Circuit City will make your 360 backwards compatible ... for $30

by Ross Miller { Sep 1st 2006 at 10:25PM }

Practicing a form of Social Darwinism, Circuit City has decided to steal money from those who are dumb enough to give it away. One quick-witted Kotakuite (that's what they call themselves ... ) spotted a poster in a Newport Beach, California Circuit City where they offer to install backwards compatibility into an Xbox 360 for the low, low price of $28.99.

Nevermind that backwards compatibility is available outside of the box, updatable through Xbox Live (or a disc that you can request from Microsoft). No, no, let Circuit City install it for you! It even brags that "every* game will be backwards compatible." Did you see the asterisk (*) mark? The fine print notes that one should "refer to the original Xbox games list to ensure compatibility on the Xbox 360." But if you know to do that, you also know that this deal is bullshit -- it's a Catch-22.

You are welcome to be mad at Circuit City, but wouldn't you do the same thing if you could get away with it?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Tags: circuit city, CircuitCity

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Ritz @ Sep 1st 2006 10:31PM

...wow.

Lansing @ Sep 1st 2006 10:35PM

We bought bottled water didn't we?

Kefka @ Sep 1st 2006 10:39PM

That's not a least bit surprising. I use to work for that company. They bring new meaning to anti-consumerism. Circuit City is a slimy, Greedy, 5th wheel of the retail system. They are as useless as tentacles on a pigeon.

MMurdock @ Sep 1st 2006 10:39PM

People that need simple things such as audio equipment, computers, TVs, game systems and the like installed need serious help, or are extremely lazy.

You have instructions. You usually have a help line. Almost all connectors on every device these days is keyed to fit only one way and usually color coated to match the connection it fits into.

Make this the eighth thing on the list of annoying annoyances at the cash register. "Will you need us to install that for you?"

Finally, are we in the minority of people who actually do a little research before plunking down the hard earned bucks?

KingOfGods @ Sep 1st 2006 11:06PM

That would be ok for those w/o internet or no broadband

Jay @ Sep 1st 2006 11:10PM

Better to pay $30 for a month of broadband and then cancel it than to give away your money :P

James @ Sep 1st 2006 11:13PM

I work for a Circuit City on the eastcoast (and we aren't doing this in our store, it's not a company wide thing). To all of us on this website, the idea of paying for that sounds insane. But I had a guy call me for 10 minutes trying to figure out how to hook up his 360 to his TV. Then he called back because his wireless controller wasn't working. As it turns out, controllers need batteries. Then he calls back again over the backwards compatability and I told him to go online. He said he doesn't have a computer so I told him he can order one from Microsoft. He then got mad at me that Circuit City sold him a 360 and couldn't make it be backwards compatabile.

So even though personally I think 30 bux is a total waste, there are a lot of people out there that have issues with the most basic things. Let's all be thankful that we are not one of those people.

OmenChild @ Sep 1st 2006 11:17PM

Thats just fucked up. Im sorry I just cant think of anything smarter to say.

nothing dude @ Sep 1st 2006 11:18PM

circuit shitty.

bounchfx @ Sep 1st 2006 11:18PM

or get an OXM cd and have that install it for you.. or hell, just CALL MS

Icelandman @ Sep 1st 2006 11:21PM

Circuit City is jumping on the dumb("uninformed") consumer market bandwagon and truth be told, I'm not angry with them. I respect them sort of the same way I respect the "geek squad" that is too say, I would never let them near an impreshionable child but they get a kudos.

I suspect that soon a Circuit City in Alaska is sure to begin selling bridges at bargain basement prices, to the general public.

Jason @ Sep 1st 2006 11:23PM

Worse than Best Buy's Geek Squad?

.. mayyybeee.

nbafreak93 @ Sep 1st 2006 11:24PM

HAHA, whaqqts funny is that the thread that this was posted wasnt too huge. This is just plain sad though.

Jesse @ Sep 1st 2006 11:51PM

This is nothing new. I work for a computer which is essentially Best Buy (Future Shop) and we charge $80 to "setup" people's computers. By setup I mean install printers and update windows.

In reality you'd be amazed how that is actually beyond the intelligence of a lot of people. I do about 10 of these setups a day.

