhere.. maybe..

Actually, I did the same thing, I got "transferring data" forever, and nothing happened. I thought I might've blocked a pop up. I gave up a few hours after. Did anyone find out what happened?

b-O-g-U-s :-(

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$150 for premium Xbox 360 - so what's the catch?

Reader Comments (46)

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