Xbox 360 Arcade dropping to $199 on September 7?

We've been hearing whispers that an Xbox 360 price cut is in the works, and now we're starting to see some evidence -- VGChartz scored this image of an unknown retailer's inventory system showing the 360 Arcade dropping to $199 on September 7th. There's no word on whether the rumored 60GB and Elite price cuts are coming as well, but they'd certainly be welcome -- and with Rock Band 2 scheduled to hit just a week later, we'd say next month is looking like a good one for Xbox fans.

[DYLAN C @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:35PM]

Uhm...cool?

[yode @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:40PM]

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[b490300786 @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:51PM]

dood

[andres @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:54PM]

i lol'd hard

[vileta2 @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:23PM]

HAHAHA OH WOW

[The Dude @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:36PM]

@yode:

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/310/chrishansonvm8.gif

[Neebs @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:39PM]

Where did that even come from?!

[Tony @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:59PM]

@ Neebs

It's a show, Google "To Catch a Predator."

[Itsuru @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:11PM]

Haha, the perfect post for it.

[Neebs @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:33PM]

I know that, but what elicited the posting...

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:39PM]

@all whom have commented...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKUkwh8TmM0

[ShadowKain @ Aug 4th 2008 10:07AM]

I think the days of intelligent posting are over, I hate dumb comments.

[who? @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:37PM]

I like 'em cheap.

[rock99rock @ Aug 4th 2008 5:52PM]

Cheap is right. give that "90 day low price gaurantee", could you not get your $80 back at the time of the price drop?

[cromas @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:37PM]

Markup of only 3%...?

[Cole @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:51PM]

Yep, 3% markup on consoles is standard- no money is made on the console itself- heck, the console builder is actually losing money at that price usually.

And people wonder why the accessories are so expensive.

[computer.dude.28 @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:10PM]

Accessories and cables. I used to work at a local computer shop, there was up to 600% markup on cables. Same thing, they don't make money on computer sales.

[Ridgecity @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:49PM]

If Microsoft And Sony and into this, they are making money, they aren't into saving humanity... All that time they say they release a console and tighten the belts I believe you, but years later? they aren't massive companies by giving you free stuff, and before you say it, they also make a ton of money of licensees and third parties, and once you order hardware components by the thousands you get awfully low prices, In reality they say all this stuff so you say "wow, by buying a Xbox360 I'm ripping off Microsoft" yet you believe that whole shit about a 20GB hard drive ends up costing Microsoft almost $80..

[Matt @ Aug 4th 2008 11:26AM]

@Ridgecity

Do you shave? It's the same thing as razors. They give away the actual razor, but the price of a pack of blades is like, insane. Same thing here, they make next to nothing (and in most cases, take a loss) on the actual console, but they make a fortune in licensing fees, game sales, and accessories.

[greekjgg @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:38PM]

This is a Best Buy inventory screen. I used to work there for 8 years.

[joe_smith214 @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:47PM]

Yep, Best Buy screen

[Dull @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:47PM]

Yes, It is Best Buy

It's that the whole irony thing about Best Buy. The sell the new technology, but still use old components for themselves.

[eric @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:26PM]

This is a Bath and Body Works inventory screen. I used to work there for 8 years.

[someone @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:18PM]

It also happens to be the Apple II startup screen, you can trust me, I worked with Apple II computers for 8 years.

[Jonny @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:40PM]

Nope, since Best Buys is web based now. Nice try though.

Same with Circuit City now too. Cant be CC because the class numbers dont match up.

[Jonny @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:58PM]

Not to mention the SKU numbers dont match at all with what Best Buys SKU number is for an Xbox 360 arcade.

Doesnt match Sears or Kmart, nor Target. Maybe Walmart?

[dylan @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:12PM]

dude you worked at best buy for 8 years? wow thats both sad and amazing you didn't off yourself, i didn't even know best buy's been around for that long.

[Ignatius @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:14PM]

I can tell you right now that this isn't Circuit City's inventory screen.

The inventory screen does not contain any information concerning price drops in the future and their entire system is actually in monochrome. It's kind of sad to see a store that sells high-tech merchandise not actually use it...

