Wii "shortage" officially b.s.

I was just at a GameStop recently, and not only did they have Nintendo Wiis, they even had used ones for $20 less.

This was a GameStop in a fairly high-traffic metropolitan area, too. I don't understand why this perception of a "shortage" of Wiis continues. Maybe it's just in certain areas?

Oh well that's a relief, because they're where you are means they're everywhere in the word

Whew! I feel better now.

Oh well that's a relief, because they're where you are means they're everywhere in the word

Whew! I feel better now.

Jaysonguy

Oh, yeah, because the last place a small number of them would sell out if they were really in such amazingly high demand is near a large university.

Riiiiight...

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

Oh well that's a relief, because they're where you are means they're everywhere in the word

Whew! I feel better now.

Atman_Do

Oh, yeah, because the last place a small number of them would sell out if they were really in such amazingly high demand is near a large university.

Riiiiight...

Because if it's one thing students have it's disposable income?

In other news a store sells food down my street so world hunger is now eliminated

See where I'm going here?

Because if it's one thing students have it's disposable income?

In other news a store sells food down my street so world hunger is now eliminated

See where I'm going here?

Jaysonguy

Well, considering the number of students I knew that had a PS2 like right after it was released (and it costed more than the Wii does now at the time), I'm going to have to say, "Yes, some do."

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

Because if it's one thing students have it's disposable income?

In other news a store sells food down my street so world hunger is now eliminated

See where I'm going here?

Atman_Do

Well, considering the number of students I knew that had a PS2 like right after it was released (and it costed more than the Wii does now at the time), I'm going to have to say, "Yes, some do."

You can't judge a worldwide Wii shortage based on one little incident you had at some random Gamestop store. There could many factors as to why there were, as you say, many Wii's there.

The shortage is clearly forced by Nintendo... it's basically just a matter of mating a Gamecube with a Power Glove, so it's not as though the technology is so advanced that it takes a long time to produce. The demand for the product is clearly high, but a great deal of why this is is the same reason the iPod is popular... hype. It's oddly stylish and trendy to be into the Wii as it's oddly stylish and trendy to have an iPod. Part of what drives this hype is that other people see it's so high in demand that it's not even in stock anywhere. Paradoxically, by Nintendo making less of them, they sell more of them.

Not that I can say I blame them, but I really don't believe that they can't produce them at the rate they sell them. This is the 21st century, you know, and it's been over a hundred years since the human race developed the concept of the assembly line. Not to mention that this is Japan we're talking about, who is about 100 years ahead of America. Robots do everything over there. No excuses from the Big N. It's all planned. And it's working so whatever. It's not like the other consoles didn't get a little help from hype.

The shortage is clearly forced by Nintendo... it's basically just a matter of mating a Gamecube with a Power Glove, so it's not as though the technology is so advanced that it takes a long time to produce. The demand for the product is clearly high, but a great deal of why this is is the same reason the iPod is popular... hype. It's oddly stylish and trendy to be into the Wii as it's oddly stylish and trendy to have an iPod. Part of what drives this hype is that other people see it's so high in demand that it's not even in stock anywhere. Paradoxically, by Nintendo making less of them, they sell more of them.

Not that I can say I blame them, but I really don't believe that they can't produce them at the rate they sell them. This is the 21st century, you know, and it's been over a hundred years since the human race developed the concept of the assembly line. Not to mention that this is Japan we're talking about, who is about 100 years ahead of America. Robots do everything over there. No excuses from the Big N. It's all planned. And it's working so whatever. It's not like the other consoles didn't get a little help from hype.

Generic_Dude

Do you even know what you are talking about? Do you have any links to back up your claims? The shortage is caused by the delay in parts from Taiwan. Add that to the super high demand and you got yourself a long shortage.

http://www.gamingbits.com/content/view/2539/2/

http://www.megagames.com/news/html/console/6moremonthsofwiishortage.shtml

http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/678550/Wii_Shortage_Likely_To_Continue.html

The shortage is clearly forced by Nintendo... it's basically just a matter of mating a Gamecube with a Power Glove, so it's not as though the technology is so advanced that it takes a long time to produce. The demand for the product is clearly high, but a great deal of why this is is the same reason the iPod is popular... hype. It's oddly stylish and trendy to be into the Wii as it's oddly stylish and trendy to have an iPod. Part of what drives this hype is that other people see it's so high in demand that it's not even in stock anywhere. Paradoxically, by Nintendo making less of them, they sell more of them.

