Daas
@videotron.ca | reply to Retailrefugee
Re: Total BS!
High end electronics has margins you cannot think about... When I'm talking high-end, I'm talking about McIntosh amps, Wilson speakers or Ronco projectors... these articles tend to have a pretty big margin (over 70%)... |
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mr3xcellent
@swbell.net
| reply to anonEmouse
You guys need to compare apples to apples... The profit in a dig. camera is nothing like a game system. I worked at Circuit City for three years. Their cost on the original XBOX1 was $304... they literally lost money on every one of them they sold. (Keep in mind they included the cost of shipping the item to the store in their cost)
It's the games and accessories that have a margin in them, and that's where you'll find difference in prices. It's annoying watching you guys argue over the profit in the console when there really isn't any. |
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Retailrefugee
@cableone.net
1 edit | reply to batterup
High end electronics (ESPECIALLY new game consoles) have a very poor margin. The money is in the accessories and games. Why do you think a lot of stores are only selling "bundles"? |
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anonEmouse
@comcast.net
| reply to Devistater
Here's a concrete example that took me just a few seconds to find, if you click on the digital camera category. At the top you'll see an olympus SP-320 camera. That site claims the MSRP is $400. But if you google for olympus SP-320 MSRP, you'll see a number of sites such as this one:
»www.dcresource.com/reviews/camer···?cam=814
That show the MSRP is actually $300.
In fact here's a preview of the camera before it was released which shows the same MSRP of $300 (just in case you want to claim that its been lowered over time since the camera's release)
»www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S···320A.HTM
$300 is NOT the MSRP price for the Olympus SP-320. It is the "Estimated Street Price" (ESP, sometimes alternately known as ERP for Estimated Retail Price):
»www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/11···769.html
Products very seldom sell for their MSRP prices. MSRP is simply a price far in excess of the real retail price, allowing retailers to claim they're selling at a "30% discount" (or whatever) rather than admitting they're selling at the exact same price everybody else is.
Another common one is MAP, or Minimum Advertised Price, where authorised dealers are barred from publishing a price below a certain figure in their advertisements or promotional materials, and usually they're also barred from revealing the price on a website before capture of a shopper's identity / adding the item to a shopping cart / whatever. This one exists solely to prop up prices from retailers who are overcharging for a product by preventing the competition from advertising their lower price. |
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rakslice
join:2006-11-24
Vernon, BC
| reply to batterup
Look way up to the xbox.com links a few messages ago.
And here's a press release from launch time:
»www.microsoft.com/presspass/pres···ePR.mspx |
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Devistater
join:2004-02-13
Clovis, CA
1 edit | reply to batterup
The two links I provided to xbox.com (which is a MS owned official site) show the official microsoft pricing. It doesn't specifically say MSRP right next to it. They don't need to, its the official site with the official manufacture price.
Another example:
»www.xbox.com/en-US/press/2005/08···ails.htm
Or the same press release on microsoft.com (thanks rakslice)
»www.microsoft.com/presspass/pres···ePR.mspx
The official microsoft press release about pricing for xbox on launch. Notice how they announce the price of $299 for the core? Why would MS announce any other price than the MSRP?
I think its time you show me somewhere on the official microsoft site (xbox.com or microsoft.com) where they mention a $599 price for the core (MSRP or otherwise, I won't hold you to finding the specific term MSRP). That would prove I was wrong.
I notice you didn't respond when I pointed out concrete example of your site inflating MSRP numbers, or indications that site was a price inflation scam site that suckers buy from because they think they are getting a better deal when they aren't. Perhaps I'll find some additional examples of that.
The same site shows that the nintendo wii MSRP is $999. This is complete and utter nonsense (even WITH a game. A game isn't going to change the MSRP to 4 times normal).
»www.megagoods.com/product_catalo···tem=4294
100% proof:
»www.nintendo.com/newsarticle?art···c0b&page
nintendo's official press release
"MSRP $249.99"
Contrast that to MS's press release. They are both announcing initial launch pricing points. Both are prices that stores adhere to very well (likely because of a very small margin). MS didn't mention the term MSRP in thier press release, although nintendo DID SPECIFICALLY USE THAT TERM.
So lets try a google for wii MSRP $249.99, and there's 25,000+ hits.
Now lets try googling for wii MSRP $999.99
Only 400 hits interesting. Now looking at a few of those hits, what do you know. A bunch of them are ebay or similar auctions trying to convince people to pay more as if they are offering a better deal than they actually are (trying to scam people by showing inflated false MSRP)
In fact here's a funny example where they copied, word for word, the exact page from your megagoods site:
»auctions.yahoo.com/i:NINTENDO%20···17427133
They are trying to get $700 for a wii! LOL!
Here's a similar ebay example:
»item.express.ebay.com/__Video-Ga···ressItem
Same exact copy/paste and wii for $825 !
Just give it up, admit that the site you poorly choose to give evidence to your argument is trying to scam and falsly inflate MSRP to sell items at a higher price, that our differances are ones of degree, not kind.  |
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GameTrader
@mindspring.com
| reply to batterup
I used to work for a video game retailer 4 or 5 years ago. I can tell you the $280 for a $300 system sounds right. We used to make $5 - $10 for every N64 or Playstation sold. The biggest way we'd make money was through selling large quanities of games. Even the markup on those was only about 25%. I'm sure Amazon gets them in bulk as a wholeseller cheaper than a small retailer, but it wouldn't be much of a difference.
