Just wanted to know if anyone can tell me if the Wii system is still hard to come by and sought after. Anybody? Haven't heard much fuss about them. I'm asking cause someone wants to trade a Wii for my 16Gb iPod Touch and I don't know if i can sell the Wii quicker or the Touch.
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Are Nintendo Wiis still hard to come by?
- Thread starter EHUnlucky7x9@ao
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Yes to both counts. According to my fiancee, who manages one of the local Gamestops here, it's a supply issue from Nintendo. Apparently, they can't keep up. They get anywhere from 3-12 each week, and said supply lasts about 1 day. She said she gets around 50 calls a week asking after them.
While it probably varies across the globe, I have yet to see a Wii sitting on the shelves at my local Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, EBGames, and local game stores. Granted I only look when I go to the stores since I already have a Wii but I do at least look.
It's unbelievable that Nintendo still haven't sorted this out. It's so sought after, and yet they haven't increased production enough. I know this creates demand, but they'd sell more systems by just letting everyone buy one! They're the smallest of the big 3 gaming companies now. Do they want to be out of business, or thrive? Forget console sales. More customers means more games sold. Nintendo wants more games to be sold, right?
Abstract: Given that the Wii still trounces the PS3 and the XBox 360 every month in the NPD sales numbers, I get the impression that supply constraints aren't really hampering Nintendo's sales too badly.
Well you're right, but it'd be higher if they could get their production up.
They also don't sell enough games per system sold, so selling more systems would increase the sales of games they have available. I've heard people say that people don't buy many Wii games because they don't make enough good games, but that's another issue.
I haven't seen one on the shelves ever. That being said, when my wife and I decided to get one, the second place I called had one left, my wife jumped in the car before I even got off the phone and picked it up. Everyone else I know that has wanted one has been able to get one.
Also, I'm certain you'll sell the Wii faster than the iTouch. That and you can probable sell the Wii at a higher than retail price and make a few bucks off it. We did that with DDR for the Wii, it was something like $60 for the Wii but was selling out everywhere. My wife was at Target one day and they brought out a whole bunch of them, she bought 4 and we sold 3 of them for $90 each on our local classified add website and made $90 on the deal! After playing it once, I wished we'd sold all 4 of them!
SLC
Also, I'm certain you'll sell the Wii faster than the iTouch. That and you can probable sell the Wii at a higher than retail price and make a few bucks off it. We did that with DDR for the Wii, it was something like $60 for the Wii but was selling out everywhere. My wife was at Target one day and they brought out a whole bunch of them, she bought 4 and we sold 3 of them for $90 each on our local classified add website and made $90 on the deal! After playing it once, I wished we'd sold all 4 of them!
SLC
I've been looking for months for other people. I scored two this week, so I hope its a sign that the backlog has been fullfilled and they will make them more available soon...
You're a scalper?
No I'm not a scalper. I just want to get rid of my iPod Touch. I had intended on using the $300 at least that I could get for the 16Gb iPod Touch to pay that hefty credit card debt after recently buying a 24" iMac. Cause I'm trying to get rid of the iPod, but no matter where I put it up for sale, it doesn't seem to want to sell. So I was offered a trade for the Wii... and I know that's like 250 in the stores plus tax.... so maybe i can sell it for a flat 300 like my Touch would be... that way i get my end goal.... getting $300... im not interested in a profit off of this cause I know that the Wiis are only 249 in stores. But... i just need that 300... you know what I mean?
Apparently Nintendo has a conservative business philosophy. They're production centers are at full output and they don't see the need to build another one.
You're a scalper?
Hell yes I am, when there's a buck or two to be made. I'm a poor college student after all!
SLC
The biggest problem is that it takes months and millions of dollars to bring up new manufacturing capability. Sure it would have probably been worth it 6 months ago but now, who knows when the demand will end?
Hindsight is 20/20 and had they increased production to meet demand at the beginning it probably would have been a very good business move, but every time the idea is brought up the company has to look at how long they think the demand will be this high. So far it looks like they've been betting that demand would drop before they could get a new facility up and running and have avoided increasing production capacity. They've been wrong, but it's getting easier to find them (I've seen 3 on the shelves now) so we're probably at the tail end of demand, of course if they brought more production online they might be able to meet the Xmas rush, but if they bet wrong they loose all the money spent bringing up a production facility that they don't need. It's a tough decision and I'm glad I don't have to make it.
You're probably right, and judging by the frenzy of excitement that the Xbox360 and PS3 whipped up, I probably would have gone conservative as well. Of course I would be kicking myself now, but I still would have done it that way going in. I for one thought the Wii would not sell that well, but now it's the PS3's that are in stock everytime I go to the store.
SLC
i would think the nintendo guys must be quite happy to be where they are.
it is true they could have sold more consoles, but i am pretty sure that many who bought a ps3 or xbox because thay couldn't find the Wii, they will also pick up a wii as soon as they can.
and the 'impossible' to get status certainly helped hyping up the product and keeping all costs (e.g. no inventory) at a minimum, thus maximizing profit.
I am told Nintendo does not sell its consoles at a loss, so they don't have to sell as many games to make up the subsidy that MS or Sony provide for their consoles.
I went to my local Best Buy about a month ago, about 5 minutes after they opened, and they had 9 in stock. While I stood there debating whether or not to buy it, three got picked up (total time: 2-3 minutes). So I decided they would be gone in another 10 and bought one.