The XBox360 Wireless Controller for PC (with USB) is $59.95 at Microsoft Store while the Cashback page lists the RRP as 49.95. (scroll down to end of Clause 8).
Is this a common form of price strategy? (Perhaps to encourage purchasing from distributors/dealers?)
I find it very odd that Microsoft's (or any "principal") own store would price a product above their own RRP.
I had a chat with a "Microsoft Sales Specialist" and he said (a few times) that "they can price any way they like". Which is again very odd because he used "they", even after I told him that he should be referring "we". He said, in his opinion, it is "they" since he isn't part of it. (Just part of the tale, not the main point here.)
errr theres a very very good reason for this
if the store was priced lower than everyone else, whats the incentive for a store to sell their products?
also I would assume Microsoft dont care about making money on their online store… why would they? they're not in that line of business