ShopTo calls for Microsoft to finalize motion-sensing peripheral at lower than widely rumored price, says customers aren't biting at current cost. Microsoft confirmed a November 4 launch for its Kinect motion-sensing camera peripheral at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, but it didn't nail down a price for the device. Despite the lack of official word, US retailers began taking preorders for Kinect at $150, and while Microsoft declined to make the number official, it opened up its own preorders at the same price point. Now one retailer is saying that price is too high, and preorders have suffered as a result.

ShopTo's CEO says customers aren't exactly clamoring for Kinect. In an interview with Eurogamer, ShopTo CEO Igor Cipolletta told the site the number of Kinect preorders the retail chain has received is "very low." As for the pricing, ShopTo currently offers the Kinect for €153.75 ($188), while the executive pointed out that a Wii can be had for just a little more. ShopTo's online site is currently sold out of Nintendo's hardware, but the Wii Sports Resort bundle ordinarily sells for €166 ($203).

"It's too high," Cipolletta said of the Kinect price. "We believe that with this current economy it should be around £70 ($105)."

When Kinect arrives, Microsoft expects 15 games to launch alongside the device. First-party offerings include Kinect Adventures, Kinectimals, Kinect Joy Ride, and Kinect Sports. A number of third parties are also on board, developing such titles as EA Sports Active 2, Konami's DanceMasters, and Sega's Sonic Freeriders. Publishers have also promised postlaunch support, such as a Star Wars game from LucasArts, Q?'s Child of Eden, and THQ's UFC Trainer.

ShopTo's CEO says customers aren't exactly clamoring for Kinect

I posted yesterday about the price being £130, but I still have no idea who they are. Does anyone here buy stuff from them.

I do and thousands of people do.

Ey re not popular like game in uk but re more popular worlwide, especially in continental europe where i live, thanks to great prices and tracking number literally to ur door.

i bought more games from them than from game,station, centre, hmv combined.

What is 'low' pre-orders for an accessory measured as?

Not trying to sound negative, but I suspect pretty low.  Accessory sales are normally a fraction of the install base unless they become 'must haves' - and if they're using accessories like the EyeToy or keypads, etc. as a guide then it could be pretty low.

TBH, at this point I think it's too early to judge this in Europe/UK.  Awareness is tiny next to US and Kinect (and Move, too) have had very minimal exposure.  I'm interested in each but I doubt i'll seriously decide whether to invest until much closer to their launch date or even until after launch when I can go and try them at display points and get a good look at the titles.

Only the tiny number of 'will buy any accessory for their console' folks are probably biting at this stage I'd wager.

Of course, the lower the price the more you'll get, basic price elasticity, but without a compelling awareness (which I don't think is there) and with no guide other than a fairly high price point, pre-orders are obviously going to be very low.

Well it is kind of meaningless because the core games haven't been announced yet and nor has the price. These are the two things which would be driving adoption in Europe whereas in the U.S.A. at the very least they have the media stores, Netflix, ESPN and later Hulu to drive adoption for the core even without games/prices really being finalised. Although theres also the fact that Americans seem to be less conservative which IMHO = more nuts to pre-order a product without concrete information being released.

People with half common sense wouldn't preorder a device without even a price yet.

Yeah, why would you pre-order a device about 4 months away without a price

There is no Official price yet, and the rumored $150 Is not Very Attractive. Wait and see after they announce the Real price/Details On 360 bundle . Im Betting (& Hoping) $120
Alone, $300 with arcade $400 With 250GB HDD. 

People with full common sense would wait 6 months to a year before buying any consumer electronic device, gaming consoles included. Buying at launch date only opens up your wallet to shell more dollars out for a fix of a manufacturer defect that was not tested for because the execs were pushing it due to the pressure from the board of directors and shareholders to release a product because they had a quarterly bottom line to meet.