3200 MS points for $20 at Circuit City [Update]

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 29th 2007 at 10:50AM }

Today's Circuit City flyer shows that you'll save $20 on the purchase of two Xbox Live accessories $19.99 and up. This means that if you purchase two Xbox Live 1600 MS point cards at their $19.99 price, you'll get one of those for free. So, that's 3200 MS points for $20 -- we'll take it! We also called two separate Circuit Citys to confirm that the deal was accurate.

(The rest of this post has been dismissed as the blogger left the computer and jetted to the car)

Update: People are running into the problem that the cards are sold out at Circuit City stores. Try asking for a rain check or asking if you can special order them at the current deal. You can also try bringing the ad, which you should be able to find in your local newspaper or at Circuit City, to another store (preferably a competitor like Best Buy) for a price match.

Update 2: A store in Livingston, New Jersey put up a sign (found after the break) saying the deal was only valid with the purchase of an Xbox 360 Elite. We contacted the store twice and were hung up on twice while trying to clarify. We then contacted three other stores who said the deal was still legit and even politely informed us when they were expecting their next shipment because of today's run. So either there was a change in policy from Circuit City corporate or else the store is running one sweet scam.

[Thanks Joel and David]

Tags: circuitcity, deal, xbla, xblm, xbox, xbox360, xboxlive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

sheppy @ Jul 29th 2007 11:03AM

And two days AFTER I bought a 1600 card at Walmart....

Oh well, too good a deal. Guess I'll be stocking up then.

Aex @ Jul 29th 2007 12:40PM

Hehe, I think it's time you get an account at CheapAssGamer.com ;)

Ignatius @ Jul 29th 2007 2:33PM

Hey guys. Sorry to put this at the top, but if Circuit City is out, go to BestBuy with the CC's weekly ad. They will price match. You can still get 3200 MS Points for $20 from BestBuy.

James @ Jul 29th 2007 8:52PM

RE: the Best Buy pricematch, YMMV. I went to CC at noon (two hours after open) and all the cards were gone. I went over th Best Buy and couldn't find any, so I asked customer service. She mumbled something like "That's a package plan, we don't price-match package plans" and said they didn't have any more. Since they were out of cards, I didn't want to argue with her, but beware that you may not get the pricematch -- I'd call ahead, and get the name of whoever you talk to.

Aside: does anybody know if they'll let you get more than one pair (e.g. 4 or more) cards?

TW @ Jul 29th 2007 11:09AM

Hmm... Okay.

Either it's far too early or I'm missing something crucial here...

The article states that you get 3200 points for $20.00. Whilst somewhat accurate, don't you have to drop $40.00 to get the free 1600 point card, for a total of 4800?

Draco @ Jul 29th 2007 11:10AM

maybe my math is off, but 1600+1600+free1600 is 4800 is it not? also isnt it for $40.00 too?

felixlighter @ Jul 29th 2007 11:13AM

It's like investing in foreign currency...

laserboyjc @ Jul 29th 2007 11:17AM

@ Draco it's not buy two get one free...see below

@ TW, the receipt will be rung up for two $19.99+tx transactions, but then you get an automatic $20 off at the register...
sure they could have made it buy one get one free, but remember that it is $20 off some different accessories...

Draco @ Jul 29th 2007 11:20AM

Thanks, it makes more sense now :)

duggie @ Jul 29th 2007 11:17AM

The main post is confusing. You buy 2 for $39.98 and get $20 off. 2 for $19.98.

N. Ziarek @ Jul 29th 2007 11:18AM

I think it is $19.99 + 19.99 - Coupon for 20.00 = $19.98. But that is just the way I'm reading it. I haven't checked it out...

laserboyjc @ Jul 29th 2007 11:19AM

on a side note, I think its goofy that Circuit City doesn't send any emails about such offers as other outlets send...all I get from CC is the same $200 off some HDTV purchase or other useless coupons/sales info

3cubedminus3squared @ Jul 29th 2007 11:41AM

I get that same crap too.
At least Best Buy sends me coupons on video games, movies and CDs.

vidGuy @ Jul 29th 2007 11:19AM

The ad says:
"XBOX LIVE
save $20
with the purchase of any 2 Xbox Live® accessories 19.99 & up"

So you should be able to buy two cards for $19.99+tax. I don't think you have to pay for two to get a third free.