Mank @ Sep 1st 2006 11:51PM

So what? We're Joy-Stickers.

mikey @ Sep 1st 2006 11:52PM

hell, ill do it for $10

jesus a torres @ Sep 1st 2006 11:52PM

I bought my 360 from Best Buy just after they shipped out the Premium packs without the Media Remote. One of the managers must have thought I was an easy mark, 'cause she pulled me aside and let me know that the Geek Squad could install all that messy backwards compatability stuff for a $50 fee. I told her I was quite capable myself, but she still insisted until I threatened to cancel the sale altogether.

Fandel @ Sep 2nd 2006 12:17AM

Wow, Circuit City charging you for something that you can get for free? Next thing you'll know, Microsoft will start charging you for shipping and handling to send back your broken Xbox 360 system for repair, whether it's under warranty or not........ Oh wait?

According to the Sept/1st episode of the 1up yours podcast, Microsoft may actually be doing that.

http://1upyours.1up.com/

If your curious, download the podcast, and fast forward to 59:40.

I wonder how much it will cost the consumer to send in an item as heavy as the Xbox 360?

Dan @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:09AM

Having done computer help desk support for a community college, you find out how many people really don't have common sense. This lady calls me up about something and I say, "okay, I need you to right click on the 'My Computer' icon"
and she actually replies, "which button on the mouse is the right one"
Of course I then say, "uhh the right one"
and she replies, "oohhh got it"

What gets me is that places like that will actually install a stick of RAM for 39 bucks. If anyone asks me to repair his/her computer, I usually reply, "my price is Wendy's, i'll fix anything"

TibrisXVII @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:11AM

I saw a "let us install it for you" sticker on a copy of Pikmin 2 for Gamecube at Best Buy the other day. Sadly I'me sure someone would pay 30 bucks to have someone come put a disk in their console?

Shogan @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:17AM

I saw a BestBuy 'We Install It!" sticker on a UMD Movie for the PSP. I am not kidding...

dsub @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:18AM

I've only had ONE thing "installed" before, and that was my 52" DLP TV. Only because it was going down in the basement, and I didn't want to damage it getting it down there. By having the ciruit city guys do it, it saved me the hassle, and if they damage ANYTHING (my apartment or the TV) they have to pay for it, not me. If I get the thing home and drop it down the stairs or bust out the drywall, it's comin' outta my pocket. Besides, in-home delivery was only $25.

The guys that came were total numbskulls though. I bought an HD-Upconversion DVD player as well, and a couple HDMI cables to hookup the DVD player and the HD Cable box, and these idiots connected everything up to my HDTV using normal old composite video cables. Fucking idiots. I didn't feel like being a dick, so once they left I just re-wired everything myself.

dsub @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:19AM

even if you don't have internet access, in the documentation that comes with the 360, MS lists a website and phone number that you can call and they will mail a BC disk. I think it's like $1.99 for shipping. That sure beats $28.99. What a joke. Then again, isn't circuit city the company that was charging people to "backup" there DVD's for them?

cheezedog420 @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:19AM

Hey, if you guys did not warn me about this scam, I would of fell for it. Heck, I clicked on the link for this thinking it was some kind of great offer. Wow, Im a dumb ass.

kitsune @ Sep 2nd 2006 2:44AM

I recall reading recently on either Engadget or Gizmodo that CC was going to offer a service to copy movies from your DVD's to your video Ipod or PSP at some locations. I believe it was around $10 a disc. No surprise that they would offer something like this, and yes, there are people who probably pay for this service because they need it. Yes, most new technology is plug and play, simple to hook up, etc, but some people really do need their hands held through the process.

Embassy @ Sep 2nd 2006 3:03AM

i guess you all forget that the avg consumer is technologically illiterate...and they will GLADY pay for a convenience like this..hell...id pay for something like this if i was installing an expensive HD or somthing cuz i know nothing about calibration and other stuff involved with it...im sure its the same with other things like video games and computers with other people...

u guys need to remember that the avg person does NOT read joystiq..so of course anyone here is gonna scoff at the idea...

im sure alot of auto repair shops laugh everytime someone comes in for an oil change or some other simple procedure when its " so easy" for them to do it themselves...same general principle...

