800 MS point cards now available at retail [update]

by Dustin Burg { Dec 18th 2008 at 3:00PM }

Update: Upon further inspection, the pricing for 800 MS point cards looks to be $9.99 making it only $.01 cheaper than 1600 point cards.

At retail in the U.S., Microsoft point purchasers only have one buying option and that's a 1600 Microsoft point card for around $19.99. But let's say a customer (a retail buying customer) wants, say, half that. Something more like 800 points. Well, that customer would normally be out of luck. That is until now, because we just learned that Microsoft is now selling 800 MS point cards at the retail level. These point of sale activation cards (as seen above) are ~~even value priced at $9.39 USD~~ priced at $9.99, which is in line with the 1600 point cards. How's that for convenience?

[Thanks, Adam L.]

Tags: Breaking, microsoft-points, ms-points, x3f-twitter, xbox-live

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

HazyCloud @ Dec 18th 2008 3:04PM

I'll be happy when Best Buy, Wal Mart and others decide to stop charging tax on Xbox points but not Zune points. It's been a long time since I've grab the Xbox branded cards. Try it yourself. Go grab an iTunes, a Zune and an Xbox card. You'll only be charged tax on the Xbox one.

Tony @ Dec 18th 2008 3:12PM

Really? Interesting. Tax here is 10 or 10.25%. I'd like to save that lol.

Rick @ Dec 18th 2008 3:23PM

I buy my cards at my local Target as they don't charge tax on any point cards.

KC @ Dec 18th 2008 3:30PM

That's odd because the Walmart I go to doesn't charge taxes on MSP. If you must buy MSP in stores you should check out Target. Every few months they, for some reason, sell their 1600 card for $15. I normally get between 4-6 cards because Rock Band for the past year or so has been eating up my points like there's no tomorrow.

CB @ Dec 18th 2008 3:41PM

Does Gamestop have sales tax on it? I was thinking about swinging by since it's the closest.

Jitaroo @ Dec 18th 2008 5:44PM

Best Buy in Los Angeles don't charge tax on any points cards as well, even iTunes.

yolarrydabomb @ Dec 18th 2008 5:48PM

I guess depnending on what state you live on?

my only $20.00 for 1600 Microsoft Points.

Outinthedark @ Dec 19th 2008 2:15AM

You are incorrect or mistaken...and if you were charged tax and did not file it with your Attourney General you should have done so.

Never have been taxed on any prepaid card and never will be. I no longer use my CC for XBL subscription or points and I use a ATT prepaid card to refill my phone. Never never never never been charged.

HazyCloud @ Dec 19th 2008 4:57PM

Thanks for the replies. It seems it varies by store. I'll have to try Target.

Craig @ Dec 18th 2008 3:07PM

wow you save money if you buy the cheapest card, but there is no discount in buying more points. there should be a discount if you purchase a lot of points through xbox live, there is no discount on getting 4000 points or whatever.

adadawg2020 @ Dec 18th 2008 3:13PM

1600 isn't the only retail option, we sell 4000 point cards at Target.

kentawilson @ Dec 18th 2008 3:17PM

About to say the same thing. You can get 4000 point cards for $50

SugarDaddy @ Dec 18th 2008 3:37PM

Every once in a while you can find deals on these as well. A few weeks ago, Amazon was selling them for 40. Then 45 the week after. Now back up to 50.

Donovan Myers @ Dec 18th 2008 3:17PM

I'm pretty sure that's $9.99 in the photo.

CyberKnight @ Dec 18th 2008 4:05PM

I think you're right; looks like there's a... something? reflection? plastic fold?... between the dollars and cents that's partially "eating" a bit of the right side of the large 9 and the left side of the first small 9 in the price. Makes it look like it *could* be "9.39", but could be a broken "9.99".

Which would make more sense. Otherwise, why discount the 800 point cards like that, at such an odd price?

---Actually, I just took the image into Paint.Net and zoomed in on it. Yeah, I don't know what the heck it is. :lol: Doesn't look like a 3 or a 9.

myabsolution @ Dec 18th 2008 3:21PM

Lucky Americans.

In Canada we have 1400(20 bucks) and 2800(40 bucks) point cards...

both are a rip off price.

iFester @ Dec 18th 2008 3:41PM

Not to mention we get taxed on them too depending on what province you're in. I'm in Ontario so GST and PST equal to 13%.

