Microsoft is Sending Private Xbox Series X Purchase Links to "Valued Xbox Customers"

[Raevenlord]

More than a year after the release of Microsoft's Xbox Series X console and demand still hasn't abated - many customers are still trying to get their hands on a piece of Xbox Series X hardware, which is continually sold-out at most retailers and e-tailers that actually practice sane pricing. Many companies have tried to adapt to the new world of scalping by adding queue systems, locking inventory behind subscription services such as Amazon Prime, or via private buy links sent out via email. Microsoft seems to have chosen the latter as the 2021 holiday season fast approaches - the company has been sending links for Xbox Series X bundles to "valued Xbox customers", allowing them to purchase an Xbox Series X directly from Microsoft without having to compete with the scalpers or bots in the general Microsoft store.

The Xbox Series X bundles include an Xbox Series X with two controllers and one game. The Verge notes customers can choose one game out of Madden 22, GTA V, Rust, Far Cry 6, Hasbro Family Fun Pack, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, Insurgency Sandstorm, or Diablo 2 Resurrected. There's no real way to tell how Microsoft is choosing which customers to send these links to - it sounds plausible that it's targeting users that have purchased either Xbox software or hardware via the U.S. Microsoft Store. Even with this mailing campaign, consoles will be sold in a first-come, first-served basis - the link may lead users towards a page where the Series X is out of stock all the same, but it certainly does give users that slightly higher chance to finally score a latest gen Xbox console.



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[DeathtoGnomes]

Assuming m$ charges the same as retail stores, this practice could be more profitable for them.

 

[Bomby569]

I can't believe this, i told someone should do this when the shortages of gpu's started, both Nvidia and AMD know who bought their gpu's, and could have easily done this if they weren't to busy counting their money to the bank and not giving a shit about the people that actually supported them for years when there was no crypto to cash in.

I take my hat off to Microsoft, amazing decision.

 

[Chomiq]

Too little too late.

It's just like EVGA with their notification system. Somehow cards are delivered to stores in EU, but people are still stuck in the queue since they entered it back in October/November last year. Maybe it's a bit better in US, but not by much.

 

[Space Lynx]

I got an email for this actually. It's legit. I may make my purchase on one xbox series x soon, considering the world is ending.

Only issue I have is it forces you to buy a second controller and a game with... which I need neither, as I will be using gamefly for games, and I only need 1 controller. i guess i could not open them and try to sell them here at a discount and just keep the xbox. i dunno

 

[Bomby569]

Too little too late.

It's just like EVGA with their notification system. Somehow cards are delivered to stores in EU, but people are still stuck in the queue since they entered it back in October/November last year. Maybe it's a bit better in US, but not by much.

i got a card from their queue in EU back in the summer, a 3060 that my brother is using

 

[Space Lynx]

i got a card from their queue in EU back in the summer, a 3060 that my brother is using

how do you join that que?

 

[The King]

Their most valued customers are all scalpers.

 

[Chomiq]

how do you join that que?

You can't anymore. At least in EU they removed "auto-notify" buttons.

 

[Bomby569]

You can't anymore. At least in EU they removed "auto-notify" buttons.

They shut it down, they are supplying everyone that was in the queue and not accepting anymore applications.

 

[Chomiq]

They shut it down, they are supplying everyone that was in the queue and not accepting anymore applications.

And they limited queue to 2 SKUs only.

 

[AsRock]

I can't believe this, i told someone should do this when the shortages of gpu's started, both Nvidia and AMD know who bought their gpu's, and could have easily done this if they weren't to busy counting their money to the bank and not giving a shit about the people that actually supported them for years when there was no crypto to cash in.

I take my hat off to Microsoft, amazing decision.

Yeah, would be nice if other companys did this too.

 

[noel_fs]

good job

 

[Durvelle27]

I’ve been getting these emails for months now.

 

[Space Lynx]

I’ve been getting these emails for months now.

I tried checking out on mine, it won't let me sadly. I wanted a series x too...

 

[Durvelle27]

I tried checking out on mine, it won't let me sadly. I wanted a series x too...

Try local stores

I’ve had luck and so far scored 4 Series X and 4 Series S. Along with 3 PS5

 

[Space Lynx]

Try local stores

I’ve had luck and so far scored 4 Series X and 4 Series S. Along with 3 PS5

sell me one with only a 5% markup? for a friend?

 

[Durvelle27]

sell me one with only a 5% markup? for a friend?

A Series X??

I normally don’t mark up items and The systems I got weren’t sold. I gave them away as gifts and kept only 3 personally

 

[The Von Matrices]

I can't believe this, i told someone should do this when the shortages of gpu's started, both Nvidia and AMD know who bought their gpu's, and could have easily done this if they weren't to busy counting their money to the bank and not giving a shit about the people that actually supported them for years when there was no crypto to cash in.

I take my hat off to Microsoft, amazing decision.

This isn't Microsoft being benevolent. Microsoft makes most of its money on the software/services (games) that are purchased well after the hardware is sold. Having this "exclusive" program is a business move to ensure that the customers that spend the most $$$ on Xbox software/services can get a console and stay on the Xbox platform to continue spending $$$ on software/services.

 

[Bomby569]

This isn't Microsoft being benevolent. Microsoft makes most of its money on the software/services (games) that are purchased well after the hardware is sold. Having this "exclusive" program is a business move to ensure that the customers that spend the most $$$ on Xbox software/services can get a console and stay on the Xbox platform to continue spending $$$ on software/services.

Aren't you being a little cynical, do you have any proof they only sent it to whales?

 

[mdbrotha03]

Aren't you being a little cynical, do you have any proof they only sent it to whales?

I got a link. I wouldn't call myself a whale. I have had Xbox live for 17 years.

 

[xorbe]

I might actually get an EVGA 3060 Ti after a nearly year in the queue if the online estimation tool holds true. It suggests 6 weeks from now.

 

[mama]

I got a link. I wouldn't call myself a whale. I have had Xbox live for 17 years.

View attachment 226758

Care to share the link????

 

[Diverge]

I've had the previous 2 generations of Xbox, but haven't been successful in buying the latest one. There was a period of time where I actively tried to by it from the Xbox store, and had it in my cart a number of times when the site said I could buy it... but was never able to get my order to go through. No email for me.

That's about the most effort I'd personally put into purchasing a console. I mainly game on my PC. I guess it's a sign I should save my money.