No Kinect Stock in the UK

[Deleted User]

Source

There will be no Kinect stock available to buy in the UK come launch day on November 10 - according to the stores of national retailer GAME.

Numerous GAME outlets are today telling customers that the Xbox peripheral will definitely be sold out by November 10.

According to one GAME store manager contacted by CVG, the retailer delivered the news to staff at its behind-closed-doors national conference last week.

Confusingly, the retailer's head office seems to disagree - informing CVG that it is not aware of any such shortage. However, the HQ has admitted that the peripheral has the "potential to sell out on release day".

CVG spoke to five GAME stores across the UK this afternoon - which all gave us the same, very clear message.

Every one reiterated that the only way we'll be able to pick up Kinect is if we've booked a pre-order - and that they're running out fast.

"Microsoft hasn't sent us enough us Kinect units to fulfil all pre-orders and there still won't be enough for launch day," one sales rep told us. "The message has gone round to all GAME stores."

Another told us it was "guaranteed" that there would be no stock on launch day. One even forecast that we'd have to wait until after Christmas to buy one - something "categorically denied" by GAME HQ.

A GAME spokesperson told CVG: "We are not aware of any potential stock shortages with Kinect and are working with Microsoft to meet expected demand.

"We do anticipate Kinect to be incredibly popular and it absolutely has the potential to sell out on release day. As a result, customers who want to get their hands on Kinect at launch really need to pre-order to guarantee that they get it."

Sales reps at entertainment giant HMV said they had received no such message from their HQ - and that they expected Kinect to be in stock in November.

The news points to heavy demand for Microsoft's new piece of kit - and a possible emulation of the UK Wii launch in 2006.

The Nintendo console was out of stock at retailers throughout the Christmas period - which only served to push demand higher as word-of-mouth spread.

GAME and Microsoft will no doubt be hoping that a similar consumer fear of losing out drives sales of Kinect.

 

[injected11]

Nice scare tactic. Apparently just advertising your impending failure isn't enough, you now need to generate artificial hype.

 

[miigo]

haha that is win post. when i get back i will not buy this rubbish. i now am the proud owner of 4gb xbox slim!

 

[Deleted User]

lol 4gb xbox. How's Halo Reach co-op for you?

 

[Slyakin]

lol 4gb xbox. How's Halo Reach co-op for you?

Aww, don't be hard on the guy.

 

[SPH73]

Nice scare tactic. Apparently just advertising your impending failure isn't enough, you now need to generate artificial hype.

I know a lot of people want to believe Kinect is going to fail.... but... pre-orders are already tracking waaaaayy ahead of what's expected.

It will sell fairly well, at least at first. And it will sell a lot more than the Sony Move, which despite reports from VGchartz (*snicker*), has already bombed massively.

 

[DiscostewSM]

I read the title, thinking that there would be no Kinects to sell in the UK come launch.

 

[Rasas]

At least the UK is getting Kinect. It is banned in china as well as the console it runs on.

From most polls that I've seen kinect seems to have a higher percentage of people who want it.

Well if you don't include the I am not getting one and or waiting for more information considering the poll the more information one is missing or less.

 

[Joe88]

From most polls that I've seen kinect seems to have a higher percentage of people who want it.

that was before people saw the price and pretty much everytime it makes news, it is about its failure / shortcomings

 

[Rasas]

Well, I guess I really shouldn't care unless it comes out with more then 3 decent games assuming I can't play it with a control or it comes out with something so legendary it has to be bought.

I just hope it isn't crap for the people that buy it.

 

[DSGamer64]

It won't sell out, sales numbers will probably be better then Move by a fair margin, but the problem is like Move, there is very little in the way of software support at release to really give people a reason to buy it.

 

[hova1]

lol, they aren't supplying enough hardware. Nintendo did this in the 80s with NES games to generate hype

 

[SPH73]

From most polls that I've seen kinect seems to have a higher percentage of people who want it.

that was before people saw the price and pretty much everytime it makes news, it is about its failure / shortcomings

So it's just like the Sony Move. Also, it's good to see that you speak for everyone. lol.

This product is a gimmick, and it barely works, and so called "hardcore" gamers hate it, but anyone who says its not going to sell is a fool.

 

[MelodieOctavia]

So they pull the artificial shortage shit like Nintendo did?

Yeah, sorry Microsoft, That only works for a product people actually want.

 

[dinofan01]

From most polls that I've seen kinect seems to have a higher percentage of people who want it.

that was before people saw the price and pretty much everytime it makes news, it is about its failure / shortcomings

pretty funny how things changed. First it was natal is the future and playstion motion controller is me-too. Show some prices. Kinect is pointless and move is the wii killer! all bunch of bull crap to me.

 

[Schizoanalysis]

Lame move, Microsoft, lame move.

 

[taktularCBo]

I hope gamestop Germany has not the same problem...

 

[SPH73]

So they pull the artificial shortage shit like Nintendo did?

Yeah, sorry Microsoft, That only works for a product people actually want.

I guess you're too young to remember the PS2 launch.

 

[Deleted User]

*pins up to microsoft*


oh, hello there!