quote:

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>
> The Xbox stock crisis continues
> 04 March 2005 By Stuart Dinsey
>
> Microsoft has once again promised that more Xbox stock is coming and
> allocations are being handled fairly - but full supply could be another
> three months away and anger is mounting within the trade.
> UK Xbox boss Neil Thompson admits surprise that shortages affecting
> hardware
> sales since pre-Christmas are continuing, but insists that there are no
> hidden agendas.
>
> "It has been tough for us to judge the demand for Xbox hardware. It has
> gained huge momentum over the past few months and it's a challenge that
> we'
> re facing worldwide," he told MCV.
>
> "But I can categorically say that the reason for the shortages has nothing
> to do with clearing channels in preparation for Xbox 2."
>
> Some retailers are skeptical as well as irritated. "I had no Xbox stock in
> February and just 12 during the whole of January," said Will Copeland of
> large indie retail store One Step Beyond in Norwich.
>
> "They say they are catching up with allocations, but that simply isn't
> true
> from our experience.
>
> "We need Microsoft to be honest. Either Microsoft has stopped production
> of
> Xbox 1 or it is favouring specific territories or retail partners.
>
> "I know for a fact that GAME and Gamestation have got stock. The current
> situation simply isn't good enough."
>
> For its part, Xbox's exclusive distributor Gem can only be sympathetic to
> unhappy retailers whilst it waits itself for improved supply.
>
> "We are allocating stock as fairly as possible across our entire
> independent
> retail customer base," said sales director Chris Peacock.
>
> "Regrettably, we are unable to satisfy the entire requirements of our
> customers but look forward to the supply situation improving."
>
> http://www.mcvuk.com/html/news/story.jsp?newsId=1930305
>
>
> SO what do YOU believe: Microsoft is having trouble meeting the demand of
> retail for Xbox1, or, they're phasing it out in favor of Xbox 2 ?
>
>