posted
Try Toys R Us. At least around where I live, it is easier to find one there (though they are still frequently sold out). Ask when the next truck comes in, workers will often let you know.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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posted
I got a list of the local EB, Zellers, BestBuy, Futureshop, and Price Club and just got in the habit of phoning them each in sequence on the day after their shipments. You simply have to be patient and persistent. (polite is good too)
Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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I can't even find an Xbox 360, and I checked 13 stores in the last two days. As I speculated elsewhere, it may be tax rebate loans + valentines day = nothing but PS3's for sale anywhere.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Just be patient. It can take a long time (my brothers looked for 8+ months before they finally got their hands on one) but it is very much worth it. It'll help her learn patience (something I was never good at) and will make it all the more sweeter when you finally get one.
Like mucus said, get a list and call them about once a week. You might just get lucky.
Posts: 349 | Registered: Oct 2007
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I can't believe I camped out for 8 hours all night and got one the day it released, and it's still impossible to find. My mom keeps asking me how the hell Nintendo can't supply it by now, more than a year later, and I don't have an answer for her. Why can't they at this point in time? Is it an artificial shortage, or lack of manufacturing resources? If the latter, I don't understand how a company like Nintendo could have that problem.
All I know is I'd be surprised if people didn't begin to stop caring about looking for a wii and just buy a 360 instead. This can't go on much longer, especially with the not-that-stellar library of games available. I've had a Wii since it came out, and while I love playing it and am a huge fan of Zelda, Smash bros, and various casual party games....I don't think it's worth this stress over finding one. I certainly wouldn't pay more than it's worth on ebay.
Posts: 349 | Registered: Jul 2006
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I think one the issues is that alot of these companies have very tightly controlled supply lines. For instance, it's concievable that Nintendo makes very precise computer models of how the wii should sell according to country, region, and even individual stores. The precise number will be shipped, and a precise total of sales will affect the future model. As each unit is sold, that information is entered into the database of the distributor immediately, and the supply line can be effected with moments.
Walmart has made a legitimate science out of supply lines- their own orders for new stock from headquarters are updated every time a single item is sold anywhere in the U.S. As a result, they have exactly the number of items they are expecting to sell on any given day, apportioned for maximum sale power- no superfluous items, more room for other stock.
If they are running out of nintendo wiis for days in a row, they probably increase the orders, and when demand levels out, they decrease, so there is bound to be a yo-yo effect in stock.
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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I need a wii so my brother can take the gamecube to college. Yesterday i was at best buy, the day after they got their shipment in DARN. how do they sell out 30 wiis in one afternoon?
posted
Another part of the problem is that Nintendo has said that it takes approximately 6 months for a change in production volume to actually show in the marketplace.
They made predictions regarding holiday sales in April/May that determined how many units they would be producing for Oct/Nov heading into the holiday season. By September, the trends showed that they obviously were going to have underpredicted - meaning shortages.
The difficulty is, ramping up in September means getting more units in stores by... March. And March isn't exactly peak season for gaming systems - which impacted their reasoning further. They couldn't double production based on holiday buzz, because they would risk having units rotting on shelves in March.
They did increase by a decent percentage, but the holiday buzz has lasted well past the holidays - again outside of predicted trends.
I'm sure they are ramping up production considerably at this point (last couple months) to have more units in stores for the summer - but that doesn't help anyone right now.
The recent release of Super Mario Galaxy has spiked sales, I'm sure, as has the impending release of Super Smash Bros Brawl and Mario Kart Wii.
I'd expect shortages to last through June, at the earliest.
Posts: 3960 | Registered: Jul 2001
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My mom and I were going to Target to buy my Grandma some toilet paper, and she was telling me how nursing homes were getting Wiis to give the inmates exercise. Anyhoo, we walked by the electronics and one was there. This was after dinner and there wasn't one this morning. I had gone by Target before my eye doctor's app (it was in the same mall, and I was early). After asking two associates who said we couldn't have it in a joking manner, I asked when the Wii had come in. It turns out it was returned earlier that day, but had been opened. The former owner "didn't like it".
Security checked through the package for the return and confirmed it as okay.
As we walked out of the store, my mom kept wanting to know why we didn't get a PS3.
