Used xBox

I want an xbox 360. With Christmas coming up, it seems like good timing. At least one game would be nice too. New xbox starts at 200 USD at Target. Add in a second controller (because my sister will RAGE if she can't touch it, and thus my parents will too), and at least one game (MW2 pls), that's up to about $300.
Ouch.

First off, is Target doing the epic scams, or is that a standard price?
Can I buy a used xBox 360 and two controllers for significantly less?
Any brand names where I could?
How long do used councils last/what kind of shape are they usually in?
Anything else that would be helpful to someone like me who has spent no more than 5 hours on an xbox(first or 360) in his life?

be careful. The online market such as eBay has been flooded with xboxes banned from xbox live. I assume the same will happen at the retailers selling used units.

Any way to check if it's been banned? Do bans ever expire/get lifted from ownership exchange?

the ban is on the unit itself. The ones banned are due to moddings to play pirated games. I do not know if there's a way to check if it was banned though.

This is what the article said. btw

 Spoiler

Banned Xboxs flood online marketplaces

13/11/2009

Hundreds of Xboxs have appeared on online marketplaces such as eBay and Craigslist in the wake of the mass Xbox live bans.

Over the past week Microsoft has banned nearly one million users from the online gaming service after finding that they had modified their consoles to play pirated games.

Since the ban is connected to the console rather than a gamer's online account, many modified Xboxs have appeared online being sold by banned users.

eBay has issued a warning to users on its website to be wary of buying consoles in the wake of Microsoft's move.

In a post on the website's guide section, it said: 'If you are looking to buy an Xbox 360 on eBay in the near future, ask the seller if it has been banned from Xbox Live and be sure to pay by PayPal in case they lie. If you do get a banned console, start a PayPal claim.'

Microsoft has said that all bans are permanent to the console