More on Zune 80 delays -- available December 12th?

We've got a bit more clarity on the Zune 80 shortages. According to the cats over at Zune Scene, The Zune 80 is 6 weeks behind schedule. That gels with a tip we just received from a supposed Best Buy employee. According to Mr. Tipster, Best Buy's system shows a December 12th in-stock date for the 80GB Zune. True or not, one thing is certain, the current top-o-the-line Zune is not to be found.

Update: As tipster Derrick points out, the December availability matches the "early December" time frame of the 80's availability on the Zune Originals site.

Update 2: Everybody hurry, tipster Ira just placed a single, Zune 80 onto a shelf at a Montana Wal-Mart! Picture after the break.

[Thanks, Daniel C.]

[quomen @ Nov 15th 2007 2:15AM]

Now this isnt' good news is it? Golly.

[kastonie @ Nov 15th 2007 2:23AM]

Man thats the good stuff....I went to just about every electronics store on tuesday and couldn't find one. I have a friend that works at a Popular video game retailer that sells em and he said he only got the flash based players...no zune 80....

[Alber1690 @ Nov 15th 2007 2:25AM]

Finally...someone addresses this issue; thank you! I thought it was just me who thought that this whole Zune 80 deal was going to slip by without getting Microsoft's attention; at least now they know we know. If I only knew this before I spent all of yesterday like an idiot going to every store listed on the Zune site looking for one...

[Tony @ Nov 15th 2007 11:36AM]

It's a trap!

..To get you to buy the flash Zune.

[Austin @ Nov 15th 2007 2:27AM]

Isn't it sad that as surely as the sun rises in the east, some MSFT or AAPL stockholder will throw some flamebait out in this thread. in the interests of keeping things neutral, can't we all just hate sony and linux together? solidarność!

[FordGTGuy @ Nov 15th 2007 3:58PM]

They should give those Chinese workers a 5 cent raise so they will make them faster.

[Alber1690 @ Nov 15th 2007 2:58AM]

LOL. Yes, they should have.

[Mark @ Nov 15th 2007 2:27AM]

Again, it's not completely impossible. I have one, I'm looking at it wirelessly sync tonights episode of southpark right now.

[sotark @ Nov 15th 2007 2:28AM]

duh! that sucks!!

[joystiq @ Nov 15th 2007 2:29AM]

that sucks!!

[Evan @ Nov 15th 2007 2:32AM]

I don't mean to be rude but, HA HA, I have one!!! Picked it up @ a Circuit City...Sucks if this it true though but I'm not sure how it would be.

[enric @ Nov 15th 2007 2:52AM]

I got mine at Circuit City too on tuesday but i have to ask 3 affiliates for it because they aren't sure. Zune 4gb and 8gb are the only ones on the shelves. Could it be that Circuit City wasn't properly instructed not to release the 80gb yet? (100% speculating).

P.S. And I didn't even know till i bought it that they come with free $25 Zune giftcard!

[Daverman @ Nov 15th 2007 1:29PM]

I picked mine up at Circuit City in Kalamazoo, MI on Tuesday, they had about 20 of them there. Free $25 gift card with purchase up until 11/16. Its awesome, great screen, new software is sweet too.

[Atonem @ Nov 15th 2007 3:00AM]

i work at wal-mart in millwaukee
and we have 20 80GB Zune's in stock

[pinchies @ Nov 15th 2007 7:50AM]

now you dont.
;)

[SteveMB @ Nov 16th 2007 4:57PM]

Great to see another Wisconsonian on engadget. Which Walmart is that?

[Alex @ Nov 17th 2007 2:04AM]

I got mine from Circuit City, and the guys there didn't know they had them.

One of the walmarts in town (raleigh, NC) supposedly got only four in.

[headphonics @ Nov 15th 2007 3:19AM]

This is pretty funny, really. I like how they put out a decent amount of hype/press for this big launch, and then, when launch date comes... the flagship new media player they've been announcing for months is actually in incredibly short stock pretty much everywhere. Real classy.

Like others, I drove around town trying to find a Zune 80 and, while I found tons of Zune 4/8s in stock everywhere I went, no one at the dozen or so stores I went to even knew anything about the Zune 80. I ended up having to drive 50 miles to a Circuit City a ways from here to pick up the last (only?) one they had in stock that I'd reserved over the phone earlier in the day. I guess I'm one of the luckier ones! I can't complain too much, since mines working fine so far, but man is this a bad launch.

[Leo @ Nov 15th 2007 6:45AM]

Was at my local Walmart in Augusta, GA and they had about 4 80GB Zunes in the case. I would love to pick one up, but my wife gets mad at me because I buy everything I want and leave her nothing to get me for Christmas

[jBiber @ Nov 15th 2007 6:46AM]

i was at best buy yesterday evening. I was looking for anything really, when i got to MP3 players i figured i'd go try the new zune. there wasn't one on display so i asked the guy where it was.

