There is no objective reason to consider that NPD numbers are more accurate than VGC ones.

I think that most people here are missing a point of reference for January sales. M$ did not plan to keep the $349 price point. If you look at retailer ads(WalMart this week), you will see the $399 price being promoted. It takes 4-6 weeks to get into the weekly print ads of retailers.

so, M$ won't get a ton of mileage out of the $349 price point again til February at least. I am sure they will include an actual advertising campaign to go with it.

Since when in history has a price cut taken 4 to 6 weeks to take effect?  Hint never.  You are in denial,  ps4 despite being more expensive is more desirable even in ms home country.  Ms will lise Feb and March as well.  The holidays was a temp spike.  Ms are xbox One are in trouble against ps4.

Ms already are heavy advertising the cut,  people would rather ps4. There are TV ads,  flyer's emails for weeks. 

You are the one missing the point,  Jan sales are a return to the norm,  what it will be the majority of the time. 

Worldwide it us not even a contest. 

Since you didn't understand my post, i can't help you much.  I was talking about print advertising in the US.  MOST people, not gaming fanatics/forum dwellers, buy based on advertising.  Most people buy based on wanting a game system.  They are not rushing out to get them after the holidays.  So, they have to be induced to make the buying decision.  So, clearly most of the advertising  out there doesn't represent a reason to buy now.  M$ has clearly screwed up again in putting the price back up.  Now it ill cost them for the January and February period.

You claim that M$ is heavily advertising the cut?  I haven't seen 1 public advertisement.  Of course, that equate to everywhere, but I can see all of the national ads on cable and the print ads from major retailer.  And I haven't seen anything about the cut.  Emails direct to people that are aleady M$ customers will not change peope minds = They are already customers.

And how many times have you seem a price cut making so little effect after 2-3 weeks of coming in place?? Mind you that most of the people that were enticed by this promotion already bought it in the holidays. And how many times have you seem the price cut have a greater effect 6 weeks from its effective time because that was when some game outlets put it on their prints? It isn't like MS couldn't expedite the promotion ads or put them on the webz.

So, look at this weeks ads.  Walmart = No gaming systems(last week was PS4).  Target = PS4 and the WiiU.  BestBuy = PS4

Zero ads for XB1.  

Like I have stated before, print ads take a minimum of 4 weeks, and usually up to 8 weeks lead time.  Vendors pay for their products to appear in the ads and it is not so simple to bump others that have already bought ad space.

And how that should excuse MS??? And you completely skipped my point. You are just restating what you already said.

you said the pricecut didn't work.  I agree it isnt working yet.  I only stated that the pricecut itself isn't the problem, its the poor planning by M$ in implementing it.  The pricecut will have a lasting affect, once it has been implemented effectively with the buyers.