DjDATZ @ Dec 18th 2008 3:53PM

Yep, and essentially all the cards on Ebay are region locked to the US...BS.

Viridium @ Dec 18th 2008 3:54PM

I only pick them up when Best Buy or FutureShop are having a 20% off accessories sale. $16.99 is a little more palatable for 1400 points.

Viridium @ Dec 18th 2008 3:55PM

Great, typo makes me look like I can't do math. Obviously that should be $15.99.

mattclarkie @ Dec 19th 2008 4:37AM

In the UK we get 2100msp for £18 (~30USD) and 4200msp for £35(~75USD). That includes 17.5% tax (although currently 15% tax) as they are a luxury item.

We pay tax on our phone top-ups too.

Flip @ Dec 18th 2008 3:26PM

I work at Circuit City and we've had them for over a month now.... I'm surprised it took you guys this long to state it. Heck, I bought myself one just last week!

Outinthedark @ Dec 19th 2008 2:17AM

I found them at CC first as well.

I'm not sure why it took so long to report this "news" either.

sean @ Dec 18th 2008 3:41PM

Something tells me this is in light to the gears of war combustion map pack being 800 points, just saying there has been a lot of negative feedback in regards to this.

Dan @ Dec 18th 2008 3:44PM

these have been out for some time now.
still a great idea, i hate wasting 20 on something i only want to spend 10 on.

Brian @ Dec 18th 2008 3:45PM

What about in Europe? Will we be getting these?

Deck @ Dec 18th 2008 4:02PM

Not bad, I like this. Much better than their previous options of 1600. Or their 500/1000/25000 option on xboxlive.com that you spend top dollar for.

I'll have to be checking out this card. Also I second the person who said to get them at target. They do seem to have sales on them ever couple months, (1600 for 15 bucks) which is always nice.

bioadam @ Dec 18th 2008 4:04PM

The 800 points card is a boon to points adverse folks such as myself. The idea of spending my real money on points kept me from the Xbox Live Marketplace for over a year. All the other digital distributors (that I know of) use real money. Why coan't Microsoft?

Jitaroo @ Dec 18th 2008 5:46PM

wii
now known as nintendo points.

JBurton @ Dec 18th 2008 4:18PM

I like this. I might go buy one in a sec. It sucked when I had to spend 20 at Gamestop for a 5 dollar export license for Rock Band. It left me with extra points that I really didnt need. But of course ill use them eventually.

DarkZephix @ Dec 18th 2008 4:22PM

I havent seen them anywhere, and Gamestop has never even know about this?

DeadPlasmaCell @ Dec 18th 2008 4:40PM

Nice, these will make great stocking stuffers for my gamer friends & family

K Fed @ Dec 18th 2008 4:49PM

ill being expecting a hell of a lot of gamertag changes from here on...

MewLover34 @ Dec 18th 2008 5:17PM

How do you not know they sell 4000 point cards? That's crazy...and EB doesn't tax either.

Bud @ Dec 18th 2008 8:12PM

yea, I usually get 1600 pt cards at Target for 25% off, and I actually got some on clearance for $12.99 a while back.

Youthinized @ Dec 18th 2008 9:53PM

Coming Soon: 1200 point retail cards!

Kameoosama @ Dec 21st 2008 11:41PM

I think they have 1200 MSP cards with the zune logo on them. I've got those before, anyway. they redeem over XBLM just the same, and if you happen to have a zune, you can just use the same login for both and share your points between the two.

Carbonize @ Dec 19th 2008 3:12AM

"Upon further inspection, the pricing for 800 MS point cards looks to be $9.99 making it only $.01 cheaper than 1600 point cards."

Sloppy English there. Makes it sound like the 1600 point cards are only $10.

SadisticHam @ Dec 19th 2008 7:05AM

How about you stop shitting on the rest of the world with your stupid points and either do as Sony do and drop the point system, use real currency or give us 400 point cards, 800 point cards and 1200 point cards.

Not buying any of your shit when i have to pay out for extra points I don't want and wont ever use just cause I live in a different part of the world, a number or bit of cardboard with a code on it does not cost more here than it does there, nor is there any reason you can't give us the exact same ones as America.