Originally Posted by clickwir
First, it's not a Microsoft "problem" it's called Microsoft "control". They are doing it on purpose to keep people on their toes and keep demand sky high.
Sorry, didn't mean to imply that Microsoft wasn't doing this on purposte, just wanted to point out that this was an aspect of the Xbox that Best Buy had no control over.
Originally Posted by clickwir
Second, as stated above, it's not to just ease the pressure on Best Buy, it's to get customers roped in and taken to a special sales area. Then they are pressured into buying more accessories and games than they need. It's a sales thing, not a "lets make this easier on the people" thing. They are doing it to try and corral people and take as much money from them in the process.
And I'm not sure about this. I'd say that volume is more important than "special attention." You can get a limited number of people into Best Buy with this method and perhaps have them buy more XBox 360-related junk than you would otherwise. Or you could advertise "We have Xboxes!!!!1!1", get far more people into the store, and the ones who don't get an Xbox are much more likely to buy something else since they're there already.
This certainly isn't a "lets make this easier on the people thing." I would presume that Best Buy is merely tired of dealing with massive lines and having irate customers yell at their managers, which isn't good PR for them.