Well you don't have a choice with this deal, the extended warranty is just part of the package. You either take it or leave it. I don't see how it makes you stupid. And this bundle deal isn't meant for the people who are going to shop around online for an Xbox. This bundle deal is meant for the non-gamer who walks into Wal-Mart and sees a $99 Xbox with Kinect and decides to take it home. For them I don't see how it's a bad deal, because without this deal they're not buying an Xbox.

It's simply a matter of perception of a low price and a good deal that will cause people to bring this home.

In my opinion, I still consider it a good deal, again because spreading the cost without interest lessens the hurt on the wallet and allows me to purchase more games.

Let's say you're 'smart' as you say and bring it home for $100 less day one, so we're talking $370 (which I still find hard to believe, but let's say it's possible, and we're counting 2 years of Xbox Live in this deal too). You spend $370 today I spend $99, and let's say we each have $500 of our tax refund left. Well I technically have $400 to spend on games and accessories, while you have $130. That's what I'm saying. You pay for it over 2 years and you get a lot more to start with.

If they had something like this for the 720, where let's say the first model is $399 or maybe $499, but if you lock into a contract for two years and pay $199 for the console I think that'd be an awesome way to get a nice lead in sales and generate more game sales up front. I'd bite on the contract deal.

I mean, at the end of the day it's like how people say they fill up their gas tanks more often so that it's less expensive. It's not less expensive; it just seems like they're paying less because each time they fill up they don't have to pay as much. Ultimately, though, they're still paying the same amount.

Which is why it's a bad deal.


Yup. There's a svcker born every minute

If I have a $500+ tax refund that just shows that I'm too dumb to keep my money in the bank earning interest and basically gave the government a loan for free. Only people who are self-employed, have an unexpected amount of deductions, or know the ins-and-outs of the tax code (but aren't too sure of their ability to use it) should have big tax returns. Your goal should always be to get as close to zero as possible. Any year where I'm +/-$100 I consider to have done a good job

Also, you're failing at math. The 360 + kinect can easily be found for $225 (just look around. MSRP is only valid for 3-6 months on technology). You then add the $60 fee ($50 if you buy a card online from places like Buy.com rather than paying direct to MS). Due to taxes, that's not even 3 new games here, not to mention I wouldn't get the Kinect since I don't care at all for it, saving me even more money. You don't have to pay the extra $60 for XBL for another year. Not to mention this whole concept according to you originally is for those tight in the wallet, so they won't have the extra money to blow on games anyway, and if they do they could probably put it to better use.

If they had one that was 99 dollars plus a 250GB HD without the Kinect I'd be all over it.

I generally prefer playing singleplayer games alone. I also hate paying an annual fee for a service that's still riddled with ads.

I know, right? I especially love when the same ad is on every page.

nevermind, I'm not going to bother. I think it's a great idea, and the people who want to buy it will too, so it really doesn't matter if someone thinks it isn't.

Its a horrible deal you end up paying more in the long run. For a years subscription at 15 dollars a month it is 180 dollars, so 2 of those is 360 add on the 100 for the console and you get a total of 460. If you just buy the console at 300 dollars and buy with a 1 year gold card that costs 60 dollars get 2 of them for 2 years and that is 120, add 120 to 300 and you get 420. You save 40 dollars if you just do it the other way. And if you do it that way why would you even buy 2 years right away one year should be enough so you can take off 60 dollars and save even more. So at the end of the day it is not worth it at all.

Classic marketing technique at its finest. 99.00 with 15 dollars a month looks a lot better than 400 one time, people look at that and immediately think "oh its only $99.00 with 15 dollars a month" and it makes them want to buy it.