Microsoft claims Xbox One sold out worldwide; Retailers beg to differ
6:18 PM, Dec 4, 2013 | 0 comments
Recently, Sony (maker of the PlayStation 4 video game console) announced that more than 2.1 million PS4 units have sold worldwide.
In response, Microsoft's Xbox VP Yusuf Mehdi told website Ars Technica that their Xbox One is "sold out at retailers around the world."
A quick over-the-phone check at a six randomly-selected retailers found that isn't quite the case.
"We have a Day One edition in stock," said Megan, who works at the Arden Way Toys-R-Us location in Sacramento. "Actually, I just looked in our back room and we have two."
A quick phone call to GameStop yeilded a similar result.
"We have one in stock," said employee Joseph Justice of the Truxel Road location. "It was just returned."
Likewise when contacting a Target store in Folsom, California. While a store employee said he sold his store's last Xbox One earlier in the day, he was able to confirm that no fewer than two other Northern California Target locations had them in stock with the El Dorado Hills store showing eight units in stock and the store in Lincoln, California, with ten.
Only one retailer, Sears, was able to confirm being sold out. Online retailers such as Rakuten.com (formerly Buy.com), for example, also show as being sold out of the console.
Smaller retailer, however, report having simply never received any shipments.
"We're a small business so we haven't been able to order any," stated Paul, an employee at a Sacramento-area Game N Trade.
Dimple Records, another small business that deals in new and used music and video game also confirms not receiving any as of yet.
"We might get some by the holidays and we might get some next year," a store employee said over the telephone.
Stock checks for PlayStation 4 came up empty every time.
Shortly after its launch November 22, Microsoft announced that more than 1 million Xbox One units were sold within the console's first 24 hours. Since that date, however, no information from the company has been provided to update that number.
Microsoft's Xbox One retails for $499, which is $100 more than PlayStation 4 and $200 more than Nintendo's Wii U.
News10/KXTV
