Nintendo sets raincheck program for Wii

[V00DOO]

The Japanese game maker Nintendo has been working furiously to address chronic shortages of the massively popular gaming platform, which has sold more than 6 million units since its launch last November. The device remains sold out at most retailers, many of which recommend that consumers "follow the delivery truck" in order to get one.

Under a plan unveiled Friday, Nintendo will now allow consumers to purchase a raincheck that will guarantee delivery of a system by the end of January.
The catch is that the raincheck must be purchased at a GameStop. The raincheck will only be available to those who plunk down the full $249 price for the system. Consumers who buy a raincheck for a Wii must pick up the system by Jan. 29 at the GameStop location where they made the purchase.. ..

Link

 

[Anubis]

nice

 

[trmiv]

Awesome! Too bad I can't afford one anymore after Christmas...

 

[Svnla]

I think the stores' employees (BB,CC,GS, KBT,TRU, etc.) are the ones that buy all the Wiis.

I just saw an ad on the local newspaper, a Wii (just the system, no other games) for $500 cash. What a ripoff. Shall I post that dumbass number here for ATOT community to call and give him a hard time?

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Svnla
I think the stores' employees (BB,CC,GS, KBT,TRU, etc.) are the ones that buy all the Wiis.

I just saw an ad on the local newspaper, a Wii (just the system, no other games) for $500 cash. What a ripoff. Shall I post that dumbass number here for ATOT community to call and give him a hard time?

its probably sold already.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: Svnla
I think the stores' employees (BB,CC,GS, KBT,TRU, etc.) are the ones that buy all the Wiis.

I just saw an ad on the local newspaper, a Wii (just the system, no other games) for $500 cash. What a ripoff. Shall I post that dumbass number here for ATOT community to call and give him a hard time?

its probably sold already.

True. But his phone number is still the same. But I wouldn't call anyway. Or maybe I would. "Yeah I'll give you $1000 for it. I'll send a cashier's check for $5000, you send me a Wii and $4000."

 

[ponyo]

Gamestop could make couple hundred thousand off of interest depending on the demand. There will be no shortage of Wii after Christmas.

 

[Ackmed]

"Nintendo has been working furiously". Somehow, I doubt this. Its been over a year, and they still dribble out. I think the big N likes this, because it creates a frenzy for the system, when if readily available, wouldnt be there imo.

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: Naustica
Gamestop could make couple hundred thousand off of interest depending on the demand. There will be no shortage of Wii after Christmas.

People were saying that last year.

Interesting story though, wonder how or what they paid to get a larger percentage of the post christmas shipments to meet the orders.

 

[techwanabe]

I prefered the "follow the delivery truck method". I didn't want to wait until end of January so I went to Walmart on Wed when the UPS truck arrived. I now have one wrapped and under the tree for my daughter. Jan 29 is too late for most people.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: Ackmed
"Nintendo has been working furiously". Somehow, I doubt this. Its been over a year, and they still dribble out. I think the big N likes this, because it creates a frenzy for the system, when if readily available, wouldnt be there imo.

Last article I read says that they've at least doubled production since last year.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Ackmed
"Nintendo has been working furiously". Somehow, I doubt this. Its been over a year, and they still dribble out. I think the big N likes this, because it creates a frenzy for the system, when if readily available, wouldnt be there imo.

Yeah yeah, it's all a nefarious scheme by Nintendo to sell more Wiis by DENYING Wiis to people who want them for over a year and making people pay double for the consoles on eBay thus having less money to spend on games and accessories - money in Nintendo's pocket. That makes sense. Riddle me this, Batman - if it was all about creating artificial demand by keeping the supply low, why, WHY would Nintendo have started the Wii's life with an unprecedented number of consoles available at launch?

Between the Wii and the DS they've been shipping 1 million units per month since last year. They dropped off in August a bit, probably to stockpile some for the holidays. No doubt they have been holding some back for the last few months so they wouldn't have a flat holiday season. It's not in Nintendo's interest to come in third place during the holiday season, and that's what would have happened if they didn't stockpile some for Nov and Dec. They don't want to see MS putting out press releases bragging about their holiday victory. But this nonsense about a fake shortage is just illogical. It's not in Nintendo's best interest. They won't have another opportunity to sell this many Wiis until next November. To hold back would be utterly stupid.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: techwanabe
I didn't want to wait until end of January so I went to Walmart on Wed when the UPS truck arrived.

I'm not quite sure Walmart gets their store stock from UPS deliveries .

But congrats anyway, you'll soon find that after you play some Wii sports and beat Galaxy, you and your daughter will tire of it, and it'll sit unplayed.

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: blurredvision

Originally posted by: techwanabe
I didn't want to wait until end of January so I went to Walmart on Wed when the UPS truck arrived.

I'm not quite sure Walmart gets their store stock from UPS deliveries .

Thats what they told me last Tueday evening. I came in on Wed between 10 and 11 when their UPS truck was supposed to come and boom, 10 wii's magically arrived. I got in line #6 and scored one.

But congrats anyway, you'll soon find that after you play some Wii sports and beat Galaxy, you and your daughter will tire of it, and it'll sit unplayed.

Geez, why the "trollish" comments? I got it because my 12 year old daughter asked for one for Christmas. Its for her. And yes, thanks for the encouraging words.

There is at least one more title after Mario Galaxy (Zelda:TP) which is very good. As it is Mr. Scrooge, I have a couple other console systems plus my PC to keep myself happy. And the wii seems to be selling so well that surely software houses will come out with some more very good games. Cheers and bah humbug.

 

[trmiv]

Give Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure a try.

