When you sign up to contracts like this, they don't just end like that. You'd have to willfully cancel the $15/mo membership and then get stand alone Live. Otherwise it would continue month to month at $15. That's how any subscription like this works.

Your phone analogy is sort of right, but you forget that after the two years, the plan stays as is and you continue to get charged the same monthly rate, which is my point. Now, this is not a big deal as cancelling is usually not an issue, but MS will likely try to get those people to sign a new contract based on some other upgrade or many people will just not think about it and keep paying even if they are not using the full set of services.

From a business perspective, its a great deal as they can lock in users. From a consumer perspective it is mostly likely not the best value in almost any situation.

yes but this doesn't change the fact that only an idiot wouldn't resign this subscription if he wouldn't get a nextbox or so and would like to have one with this kind of contract. hell you can make this contract and resign from this the same day. that's what i do here with our pay-tv. i signed a subscription and resigned that at the same day. one month before the contract ends i will get a new offer and I can sign a new contract then. if not, everything ends like i planed it at the day i made the contract.

so i still don't get where the scam is and why we should talk about this if this is just an option you could use if you would like. what does this have to do with what we are talking about? a two year subscription which will end after two years if you resign from it and how much the costs will be.

I was only trying to help you understand the orginal post you quoted and what he was referring to with the contract continuing. It seemed you thought it would fully shut off automatically after the 2 years. I don't think I said it was a scam, just that many people would leave it on without realizing they may be paying more for the same thing.

Ummm no buying a product knowing that at some point in the unknown future it will get a price cut or go on clearance, is not ignorant because you are not certain on the timing of the cut. (Like we are now for this years eventual cut)

Ignorance is willfully spending a lot of extra money for the same product. That is this bundle. There is no way this bundle will save anyone any money otherwise MS wouldn't be doing it. They are doing it to prolong the higher margin rate as well as dramatically increase their cash cow.. I mean Live subscription fees.

Buying crap like this and using credit cards on frivolous things is exactly why my country and many around the world are in the economic mess we're in now. People do idiotic purchases because they are impatient and willfully ignorant with their spending habits. I'm not immune to this same thing, but I won't make those mistakes again. Especially with a game console.

Again, smart buyers will recognize that a price cut is coming this year and its better to just start saving $20, $40, whatever they can out of each paycheck and just buy what they want when they have enough for it.

Credit should be reserved for emergencies, large purchases ($1,000s not $100s), and when its building your credit since you're carrying very low balance or paying off monthly.

Don't take this so personally, I'm not attacking you or anyone directly, just the overall logic and deal involved. I just think its stupid to waste money, unless you have so much coming in that it will never affect you. Until that happens, spending over $100 more on this bundle is not a good deal for anyone.

When you sign up to contracts like this, they don't just end like that. You'd have to willfully cancel the $15/mo membership and then get stand alone Live. Otherwise it would continue month to month at $15. That's how any subscription like this works.

Your phone analogy is sort of right, but you forget that after the two years, the plan stays as is and you continue to get charged the same monthly rate, which is my point. Now, this is not a big deal as cancelling is usually not an issue, but MS will likely try to get those people to sign a new contract based on some other upgrade or many people will just not think about it and keep paying even if they are not using the full set of services.

From a business perspective, its a great deal as they can lock in users. From a consumer perspective it is mostly likely not the best value in almost any situation.

I had a baby girl 7 days agao. I have 2 now.

I agree 100% that credit sucks balls.

My point to you is Microsoft are doing it in a much much better way and APR rate than any company Ive seen do this before.

Hell Apple Store near my workplace had a similar deal on a Macbook. Altough it was over 3 years. You paid $300 up front then so muc eac month. Worked out about $500 more expensive for the same product.

M$ are being very reasonable compared to competitors.

However I would have to say Id confess, if I didnt have a 360 already te way my finances are, a deal like this might be the only way I could jump in with Kinect + 360 + Live Gold + possible other paid Live features. The only way. I literally cannot afford to buy a new console even at todays fairly low prices due to commitments. I had a baby girl 7 days agao. I have 2 now.

Congrats Selny!

I'm not adding to the OP, I just wanted to congratulate you. Having kids is the best!

Carry on people.