Customer Reviews

Xbox LIVE 12 Month Gold Membership [Online Game Code]

5 star:		(864)
4 star:		(99)
3 star:		(26)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(52)

 

 

To start off, I'd like to say that X-Box Live is amazing and worth every penny. Online gaming is incredibly fun and quite a good way to pass time.

That aside, there are downsides to X-Box 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 X-Box 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 X-Box Live through your system, it'll renew every time your subscription runs out. This wouldn't be a problem except that it's not that easy to cancel. Instead of canceling through your system, you have to go through the hassle of actually calling X-Box 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 every time 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.

UPDATE: (3/6/2011): I updated this review about a year ago pointing out that you could disable the subscription on X-Box Live's website. As of this update, they've taken that feature away again. I'm guessing Microsoft must have seen a major increase on people who canceled their subscription, thus now forcing you to call their customer service hot-line again to cancel. Even if they add it back, just save yourself the hassle and get a prepaid card. You never have to worry about dealing with customer service that will try their hardest to get you to stay on as a recurring customer. Amazon also gives great deals throughout the year. You could save yourself $20 to $30 sometimes just by checking to see if Amazon has these prepaid cards on sale. What's not to love about that?

This site is the cheapest I have found for this card.<br /> Do not pay for your live service monthly on your credit card.<br /> It's alot cheaper to buy one of these cards every year.

From what I can find this is the cheapest cost per month option available for a live gold subscription. Depending on the current price, it ranges from $2.9158 to $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?

There are only two reasons to get this Xbox Live subscription card. First, as a gift for someone who already has Xbox Live and wants to renew his subscription. Second, the normal yearly fee is $50, so if you can get this card cheaper than that, you'll save money.

This card is not a good way to get Xbox Live if you don't already have it. For that purpose, buy the starter kit (ASIN B000209V8K), which includes a free game, a headset, and a year subscription. Without the headset, Xbox Live is pretty boring.

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.

I decided to purchase one of these when my current subscription expired. It took a matter of minutes, and I was logged back on to my Live account. It was also about $10-12 cheaper than it would've been if I went to my local big box store (not to mention gas and time). Here are the steps that I took:

1. Purchased it on Amazon.com
2. Checked my e-mail to retrieve my Xbox Live Code immediately after purchase.
3. Logged onto my account on xbox.com, and put the Xbox Live Code in. (Or enter the code on the Xbox 360 dashboard.)
4. Turned on my 360 and viola! Instantaneous access.

I plan on purchasing this again when my current subscription is up. It's a total no brainer.

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!!!

This is a good deal @ this price. Only once or twice a year will you see it lower, usually. I was pleased w/this purchase.

Just purchased the online code with the $25 discount for ordering Modern Warfare 3. My son's account was good until 9/2012 and this added on to that an additional year to 9/2013. Can't beat $35 so this is a good deal and very easy to do. Would recommend anyone who ordered MW3 to take advantage of the $25 discount...

I purchased this for $40 and I couldn't have been more pleased. Since XBL decided to become pricks and increase the yearly price to $60, I didn't want to bother dealing with playing online games anymore. But, I was lucky enough to notice that Amazon was selling the 12 Month Gold Card for $40 and the code worked as well. Happy days.