I actually was waiting since 9:00 for the promo. I had firefox extensions check if the page was updated. But then firefox couldn’t connect so I used IE on another compy

I hate amazon. I think this is a scam. The site stops responding between 10:58 - 11:10 Am and then the deals shows up sold out.

Amazon Sucks.

i wonder where amazons servers are at. it would be funny if all the xbox’s sold are in california or washington. Also think about it Amazon website cannot handle as much people as they think. I think they need to go back to the drawing board and rethink this customer vot.

Yeah I’m pretty salty about this site bogg-down garbage, but I’m still trying to figure out, from a technical perspective, how some people can get through and others couldn’t. Is it possible for someone, using Firefox, Explorer, or the Opera browser to set their configuration so that they received preference when making site requests? Rumer has it that this thing was sold out in 15 seconds. If 1000 units were really sold in that time frame, somebody had to be using a better process than us!

So does ANYONE know anyone who got one?

The servers are located in downtown seattle next to wizards of the coast.

Same here, got logged on, got offered the deal, answered the stupid question and then it said I couldnt have one.

Nice

To me thats false advertising. Perhaps we should all buy something and then say screw it - I dont want it.

You probably needed to refresh about 10:59:45 so that your browser hit it at exactly 11:00:00…all luck. I hit the “Get This Deal” button at 11:00:05 and by the time I answered the question, they were gone….maybe 11:00:20. I had four different browsers open on three computers, BTW, and Opera was the fastest.

I think this contest was all a joke, plain and simple. I think Amazon.com fooled us into thinking they really had 1,000 XBox units.
Even if you wantedto get the system, it was basically the Core System, not the full package that’s in stores for $400 (the 20 GB hard drive). So if you missed out this time, don’t worry: The Nintendo Wii will be on sale for $100 in six months.
Still, these contests should not be taken seriously!

My original page couldn’t load quickly enough, but I opened a 2nd window and it got me to the Get This Deal button, which (after a few minutes) got me to the Verification page, which took 5 more minutes to tell me that there were none left. Dang! My hopes were up because I got past the 1st page!

I think they advertised this so they could get ad money.

See the aim ad on the right side of the promo page.

Big bucks.

No, but then again, how could they prove they did.

If you want to go really conspiracy theorist on it, how hard would it be for amazon to send a few employees to post in a few forums that they “won” just to keep people quiet.

I never expected to win, just hoped, but what I did expect was a “chance” to win.

I was in early, at the page ready and waiting, and 4min before it became available until 18min after I was completely unable to connect.

Just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

My guess is whatever publicity they got from this stunt will be contrasted by just how many people ignore any subsequent “offers” because they believe it’s either a scam or pointless to try.

Amazon is dea to me.

Screw them all to hell is what I say.

By the way, while I was waiting for the promo to start I had the firefox extension click to check notify me that the page was changing every min (it only reloads if there is something changed on the page).

Odd that it would change so much right before the promo

I guess it’s possible that it was a scam of some sort. But I mean, lets be honest - if Amazon offered another chance an XBOX 360 similiar to this, we’d all likely be there with bells on at the chance to win =P Not that this makes it right, just sayin.

I was using opera myself. It was reloading way faster than Firefox.

I waited from 1:45-2:20 pm ESt and could not load the page after 1:57. By The time it finally loaded at 2:12, everything was gone.

I’m extremely disappointed in Amazon and more so disappointed that I’m estimating 800/1000 units sold (if any) will be on eBay in a few hours for $299.

I got three Xbox 360’s. I got one, my friend got one and his friend got one. Boo-Yah! We’re on a univeristy connection, which may have helped. Or, it could be cause our friend works for Amazon… he gave us a few tips.

i don’t care that i didn’t get one–i kind of expected it to sell out fast–concert tickets sell out in seconds with more available for less people.

But I do care that the page wasn’t responsive for over 10 minutes. A company their size should’ve known that they’d get hammered, and had the resources to keep it smooth. Even though I didn’t get to purchase anything, it was a frustrating online experience! Especially planning time on a holiday for it. At least when getting up tomorrow morning to fighting the lines, I’ll get to see that someone actually got what I was looking for.

CHEATER!

I bet your “friend” actually made it so you and your friends accounts all get one.

Grrr..

I’m so pissed but, I don’t think this was a scam. Remember, only 1000 units and this promotion has been viral on the ‘net. Almost every coupon site/message board was showing this deal. So, it would be safe to say at least a million people were hitting the site. I was waiting 30 min before. I started hitting refresh at 10:55am. My last refresh was at 10:58am (I used the time on my cell phone with is accurate). Did not see the page again until 11:12am and it was sold out. During that refresh, I also opened other browers after 11am. No luck. I am in California too! I think I was really who got the luck of the straw. I did not even get to answer the Deal question like some. Anyway, I am still pissed. I was going to buy the 20g hard drive for $89 too. That would be $189 for basically a premium system and I don’t need the HD cables or X-Box live features since I won’t let my son play online anyway. I guess I’ll just get a good bundled system at Sam’s Club or Costco later…

No doubt they’ll mostly be ebayed.

It’s like any deep discount limited amount sales they have in stores now a days. People who actually want to buy it to use it get beat out by opportunists who just want to turn a buck on ebay.

Sure it’s legal, but just rubs me wrong. Companies offer the deals to consumers, some scalper jumps in, grabs the stash and then trys to sell it to you to line his pocket.

