Target breaking Elite street date, now on eBay

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 18th 2007 at 3:00PM }

It seems like the game industry just isn't as solid as it once was. Games are discovered long before they are officially announced and street dates are broken left and right. Case in point: if the photo above is indeed genuine, it looks like Target has broken the street date on the Xbox 360 Elite. Not only has the street date been broken, but it has been broken by more than a week. Way to go, Target! The picture even includes a receipt, which we have magnified so that the $479.99 price is clearly visible. Granted, it could be a display box and some Photoshop trickery, but it looks awfully legit to us.

What's more, it appears that the owner of the Elite is selling it on eBay. The listing even has images of the serial number. The opening bid is $600. Of course, if Target is routinely breaking the street date, you could pick one up for a lot less.

Anyone else out there manage to snag an Elite from Target (or elsewhere)? We're assuming you aren't planning on winning one. Hit the "read" link for a larger photo.

[Via Digg. Thanks, brodiemash]

Tags: elite, target, xbox 360 elite, Xbox360Elite

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Guy @ Apr 18th 2007 3:06PM

Ha Ha. No one needs an Elite that badly. I'll buy it at retail thank you very much.

Arno @ Apr 18th 2007 3:09PM

I can't wait till they extract the sectors on that new HDD so that I can buy a new drive off the shelf and shun Microsoft for trying to break my wallet.

Phobos @ Apr 18th 2007 3:13PM

What kills me is the auction goes on for 5 days!

If the auction ended today I'd actually give some consideration to bidding on it ( I WANT ONE *NOW*!), but if I can't even pay for it until Monday, and he won't actually ship it until after that, even if he ships it overnight, I wouldn't be getting it much earlier than normal.

$130+ to get it a couple days early? Even I'm not that impatient.

Arno @ Apr 18th 2007 3:16PM

The real question is, though, how many people are actually planning on buying one.

Pat @ Apr 18th 2007 3:24PM

what's the real street date? a week from now?

quick @ Apr 18th 2007 3:29PM

What a moron. I don't think people want an Elite that badly let alone pay $600 or more when you can get it a lot cheaper in about a week or so. I'm really only interested in the 120 GB HHD which I will purchase separately.

dood @ Apr 18th 2007 3:34PM

i'm buying. and everyone else without a 360 and knows that 360 has the best games right now will buy one too. 360 elite has gotten alot of hate from early adopters but you have to admit it's a great deal.

matthew @ Apr 18th 2007 3:45PM

When I worked at Target this would happen all the time, so it's conceivable... Most of the overnight crew had no idea what a "street date" was :P

Tony @ Apr 18th 2007 3:48PM

I don't really need it as I don't have an HDMI capable TV and usually have 10GBs+ open on my existing HD... but honestly, the main thing I don't like about it is the color. I have way too many black or gray systems as it is, I think the system looked a lot better in white.

Still, you can change the faceplate, so I guess it doesn't matter much.

Stephen @ Apr 18th 2007 4:04PM

Hello!? California people...get on the ball! Check out the receipt and see if you can decrypt it and go get your own. I even got you started by letting you know it was CA by looking at the tax line. Somebody's got to know somebody that works at Target that can help with the decryption. Good luck Cali gamers!

Skippy @ Apr 18th 2007 4:13PM

My guess would be Chico as that's the shipping location for the item on ebay... :)

jason @ Apr 18th 2007 4:19PM

why would you buy this its going to be as loud as the 360's out now wait to next holiday time

skunkworks @ Apr 18th 2007 4:27PM

when is the actual street date?
I may trade my sorta malfunctioning 360 for an elite. i dunno yet.

Chester @ Apr 18th 2007 4:47PM

I cant believe anyone actually wants to waste money on this!

Naresh @ Apr 18th 2007 4:56PM

I work at a Target store and know where this one was purchased. The receipt number has 0317 in the third section of it. That is the store number.

The store it was purchased at is:
Target Store #0317
1951 E 20th St
Chico, CA 95928

I'll verify the receipt at work tomorrow, see if its legit.

Naresh @ Apr 18th 2007 4:58PM

Update: I called the store, they are saying that the release date is the 29th, and aren't responding to questions regarding the sale of this. Can you blame them?

Jay @ Apr 18th 2007 9:37PM

I work at Target and we haven't received any communication on holding these items for a street date, and very little on even carrying them. So expect to seen them for sale early at Target.

Michael Paul @ Apr 18th 2007 10:12PM

Hey, if you fake the details so people think you already have it, then time the end of the auction until after you can get one at the normal price, you end up pocketing whatever is left over from what the sucker (umm, winning bidder) was willing to pay...