Want a Wii for the holidays? No promises, Nintendo says

Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:44AM EDT

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After nearly two years on the market, you'd think it'd be getting easier to score a Nintendo Wii. But the red-hot console is still tough to find, and Nintendo execs say they can't promise a healthy supply for the coming holiday season.

Nintendo's CEO says that demand for the Wii in the U.S. is "unusually high" compared to Europe and Asia, according to Forbes.com. And while Nintendo is on track to crank out 2.4 million Wii consoles this year, that may not be enough to satisfy stateside gamers, Forbes reports.

Here's the quote from Nintento CEO Satoru Iwata: "We are really intending to increase the shipments to the U.S., especially compared to last year ... However, I can't give you a 100% commitment [that you'll be able to find a Wii this holiday season]." Ugh.

Based on the latest numbers, Iwata's probably right to hedge his bets. Nintendo sold a whopping 666,700 Wiis in the U.S. last month, and the console just passed the Xbox 360 in terms of total sales.

Meanwhile, this online Wii stock tracker doesn't paint a pretty picture. On Wednesday morning, the Wii was sold out at Amazon, Best Buy, Circuit City, Costco, eToys, Kmart, Sears, Target, and Wal-Mart, while Buy.com and Newegg had only Wii bundles in stock.

Show of hands: Who's still in the hunt for a Wii?

Related:
A Wii Bit Short On Supplies [Forbes.com]

 

Comments on Want a Wii for the holidays? No promises, Nintendo says

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  • 6 Posted by final_station on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    I had to wake up early, but I got mine :). Best of luck to you all, and remember it's better to come back home whole and safe than with a Wii. Just saying some people get crazy during the holidays. Take care.

  • 8 Posted by luvs.kit-10s@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    There are tons on eBay just like the Wii Fit. I got a two player for $426. They just buy them all up at the stores and then over price them. Supply and demand and a created shortage. Same with the Fit going for $140 and more when they are $89. It is pretty much a cottage industry of merchandise scalpers.

  • 9 Posted by the_demon_38 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    if your a hardcore gamer dont waste your time with the wii my friend has had a wii for a year and recently got a 360 since he got the 360 he told me he m only plays it once a week for 30 minutes or so.....he plays his 360 7 hours a day but anyway if your the person who wants a console for your little kid or want to have "familyfun" or if your old and want to play these game systems get a wii but if your a hardcore gamer ie-online shooters and first party games dont get a wii i would say get a 360 or a playstation 3. if you really want the best online play get a 360

  • 10 Posted by kealnt7 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    We have had lots at our small town wal mart I have seen like 8-9 on the shelves. Hope you can find one!

  • 12 Posted by emelincitapa on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    hola soy emelincitap la mas bonitap los saludo y me despido chaop un beso grandep

  • 13 Posted by nighteye23 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    if your a hardcore gamer dont waste your time with the wii my friend has had a wii for a year and recently got a 360 since he got the 360 he told me he m only plays it once a week for 30 minutes or so.....he plays his 360 7 hours a day -----------------------------------------------------------------------------translation: If you like to sit on your duff and push buttons but not actually move anything else while playing a game then get a 360. 7 hours a day? I can only imagine how much he weighs. I play my Wii about 2 hours a day, and it's a nice workout too. That's why I love it. It's good exercise and gaming in one. If I want to play a FPS I just use my computer. Quit coming to forums about Wii shortages and pushing how the 360 is so much better.

  • 14 Posted by sceldr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    Try going to a smaller town Wal-mart, it was actually rather easy to find all over Mississippi.

  • 15 Posted by ryaniclee on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    Best bet is to check here, then act fast! http://wiitracker.com/

  • 16 Posted by atran60 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    i got one a year ago,but it was hard to get.i got lucky when walmart restocked,there was a bunch left and then the next day when i went to walmart,the bunch was gone.its too bad that gamestop only has bundles

  • 17 Posted by h_farnes on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    yeah lucky me on last black friday my mom was geting a ds for my little brother and asked if they had any wiis and i was the last one and she waas at gamestop at 6:00 in he morning and th people behide her where looking that day everywhere for one

  • 18 Posted by jonah.urquhart on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    I finally got one but my dad had to travel to 5 different states to get me one. It's a good thing that he was just on a business trip and was looking for it

  • 19 Posted by lukeb321 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    Whats the problem, bought one in Target about 9 months ago. Played it a couple times and decided to sell it on craigslist. Didnt know the wife really wanted to keep it - went out the next Sunday and Target had another shipment of 8 just sitting there. My sisters friend just got one 2 weeks ago - no problem. I'm in FL, shes in NY Just ask - most targets have them in the back. Dont believe the hype.

  • 20 Posted by regsteel@swbell.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    I lucked into one at Toys R Us. The Wii Fit I had to pay a little more for through EBay (it was worth it). I think I went to every store that would have carried it and they all told me you pretty much have to check with them every day. Nintendo just sends them out, they have no idea when they are getting them or how many. I have a really nice UPS guy who I was going to enlist before I lucked into a system. It's a crapshoot. My local Best Buy the other day had about 12 systems sitting out on the floor. But I would guess by the time word gets out they are gone. I live in a town of about 80,000 - 100,000.

  • 21 Posted by tlomax99 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    We just got one on Saturday at Costco. It was a bundle. It included: Wii Console Wii Sports game disc Wii Remote 2 Nunchuck Controllers Wii Play (includes 1 extra remote) and Super Mario Galaxy Later, we bought "Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games) I recommend it to anyone who has a Wii.

  • 22 Posted by david_wedler on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    Tomorrow is my son's birthday. We weren't really set on getting the Wii because we new it was going to be luck to find one. It always seemed when we asked out of curiosity we were always told we just sold the last one a few minutes ago. So we figured we weren't going to be gung ho about getting one and drive all over creation for one. Well about 3 weeks ago just grocery shopping at Walmart. I was looking at some Blu Rays and we walked by the Wii section and there two consoles. So we had to pick one up because it was going to be the hot item for Xmas if we waited. So we took my son out yesterday pretending to look for them so he is dead set that there are none out there. He is going to be so suprised tomorrow. Happy Birthday.

  • 23 Posted by chaserocks24 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    I got my wii at best buy and we went in early and they had 15 at the beginning of the day and we got there at 11 and they only had 5 left. Best Buy opened at 10. This waz about 4 months ago.

  • 24 Posted by loveradsrn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    we have had it over a year ..my nine yr old never plays with it ..even though she has all the newer games ..same thing with her PSP it just stays in the box ...she is always playing on her ds lite ...so there you have it .. anyone want a new wii and psp ?????

  • 25 Posted by insleymatt on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    I bought mine a gamecrazy and they had plenty

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