Why You Can't Find a Wii for Christmas 450
Nintendo is making Wii consoles at a record pace, some 1.8 million a month. Last week they sold 350,000 units. Yes, just last week. And yet, still, it's going to be almost impossible to find a Wii in a store this Christmas. Wired reports that the problem actually began back in August. Summer being the traditional 'dry' season in gaming usually leads to hardware surpluses, but not with Nintendo's console. The result is a holiday season that Nintendo essentially couldn't prepare for. "Demand for Wii is so high, says analyst Michael Pachter, because of all the different types of consumers competing for the units ... it's not just kids who crave Wii. [It's] an especially big hit at retirement homes ... Hard-core gamers, who initially spurned the Wii's lower graphic power compared to the Xbox and PlayStation 3, have changed their tune on the console, thanks to brilliant software like the first-person shooter Metroid Prime 3. And eBay scalpers? They really want Wii." In fact, the only reliable way to get your hands on a Wii is to go that most dubious of routes. Ebay Wii sales are very brisk indeed this week.
Dear the rest of the world... (Score:5, Funny)
Trust me, I'll be able to find a Wii come Christmas Morning. It'll be exactly where I put it a year ago.
It's really small. (Score:5, Funny)
If it becomes too hard to find, just go to a friend's house and take his.
Leaving the money where the Wii was, is regarded as a nice touch.
Forget eBay - who wants my Wii? (Score:1, Funny)
You can have it for a couple of thousand dollars. *evil grin*
No Mom, It's MY Wii (Score:5, Funny)
Re:It's all about over-hype and sheeple (Score:5, Funny)
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
I'm glad I stood in line at launch too (Score:2, Funny)
I remember feeling kind of silly waiting in line for a Wii. "There will be lots more" I was thinking... but I got mine on launch and then the demand only increased. My older brother wanted to get one for his family for Christmas, and he spent the next month trying to acquire one, even missing work on several occasions to do it.
The same people saying the demand for the Wii is imaginary are most likely the same people that called the Wii a fad. Aren't fads supposed to fade out? or am I missing something here?
Re:It's all about over-hype and sheeple (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Dear the rest of the world... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:No Mom, It's MY Wii (Score:4, Funny)
Well then she'd better go and have one then - it's not good for the bladder holding it in like that.
Sorry, I was waiting for an "I'd like a Wii" statement...
(Dude left himself wide open, even talked about his mom wanting a Wii, and best you got is that she had to go to the toilet? I woulda been all like "watersports" and such... You know, his mom doesn't have wii she needs to get rid of, she wants it... Such a waste...)
Smug Humor (Re:Dear the rest of the world...) (Score:5, Funny)
Try this on for size :)
I have THREE PS3s. [youtube.com]Good stuff...
Re:It's all about over-hype and sheeple (Score:1, Funny)
Re:The math? (Score:5, Funny)
But my friend, the bikini store owner, says....
Re:The math? (Score:2, Funny)
Possibly the most dubious backformation (i.e. "made up shit") I've ever heard. It's called Black Friday because it's a bad day to be in the trenches in retail.
Re:Smug Humor (Re:Dear the rest of the world...) (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Dear the rest of the world... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Dear the rest of the world... (Score:3, Funny)
Try looking here. [google.com]
Re:Shortage should not affect most slashdotters (Score:2, Funny)
Re:eBay Effect (Score:5, Funny)
You're right! Your anecdotal evidence totally trumps that other guy's anecdotal evidence!
Go you!
Re:Dear the rest of the world... (Score:3, Funny)
Considering the demand on the Wii and the resulting rise in value... Don't count on it.
Re:The math? (Score:3, Funny)
Yes, the worst ten years of my life were the four years I spent in Ottawa. (apologies to Mark Twain)
Re:Sometimes it isn't that hard... (Score:2, Funny)
More people from UK are picking up Wiis here, than Norwegians...