Yeti @ Jul 29th 2007 11:39AM

I just got back from my local CC. I'm glad I went early, as there was another guy in line who wanted the same deal...and there were only 5 cards left.

So I got two 1600 point cards for a total of $19.24. Not too shabby. Actually less than $19.99...the price of one card.

TW @ Jul 29th 2007 11:41AM

@ laserboyjc: AH! The light dawns. Thank you!

Jonathan Cashon @ Jul 29th 2007 11:44AM

I wish this also applied to Vritual Console cards. I'd love to get 4000 VC points for $20.

Truepatriot @ Jul 29th 2007 11:45AM

must get to local CC NOW!

nick @ Jul 29th 2007 11:52AM

I never see Circuit City ads anymore. They haven't been in the Sunday paper for months. So this is cool to know about. And it's interesting because I've been going to Best Buy every week to buy points, but they never have any avaiable for sale. I started to wonder if Best Buy even sells points. All I see is an empty placeholder where they should be.

btw, I'm in the SF Bay area.

Triforceowner @ Jul 29th 2007 11:59AM

I guess I'm going through check-out three times...

Daxter1985 @ Jul 29th 2007 12:04PM

I'm trying to do this online but when I review my order it says the full price of about 40 dollars.

is it possible to do online?

Dan @ Jul 29th 2007 1:39PM

No, read my post below

GearsMaster @ Jul 29th 2007 12:07PM

I should definitely stock up....

Between all the great 360 products coming out this fall points are going to be spent like crazy...

hippoeater @ Jul 29th 2007 12:15PM

Yeah, it's real lame...I can't seem to take advantage of the promotion online and all the circuit cities (5 in my surrounding area) were all sold out before they even opened up ;|

diskoboy @ Jul 29th 2007 12:20PM

Well, I'm set for points for the next few months.

I got 2 4000 point cards, instead of the 1600 points cards.

SeNiLe911 @ Jul 29th 2007 12:22PM

If their out of stock, grab a manager and tell him you want to "special order" the cards. It worked for me.

Alex @ Jul 29th 2007 12:31PM

all cards out of stock online and locally for me. Damn. Hopefully they get more tuesday or wednesday.

Ignatius @ Jul 29th 2007 12:32PM

Just went there. You might wanna call ahead and make sure they have ones that aren't already sold. I was about to buy 4 for $40 and two of them were already sold online. Hopefully Walmart will price match! :O

SeNiLe911 @ Jul 29th 2007 12:34PM

This deal will make download content a no brainer to buy now!!! FTW

Chief @ Jul 29th 2007 12:40PM

@duggie

*Main Post* This means that if you purchase two Xbox Live 1600 MS point cards at their $19.99 price, you'll get one of those for free.

How is that not clear?

nsdcx @ Jul 29th 2007 12:46PM

I'm mad. I just got back from my CC empty handed. They don't carry 1600 point cards, only 4000. I tried throwing a fit to get two 4000 point cards for $20, but it didn't work.

hdbrown465 @ Jul 29th 2007 12:53PM

I don't understand what is so confusing about this. The ad CLEARLY says "Purchase two xbox live accessories @$19.99 or above and you will receive $20 off that purchase."

Jester41K @ Jul 29th 2007 12:53PM

No more 1600 point cards at Circuit City's in the DC/Bmore area. :(

jrieth50 @ Jul 29th 2007 1:29PM

Sucker - I just got mine on Route 40 not 15 minutes ago :) It was the last 1600 point card they had though.

