rapture @ Nov 22nd 2005 12:44PM

Yesterday, November 21, I learned that the Hampton Cove/OC Wal-Mart was getting 10 XBOX360�s. At 6PM people were allowed to sit in 10 chairs in the Lay-Away dept. I got to the OC Wallyworld at 5:20PM. There�s were already 25 people in line. Some had been there since 10AM. So, I was screwed � no way I was getting an XBOX360 from the Wal-Mart in the OC. Foulbreed and Hubcap met me there at about 5:20PM. They were also disappointed that they would not be getting an XBOX360.

We go to my house and start calling around various stores and retailers. At the Jones Valley Super Target, they were giving out tickets starting at 5:30am this morning. We decided that would be our best bet. We also decided to try Sam�s Club on South Parkway. 30 minutes before the Sam�s closed last night, FoulBreed joined as a Business member. As a Business member, you can enter the store at 7AM. I waited too late last night and couldn�t upgrade my Sam�s membership, so I wouldn�t be getting a system at the Sam�s.

The Plan:

We go to bed ASAP and wake up at 2:30AM to get in line at Sam�s (FoulBreed) and Target (me, Hubcap and Shyzza). I head to Target in Jones Valley. I was #5 in line at 3AM. Unfortunately the Target was only getting 4 systems. I call FoulBreed and break the news. We decide that FoulBreed would go to Sam�s and he would drop his 2 brothers off with me at the Wal-Mart on Drake. As it turns out, we were #�s 11, 12, and 13 at that location. Unfortunately, we were 1 short again. That Wal-Mart was only getting 10 systems.

Thinking fast, I decide to take Hubby and Shyzza to CompUSA where I suspected that they would have 24 XBOX360. We get there at 3:30AM. FoulBreed had already arrived at Sam�s Club and was #3 in line (he was sure to get one). We get to CompUSA and are #�s 9, 10, and 11 in line. We were sure to get one since launch-day soccer mom�s are supposed to be civilized right?

(BTW: Oh, FoulBreed ended up meeting a coworker that was #1 and #2 at Sam�s. They had been camped out since late yesternight.)

Well, we made a numbered list and everyone in line started signing it. Those that got there at midnight for the 9AM opening today were first of course since they were there first. As others showed up, they signed their name to the bottom of the list. It was frigging cold out there! Dark and breezy is a CompUSA in late November.

(BTW: Oh, as we passed Best Buy, there was about 12 tents setup. There looked to be about 50 people in line. BB was supposed to get about 40 systems.)

The people in front of us were high-schoolers. They talked about getting high, drunk, laid, and recruited for frats at Auburn and Alabama. We had to put up with this BS for 5 hours???

As the morning went on, the soccer mom�s started arriving. They were asking stupid questions like, �When does the store open?� and �What is a premium bundle?� and �How many do they have?� We told them we had a list and that they would be about #20 if they stayed. We didn�t say much more. They would drive off in their BMW�s sipping their coffee.

As it turned out, the soccer mom�s and dad�s would arrive and bully their way to near the door. They would try to play down our list � throwing any kind of organization (these high school students had devised) out the door. Enter the mob.

7AM hit. FoulBreed got this Premium bundle from Sam�s. He drove to CompUSA and took my spot #9 in line. I came to work. CompUSA only had 8 Premium bundles. I was one short. FoulBreed bought a core system, as did his Hubcap and Shyzza. Shyzza ended up giving his system to a friend of his (who we met in line � he had been waiting with us since about 4AM.)

I am now the owner of a core system. FB is buying an HD AV pack and an XBL headset for me. I will look for a harddrive later in the week or hope that stores get more Premium systems. The HD AV pack is $40. The harddrive is $100. The extra controller is $40.

So, I may not open my Core system. I may hope to find Premium systems at Target or Wal-Mart later in the week. Unsure about what to do.

Update: I'm now selling mine on eBay for $800: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8236285267