Lekko @ Sep 2nd 2006 3:33AM

A guy at best buy tried to sell me a replacement warranty on a DS game "in case it got scratched", also had a "let us install it!" sticker on it. I just stared at the guy trying to sell it to me, until he realised how dumb it was and shut up. It was a great moment.

Someguy @ Sep 2nd 2006 4:09AM

Newport Beach...
I used to work at that CC at one time. They don't get as much sales because they're a smaller circuit city stuck behind a mall. Heh I can see why they want to use this.

GSI @ Sep 2nd 2006 5:20AM

Well IT IS Newport Beach. I work in Costa Mesa (right next to Newport and my g/f works at a game company in Newport) and people who live in that city are complete MORONS. Drive around for 5 minutes and you'll be ripping your hair out with the people who drive around there.

MFok @ Sep 2nd 2006 5:28AM

Arrgh! Anger overflows from my orficeses.

I work at a Bestbuy and everytime I hear how stupid some of the employees are I get pissed off. I swear, I'm not a dumbass or a tard! Makes me mad.

@ 27, How DO you change your own oil? I'm not driving yet, but hell do I want to pay money every time I need to change the oil.

ill trooper @ Sep 2nd 2006 5:50AM

See, what's so weird and confusing about this is the way Cirtcut City presents it like they have some secret procedure. I even clicked on this story to see what it was about, wondering if it was indeed something beyond the standard 'bc update' that you get on LIVE.

Although you can't really blame a Mom or Dad if they were getting you a 360, these tactics might even confuse an experienced gamer who was buying a 360 for the first time - they might even think, 'Ah yeah, fucking Microsoft, of course they don't explain how you need to pay to have backwards compatibility, I guess I need that, just like I have to pay for LIVE..." You might not want to leave the store without it, the way they put that sign in front of you.

So I think it's really slim shady how Circut City is presenting this at the point of sale - it's not really that obvious how the BC on the 360 works, and to find out, you either need to buy one and put in an old game, learn from your friend, or research it online.

Exo @ Sep 2nd 2006 7:08AM

lol this reminds me of when Gamestop was telling customers if they preorderd a dreamcast they would get a free modem.

everytime they told a customer that i would explain how it was a lie, and then eventually they guy at the register had me kicked out

Jay @ Sep 2nd 2006 8:22AM

Wankers.

renode @ Sep 2nd 2006 8:49AM

no it doesnt. it says every game will be playable in HIGH DEFINITION.

Tull @ Sep 2nd 2006 9:34AM

It really is the same principle as changing your own oil. ALOT of people pay for that just because it consumes a small amount of time (the most being allowing the oil to drain out). But the changing the oil is more of a hassle because you then have to find a place to put the old oil, or bring it to the mechanics. I however am a fan of these scams, makes me feel smarter then most people ;D

The ZeroCorpse @ Sep 2nd 2006 10:47AM

Don't forget that there are some people in the world who have servants to do everything for them- Drive, cut the lawn, clean their house, make their dinner, select their wardrobe, do their shopping, etc.

So it's not much of a stretch to imagine someone like that just throwing money at ANY problem, and hoping some industrious individuals might do things for them, so they can continue to sit on their ass and earn interest for a living.

Anonymouse Rep @ Sep 2nd 2006 12:34PM

@Tull, MFok, and Embassy -

One advantage to living outside of city limits...