Not that I can say I blame them, but I really don't believe that they can't produce them at the rate they sell them. This is the 21st century, you know, and it's been over a hundred years since the human race developed the concept of the assembly line. Not to mention that this is Japan we're talking about, who is about 100 years ahead of America. Robots do everything over there. No excuses from the Big N. It's all planned. And it's working so whatever. It's not like the other consoles didn't get a little help from hype.

Generic_Dude

And the poerglove worked beautifully didn't it? I have one around here somewhere, I wonder if I could hook it up to my Gamecube and play Prime 3o n it ... Perhaps if Ibought that aftemarket gamecubne with the dvd player I could, I'd hate to have to force my disc into that lil GC drive. :

I was just at a GameStop recently, and not only did they have Nintendo Wiis, they even had used ones for $20 less.

This was a GameStop in a fairly high-traffic metropolitan area, too. I don't understand why this perception of a "shortage" of Wiis continues. Maybe it's just in certain areas?

Atman_Do

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that used Wiis are MORE than $20... Just a thought.

[QUOTE="Atman_Do"]

I was just at a GameStop recently, and not only did they have Nintendo Wiis, they even had used ones for $20 less.

This was a GameStop in a fairly high-traffic metropolitan area, too. I don't understand why this perception of a "shortage" of Wiis continues. Maybe it's just in certain areas?

roboccs

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that used Wiis are MORE than $20... Just a thought.

But Jaysonguy is right, where I live I have yet to see a Wii in stock anywhere and my co-workers have yet to buy one because they can't find one. Of course, they don't exactly go out of their way to look for one either, but this is the heart of the Silicon Valley.

...Not to mention that this is Japan we're talking about, who is about 100 years ahead of America. Robots do everything over there...Generic_Dude

it's not so much of a shortage as it just keeps selling out some places faster than others

but by the time the next shipment is sent they will be all gone

[QUOTE="Generic_Dude"]...Not to mention that this is Japan we're talking about, who is about 100 years ahead of America. Robots do everything over there...Cesar_Barba

pretty sure he was kidding, but they are around 10 years ahead at least, they have no qualms about bringing in new technology, because people mightened know how to use it or anything, they just do it
plus they're all private companies, so unless everything has some kind of technology in it they're gonna be behind the times
wish things were more like that in places over here in ireland

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

Because if it's one thing students have it's disposable income?

In other news a store sells food down my street so world hunger is now eliminated

See where I'm going here?

Atman_Do

Well, considering the number of students I knew that had a PS2 like right after it was released (and it costed more than the Wii does now at the time), I'm going to have to say, "Yes, some do."

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

Oh well that's a relief, because they're where you are means they're everywhere in the word

Whew! I feel better now.

Atman_Do

Oh, yeah, because the last place a small number of them would sell out if they were really in such amazingly high demand is near a large university.

Riiiiight...

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

Because if it's one thing students have it's disposable income?

In other news a store sells food down my street so world hunger is now eliminated

See where I'm going here?

Atman_Do

Well, considering the number of students I knew that had a PS2 like right after it was released (and it costed more than the Wii does now at the time), I'm going to have to say, "Yes, some do."

"costed"? How long you been in college? Also, the average college student seems to have more disposable income than you've been led to believe. It's a ploy they use to get parents to buy them stockpiles of hotpockets. Sure they aren't working fulltime, but they also aren't paying an entire mortgage and usually don't car payments that are very high or insurance payments. This doesn't mean that it's the college students that were buying the PS2s and it also is more logical to have a larger amount of product shipped to a metropolitan area.

Both of you have problems with the arguements you've put forward.

On to the real topic! It is completely false that a company with a limited life product is going to be more profitable by not selling. There are a ton of reasons that the production cannot be ramped up and if you'd like a disertation, give me your email address and I'll write a 3 page report on Nintendo specifically. Nintendo isn't going to make more money in the future by not selling today. Please stop the conspiracy theory of artificial shortages.

Nintendo has sold an average of almost 1 million units a month. They have caught up and quite possibly surpassed the 360 in install rates and have been available for half the time. They use complex interfacing that requires specialized components. Increasing production without decreasing defects is a serious issue in any manufacturing process.

It may be completely accessible in pocket areas. This doesn't mean that the demand on an international scale has been met. The fact that a Wii has been traded in at a store just proves to me that that person doesn't know anything about videogames because a bid on ebay would net them profits instead of taking a huge hit. Trade-ins in general are a big ripoff.

Finally, the OP didn't say that a used Wii was marked at $20. He said that it was $20 LESS. As in selling price of $230.