Also, video game console companies are very strict with their pricing. I am not sure of the details, but if a store is caught selling a system more than a few pennies below the given price, dealers will no longer sell to them. I am sure Amazon and Microsoft had some deal in making this happen. |
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batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs:
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to Devistater
said by Devistater  :And finally, if the official microsoft xbox site wasn't a good enough source for you, try googling for xbox core $299 MSRP and xbox core $599 MSRP. I must be missing something. Post the link again to the *official Microsoft* site that shows the MSRP. |
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Devistater
join:2004-02-13
Clovis, CA
4 edits | reply to batterup
Go back and read my post. Despite you posting AFTER my extensive edit, you didn't read it.
I got my numbers from the official microsoft site.
And yes, not only did I look at your link, I provided an additional concrete example of them inflating actual MSRP numbers (a digital camera).
Also, for your information there are TONS of products that sell for MSRP, especially right when they launch. One quick example, graphics cards. They quite often sell at MSRP when a new generation is released.
Most B&M stores sell a huge number of items in thier store for MSRP unless they are on sale that week.
Since I provided a concrete example of your site inflating an MSRP (the digital camera), I challange you to provide an example where that megagoods site has the actual verifiable non inflated MSRP on one of thier items.
Its a commonly known scam for sites like that (who are trying to sell products at a higher price that you can get almost anywhere else) to inflate their MSRP prices above what they actually are. Heck, if you google for xbox core MSRP, one of the first hits is a guide about that scam lol.
Oh also, many of their items are refurbished or not new, thats hardly wholesale dropshipper practices!
And finally, if the official microsoft xbox site wasn't a good enough source for you, try googling for xbox core $299 MSRP and xbox core $599 MSRP.
You get 10,000+ hits for the former and only about 600 hits for the latter. Doesn't prove anything beyond a shadow of a doubt, but its suggestive.
Look, I can agree with your point that most places can sell many items far below MSRP. Theres no question. There's also no question that the wholesale is below the MSRP, sometimes far below even the actual price you can buy it at. My disagreement is one of degree, not kind in general. Unfortunately, we aren't talking in general, we are talking about a particular item, the xbox 360 core system. An item that does NOT have an MSRP of $599.
I provided an example of the site you linked where they were inflating actual MSRP. I showed you the official microsoft site where they show the price of $299. Now I think you should show me somewhere on the official microsoft site where they mention a $599 price for the core (MSRP or otherwise). |
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batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
1 edit | reply to Devistater
said by Devistater :Oh come on, now you are getting ridiculous. The MSRP of the core system is $300 and everyone is selling it for that price. That particular site is inflating actual MSRP figures. You should not go name calling if you don't know what the MSRP means. Very few items sell at MSRP, Rolex watches from an authorized dealer being one exception.
Do you have a link for a MSRP of 300? |
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Devistater
join:2004-02-13
Clovis, CA
3 edits | reply to batterup
Oh come on, now you are getting ridiculous.
»www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xb···esystem/
$299 for the core
Being as MS is the manufacture, I imagine they would show the MSRP on thier site.
$399 for the premium
»www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xb···rosystem
At the very least, if your pie in the sky $600 was true EVER of the core MSRP, it would have been that price at launch. And it never was. The core launched at $300.
That site you are listing which claims to be a wholesale dropshipper, the cost of the core xbox 360 is $314 + shipping. Which is higher than every single other major store online OR B&M. Heck you can walk into best buy and get the core for $300. They definately are NOT wholesalers, or if they are they are ripping people off.
Your random googling of a site to try and support your point kinda turned up a poor example there.
The MSRP of the core system is $300 and everyone is selling it for that price. That particular site is inflating actual MSRP figures.
Here's a concrete example that took me just a few seconds to find, if you click on the digital camera category. At the top you'll see an olympus SP-320 camera. That site claims the MSRP is $400. But if you google for olympus SP-320 MSRP, you'll see a number of sites such as this one:
»www.dcresource.com/reviews/camer···?cam=814
That show the MSRP is actually $300.
In fact here's a preview of the camera before it was released which shows the same MSRP of $300 (just in case you want to claim that its been lowered over time since the camera's release)
»www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S···320A.HTM
Oh also, did you take a look at the computer category of that site? Hardly any selection at all. They are definately NOT a wholesaler. And so far the products I've checked have all had inflated false MSRP. |
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batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
1 edit | reply to Devistater
said by Devistater :(I'm not sure where you get $550 price for premium anyway, thats close to what the PS3 is, and I'm pretty sure the xbox 360 premium is closer to $400). The $550 is *The Manufactures Suggested Retail Price*. If you watch The Price is Right that is the price they use. $299.99 is the price Amazon sells it for.
Edit: XBOX 360
Xbox 360 Core Console Video Game System
Model: xboxcore360
MSRP: $599.99
»www.megagoods.com/product_catalo···ateg=162
That site lists the MSRP, a business would get a minimum 50% discount wholesale. So Amazon MUST get more then 50%. |
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Devistater
join:2004-02-13
Clovis, CA
4 edits | reply to batterup
Except this entire thread, the amazon deal, and the console I was talking about was the core system. Heh, one of my replies you quoted even mentioned that the amazon price was $100 instead of $300.
$300 being the retail price of the core system.
(I'm not sure where you get $550 price for premium anyway, thats close to what the PS3 is, and I'm pretty sure the xbox 360 premium is closer to $400).
BTW, compusa this year has had a series of cost plus sales. Like cost +7% sale. If you managed to check out the prices in that sale, you would have seen they aren't really as low as you would expect. In fact a lot of the prices were higher than you see on special sales, because of a number of factors such as rebates, or the stores hoping that people buy other high margin items along with the items that the stores are losing money on. |
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