Topic: eBay auction for Xbox 360... What to bid?

[scottws]

Auction link

It is a brand new 360 premium system with:

• Xbox 360 Console
• Xbox 360 Hard Drive
• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
• Component HD AV Cable
• Xbox 360 Headset
• Xbox 360 Ethernet Cable
• Two (2) wireless controllers
• Quake IV
• Final Fantasy XI
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (collectors' edition)

Current bid is $232.50 with almost 3 days left.  My max bid I'm considering is $312.51, which would be $350.00 with the shipping.  I'm wondering if that will be enough to win though.  Seems like on eBay a lot of people don't even consider the shipping cost when they bid (I frequently see auctions ending in approximately the same value even though the shipping price is wildly different).  I would like to win the auction, but I would like to try to save over retail for this stuff, especially since the game selection here isn't all that important to me.  Like I don't want to save $20 over retail cost when I could go out and buy the 360 and a controller for less, then pick up some games I actually want.  But $350 seems nice for the system, an extra controller, plus a few games even if I don't care much about them.  I'm just not sure I can win the auction near that amount.

There is also this auction.  Same thing basically except with three controllers, a quick battery charger, and Perfect Dark Zero, Madden 06, MLB 2k6, and Live 06.  I like the extra controller plus charger, but the additional games are lost on me, especially since they are all from last year.

Any word on the bigger hard drive in the 360?  Is that still happening?

[Cobra951]

Bear in mind that the premium package has everything included down to the ethernet cable.  So what you're getting extra is the extra controller (not 2 extra, right?), Q4, FFXI and Oblivion.  That still would be a really good deal at $350, I think, as long as it really is brand-new, US system with its 1-year warranty.

Edit:  Don't know about the bigger HDD.  I'm curious myself, although I'm loading huge demos and all kinds of other stuff, and I'm still making do just fine.

[scottws]

Right, I realize that it's just the extra controller and the games.  I just looked on Best Buy and just the premium system is listed at $400.  So this would be a damn good deal if I can snag it at that amount.  The things that concern me are:

• The warranty
• The possibility of new 360's coming with a bigger hard drive

The warranty I'm not sure about.  When does the warranty start?  The auction mentions that there is still a free one month Live gold subscription, so I would think the warranty is still ok unless it starts from when this guy bought it.  How can I find that out?

Also, I just saw the auction says there are two extra controllers.  I'm going to contact the seller about the warranty and to find out how many controllers it comes with.

[iPPi]

It is a damn good deal.

[Jedi]

hmmm... isn't the HD upgradable anyway? Couldn't you by the larger drive and put on the older boxes?
But then how would you get the data from the first drive onto the new one... hmmm

[Pugnate]

The new 360s are rumored to come end of 2007.

[Cobra951]

hmmm... isn't the HD upgradable anyway? Couldn't you by the larger drive and put on the older boxes?
But then how would you get the data from the first drive onto the new one... hmmm

I bought the HDD separately (which was dumb, but I could not bring myself to spring for the premium pack initially).  You push a tab on the console's lid, swivel it off, then swivel the HDD unit into the same spot (tab goes *click*).  That is all.  Would be very easy to replace.

You can move (not copy) your profile to a memory card, and copy game saves as well.  There is a transfer kit to go from memory card to a PC, so I guess you can bucket-brigade stuff off this way.  Or, if you feel more adventuresome, there is an unlicensed device which will allow you to back up your entire HDD to a PC.  It sits between the X360 and the HDD, and has a USB port in the back.

[scottws]

Ok, turns out it is indeed three total controllers, and the seller claims the warranty period begins at auction end.

[scottws]

Haha!  Auction is up to $455 (+ $37.49 shipping) now and there is still more than a day left.  I guess it was wishful thinking for me to think I might be able to snag this for around the price of a new system alone at a brick and mortar or regular online store.

$500 is well out of my price range, especially when it's bundled with stuff I could care less about.

[iPPi]

It still remains a decent deal because of the fact that it comes with 2 extra controllers and Oblivion.  Q4 and FFXI are only like $20 games now.

[Quemaqua]

And the controllers are fucking expensive.

[scottws]

Well, I'm going to pass on it.  I don't really have a reason to need more than two controllers right now, and I have no interest in any of the bundled games.  At $400 - $450 it would have been a steal or good value.  At $500 I am just paying for stuff I don't want or need.