DESPERATE shoppers looking to get their hands on the sell-out Xbox Series X console will get another crack at buying one this week.
UK retailer Box has pledged to get Microsoft’s machines on people’s doorsteps in time for Christmas with the launch of a new ballot system.
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Two ballots will open in the weeks commencing December 7 and December 14, the firm says on its website.
The system promises to give regular consumers a chance over rampant scalpers who use bots to bag themselves hundreds of consoles at a time.
It will also mean the website is less likely to crash when stock becomes available, an issue suffered by several major retailers in recent weeks.
“Box.co.uk have taken the decision to use a ballot format so that customers can receive a fair chance to purchase an Xbox Series X,” Box says on its site.
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“This ensures a smoother transaction and stops customers from having to battle each other on a website put under an enormous amount of strain.”
It adds that its website would be hit by “huge volumes” of shoppers “all trying to purchase the same product at one time.”
Box’s ballot system mirrors those used by large UK festivals like Glastonbury, or luxury shoe brands selling the latest must-have sneakers.
Simply head to the website’s Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S page and plug in your email to enter.
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X – when did they launch and how much do they cost?
Microsoft launched the Xbox Series X and its smaller, cheaper sibling, the Series S, on November 10.
The release date covered the UK, US, Australia and a bunch of other countries worldwide.
The disc-free Series S costs £249/$299, while the Xbox Series X comes in at £449/$499.
So how does that compare to the new Xbox’s biggest rival, the PlayStation 5?
The PS5 launch fell on November 12, but not everywhere.
That date only stood for the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.
UK gamers had to wait until November 19 to order one of the consoles.
The PS5 proper costs £449.99/$499.99, while the digital edition comes in at £359/$399.
During the next two weeks, Box will contact a handful of random entrants requesting a payment.
If payment is not received, that entrant loses their allocation and the console will be offered to the next random participant.
It’s important to note that entering your email doesn’t guarantee you an opportunity to buy an Xbox – you’ll need a stroke of luck, too.
Box also mentions that signing up will automatically enrol you into its email database, meaning you’ll get a few marketing emails from them.
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There are two batches of consoles ready for release, so don’t fret if you miss out this week, as you could be selected as part of next week’s draw.
It’s not clear how many consoles Box has on offer and there’s no way to know how many people have signed up.
That means your chances of being one of those lucky few entrants are likely pretty slim.
Microsoft released two new consoles around the world on November 10.
The Xbox Series X is the more powerful and pricey of the two, coming in at £449/$499.
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The Xbox Series S offers slightly lower specs and no disc tray, and is priced at £249/$299.
The consoles are in high demand, with most retailers across the globe selling out within minutes of launching sales.
Both machines have seesawed in and out of stock over the past few weeks, often selling out too quickly for shoppers to get hold of one.
Gamers hoping to nab the £449/$499 PlayStation 5 – also released last month – have experienced similar issues.
First look at the new Xbox Series X
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In other news, check out our review of the iPhone 12 Mini.
Read our verdicts on the Xbox Series X and PS5 – if you can buy either.
And take a look at our 2020 Christmas tech gift guide.
Are you still trying to get hold of a next-gen Xbox? If so, let us know in the comments!
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
