Topic: So, for us Canadians...

[Artimus]

Let's look at what we'll pay.

Console + Wii Sports = $279.99
2000 WiiPoints = $24
Games = $59.99 (going by Amazon.ca, seems reasonable)

No word on controller prices, but based on recent accessory pricing we'll see $24-25 for the Classic Controller/Nunchuk and $45 for the Wiimote. So, to total up?

Console + WiiSports + 2nd FULL Controller + Classic Controller + 2000 WiiPoints + 1 Game = $457 or so. With tax (14% in most places) that's $521.

In comparison, the CORE 360 is $399. Add two controllers, a game and XBL Points and you have $599 plus tax for a total of $684.

Not bad, especially compared to our American counterparts.

[Ian Sane]

It's funny that the current president isn't very popular in Canada, yet the US dollar has lowered under his term which has benefited us Canadians.

The Wii in Canada is cheaper than the Cube was and the games are cheaper too.

The points thing is going to be a little goofy though.  It's easy to understand when it's 1 cent = 1 point but we're going to have to be constantly converting in our head.  An American sees a game costs 500 point and knows it's $5.  A Canadian sees it and has to do a little conversion to figure out what he's really paying.

[JonLeung]

14% in most places?  (I'm assuming that is 6% GST plus 8% PST...)  Man, I'm glad I live in Alberta, where there is no PST.  So it's only 6% in total tax.

I think there are two other Canadians here that also live in Alberta.  IceCold and...I think couchmonkey, maybe?  I forget.

[Artimus]

Alberta is not part of Canada, it's part of the US.

Yeah, compared to other consoles this is actually a good price.

[31 Flavas]

Quote
Originally posted by: Artimus

In comparison, the CORE 360 is $399. Add two controllers, a game and XBL Points and you have $599 plus tax for a total of $684.

You still need to add a 64 meg memory card. Since the Gimp60 doesn't have any storage memory otherwise. That's what $45-50 (CAD)? So it's roughly $730 for a Gimp60 and ~$780 for an actual 360.

[IceCold]

I was right! The conversion turns out very well - good news!

[couchmonkey]

360 is a slight ripoff in terms of Canadian dollar conversions.  Wii and PS3 stack up much more nicely here than in the U.S.  If I'm not mistaken, the base PS3 is only $50 more than the full meal deal Xbox 360, and as you've already demonstrated, Wii is that much cheaper.  Sony's giving Canadians a bit of a break (which is why I love PS3, right?)

[Artimus]

If anyone finds a store doing actual preorders please post it here!

[JonLeung]

A few weeks ago, I saw that Toys R Us was advertising in-store that they were taking pre-orders.  Now that we know the actual price and what's included, I would guess they might revise the details - though I didn't ask for more details back then, but I think it was $50 down to hold one.

[couchmonkey]

Anybody know if there's an online place Canadians can preorder?  Would Amazon work if it starts taking preorders again?

I'm planning to line up anyway, but it would be nice to have one in the mail.  Then I can be sure to get my Wii as early as possible.  And I can strike Ebay's Wii point for massive profit!

[Artimus]

Futureshop takes them, but it hasn't started yet.

[IceCold]

I'm sure Future Shop will soon; they've had a Wii section for a long, long time..

[Caliban]

Yesterday, when I went to the closest FS to buy me the beautiful Onyx DSLite, and before I left, I asked this "guy" if they started doing Wii preorders, he said "no, I think online only". When I got home I rechecked if I could preorder online and obviously we can't.

It seems BestBuy.ca hasn't changed their site too, and Amazon.ca still doesn't have a Wii informative link like FS or BB has. I have yet to go to a Walmart or EB to confirm anything.

I'm not going to pre-order anyway, I will go buy it the first day it is on sale, including games and accesories.

[Artimus]

Normally (at home) I'd just got to Zellers/Walmart nearby and get it (as I did for my Cube) without trouble. But being in Toronto I have no idea if that's even practical...