Wii's - Why still hard to find?

tealk

Diamond Member
May 27, 2005
4,104
0
76
So I am trying to get a Wii for myself, and my wife for Xmas...so I thought I would start looking now, and figured, well it's been a year since they came out. Should be able to find one easily right? Jeez...this thing is still no where to be found by me. I live in MN, suburb of Minneapolis. Is it just the Midwest that is like this?

Anyone else actually having luck finding them? And if so, where are you located? More or less curious.

 

JDMnAR1

Lifer
May 12, 2003
11,984
1
0
My local Target (Little Rock, AR) has had quite a few Wii's in stock (5+) each of the last few times I have been there.
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
I'm pretty sure most people are in agreement that they're purposely limiting supply to keep the fever pitch going ("OMG you have a Wii! Wow!"). This is especially important when you consider that the system's stable of games is generally less than stellar.

In related news, Nintendo of America president and CEO Reggie Fils-Aime has stated that Nintendo won't have enough to meet the holiday demand:

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, Fils-Aime unabashedly admitted that Nintendo isn't meeting the demand for its console. "We have been sold out worldwide since we launched," he boasted. "Every time we put more into the marketplace, we sell more, which says that we are not even close to understanding where the threshold is between supply and demand...Our inventory is lasting a day."

Not mincing words, the outspoken exec said that a lot of children will be left wanting this holiday season. "We're working very hard to make sure that consumers are satisfied this holiday, but I can't guarantee that we're going to meet demand," he said. "As a matter of fact, I can tell you on the record we won't."
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Nintendo is having a hard time getting enough IC's to make them. Their manufacturing is limping along due to parts shortages. They released a report a few months back saying they don't expect to catch up to demand until March 2008! (I think I read that on Blues News).
 

WannaFly

Platinum Member
Jan 14, 2003
2,811
1
0
I find it interesting also. A few weeks ago I spontaneously decided to buy one (i've been out of the gaming area for a while), but expected to not find one. I went to gamestop after work, they had 5. I managed to avoid buying one (wasnt confident in my purchase), but ended up at target later that night and they had 7. Fast forward a couple weeks, my coworker wants one and he's waiting in front of circuit city before they open because they said they'd have 11 in stock sunday morning, and there was a line. :/ I guess I just got lucky.

BTW, I'm in Orlando.
 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,252
403
126
I haven't seen them in any stores around here (Northern Michigan).

I got mine from a friend who originally won it from an auction. He said he paid $300 for it (came with Zelda), which is about right if you consider the base console cost plus the game. Not sure how much luck you'd have now (this was in the spring when he sold it to me after winning it), though.
 

TwiceOver

Lifer
Dec 20, 2002
13,544
44
91
Our local Wal-Mart has never had one any time I have been in there.

Stopped by Target the other day and saw they were fully stocked.
 

Yreka

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2005
4,084
0
76
You just have to keep looking. I already have one, but I usually will look if I am in an electronics store just cause. I see them pop up every now and then, but they sure dont last very long.

Have you though about buying used ? There are usually good deals on the FS/FT from people who are bored with them already.
 

intogamer

Lifer
Dec 5, 2004
19,219
1
76
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Nintendo is having a hard time getting enough IC's to make them. Their manufacturing is limping along due to parts shortages. They released a report a few months back saying they don't expect to catch up to demand until March 2008! (I think I read that on Blues News).

Funny how Nintendo is now ranked the 3rd most value Japan company.

Even though they are having a hard to getting parts, it isn't doing them any bad either. No advertising/ marketing saves Nintendo a boatload. Plus they will be less criticized if they really wanted to push out a product. Instead demand speaks for itself. The games aren't a too much of a push, as graphics are sub par.

Nintendo is flying by picking up loose change. IMO
 

echow87

Senior member
Nov 16, 2003
720
0
0
Originally posted by: intogamer
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Nintendo is having a hard time getting enough IC's to make them. Their manufacturing is limping along due to parts shortages. They released a report a few months back saying they don't expect to catch up to demand until March 2008! (I think I read that on Blues News).

Funny how Nintendo is now ranked the 3rd most value Japan company.

Even though they are having a hard to getting parts, it isn't doing them any bad either. No advertising/ marketing saves Nintendo a boatload. Plus they will be less criticized if they really wanted to push out a product. Instead demand speaks for itself. The games aren't a too much of a push, as graphics are sub par.