Most things were open, but everything was there, as far as I can tell. There was also the paper that suggested not returning the console to the store due to possible leaving of personal info. When we turned it on, the former owners had left a copy of Donkey Kong in the console! It seems they played for two hours, also had a copy of Mario Party 8, and have nicknamed the console "Booger". We kept that nickname. They didn't make any Miis though.
My mom was right. It is a workout (for your arms). Meanwhile, she's taking the Wiimote to work so I don't use it because I"m home this week.
Posts: 1757 | Registered: Oct 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Orincoro: I think one the issues is that alot of these companies have very tightly controlled supply lines. For instance, it's concievable that Nintendo makes very precise computer models of how the wii should sell according to country, region, and even individual stores. The precise number will be shipped, and a precise total of sales will affect the future model. As each unit is sold, that information is entered into the database of the distributor immediately, and the supply line can be effected with moments.
Walmart has made a legitimate science out of supply lines- their own orders for new stock from headquarters are updated every time a single item is sold anywhere in the U.S. As a result, they have exactly the number of items they are expecting to sell on any given day, apportioned for maximum sale power- no superfluous items, more room for other stock.
If they are running out of nintendo wiis for days in a row, they probably increase the orders, and when demand levels out, they decrease, so there is bound to be a yo-yo effect in stock.
JCPenney has moved to this type of design, and it has maximized profits while decluttering stockrooms across the country.
It isn't perfect, but it beats the old way of doing business.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Oh, yeah. Well, at least with the XBox 360, they had overhauled the packaging, so there was theoretically some reason for it. That new pro box is great. Really. :/
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Orincoro: I think one the issues is that alot of these companies have very tightly controlled supply lines. For instance, it's concievable that Nintendo makes very precise computer models of how the wii should sell according to country, region, and even individual stores. The precise number will be shipped, and a precise total of sales will affect the future model. As each unit is sold, that information is entered into the database of the distributor immediately, and the supply line can be effected with moments.
Walmart has made a legitimate science out of supply lines- their own orders for new stock from headquarters are updated every time a single item is sold anywhere in the U.S. As a result, they have exactly the number of items they are expecting to sell on any given day, apportioned for maximum sale power- no superfluous items, more room for other stock.
If they are running out of nintendo wiis for days in a row, they probably increase the orders, and when demand levels out, they decrease, so there is bound to be a yo-yo effect in stock.
JCPenney has moved to this type of design, and it has maximized profits while decluttering stockrooms across the country.
It isn't perfect, but it beats the old way of doing business.
BTW, I can get a Wii right now if I want one, as a friend of mine works at Game Stop. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
As I understand it, the plants creating the Wiis are running near capacity. In order to push much further in production, they'd need to open up a new plant, which Nintendo doesn't seem willing to bet on.
Of course, that's based on what I've read here and there and shouldn't be taken to reflect reality any more than some stuff you read on the internet.
Posts: 10177 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I'd like to see some different color for the console, unfortunately that probably isn't going to happen as long as there are shortages.
Posts: 2489 | Registered: Jan 2002
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quote:Originally posted by theamazeeaz: Wii got one!
My mom and I were going to Target to buy my Grandma some toilet paper, and she was telling me how nursing homes were getting Wiis to give the inmates exercise.
Um... since when do we call nursing home residents by the term inmates??
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
The trick is to make know people who work at Gamestop or another gaming type store. I worked for months to infiltrate their ranks and now, whenever I want a Wii (which will be as soon as I'm slightly more financially stable), I can get one within a week. Mwahaha. Nerds rule.
Posts: 2827 | Registered: Jul 2005
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So two days down and we all have sore shoulders. It's been a lot of fun for the family. We did have to put it down and go play outside today. It was just too nice.
I sprained my ankle really bad yesterday and I am in a brace today. I rolled it while cleaning up brush at my father-in-law's house. We took the Wii out there so all the grandkids could play while we cleaned. That bad ankle kept me from getting too into it today, but I still played.
Posts: 1766 | Registered: Feb 2006
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my neighbors wantedto get a wii, so their mom sent my friend and me out to buy one and we spent about 4 hours going to about 10 different stores and they were all out. then, just as we are giving up and going out to get something to eat, the mom calls us and says she found one while shopping at Costco and asked if she should buy it. hehe. so it just worked out well for her.
Posts: 813 | Registered: Nov 1999
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