"costed"? How long you been in college?effthat

The fact that a Wii has been traded in at a store just proves to me that that person doesn't know anything about videogames because a bid on ebay would net them profits instead of taking a huge hit. Trade-ins in general are a big ripoff.effthat

I think the situation has gotten better, but not consistently so. There does seem to be regular stock (once ina week ort wo)at the online stores like Amazon, CircuitCity, Toysrus, Bestbuy etc. But when they come in stock they go in a few minutes or a maximum of 30-40 minutes. Obviously the guys who are buying all know when they go in stock. For local stores I had subscribed to http://itrackr.com , but the inventory problems gave a lot of false positives (mostly because stores have been hoarding for weekend sales etc.)

Online stock checks have been very accurate comparatively, and I had alerts set from http://wiialerts.com to my email and cell phone. Last couple of weeks the alerts were dead on and I got 2 Wiis for myself and my GF's brother . Hopefully next time I'll be able to get some more for my Wii less cousins. The alerts make a world of difference.

I think the situation has gotten better, but not consistently so. There does seem to be regular stock (once ina week ort wo)at the online stores like Amazon, CircuitCity, Toysrus, Bestbuy etc. But when they come in stock they go in a few minutes or a maximum of 30-40 minutes. Obviously the guys who are buying all know when they go in stock. For local stores I had subscribed to http://itrackr.com , but the inventory problems gave a lot of false positives (mostly because stores have been hoarding for weekend sales etc.)

Online stock checks have been very accurate comparatively, and I had alerts set from http://wiialerts.com to my email and cell phone. Last couple of weeks the alerts were dead on and I got 2 Wiis for myself and my GF's brother . Hopefully next time I'll be able to get some more for my Wii less cousins. The alerts make a world of difference.

haloagain

wiialerts.com...

Now where does anyone get the idea that the wii is available when entire websites are dedicated to tracking shipment and helping people find one?!

[QUOTE="haloagain"]

wiialerts.com ...

Now where does anyone get the idea that the wii is available when entire websites are dedicated to tracking shipment and helping people find one?!

effthat

Yes, the shortage is definitely not "fully" over unless you can go to some site like wiialerts.com and can see all the online retailers listed in green! Right now only one Walmart bundle is in stock for $578. Obviously the bundle is a ripoff so nobody wants it. But when the other cheaper/morepopular ones like the consoles come in stock, the alert probably go instantly and everyone getting the alerts grabs as many as they can.

If you don't have the alerts and just keep going to the stores (like a lot of my friends did before they found out about the alerts)they'll take forever to get one.

yea... sorry atman .... there is shortage... so if you do not ahve one and want, that`s ur chance.

I`m in New haven CT and my best friend just got one, by pure luck. And i saw one in target (the last one was being buy)

I was in NY looking for a old game, last weekend.. and i visit around 6 stores No one had a wii..

Now... my country... dominican republic, has around 4 in shelf.. reason: they r ridiculous overprice there, and is still no holidays... :P

So.. what am i getting with this? It depends on where you are an dthe moment. But overall.. there is a huge shortage :)

see u

"costed"? How long you been in college?

effthat

Oh, okay. We want to play grammar Nazi do we?

Also, the average college student seems to have more disposable income than you've been led to believe. It's a ploy they use to get parents to buy them stockpiles of hotpockets.

effthat

Hot Pockets

Sure they aren't working fulltime,

effthat

full-time

but they also aren't paying an entire mortgage and usually don't car payments that are very high or insurance payments. This doesn't mean that it's the college students that were buying the PS2s effthat

I said it was people I knew. They were college students. Go-go gadget reading comprehension.

and it also is more logical to have a larger amount of product shipped to a metropolitan area.

Both of you have problems with the arguements you've put forward.

On to the real topic! It is completely false that a company with a limited life product is going to be more profitable by not selling. There are a ton

effthat

is a ton (Ton is singular, even though it describes a group. This is a rather common error.)

of reasons that the production cannot be ramped up and if you'd like a disertation,

effthat

dissertation

give me your email address

effthat

I don't think so.

and I'll write a 3 page report on Nintendo specifically. Nintendo isn't going to make more money in the future by not selling today. Please stop the conspiracy theory of artificial shortages.

Nintendo has sold an average of almost 1 million units a month. They have caught up and quite possibly surpassed the 360 in install rates and have been available for half the time. They use complex interfacing that requires specialized components. Increasing production without decreasing defects is a serious issue in any manufacturing process.

It may be completely accessible in pocket areas. This doesn't mean that the demand on an international scale has been met. The fact that a Wii has been traded in at a store just proves to me that that person doesn't know anything about videogames

effthat

You really like to make up new compound words, don't you?

because a bid on ebay would net them profits instead of taking a huge hit. Trade-ins in general are a big ripoff.

Finally, the OP didn't say that a used Wii was marked at $20. He said that it was $20 LESS. As in selling price of $230.

effthat

Pot, meet kettle.

