Yep, this is one of my 8-and-a-half signs of the apocalypse: some store wont stock Wiis in the shop floor so they can sell them for as high as $499 on eBay They're gettingthe same number of units than any other store does, they just choose to keep it from in-store customer's hands in order to markup the price on ebay. Honestly, all these stock issues with the Wii are going beyond the realms of stupidity: some weeks ago it was made public that nintendo is losing a billion during Xmas due to lack of wii stock so if the whole lack-of-stock is just a trick to keep hype at skyhigh levels, its backfiring right now. At this pace, people will soon stop looking for a Wii, specially when the X360 and PS3 hit the $199 price point.
Are you privy to some insider knowledge that suggests that either company will get even roughly close to this price within the coming year? Because I personally can't see either console lowering quite that much for awhile yet.
I lost interest in the Wii very shortly after its release, and the only game I want for it is RE: Umbrella Chronicles and I can't justify even wasting time looking for a Wii, let alone spend the god awful price some assclown on eBay wants for it.
The PS3 is a long shot, no doubt about that, but the X360 already goes for $279 so its a matter of time for it to drop to $250 and then $199. Obviously nintendo can sell the Wii for as little as $99 and still get a profit, albeit slim, and kill any momentum other console's price cuts could achieve. But if they cant solve their stock problems the hype around the wii is going to die, and we all know that when the hype dies not even god can bring it back...
Youre pushing it here. A store chain, with a whopping 12 stores, according to that article, are selling some on ebay. A little bit of journalistic investigation reveals another article here, in response. http://gaygamer.net/2007/12/update_on_slackers.html In fact, the store has 1 less store then the original story. In fact, theyve only gotten a whopping 44 systems, with 35 being sold to customers (special customers though), 1 to charity, 1 given away, which leaves 7 systems. 5 of which were sold through Ebay, with a few more left (they may have more or less since the article is a few days old), and only made 375$ profit off Ebay. So what if they made some change? Its a small chain, not Best Buy, not Gamestop, not Walmart. Its an online store, people can buy a Wii for whatever they want to pay.
You know stores actually sign a contract to get the products right? part of that contract specifies that they HAVE to sell it at the manufacturer's MSRP, no more no less. What this store is doing could be considered a breach of contract, and Nintendo doesnt like that... That and the fact they are promoting the idea of making a quick buck off scarce electronics. Thank god Apple decided to sell no more than 1 iPhone unit per person during launch. After all there were people like that fat lady who wanted to buy 30 iPhones and sell them for $1000 each on ebay.
No they arent. They arent going through Nintendo. They went through a distributor where they probably dont have the same rules
Man, I am glad as hell I camped out for my Wii back when it first launched (Hey, I wanted Twilight Princess REALLY bad). I still have not seen any Wiis at the local stores a year later.
Is Japan the only country in the world without Wii stock problems? Wii has been plentiful for the last 8 months or so. Oh and for those bitching about "it's not worth???? $" Stop your whining. You don't have to buy one. Who gives a shit what Nintendo make on each system? I'm just happy that it's a lot cheaper than the other two (Will get a 360 some day though when they don't break every 5 minutes) and do I care it could be cheaper? No! Wii has great games. Try playing one and I don't mean gimmick crap such as Wii Fit etc. Try quality stuff such as No More Heroes or Bio Hazard Umbrella Chronicles. Yakumo
Knowing nintendo theres a high chance that that distributor has the same rules that apply to direct contracts.
At best buy we sell them every 2 weeks. We get 12 in the store and they go like crazy. Im didnt work during the christmas break cause Im in the US Army.
I bought my gf a Wii for christmas, we Swedes celebrate Christmas the 24:th, and I bought it the 23:rd. So, no shortage here, I guess.