They seemed to take the page down at 10:58:00 or so and then put it back up at 11:00:00. It was a digital lottery. Now Amazon gets free coverage on CNN tonight because of this, which is worth a lot more to them than the few thousand of us who are pissed because we didn’t hit refresh at the right time.

yup - ditto with me. Managed to hit the page at the right time so it actually loaded (miracle of miracles). Logged on, answered the silly question…only to be told I couldn’t get one. Yes, this is just a game console (not the end of the world or anything). Yes, I’ve got sour grapes right now. Yes, I know this is capitalism. However, I think that Amazon royally screwed up on this one. I feel very cheated.

Well, I wasn’t looking to get the XBox 360 anyway, but I tried to get one of the systems just to see what would happen. I couldn’t log on the system either and my computer froze. Oh well, I’m not really an XBox fan anyway, since they continue to be outsold by the PS2 (a second-gen console)! But Amazon.com screwed everyone and there is no reason to shop there if they continue deceptive deals such as this. Amazon.com SUCKS.

So, Mike, what were these so called ‘tips’??

caruso: I so agree with you. I really wanted a Xbox 360 because I could play burnout revenge on it (I love that game) but I guess this scam was a waste of time.

Yeah, we had 3 PCs and 3 people in the family try at the deal, my sister got all the way past the question and it said it was sold out.
http://www.beconvinced.com

Farooq: same here. And I got in right at 11

I am so pissed I will not order anything at Amazon for the next year.

I have to agree with Steve. I’ll bet that people like Mike are employed by Amazon (or know people who are) and are simply going to turn around and resell these systems for less than the retail price, but more than $100. What a waste of a good deal. Amazon.com is a joke.

This is one of those things that is worth it to me at $100+$90 for the HD, but not at retail. I’ll wait a few weeks for the Wii. Not the same, but worth the $250.

The tips? Well our friend gave us a special link to the deals page [he said it was on a backup server, or something], and he gave us preferred accounts… we didn’t use our normal amazon accounts. Those were the basic tips… among other thngs. But we had the same odds as everyone else…

When they first started the deal they said they had 2000 units, the next day it went to 1000. Something going on.

Did anyone see that the prices of other consoles were raised during this promo?

Wii: $800 dollars
PS3: over $2000 dollars.

And yes I think people who know people employed by amazon had an unfair advantage

No Mike, you did not “have the same odds” as everyone else.

Your friend gave you priveledged info and accounts that sped you to the front of the line.

Those weren’t “tips” they were direct assistance from amazon.

Assuming you are who you are and are actually telling the truth, enjoy your xboxs but don’t go around posting about your success cause the fact is you gamed the system.

Wow Mike that sounds like cheating.

A use of a backup server..that’s unfair…perferred accounts? unfair.

I think we should protest amazon.

May the little cold orphans hate you forever.

@Mike
Dude, how can you say the odds were the same if you had a link on a different server and then received preferred accounts? Those aren’t quite tips…

I think we should send hate mail to amazon.

Where is that customer service link?

Unfair? Nah. We all would have taken advantage of a backdoor to the site. Sort of like your friend at Bob’s Game Emporium who lets you in the back at 11:55 to get a Wii. That’s life.

caruso, it is unfair. Unfair is an objective thing. He got a leg up, that’s unfair.

Now we can argue about how uncommon or unsurprising it is, or that alot of people get similiar legs up, sure. But it doesn’t change that objectively it is unfair.

MASA - did you happen to take a screenshot of the prices for the other consoles? Just curious.

I didn’t get the chance too. But I think the prices may still be there.

mike that was unfair as fuck.. this is the main reason I hate games now. People like you have taken the joy out of everything

I’ve been fiddling with the URL’s, was able to get to verification page for Xbox 360 deal, even now it is accessible, but once you complete verification, it says:

“We’re very sorry!

This item is no longer available at the special Customers Vote price. As we stated earlier, our supply was limited, and that supply didn’t last long at this bargain price. Below, you’ll see a few things you might like instead, or you can go back and try for one of this week’s other deals.”

I’ve tried this many times, keep getting same response. I think it’s safe to say, the deal is completely over, for everyone

Well I had a similar experience to others, I had already been logged in to amazon ahead of time to be ready, and waited at the promo page for my clock to hit 11:00AM PST. I was able to refresh right at 11 and I was offered the xb360, so I clicked to buy it, then amazon asked me a math question, I answered to continue -and they said it was sold out.

This all happened in about 10 seconds, and I am in the bay area on a high speed connection. I’m stunned that they could have all sold out within seconds! I guess it’s possible but I feel like some people must have had an advantage for them to go so fast.

After about a half hour of grumbling I got over it, but I won’t be surprised if amazon turned off more people from shopping with them because of this.

I have T1 like speeds (that’s what I get when I use speed tests) and I got in right 11 and had to answer what is 6+5 and I didn’t get it. And I live in seattle.

I don’t think it’s unfair at all. In fact, I totally expected it. Some coworkers of mine and I were all preparing for this since 10:30 CST. Plotting and speculating the fastest ways to get to the site, and when I refreshed the page at 12:59:30, I didn’t get a page load until 1:01 PM, and they were sold out.

It’s the nature of the beast really, TCP connections on a web server are first-come, first-serve, and on Windows servers (not sure about Linux), the timeout is 120 seconds. So basically anyone that had a connection open at 12:58 had a connection open at 1:00 (CST). I work at a web hosting company, and the edge of what I know didn’t help me.

I already have an XBOX 360 premium package at home, and wanted a cheap second one for the living room. Tough luck.

I am extremely pissed off about this and will not buy anything from Amazon this holiday season (Had a list ready to go).

In my opinion they lost out on a lot more customers doing this than they gained

I am angered by this. I now have no xbox 360. Which is one less than I wanted. I declare FLQ on Amazon.com. Very angered. Idiots.