RanWitScissorz @ Jul 29th 2007 12:55PM

Sold out here also before they opened, probably scooped up by employees.

hdbrown465 @ Jul 29th 2007 12:59PM

I went to a Best Buy in the metro ATL area (Snellville) and they honored the CC ad.

felixlighter @ Jul 29th 2007 1:01PM

Just got back from CC and I have my 3200 points though I had to explain the deal to the clerk because the deal wasn't in there system. Here is the hidden unintentional benefit of the Microsoft Point system. I've already managed to get 3200 MP for free through deals like this.

dan @ Jul 29th 2007 1:01PM

My local CC was out before they opened as well. I was able to get the Best Buy next door to price match, although it is not their policy to price match competitors that are out of stock. I got lucky i guess. So i ended up getting 4 cards for $40! Also, if your CC is out of stock, just find out which day they get their shipments and show up first thing on that day. Most CC's get at least 2 trucks a week.

Grant @ Jul 30th 2007 1:00AM

"it is not their policy to price match competitors that are out of stock"

What does it matter if the competitor is out of stock, they have a "price match guarentee". The point of the price match is that you are buying it from BB, which unless the sale is completely insane, they are still getting the profit from the sale.
You could always argue that just because the store down the street doesn't have it, doesn't mean the store 40 minutes away doesn't.

Anyways, i managed to get a price match from BB, and according to the girl at the register, anyone on a register can do the price match, so if one person refuses you, try customer service, or even just another register.

As for livingston, NJ... it's full of rich obnoxious folks... and they didn't get that way without pinching every penny until it looks like it was put on a railroad track. I would call corporate just to confirm what they claim before leaving the store.

dan @ Jul 30th 2007 10:42AM

I have worked for both BB and CC and YES, both of their respective Price Match guarantees state that the competitor must have the product in stock for them to match the price. Just ask for a copy of the guarantee in writing. The basis for this is the fact that if the store is out-of-stock, then you cannot actually purchase the item at that low price. If you cannot actually purchase the item, then they are not obligated to match the price. Arguing about their stated policies is pointless. Some stores are just more particular about adhering to this stipulation. If the store will match the price, then great, you lucked out! If not, don't argue with the sales person who is doing their job and following correct procedure. Trust me, they don't get paid enough to listen to someone bitch and moan. Go higher up the chain if you want to do that. Otherwise, just look for a different store that will match the price, or just be patient and have CC order the product at the advertised price and be patient.

Grant @ Jul 30th 2007 12:00PM

"The basis for this is the fact that if the store is out-of-stock, then you cannot actually purchase the item at that low price."

my point was, they are both nation wide chains, BB would be hard pressed to prove CC as a WHOLE is out of stock, and i don't know where you live, but i can drive 45 minutes in any direction and hit at least 3 different ones, same for CC.

"don't argue with the sales person who is doing their job and following correct procedure."
it's their procedure to be an ass and call all the local stores to make sure they are out of stock? if thats thier job i would make sure they called every store in state before letting it drop, thats seems above and beyond. Obviously if it reached that point some sort of management would step in, and i would gladly deal with management rather than some 7.50/hr retard. i have never once found a salesperon at BB or CC try to sell me something without being wrong about some aspect of it. They obviously need to spend a little more time training the people they have, and a little less time making guarentees they have no intention of keeping.

dan @ Jul 30th 2007 12:38PM

My point still remains, get a copy of the Price Match guarantee in writing (they usually have it on a brochure or in signage near the front of the store). Then you will know what to expect and what you can use to your benefit. As for the issue of "any other store in the company", most stores have a policy that the comptetitor they are matching must have a local store. This usually ends up being a radius of 20-50 miles, but will vary by store/market. You can view Best Buy's Price Match guarantee here:

http://tinyurl.com/2erhkm

Once again, i am not defending anyone who is being disrespectful to the customer, or who is not following their procedure and screwing you in the process. I AM defending the people who are following their corporate policies, and doing so with respect for the customer, but get yelled at anyway. You always run the chance of running into bad people at retail. I could write a small book on why that is (and why i left retail). In the end, we live in a free-market society. If you don't like the service, let them know you will be shopping elsewhere and tell your friends too. Eventually the company will change or go out of business for it's bad practice.