 

[StormRider]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Ackmed
"Nintendo has been working furiously". Somehow, I doubt this. Its been over a year, and they still dribble out. I think the big N likes this, because it creates a frenzy for the system, when if readily available, wouldnt be there imo.

Yeah yeah, it's all a nefarious scheme by Nintendo to sell more Wiis by DENYING Wiis to people who want them for over a year and making people pay double for the consoles on eBay thus having less money to spend on games and accessories - money in Nintendo's pocket. That makes sense. Riddle me this, Batman - if it was all about creating artificial demand by keeping the supply low, why, WHY would Nintendo have started the Wii's life with an unprecedented number of consoles available at launch?

Between the Wii and the DS they've been shipping 1 million units per month since last year. They dropped off in August a bit, probably to stockpile some for the holidays. No doubt they have been holding some back for the last few months so they wouldn't have a flat holiday season. It's not in Nintendo's interest to come in third place during the holiday season, and that's what would have happened if they didn't stockpile some for Nov and Dec. They don't want to see MS putting out press releases bragging about their holiday victory. But this nonsense about a fake shortage is just illogical. It's not in Nintendo's best interest. They won't have another opportunity to sell this many Wiis until next November. To hold back would be utterly stupid.

I don't think its a nefarious plot to create a fake shortage -- I think it's utter stupidity on Nintendo's part. During the entire year, I have never seen a Wii on a shelf at Best Buy where you could go and just pick up and take to the cashier.

That should have been an indication to Nintendo that they weren't making enough. Does Nintendo have a policy of only making Wii's at their own factory? They never heard of out-sourcing? I know the PS3 is made in multiple factories. Some are made in China and some are made in Japan. Could Nintendo have out-sourced to some China factory (like Foxconn) to make more than 1 million/month?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: StormRider

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Ackmed
"Nintendo has been working furiously". Somehow, I doubt this. Its been over a year, and they still dribble out. I think the big N likes this, because it creates a frenzy for the system, when if readily available, wouldnt be there imo.

Yeah yeah, it's all a nefarious scheme by Nintendo to sell more Wiis by DENYING Wiis to people who want them for over a year and making people pay double for the consoles on eBay thus having less money to spend on games and accessories - money in Nintendo's pocket. That makes sense. Riddle me this, Batman - if it was all about creating artificial demand by keeping the supply low, why, WHY would Nintendo have started the Wii's life with an unprecedented number of consoles available at launch?

Between the Wii and the DS they've been shipping 1 million units per month since last year. They dropped off in August a bit, probably to stockpile some for the holidays. No doubt they have been holding some back for the last few months so they wouldn't have a flat holiday season. It's not in Nintendo's interest to come in third place during the holiday season, and that's what would have happened if they didn't stockpile some for Nov and Dec. They don't want to see MS putting out press releases bragging about their holiday victory. But this nonsense about a fake shortage is just illogical. It's not in Nintendo's best interest. They won't have another opportunity to sell this many Wiis until next November. To hold back would be utterly stupid.

I don't think its a nefarious plot to create a fake shortage -- I think it's utter stupidity on Nintendo's part. During the entire year, I have never seen a Wii on a shelf at Best Buy where you could go and just pick up and take to the cashier.

That should have been an indication to Nintendo that they weren't making enough. Does Nintendo have a policy of only making Wii's at their own factory? They never heard of out-sourcing? I know the PS3 is made in multiple factories. Some are made in China and some are made in Japan. Could Nintendo have out-sourced to some China factory (like Foxconn) to make more than 1 million/month?

It comes down to the cost of bringing another factory online and how long they expect to need the additional factory.

Nobody expected them to sell this fast for this long. I can't imagine Nintendo expected it - the PS2 didn't sell this fast, and it's the best selling console of all time.

 

[jpeyton]

All my local Targets had their entire allotments (between 50-70 per store) spoken for by 6:30AM this morning (the stores opened at 8AM, but handed out tickets early).

I didn't even bother with Best Buy or Circuit City, since those two seem to draw the biggest lines in my area.

Looks like Wii prices on eBay will hold for one more week.

 

[Queasy]

I was able to snag two Wiis this morning at Target. Got one for my wife's 9-year old cousin and one for my niece. My brother was barely able to get his daughter a Wii this morning as well so the one I got for her is now going to eBay.

 

[Slew Foot]

I bet a good 60% of the people in line are ebayers.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
I bet a good 60% of the people in line are ebayers.

Actually, everyone I talked to in line this morning were buying it for their kids/grandkids/themselves.

 

[Slew Foot]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
I bet a good 60% of the people in line are ebayers.

Actually, everyone I talked to in line this morning were buying it for their kids/grandkids/themselves.

Thats what the guy said who ive seen in line multiple times at my local TRU

Not that Ive ever stood in line for one...... (for that long anyway, and only if I was already going out somewhere)

 

[Siva]

Nintendo is doing a really good job marketing the Wii

 

[trmiv]

More details released on the raincheck program. Now it's only only this Friday the 21st, not the 20th and 21st. Supplies for each store will be limited.

How is this going to be any different from trying to buy an actual Wii? There will likely still be a line, and you will still need to get up early to wait in it, but instead of getting an actual console you get a certificate for a console.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: trmiv
More details released on the raincheck program. Now it's only only this Friday the 21st, not the 20th and 21st. Supplies for each store will be limited.

How is this going to be any different from trying to buy an actual Wii? There will likely still be a line, and you will still need to get up early to wait in it, but instead of getting an actual console you get a certificate for a console.

Nintendo and Gamestop get to report higher holiday season sales.