scooby_dooby said:
He's saying that if you there are SOLD OUT of X360's and the only thing remaining are core systems that could cause alot of resentment in people. I totally agree. Having to buy the core system when you didn't want it would feel like you are being fleeced.
So you can say "Well don't buy it then, they're not forcing you" but if someone goes to the store cash in hand, and has to return home empty handed, they may very well say "fuck it" and wait for a PS3 instead. It could create resentment which is the point.
But that goes the same way for Core too. Someone goes into a store with $300 wanting a Core system, and finds they've all sold out, and now MS are trying to force on him a Premium system for an extra $100 which the customer doesn't want. Curse that evil MS for cynically manipulating their stock amounts to force people into buying alternatives! So either th customer ponies up an extra $100 and feels fleeced and resentful, or doesn't buy the system and thinks about getting the Revolution instead. Or maybe, just maybe, comes back next week when the store has some more stock in.
I've been into shops plenty of times for things that aren't currently in stock. I don't get angry and don't buy alternatives if I've made a choice for that particular item. Every console that's ever launched has AFAIK sold out, and had people finding there was no stock and leaving empty handed. IF someone went for a PSP and the store had sold out, do you think they'd take the money they've been saving for a PSP and buy a DS instead, just because it's in stock even though it's not the system they wanted? Or when DS launched, would someone who wanted DS but not get one because stocks ran out decide to wait for PSP, or go back next week and buy the system they really want.
If someone wants Premium, they can wait for a restock if the shop sells out. If someone wants Core and the shop's sold out, they can wait for a restock. Running out of stock can't be equated to MS
forcing people to buy alternatives just because they're offering two SKUs for two different customer types. Unless MS can supply more stock than people want, there'll always be someone going without. Having to wait a week or two to get a new toy, or spending more/less then you intended to get a variation of the toy immediately, isn't in any way being
forced into anything. It's a choice, clear and simple.