Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:06PM EST
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One year after its release, expect continued headaches in trying to find a Nintendo Wii this holiday season. Reports continue to surface that units are in heavy demand and supplies just aren't keeping up.
Online shoppers can find the consoles... if they're ready to pay. Wal-Mart has a bundle that requires you buy seven games in addition to the base unit for $677. Amazon itself has no consoles in stock (check out the rationing notice on the site!), but third-party sellers have the basic console available for nearly $400 (and up), $150 over the list price and up about $50 from when I last checked on it a few weeks ago. Best Buy is sold out online, and Target doesn't even list Wiis on its site.
Over in the United Kingdom, Nintendo has officially warned consumers that shortages will remain this season even as it tries to produce and ship an extra 3.5 million consoles, bringing its total shipments this year to 17.5 million units. The company says that demand remains "unprecedented and higher than Nintendo ever could have anticipated."
The jury's out on how much of this demand is manipulated, though. Ben Patterson wrote earlier today about how Best Buy stores are manipulating in-store shoppers into buying the "last" Nintendo Wii in stock.
Good news: PlayStation 3s and Xbox 360s are readily available online, even at prices below MSRP. But if you have your heart set on a Wii under the trii, best get shopping.
Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.
Often, when you have this kind of market, you get phony, knock-off items from, say, China or wherever. Counterfeit, in other words. Has anyone seen counterfeit items?
video games are for losers who are afraid of the sun.
Better to buy a Wii online somewhere for much much less...
Circuit City and CostCo are also sold out (online stores). Sam's Club, like Target, doesn't offer the console on its website (but dozens of accessories and games are there).
Hey it took my 2 weeks of calling and going to stores until I found a Wii. It is honestly the best invention for gaming ever. It is the most fun I have ever gotten out of a console and for you Halo people... either play your friends or wait for it to come out on computer. Playstation 3 is just plain bad. Get a Wii, its worth it for sure. O ya and #3 what is wrong with you. You must be a hippie or something cause thats just a weird thing to post...
This small online store still has them in stock: http://gamestock.ecrater.com
Just wanted let you know that, I have a Brand New Sealed Nintendo Wii with a receipt, available for bid on a EBAY auction. Currently the bidding price starts at $1.00 My user name on ebay is " luvmyid " and the item number is:190177739459 Just type in the item #190177739459 in the eBay search and it will take you to the the listing page with information,description and pictures of the item Check it out on eBay.com Good Luck and Happy Bidding
The Nintendo world store gets shipments every morning for the holidays.They get about 200 Wii's, but you will have to be there by 2 in the morning to get one. My husband got one for my daughter for $300. You can go to www.Nintendoworldstore.com for more info.
1 Posted by zipzap713 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 11:01PM EDT Report Abuse
$400 for a basic Wii. Geez. I bought mine last year for the normal price and I didn't even need to wait in line. Heh.