Best Buy bumps up Xbox 360 accessory prices ahead of Halo 3

Minneapolis (MN) - Headsets, cables, and controller charge kits for the Xbox 360 are all going for $3 more than they used to at Best Buy, with demand for these items expected to jump for the release of Halo 3.

In what many people have called the "Halo 3 tax", Best Buy has increased prices of the Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit, Quick Charge Kit, VGA HDAV cable, official headset, and rechargeable battery pack to be $3 more than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

Just a few weeks ago, the electronics store was reportedly selling these items at MSRP. Some are suggesting this is a way for Best Buy to get some extra cash from unwitting new adopters for the Xbox 360 with the September 25 release of Halo 3.

It’s not the first time Best Buy has come under this kind of scrutiny. In 2002, the Minnesota-based retailer was accused of raising prices of numerous DVDs by as much as 20%, speculatively to curb a major acquisition cost of the mall store chain Musicland and to generate higher margins for holiday sales.