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Forums - Microsoft - Why Are Accessories A Problem For Microsoft?

matt247 on 30 August 2008

Microsoft wanted to take a loss on consoles and make a profit on accessories and games. That's their strategy. A lot of companies do that to like Best Buy sells $40 USB cables but they get them for $3.



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CAL4M1TY on 30 August 2008
Loud_Hot_White_Box said:

They absolutely gouge consumers on proprietary peripherals. The arguments people want to make about "evil" Sony apply truthfully to Microsoft.

MS pricing schemes do make better use of consumers' psychology, though. Sucker them in with a lower initial price, then add on tons of costs when people figure "well, I'm already in this for $349..." Not cheaper than PS3 now, is it?

Actually, MS pricing schemes are to ensure that people only pay for what they need.

Let's compare (AUD prices at RRP):

Xbox 360 20gb $499

+ Wireless adapter $169.95

+ Rechargeable Battery pack (3rd party) $30

= $698.90

VS

Playstation 3 40gb $699

+ HDMI Cables $ anywhere betwene 50-100, but I'll use the price I got on ebay which was $20

= $719


So assuming you need a wireless adapter (which sony force into the costs for the PS3), you're still paying $20 more for the PS3 to get them on the same level. Assuming you don't need a wireless adapter, the difference is $190.



Bitmap Frogs on 31 August 2008
rasone77 said:
^That's why most people don't buy the adapters. No one said you had to buy either one. I was just pointing out a flaw in your logic.

 

There's no flaw at all - greedy corporations will always try to gouge consumers, it's the nature of the beast.





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chenguo4 on 31 August 2008
Bitmap Frogs said:
rasone77 said:
^That's why most people don't buy the adapters. No one said you had to buy either one. I was just pointing out a flaw in your logic.

 

There's no flaw at all - greedy corporations will always try to gouge consumers, it's the nature of the beast.

 

That's the gist of it. The bigger the corporation, the more they screw people over. A part of the reason why MS is as big as it is, is because it's very, very good at this practice.




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krimoz911 on 31 August 2008
CAL4M1TY said:
Loud_Hot_White_Box said:

They absolutely gouge consumers on proprietary peripherals. The arguments people want to make about "evil" Sony apply truthfully to Microsoft.

MS pricing schemes do make better use of consumers' psychology, though. Sucker them in with a lower initial price, then add on tons of costs when people figure "well, I'm already in this for $349..." Not cheaper than PS3 now, is it?

Actually, MS pricing schemes are to ensure that people only pay for what they need.

Let's compare (AUD prices at RRP):

Xbox 360 20gb $499

+ Wireless adapter $169.95

+ Rechargeable Battery pack (3rd party) $30

= $698.90

VS

Playstation 3 40gb $699

+ HDMI Cables $ anywhere betwene 50-100, but I'll use the price I got on ebay which was $20

= $719


So assuming you need a wireless adapter (which sony force into the costs for the PS3), you're still paying $20 more for the PS3 to get them on the same level. Assuming you don't need a wireless adapter, the difference is $190.

 

 If you want to make them both on the same level then you should have accounted for bluray on ps3, you need to add the HD DVD add on cost which is practically invalid, or deduct the amount of money that bluray added up to the price of ps3 which we don't really know. This way this comparison is unfair to ps3.



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Bitmap Frogs on 31 August 2008
chenguo4 said:
Bitmap Frogs said:
rasone77 said:
^That's why most people don't buy the adapters. No one said you had to buy either one. I was just pointing out a flaw in your logic.

 

There's no flaw at all - greedy corporations will always try to gouge consumers, it's the nature of the beast.

 

That's the gist of it. The bigger the corporation, the more they screw people over. A part of the reason why MS is as big as it is, is because it's very, very good at this practice.

 

Yup, and so do Sony and Nintendo as well.

edit: to the poster above, on the ps3 side you need to add also the cost of mic & headset, rumble and HD upgrades because of the mandatory game installs. Oh also you must add the cost of a ps2 because BC is built in on the 360.





Current-gen game collection uploaded on the profile, full of win and good games; also most of my PC games. Lucasfilm Games/LucasArts 1982-2008 (Requiescat In Pace).

MonstaMack on 31 August 2008

Microsoft losses a lot of money still, probably not even close to the three billion (hopefully under 1 billion when its all said and done) on xbox 360 hardware/other costs alone, that they feel justified and having their accessories overpriced. I would just keep an eye out on accessory deals and you should be ok. I've gotten the Wireless headset for $20, 360 controller with full play and charge for $50, wired headset for $10. The only accessory that is beyond overpriced is the Wi-Fi adaptor but I don't need it cause my router is right next to my 360 aka It's wired.



It's just that simple.

JaggedSac on 31 August 2008

To be perfectly honest, I have yet to purchase one of M$'s overpriced accessories and I consider myself a very avid 360 gamer. They are not necessary for anything in my case. My router is about 5 feet from my 360.