Nintendo is flying by picking up loose change. IMO

:confused: What did you just say? :laugh:
 

GDaddy

Senior member
Mar 30, 2006
331
0
0
in MN too, try walmart or target, call around you will find one. Saw 6 at Target in Northfield. Target is great for them Sunday mornings at open. Trucks come in Saturday night.
 

MrDudeMan

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
15,069
94
91
Originally posted by: echow87
Originally posted by: intogamer
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Nintendo is having a hard time getting enough IC's to make them. Their manufacturing is limping along due to parts shortages. They released a report a few months back saying they don't expect to catch up to demand until March 2008! (I think I read that on Blues News).

Funny how Nintendo is now ranked the 3rd most value Japan company.

Even though they are having a hard to getting parts, it isn't doing them any bad either. No advertising/ marketing saves Nintendo a boatload. Plus they will be less criticized if they really wanted to push out a product. Instead demand speaks for itself. The games aren't a too much of a push, as graphics are sub par.

Nintendo is flying by picking up loose change. IMO

:confused: What did you just say? :laugh:

I can't tell if it was Pro- or Anti-Nintendo. Try speaking English next time you post.
 
Apr 17, 2005
13,465
3
81
Originally posted by: yllus
I'm pretty sure most people are in agreement that they're purposely limiting supply to keep the fever pitch going ("OMG you have a Wii! Wow!"). This is especially important when you consider that the system's stable of games is generally less than stellar.

In related news, Nintendo of America president and CEO Reggie Fils-Aime has stated that Nintendo won't have enough to meet the holiday demand:

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, Fils-Aime unabashedly admitted that Nintendo isn't meeting the demand for its console. "We have been sold out worldwide since we launched," he boasted. "Every time we put more into the marketplace, we sell more, which says that we are not even close to understanding where the threshold is between supply and demand...Our inventory is lasting a day."

Not mincing words, the outspoken exec said that a lot of children will be left wanting this holiday season. "We're working very hard to make sure that consumers are satisfied this holiday, but I can't guarantee that we're going to meet demand," he said. "As a matter of fact, I can tell you on the record we won't."

true, and i thought the ps3 was lacking games.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: yllus
I'm pretty sure most people are in agreement that they're purposely limiting supply to keep the fever pitch going ("OMG you have a Wii! Wow!"). This is especially important when you consider that the system's stable of games is generally less than stellar.

In related news, Nintendo of America president and CEO Reggie Fils-Aime has stated that Nintendo won't have enough to meet the holiday demand:

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, Fils-Aime unabashedly admitted that Nintendo isn't meeting the demand for its console. "We have been sold out worldwide since we launched," he boasted. "Every time we put more into the marketplace, we sell more, which says that we are not even close to understanding where the threshold is between supply and demand...Our inventory is lasting a day."

Not mincing words, the outspoken exec said that a lot of children will be left wanting this holiday season. "We're working very hard to make sure that consumers are satisfied this holiday, but I can't guarantee that we're going to meet demand," he said. "As a matter of fact, I can tell you on the record we won't."

I don't think everyone agrees with that... I think they may have cut back supply a bit to build up for the Christmas season, but I think the stock outs have been legitimate up until recently. They've been selling a million a month and they have a handheld system that's even MORE popular. They can only ship the things as fast as their factories can build them, and they've NEVER had to meet this much demand. I think they just don't have the capacity. It took them months just to catch up with demand for the CONTROLLERS, and there is no way they could benefit from people being unable to buy the controllers.


OP - it shouldn't be TOO hard to get one if you're willing to get to Target or Toys R Us or some similar store at opening time on Sunday. I believe stores like those are still holding them for Sunday. Stores like Gamestop put them out as soon as they get them.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Originally posted by: intogamer
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Nintendo is having a hard time getting enough IC's to make them. Their manufacturing is limping along due to parts shortages. They released a report a few months back saying they don't expect to catch up to demand until March 2008! (I think I read that on Blues News).

Funny how Nintendo is now ranked the 3rd most value Japan company.

Even though they are having a hard to getting parts, it isn't doing them any bad either. No advertising/ marketing saves Nintendo a boatload. Plus they will be less criticized if they really wanted to push out a product. Instead demand speaks for itself. The games aren't a too much of a push, as graphics are sub par.

Nintendo is flying by picking up loose change. IMO

No...Nintendo is flying from making games that are fun to play and appeal to everyone. Sony and Microsoft are still going after the 16-30 year old hard core gamer that cares about whiz-bang graphics. Nintendo wants anyone to pick up a game and it be simple and fun enough to suck you in. They're doing a great job of it since my parents (in their 60's) bought one for bowling and tennis. They never would have bought an Xbox.