[who? @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:20PM]

@ Ignatius

No kidding, I think the point he was trying to make was that people lie a lot on the internet, and you guys shouldn't be so gullible.

[badger @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:35PM]

use AS/400.

[mymaclife @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:30PM]

Who gives a fuck what screen it is and how long you sad people worked there for?

[o29 @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:52PM]

I feel like the intelligence level of commenters seems to be slowly declining...

[aqtrans @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:54PM]

It's Fred Meyers...check the Read link and look for the guy that takes credit. They blurred/edited out the Frey Meyers name at the top because they thought it was his name...

[Jenny @ Aug 4th 2008 12:24AM]

Remember that when stores upgrade inventory/ checkout screens, not all stores get it immediately. I worked at a Target with the old system, while the Super Target in the next city had a fancy new checkout system with flat screens.

Also, the separate system in the back room that printed black on the preprinted red sales signs was way older, and an ancient dinosaur. So don't go by what the checkout screens look like.

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 12:52AM]

i've worked at your mom's house for 8 years but i still haven't seen a paycheck.

[travis.Taylor @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:56PM]

I can only hope that a 360 price drop will push Sony to drop the price of their upcoming 80GB PS3. I would absolutely love a Blu-Ray player, but I refuse to pay $400+ for one!

[SonyPS3Sucks @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:55PM]

Yes price drop will include the 60GB Pro and 120GB Elite systems as well... 60GB will be $299.99 and the Elite will be $399.99. GREAT time to buy for the upcoming Holiday! Jump In!

[poematik14 @ Aug 4th 2008 12:46AM]

Engadget has Xbox fanboys now?

Shouldn't you be on bungie.net or something?

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 1:53AM]

"Jump in"?

Are you trying to start a new meme or are you parroting some marketing catchphrase?

[anonymousaversa @ Aug 4th 2008 10:23AM]

Bill,

please go back to saving the world with Melinda. Thanks.

[RattyUK @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:20PM]

Looks like Microsoft ain't gonna sell any consoles for a month :-)

[Joshua.JWilliams @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:25PM]

Sweet, I'm glad I waited on the XBox 360 ... and was sorely disappointed when the "fake" $299 price cuts of the Premium ended up just being a clearance sale.

That $200 price point is a nice place to be at .... especially for casual gamers such as myself. As travis.Taylor mentioned, love the PS3 as much as the next guy but their gaming library, not to mention their slow progress of games coming out and $400 price make it still a bit out of my hands for the time being. Blu-Ray or no Blu-Ray

[Scott @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:31PM]

This screen shot is from Frys Electronics, http://www.frys.com/

[who? @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:10PM]

1. That isn't a screen shot, it is a picture of a screen.

2. Why do I get a spammy feeling from you?

3. How can you say that with absolute certainty? (and for god's sake, please don't say you've been working for them for 8 years)

[Jenny @ Aug 4th 2008 12:27AM]

He might be right. I remember Fry's using something really ancient like this. Not certain though.

[Luigi193 @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:40PM]

Forget the $199...
I'm waiting for 0000000000 to snag me one for 0.00!!!

[JerkfacedFed @ Aug 3rd 2008 11:41PM]

stfu loser

[XIYL @ Aug 4th 2008 4:14AM]

Why don't you just use the five finger discount. You wouldn't even have to get it from a store.

[Davedrastic @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:44PM]

Looks to me like the start of a price war. Inevitable really. I doubt if Nintendo will budge (much) because of these drops and I'm not convinced that Sony necessarily will. I think they'll try to avoid a price drop initially - to show that their machine is really much more expensive. But if 360 sales do jump, which they will, Sony will be in a corner. August now, so 4 months before Christmas. I'm thinking we'll all be on "next" gen by then.

[NessyROS @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:45PM]

Definitely not a Best Buy screen shot, they use a system that is called RRS (Retek Retail Systems), nor is it a Circuit City screen shot, they use DPS. This screen shot is from a company using IBM AS/400 servers running JDA MMS Retail. Only company that comes to mind for those are Bed Bath and Beyond and Linen's n Things, otherwise the only other retailer this screen shot would have come from is a small boutique gaming retailer.