Got a Wii/PS3? Lend a hand!

[Diesel]

Hey guys,

As everyone in the market for a next gen console knows, supply is really struggling to keep up with demand (More so for the Wii than the PS3 in the post holiday season). This unfortunately, doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon. After looking around for tips on the internet, i have found a lot of complaining, but not a lot of useful information (other than sites like PS3 Seeker (retail), WII Seeker (retail), PS3 Seeker (online), and WII Seeker (online)).

Note: Replace X with e in broken links.

I wanted to set up a thread, in which next gen console owners could provide information about their transaction, to help us as a group glean key information such as re-stocking frequency, scheduling, and high volume locations. Even though, this isn't a "Hot Deal" per se, but considering the console shortage, I think the standard retail price is a "Hot Deal" in comparison to the $200 dollar mark-up on the secondary market (ebay, overstock, amazon, etc.)

So, If possible, please reply to this thread with the following information:

Console Type: (PS3/Wii)
Date of Purchase / Time: MM/DD/YYYY / Immediately after opening, Morning, etc.
Day of week Purchased: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.
Retail Chain: Target, Best Buy, Gamestop
Location: City, State
Number of consoles in stock after purchase:

I'd like this to be a valuable tool for everyone on Anandtech to use during the shortage, so feel free to provide feedback on how to improve this thread.

Thanks guys and feel free to send me any feedback via PM or reply to this thread. Also, any insight from individuals working in retail chains would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again for all of your help,
Jon

 

[edtsui]

Console Type: Wii
Date of Purchase / Time: 12/29/2006 / 2:30 PM, They were just starting to stock them
Retail Chain: Target
Location: Houston, TX
Number of consoles in stock after purchase: Between 12-15


I was trying for 3 weeks to find one and even camped on 12/17. I'd recommend subscribing to itrackr if there are Targets/CompUSAs in your area. Well worth the 2 dollars. Avoid Best Buys, Game Stops, and EB Games as they're most likely to have a short supply and its the natural place for people to flock to. Targets and Toys R Us are probably the best bets since they're not as highly trafficked.

 

[EngenZerO]

console type: xbox 360, ps3, and wii
date of purchase/time: midnight launch for 360, release day launch ps3, and release day lauch wii
retail chain: best buy
location: nova
number of consoles in stock after purchase: sold out

 

[toekramp]

Console Type: Wii
Date of Purchase / Time: 11/19/2006 / 10:00AM
Retail Chain: EB Games
Location: Fairfax, VA
# in Stock: 26 in stock, but they were all pre-orders that would be given out that day

 

[AbAbber2k]

Target and BestBuy (Bellingham, WA) last had the Wii in stock Dec. 26th (I went in the 27th and they said they sold out the morning before). Not sure about numbers. BB said ~10.

According to WiiSeeker Target is suppose to get shipments in within the next few days. I called BB and asked them but they aren't expecting a shipment for "a couple weeks." I went into Target this morning and they said UPS usually comes around noon, so I'm going to give them a call periodically starting then.

 

[bucwylde23]

I "bought" a PS3 for someone else but was reimbursed afterwards. this was christmas eve.
There was one left when I checked out. that weekend, there were a total of 6 PS3's in the store. about 2 a day.

I walked in the same walmart last night and they had 2 60 GB PS3's just sitting there collecting dust.

I went to Circuit city yesterday also, and they even had a sign on the door that said "PS3's in stock".

This is in Harrisonburg/Luray, VA. If anyone wants a PS3 badly, my cousin calls me every time they get some in. (he works at wal-mart) and they should have them in stock right now. (2 last I checked, 60 GB)

I work in NoVA also if someone wants to pick up.

No wii's yet, though.

 

[Exterous]

As of yesterday the CircuitCity in Ann Arbor had 6 PS3s. No Wiis.
This is the 3rd shipment of PS3s since launch for around ~25 total
We have had three shipments of Wiis since launch for around ~32 total

 

[AUMM]

it would be helpfull to state how long you had to wait if at all in line....

 

[AbAbber2k]

Originally posted by: AUMM
it would be helpfull to state how long you had to wait if at all in line....

Around here no one waits for the store to open as far as I know. My brother said each time he went to check (couple hours after opening) they'd just sold the last one. No one is going to wait because no one knows which day they'll have them. You either have to gamble and drive to the store when it opens or call and hope you can get there before they sell out (probably not too hard).

 

[Megadeth]

I got a Wii yesterday at Meijer in Madison Heights (5 miles north of Detroit)... They were just stocking them.

 

[toekramp]

Originally posted by: AUMM
it would be helpfull to state how long you had to wait if at all in line....

i waited 2 hours for my pre-order, and walked up @ 10am the day of the 19th

 

[pontifex]

i bought mine from an atoter but maybe he can tell you where he bought it.

 

[Sensai]

someone can take my 20 GB version unopened!

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: loup garou
Been in stock at Best Buy online all day.

 

[AbAbber2k]

Originally posted by: fs5

Originally posted by: loup garou
Been in stock at Best Buy online all day.

Bah... was hoping that was for the Wii. PS3s are gathering dust all over the country. Too bad I have almost zero interest in obtaining one.

 

[ultimatebob]

I'm curious... For those of you who bought both of them, which one do you enjoy playing more?

 

[Diesel]

I'd recommend subscribing to itrackr if there are Targets/CompUSAs in your area.

Wow this is great! I recommend this for everyone. I will try to pounce on one as soon as it comes up as available and let you know my results. Great work so far guys!

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
I'm curious... For those of you who bought both of them, which one do you enjoy playing more?

I have a Wii and my brother has a PS3. The Wii is great for when you have more than one person playing, while the PS3 is great for playing solo. Like, if you have some friends over, it's fun to just fire up the Wii and play some sports games or Super Monkey Ball - anyone can play, wives, girlfriends, kids, etc. Easy and fun for all ages. The PS3 is a bit more of an adult-oriented system and one that you can really enjoy playing games through by yourself.

Note that I'm not saying that you can't play Wii games by yourself or Playstation 3 games with other people. Also, I prefer the 360 over the PS3 right now - Gears of War, Ghost Recon, Rainbow 6, FEAR, Far Cry, etc., plus racing games and the wireless racing wheel. I have a 360 on the way for playing with my "adult" buddies on my Dell monitor and I have the Wii in the living room to play with everyone.

 

[Diesel]

Console Type: Wii
Date of Purchase / Time: 1/04/2007 at 10 AM
Day of week Purchased: Thursday
Retail Chain: Gamestop (The Gallery)
Location: Baltimore, MD
Number of consoles in stock after purchase: 2

Originally posted by: Diesel

I'd recommend subscribing to itrackr if there are Targets/CompUSAs in your area.

Wow this is great! I recommend this for everyone. I will try to pounce on one as soon as it comes up as available and let you know my results. Great work so far guys!

Talk about results, I registered on itrackr and within 24 hrs i had a wii. It is really incredible. I have a month left on the 1.99 i paid for SMS messages on inventory status. PM if you want me to configure my account to send you SMS messages for Wii availablity in the area (i have paid through the end of the month, and i no longer need it)

 

[secretanchitman]

console type: Nintendo Wii
date of purchase/time: Midnight launch for wii
retail chain: Gamestop/EBGames
location: Oak Brook Terrace, IL
number of consoles in stock after purchase: 6-7 more, all reserved