Nintendo suffering knock-on effects of Wii shortage

[HEXUS]

While Sony and Microsoft have their business plans set out in stone for the coming year , Nintendo are still reeling from the Wii stock shortages over the Christmas which analysts claim may cost the company up to $1billion.

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[Stoo]

Not only is it the consoles themselves that are hard to find, but the more basic things as well.

I find it hard to believe that it's so popular that they can't even produce enough controllers to go around, especially is it's purposefully not particularly advanced, and was originally designed to sell at a $100 price point according to miyamoto in a business week article.

[Steven W]

Not only is it the consoles themselves that are hard to find, but the more basic things as well.

I find it hard to believe that it's so popular that they can't even produce enough controllers to go around, especially is it's purposefully not particularly advanced, and was originally designed to sell at a $100 price point according to miyamoto in a business week article.

True, my sis can't find a wii-mote anywhere.

[Lee H]

True, my sis can't find a wii-mote anywhere.

That is why we've had to source them from Japan just so we have stock of them for the christmas period.

Crazy isn't it? Some places have the numchuck cable and no remotes, and vice versa.

Maybe this is all planned. I mean the hype surrounding the "shortages" is nothing beyond staggering and it's all free publicity for Nintendo really.

Not only this, there would be people out there thinking " What's all the hype about? These Wii's must be good so I'll have to get one" and this is adding to the demand.

Cynical ain't I

[BlackDwarf]

I'm fairly sure companies have been sitting on stock all year.

My store (GAME), have received in excess of 60 Wii's in the past 3 days, and today, we had about 80 Wiimotes in.

Its not necessarily fair, but it's certainly created hype around it all.

[steve threlfall]

The games are not easy to come by either. I want the zapper with links crossbow training and Mario Galaxy... for reasonable prices.

[Lee H]

Steve,

Blockbuster near me had the zapper + links training for the normal price when I got the resident evil game from there the other day.

[steve threlfall]

Steve,

Blockbuster near me had the zapper + links training for the normal price when I got the resident evil game from there the other day.

Cheers mate, I'll check it out.

[Lee H]

That's a bit of a trek innit to Manchester from erm... Black Country area just for a zapper

[steve threlfall]

That's a bit of a trek innit to Manchester from erm... Black Country area just for a zapper

I meant a more local blockbuster . Im not desperate for it anyway, got resident evil 4 to play and loads of stuff on 360

[Agent]

True, my sis can't find a wii-mote anywhere.

Loads of places have them by me. I would buy one and post it, but you won't get it for Xmas

[acrobat]

I got a wii, a second wii remote, and a second wii little controller thingy, all about a week or so ago from Scan.

Cost a bloody ridiculous fortune though. The Wii alone was about £300 odd, and then the little remote was another 30 odd and the other little controller thing was about another 20 odd. So around 350 total I think. And then I just "Had" to get that Mario game that everyone wants. I got 4 games that where all about 20 quid, but that one mario game was sold out everywhere, and the one place I could find that had it in stock (Play.com), had it at about 49 quid or something stupid like that.

So the wii and 4 games in total, cost about £460 odd quid.. Made me sick. I didn't want to do it but my niece and nephew really wanted one and I kept telling my brother, "Just get them a blummin XBOX 360 or a PS3 instead", but they are only little and they are only interested in the Wii.. and you can't really screw up a little kid's Christmas by saying, "I know you wanted a Wii, but they where too expensive so we got you a PS3 instead..." Thats not really cool, so we just got it. I just hated to see that much money being spent on something which is worth about three times less than that.


p.s. Scan still have the Wii remote listed as in stock if thats of use to anyone.

[Steven W]

My Wii lightsaber still hasn't arrived and it was supposed to be available on 20th
November. I'm wondering whether they haven't even got them yet.

[malfunction]

Very strange indeed. If the hype is to be believed Nintendo are selling just about everything they can make as fast as they make it - how the hell can this be leading to a loss when they make a profit on everything sold including the hardware? Sure if this isn't BS and they had more stock they could make *more* money but I'm puzzled by the claims that the current situation is causing issues for them

[Stewart]

Good.

There is no excuse for any sort of shortage the Christmas after the system launched. Nitendo are well aware of likely demand, and have had plenty of time to meet that demand.

Shortages do not create hype, everyone knows what a Wii is now and what it can do. A shortage stops people who want to give Nintendo money being able to do so, and costs the big N money. The amazing, magical solution is to put enough units in store.

Perhaps a $1billion kick in the love onions will make this point very clear.

Satisfy demand, satisfy your customers, you make money, your punters are happy.

Its not rocket science.

How can the 'hype' of not having enough units help?

"Hey, Super Mario Galaxy looks amazing, lets buy it and a Wii for little Tommy this Xmas. Oh wait, we can't, there are none at the local Quick-E-Argos. That means we can either buy it in the new year, giving Nintendo the exact same amount of money we would have done if we got it now, or not bother and buy something else... perhaps a 360?"

How is that better than simply having enough units to get the cash off everyone, and in what way does this 'hype' help Nintendo?

[Stewart]

Maybe this is all planned. I mean the hype surrounding the "shortages" is nothing beyond staggering and it's all free publicity for Nintendo really.

Not only this, there would be people out there thinking " What's all the hype about? These Wii's must be good so I'll have to get one" and this is adding to the demand.

Cynical ain't I

Not cynical mate, just wrong.

Nintendo would make more if they floged a Wii to everyone who wanted one. I just don't see how not selling units to people who want them can in anyway be a good thing.

'Got any Wii consoles in stock mate?'

'Nope'

'Wow, Nintendo are so cool... when they are in stock, I'm going to buy 3!'