He did know what i was talking about, and asked how much it is. 249, same as the ipod classic. "Well if its the same as the Ipod classic then you should get an Ipod because the software, iTunes, is very easy to use. You dont want to mess with that zune propritary software. I think the zune might play mp3s. The ipod is much better because it uses a high compression ratio - on a zune it says it'll hold 25,000 song or so but really it holds *pshhhhhhhh* 8,000."

"excuse me sir, does the ipod have a radio?"

"no"

"Oh, I think the zune does. I guess I'll go to a different store. Thanks."

[CarpeD1em500 @ Nov 15th 2007 7:07AM]

This is why I avoid BB employees like the plague.

"I think the zune might play mp3's" and "the ipod's compression rate is better."

Hmmm...you think an mp3 player might play mp3's huh? And the compression rate on mp3's for ipods are better than zune's huh? Interesting. It's also interesting that you're A FUCKING RETARD, and yet, you're being paid to give advice.

*sigh* I used to wonder why people would pay so much money for over-priced hardware and software that wasn't compatible with anything. Maybe I should open my eyes and realize that most people are just dumb and listen to people like that guy when they need electronic advice. And hey, you wouldn't want to use any proprietary software or anything. Better off going with OSX. That way you know you can run iLife and the iLike bullshit without fear of a BSoD. Just don't ever expect to run anything else. Ever.

(/rant)

[rawhead @ Nov 15th 2007 8:35AM]

Haha. Sorry to laugh. But welcome to how Mac users have been (or at least used to be) treated at BB and any other fuckin' retail store out there except for the Apple Store for the past decade and a half.

[helio9000 @ Nov 15th 2007 10:06AM]

True for a lot of retail places but as for BB it is not welcome to how mac users are treated but welcome to how everyone is treated. The few times I have resorted to going in there I've heard nothing but disinformation, sometimes, it seems, intentional, sometimes not, from the dumbshit employees.

[Justin @ Nov 15th 2007 10:22AM]

Color me unsurprised. I work with a guy who used to be a BB salesman and let's just say...yeah, the "doesn't know his own ass from a hole in the ground" syndrome sounds very familiar indeed, and it's certainly not just limited to the realm of DAPs.

[bob e @ Nov 15th 2007 8:16AM]

Someone is selling an 80 on eBay - already at $290

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Microsoft-Zune-2-Generation-Black-80-GB-80GB-MP3_W0QQitemZ220171896281QQihZ012QQcategoryZ147175QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[rawhead @ Nov 15th 2007 12:18PM]

I know this is just stupid, and MS can't be THAT stupid, but it would be funny if this was their way of creating "perceived shortage" to fuel the hype on the new Zunes.

[Constable Odo @ Nov 15th 2007 8:43AM]

You mean the thousand units of the Zune 80 they made finally sold out. Wow! Let's crank out the next batch of five thousand units. That batch should last until the middle of next year.

[Simo @ Nov 15th 2007 9:12AM]

I'm in the UK and have a friend going to NYC this weekend. He was going to pick a Zune 80 up for me but the way things are looking I guess I might be out of luck.

Can anyone suggest the best places for him to look on Manhattan Island this weekend? Obviously the more central it is to the touristy areas the better, don't wan't to take up too much of his holiday! :o)

[willyboy @ Nov 15th 2007 9:45AM]

Cash only!

[CarpeD1em500 @ Nov 15th 2007 10:19AM]

hahahaha great comment

[nate @ Nov 15th 2007 10:14AM]

On the 7th I went in to Circuit City and asked one of the local peons about the release date: With out hesitation is told me mid December. I told him it said the 12th on the website, but he quickly said that the shipment date was stated as mid December.

So I guess this wondering peon was right.

[z1g1 @ Nov 15th 2007 11:22AM]

Got mine at Circuit City in the Carousel Mall if your in the Syracuse area

bwt LOVE IT !

[NickS @ Nov 15th 2007 12:48PM]

I got a zune 80 with o problem at the Circuit City in Burleson, TX. They had a half dozen units.

[Joshua Walters @ Nov 16th 2007 10:52AM]

Ive seen them at four different stores now. You cant tell me that they are THAT hard to get.

[Mark Flatley @ Nov 17th 2007 12:58PM]

Just bought one at a walmart in MN. It was the only one I saw on the shelf.

[Randall @ Nov 18th 2007 2:59AM]

I just went and got an 80 gig at Circuit City. They were the only place in Little Rock, AR that had them.

[Aravind @ Nov 19th 2007 4:04AM]

SOME Bay Area Targets have Zune 80s in stock... go to the Target website and do an in-store inventory check, just punch in your zip-code and they will tell you which stores have it in stock.

[Harry @ Nov 19th 2007 8:51PM]

Well I just bought one at Target here in so cal with no problems... so I have no clue what the other big box retailers are doing wrong... Target in Carson to be exact...

[CHADWICK @ Nov 19th 2007 9:41PM]

i cant wait cause i really really want one!

[Matt @ Nov 29th 2007 10:38AM]

The Targets in the entire Denver area have PLENTY of them!! Just got off the phone and the peon said they "Aren't flying off the shelves...."