Why didn't you pre-order sooner?

[mr_sockochris]

I'm interested in why so many ordered online. Unless you live miles from any shops, why not walk into a store where you can see where you are on the list?

Plus individual stores have their own allocation, whereas with websites you're just in with the masses.

I trust Gameplay more than I do the monkeys at my local GAME, that was my main reason for ordering online. That said, initially I was going to preorder both online and in a store then cancel one nearer launch but I never went near a GAME store in weeks by which time preorders were quite large so I stuck with my Gameplay order which I ordered a few hours after it was on their site to buy.

[Ginger Tosser]

My main reason for my Amazon preorder was no payment until the unit is shipped. At this point i know i'm relying on Amazon sticking to the first come first served policy they told me about.

[Brats]

You can't put anything down to certainty. high street can be as bad as online and vice versa. It's pot luck. You can't predict anything.

Zis is true, but you can pop into your local high street store and check they haven't inadvertantly deleted your place in the queue whenever you want. Plus it's much easier to stomp on someone's head when they're in front of you rather than at the end of a phone. And they actually take a small amount of dosh, which to me is (subconciously at least) slightly more secure than just an email response.

Plus you can 'buddy up' with the staff by impressing them with your vast knowledge (that's readily available over the net), thus further ensuring your allocation.

After I've said all that, I bet I won't get one .

[themanwithapc]

Zis is true, but you can pop into your local high street store and check they haven't inadvertantly deleted your place in the queue whenever you want. Plus it's much easier to stomp on someone's head when they're in front of you rather than at the end of a phone.

And you can 'buddy up' with the staff by impressing them with your vast knowledge (that's readily available over the net), thus further ensuring your allocation.

After I've said all that, I bet I won't get one .

I try not to order in store, precisely because of this. I'd rather end up losing my cool on the end of the phone to some faceless employee, than go down a local store, and create a scene.

Anyway, the staff in high street stores are usually worse than the ones online (IMO Gameplay's are examplary). My gamestation for example, doesn't have one worker who has an indepth knowledge about games. You can't really do anything if they chop your name off the list (assuming they keep one )

Anyway, hope you get one as well as everyone who wants one. I know how it feels to not have a machine confirmed for launch despite waiting ages for it.

[Dirty Sanchez]

Good point Brats.

So much for support of the local indie etc.....

Saying lhat I only ordered in the last couple of weeks with Woolworths online, i was way too busy earlier in the year to keep on top of pre order dates and wasn't thta bothered. until I say COD on a demo pod, then i just HAD to have one.

[in5ane]

I never buy stuff from real shops usually... except console launches! I've had too many bad experiences with inept delivery firms and moronic postal workers to want to put myself thru that on the first day!

Altho for me, the hype started at E3- and there was still months after that to pre-order, so no one who wants one and isn't getting one isn't dedicated enough to gaming!

[Nijo]

Why didn't I pre-order sooner?
Lazy I guess. I was kind of in the mind-set that I would buy one in the Spring when all the hubbub had died down. Then I thought that I might get one after all because, well why not. So if I can just walk into a shop and buy one I will, otherwise I'll wait until Spring. The zen approach to buying next-gen. Or I might hang around Oxford street on Thursday night and see what happens, but only if I happen to be in the area and it's not too cold.
My brother will have one anyway so I can play it over Christmas.

[parkinho]

Altho for me, the hype started at E3- and there was still months after that to pre-order, so no one who wants one and isn't getting one isn't dedicated enough to gaming!

Please tell me that statement is a piss-take.

[$h@d0w]

I preordered in August and still got screwed.

[watusi]

ditto, dixons have let me down big stylee. Still holding out that amazon will come through, but that leaves me with a ?310 dixons voucher with nothing to spend it on.

[asnozz]

I preordered in August and still got screwed.

yup same here

[Corrupt Rose]

ditto, dixons have let me down big stylee. Still holding out that amazon will come through, but that leaves me with a ?310 dixons voucher with nothing to spend it on.

An arse load of 360 games?

[nonny]

Ive ordered with Amazon as well... question to those like me, does your order have the "will arrive no later than 24th Dec" information above it on the preorder screen?

I preordered early August and since then its always said estimated arrival 1st-2nd Dec but in the last month or so they've stuck that up there. I guess until it actually ships I wont trust them...

[watusi]

An arse load of 360 games?

Most likely, I've already ordered everything good thats coming out before xmas though...

[PeteBrant]

Woolies were saviours for lots of people. I have a core pack coming from GAME pre-ordered on Oct27th - and a Pro pack from Woolies pre-ordered on 14th November. (Which was despatched today )

GAME and gameplay etc handled this all wrong, they took orders without knowing allocation. Woolies on the other made a conservative estimate, then took the 360 off the site, then put it back up again when they found they had a bigger allocation, which then got sold and the 360 was taken off again.

It really is the way to do it.