To start off, I'd like to say that XBox Live is amazing and worth every penny. Online gaming is incredibly fun and a quite good way to pass time.
That aside, there are downsides to XBox Live that can be avoided through prepaid cards. Number one, you always run the risk that unwarranted transactions will be made if your credit card information is stored on your XBox 360 system. It may not happen all that often, but it's best to avoid it all together.
The biggest reason to buy prepaid Xbox Live card is the renewal process that happens when you don't use one. If you order XBox Live through your system, it'll renew everytime your subscription runs out. This wouldn't be a problem except that it's not that easy to cancel. Instead of cancelling through your system, you have to go through the hassle of actually calling XBox Live support. Even then, depending on the representative you get, you may be hassled to keep your subscription because they really don't want you to cancel it. I'm guessing that's part of their job to convince you to keep it, but it still is frustrating to the person that is trying to cancel it.
You'll have to go through this process everytime you want to cancel if you don't use a prepaid card. Is that hassle really worth it? I don't think so. Therefore, avoid all of the problems by simply buying a prepaid card. You won't be sorry.
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From what I can find this is the cheapest cost per month option available for a live gold subscription. $3.3325 per month. What I don't get is why this credit card sized subscription card comes in such wasteful packaging. It comes in a rather large plastic packaging, which requires it to be shipped in a box. You get free shipping, but how wasteful. Why doesn't amazon just offer the code online and not eat the cost of shipping and at the same time be a little greener?
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This is the BEST deal I have ever found on the Xbox Live 12 Month Subscription.
I looked 6-10 different places for a deal on this and only found 1 close to this and that was wal-fart but I dislike shopping there so Amazon was the place to go.
This should be a guaranteed buy and you CAN'T beat the Price!!!
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My fiancee was under the $6 a month plan - this is a much better deal. We bought this card for $40, which is better than the $72 we WERE paying.
Xbox Live really contributes to the gaming experience. The connection to Netflix is almost enough to get it RIGHT there. It helps us to maximize use of our Netflix subscription AND any games we buy (expansion releases).
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Find the card on sale every so often each year. Don't pay the full price. The Xbox Live Gold is stellar and I love it, but I don't see how they charge $50 or more a year and you don't get any freebies...other than advanced demo downloads. They need to throw a bone for a free song or discounted DLC or a free rental every so often. I have spent well over $1000 in my 3 years with the Xbox 360 on peripherals, games and downloads. 2% of my money spent as a gift would have paid for 1600 points of DLC...that would be a nice thank you from Xbox 360 for keeping their community alive and well.
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My husband and I both have Xbox Live and it is a lot cheaper to buy this year-membership for $40/ea as opposed to paying $8.61/mo for both of us. Just to put it in perspective: I was paying about $200 a year but now I'm paying $80. I'm glad I finally wised up because this will save us a lot of money. If only I had realized this sooner!
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Even though this is no video game...it does have something to do with gaming, this card gives you a years worth of online gaming, shopping and even video entertainment with the purchase of xbox points but thats another story, just be warned, there are several sites/stores that will try to sell this card for a ridiculous price so shop around for the best price, get online and get your game on because the world is waiting to team up with you or beat up on you.
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My 18 year old son was exploring a subscription to xbox live. I learned that it was far better to purchase a 12 month card than provide a credit card number for the subscription that would be charged monthly. I read that if you had your credit card charged each month, you could cancel the subscription at any time BUT it was incredibly difficult to get through to the customer serrvice area to have the subscription cancelled. Rather than take the risk of continuing to be charged month after month if my son decided to cancel the subscription, we opted for the 12 month card. The card was a better deal through Amazon, and we avoided any potential issues by not providing a credit card that could be charged every month. The card was easy to activate.
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