Get out the ramps (one time purchase, $40)
Let the car warm up for 3 minutes, then drive the front two wheels up onto the ramps, set the parking brake, get out, and put something behind the rear wheel as a chock anyway. (Safety first)
Open the hood, take off the oil fill lid and set aside.
Get my oil change bucket (one time purchase, $8), 15mm box wrench ($3) - your oil filter plug size may vary from 13 mm to 16 mm, and a couple of paper towels.
Crawl under the car, position the bucket, remove the oil drain plug.
While the oil is draining, get out from under the car, get the new filter ($3.50) and open the new 5 quarts of oil ($7.50) - dribble just a bit of new oil onto the filter ring and rub it around to lube the ring, and get back under the car.
Oil is done draining, so put the drain plug back in. Now take the filter off (since the means moving the bucket due to the location, is why I do it seperately on this car - on my other vehicles, I do the old filter and the drain plug at the same time.)
Dump the old filter into the bucket.
Let the oil drain - then wipe the threads off with rag and then spin the new filter on - remember to only snug it on hand tight, not crank it down.
Get out from under the car and remove everything - you're done under there.
Now get your funnel (One time purchase, $1).
Using your funnel, put the appropriate amount of the appropriate oil (5W-30, 10W-30, etc.) into your car through the oil fill. (Normally on a 4 cylinder, that's about 3 1/2 - 4 quarts, on a 6 cylinder it's 4 1/2 quarts, on an 8 cylider it's 5 quarts.)
Put the lid back on the oil fill, pull out your oil dipstick, wipe it off, stick it back in and pull it out to check the oil level - it should read full at this point, and then replace the dipstick.
Remove the chock from behind the tire, start the car, and back it off the ramps, and let it run for 30 seconds or so.
Get out and take a look under your car - you should NOT see any new oil puddles since you tightened everything up right. (If so, put it back on the ramps and then tighten things up.)
Now pull your dipstick out, wipe it off, stick it back in, and then pull it out to check your oil level. You should read about 1/2 a quart low. Using the same procedure as before, add another 1/2 a quart of oil to your engine.
Congratulations - you've now changed your own oil.

One time purchase costs: $51
Individual oil change costs: $11 and 20 minutes

Take the old oil out into the firepit in the back yard and use it as a firestarter. (I told you I didn't live in the city!) Or just save it in a 5 gallon bucket for the Halloween bonfire firestarter - makes that wet wood burn.

We have four cars between my wife and kids - I'll spend a couple of hours every three months changing the oil, topping off all the fluids (windshield washer solution, $1 per gallon), anti-freeze, brake fluid, power steering fluid, automatic transmission fluid (note - you check the levels on this WITH the engine running - NOT stopped).

All told, about $50 every 3 months for four oil changes - instead of $200 or more. AND you'll note that I put another 1/2 quart of oil into the car - this is to top it back up since the filter holds 1/2 a quart - which is something that the Fast Lube places don't do - so you pull out of there half a quart low EVERY single time. If your car has more than 75,000 miles on it, it's likely to burn a quart of oil between oil changes - so instead of being just a little low, now you're a LOT low.

rTwelve @ Sep 2nd 2006 12:39PM

At my old Best Buy store enough people were coming back in because they cuoldn't figure out how to connect their Bluetooth headsets to their phones. Everyone else in my department suggested we cooperate with the Geek Squad to charge them $19-29 (I can't remember exactly) to do it, to pay for the "labor." Mind you, setting the phone in search mode, setting the headset into discovery mode, and popping in the pin code is a lot less intensive than BC installation. And it took 30 seconds.

So I never referred them to the Geek Squad counter; I did it myself for free.

One guy did tip me once though.

The Dude @ Sep 2nd 2006 12:58PM

Its sad.

J @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:02PM

We do this for free where I work.

shoop008 @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:32PM

Anonymouse,

Oil change $23, takes 20 minutes. No spilling it on your driveway, no having to dispose of used oil, no cleanup after you get it all over your arms.
You burn used oil in your yard?

If you do not have broadband or know about being able to order the cd, $30 is not a lot to pay for backwards compatibility for all/most xbox games.

Pixelantes Anonymous @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:53PM

"You are welcome to be mad at Circuit City, but wouldn't you do the same thing if you could get away with it?"

No, I wouldn't, because I'm not a greedy asshole.

Mike @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:58PM

this shouldint have to been done i think that bill gates should go into evry house (mine first) put it there for free so everygame can work and a free Gow the real game. But anyway realy they should of have thought about this right when they were in production with the 360

Serious.Business @ Sep 2nd 2006 7:49PM

Weird. So, isn't backwards compatibility the same as it is on the PSOne/PS2? You just put in the disk and it runs? Or does Microsoft make you set stuff up just to play an old Xbox game? Not condoning CC's greed, but shouldn't this stuff just be transparent to the user, if MS promises backwards compatibility, then provides the same media drive, etc.? I'd expect to just pop in Halo and have it run, myself. Or is that how it works already? Sorry, just a bit confused about the story.