I was just at a GameStop recently, and not only did they have Nintendo Wiis, they even had used ones for $20 less.

This was a GameStop in a fairly high-traffic metropolitan area, too. I don't understand why this perception of a "shortage" of Wiis continues. Maybe it's just in certain areas?

Atman_Do

Since a GameStop in your area has wiis, every other store in North America or the rest of the world must have them. This seems like a totally logical extrapolation.

Shipments of video game consoles come in clusters of 10-20. The Gamestop recently received a shipment. When people realize there was a new shipment, the store becomes a madhouse with people shooting each other to get their hands on a Wii. You went to a Gamestop before the madhouse occured.

GameStop has been saturating the markets they're in as much as they possibly can. I worked for them up until about two weeks ago. My store, prior to leaving, had ten Wii systems in stock pretty much consistently since the beginning of September. Its not that demand nationally has dropped suddenly and dramatically, its just that our particular customer base started to dry up. People had already found it, and so we barely heard people asking anymore. Though, I'm fairly certain that will all change with the holiday season... it does every year.

So ya, the current supply may be getting better, but this could also be the calm before the storm.

-SV

I'll have to agree with the TC... At least in Japan.

The biggest retailer here in Osaka is Yodobashi and their usually the ones with their stocks flowing fast (since its easily accessed compared to small shops).

The Wii has constantly been sold out up till probably 2 months ago. Now you can just walk in and buy one. They have loads of them in the back (visible behind the counter).

DS Lites on the other hand are still sold out in Yodobashi... hahaha...

[QUOTE="effthat"]

"costed"? How long you been in college?

Atman_Do

Oh, okay. We want to play grammar Nazi do we?

Also, the average college student seems to have more disposable income than you've been led to believe. It's a ploy they use to get parents to buy them stockpiles of hotpockets.

effthat

Hot Pockets

Sure they aren't working fulltime,

effthat

full-time

but they also aren't paying an entire mortgage and usually don't car payments that are very high or insurance payments. This doesn't mean that it's the college students that were buying the PS2s effthat

I said it was people I knew. They were college students. Go-go gadget reading comprehension.

and it also is more logical to have a larger amount of product shipped to a metropolitan area.

Both of you have problems with the arguements you've put forward.

On to the real topic! It is completely false that a company with a limited life product is going to be more profitable by not selling. There are a ton

effthat

is a ton (Ton is singular, even though it describes a group. This is a rather common error.)

of reasons that the production cannot be ramped up and if you'd like a disertation,

effthat

dissertation

give me your email address

effthat

I don't think so.

and I'll write a 3 page report on Nintendo specifically. Nintendo isn't going to make more money in the future by not selling today. Please stop the conspiracy theory of artificial shortages.

Nintendo has sold an average of almost 1 million units a month. They have caught up and quite possibly surpassed the 360 in install rates and have been available for half the time. They use complex interfacing that requires specialized components. Increasing production without decreasing defects is a serious issue in any manufacturing process.

It may be completely accessible in pocket areas. This doesn't mean that the demand on an international scale has been met. The fact that a Wii has been traded in at a store just proves to me that that person doesn't know anything about videogames

effthat

You really like to make up new compound words, don't you?

because a bid on ebay would net them profits instead of taking a huge hit. Trade-ins in general are a big ripoff.

Finally, the OP didn't say that a used Wii was marked at $20. He said that it was $20 LESS. As in selling price of $230.

effthat

Pot, meet kettle.

Mr. Black, you've missed a few...

Seriously though...not BS...shortages can't be blamed completely on Nintendo...Nintendo doesn't have anything to gain by not selling their product...stop with the conspiracy theories...

I was just at a GameStop recently, and not only did they have Nintendo Wiis, they even had used ones for $20 less.

This was a GameStop in a fairly high-traffic metropolitan area, too. I don't understand why this perception of a "shortage" of Wiis continues. Maybe it's just in certain areas?

Atman_Do

No one thought the Wii would sell so well. So why is it so hard for some people to believe that Nintendo also got caught by suprise by the Wii's success? In a recent article I read, Reggie said that before launch they thought they were making too many Wiis. We've got people who don't seem to know anything about economics, or the amount of planning it takes to design build and sell a complicated electronic device, like the Wii, spouting all these crazy theories. Doesn't it make more sense that Nintendo didn't think they'd do so well, and they're still trying to catch up?

wa wa wa zzzzzzzz

i saw a few Wii's maybe like 8 of them the other time at walmart..

the next day they were sold out. haven't seen wii's on it for over 3 months. And i go constantly to walmart for many software/hardware pc/console/tech etc reasons. :)