Topic: The Insanity Begins Again....Where can I still buy a Wii U?

[Caterkiller]

LA Ca Leahsdad? What Best Buy did you try and shop at? Were you at the Wii launch party at Universal City Walk? Man if you didn't get one I know my idiot brother is out of luck. Told him to do it day one that ragamuffin.

Yup, LA CA.  The Best Buy in West Hollywood, next to the Target and the Gamestop (which was how I checked up on those stores in one go).   I hate shopping, and especially hate going to stores.   That's why I'm glad I found a place online that won't charge me sales tax.   

And as much as I would love to go to these Midnight Launch parties (I really, really would), I've got 2 jobs, 2 kids and a a very non-gamer wife, so they're not an option for me.  Aah....to be young and single again.   

West Hollywood, not the one on La Brea is it? But yeah I understand, my daughter is 5 months now and while my wife is super understanding of video games I know when I need to cool it on the over playing. She can't stop my Pokemon though, I do that where I want when I want!


@BlackNMild - I bet Nintendo is not exactly preparing for 2 year Wii like sell out, but I'm certain they won't let a shortage like that happen again. Though the buzz that would create would be good for them, putting everyone in a slap yo momma  frenzy.

[Shaymin]

It really is amazing how fast the preorders are going considering all the doom and gloom. Nov 17th even Broodwars will post in here desperately trying to buy one.

I'll spare us all from a copy/paste from the NFR 4.5 thread and say this: No.

There's probably two regulars here who are opting out of preorder mania, myself and broodwars. One's financial, one's lack of games.

[lolmonade]

anyone hear anything if or when Gamestop will be taking pre-orders of the premium Wii U? I wanna upgrade asap.

I called Gamestop yesterday.  They've already ran out of pre-orders for the Premium Addition, and are quickly running out of the bare-bones Wii U preorders. 

As far as I can tell, right now the only option is to preorder from Wal-Mart, but then you have to also purchase a game and Wii Remote with it (not a bad deal if you're needing both).  I'm not certain how long this will last, given the fervor at the other locations for the Wii U.

[Sarail]

It really is amazing how fast the preorders are going considering all the doom and gloom. Nov 17th even Broodwars will post in here desperately trying to buy one.

I'll spare us all from a copy/paste from the NFR 4.5 thread and say this: No.

There's probably two regulars here who are opting out of preorder mania, myself and broodwars. One's financial, one's lack of games.

Shaymin, if I had the extra money to do so, I'd get you a Wii U at launch, man. Totally.

[Disco Stu]

Well, I just placed my order for one of those Walmart.com bundles.  I really wanted to hold out for Amazon taking pre-orders (I have enough Amazon giftcard money saved up to cover the system and a game), but it's just not looking likely and I didn't want to be left out in the cold when even Wal-Mart sells out of preorders.


Edit: One thing I would like to point, though, is that Wal-Mart is charging you the entire amount upfront when you place an order, no small pre-order fee, but all $450 (plus tax/shipping) for the Deluxe console + game + WiiMote.

[MysticGohan]

anyone hear anything if or when Gamestop will be taking pre-orders of the premium Wii U? I wanna upgrade asap.

I called Gamestop yesterday.  They've already ran out of pre-orders for the Premium Addition, and are quickly running out of the bare-bones Wii U preorders. 

As far as I can tell, right now the only option is to preorder from Wal-Mart, but then you have to also purchase a game and Wii Remote with it (not a bad deal if you're needing both).  I'm not certain how long this will last, given the fervor at the other locations for the Wii U.

Really don't have a need for more wii motes xD plus I plan on doing the trade in to pay for the system and games. Just hoping to go from the basic to the premium. I'm sure yjeir be getting more Black wii u's than this xD

[leahsdad]

Edit: One thing I would like to point, though, is that Wal-Mart is charging you the entire amount upfront when you place an order, no small pre-order fee, but all $450 (plus tax/shipping) for the Deluxe console + game + WiiMote.

Yup so is PC Richard and Sons. 

[leahsdad]

Edit: One thing I would like to point, though, is that Wal-Mart is charging you the entire amount upfront when you place an order, no small pre-order fee, but all $450 (plus tax/shipping) for the Deluxe console + game + WiiMote.

Yup so is PC Richard and Sons. 

What I mean is, PC Richard and Sons is charging you the full amount + shipping.  But they aren't making you buy some bundle crap.

http://www.pcrichard.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=107140&parentCategoryId=6&categoryId=120000&subCategoryId=120050

[Louieturkey]

LeahsDad: What they did at my Best Buy is there was a large vertical touch screen on one of the end caps. The sales clerk punch in Wii U and selected the black one (A customer could use this kiosk too) and it printed out a receipt. I took this receipt to a check stand and paid five dollars. I now have the pre-order.

ARRGH!   Yeah, I didn't get pushy or spend too much time with the sales girl because I was there with my wife and kids.    I'm going to have to go back tomorrow first thing in the morning.   

I admit that I don't shop at Best Buy often, but I've never seen this kiosk thing.   I'm in Los Angeles, CA.   You're not writing from some Canadian Best Buy, are you?  You know, where wishes are horses and all your dreams come true?   I must be sure!

The kiosk is a beautiful thing.  It has different prices than the online store.  You can order stuff that the store doesn't have at that moment and get it at the store price.  Sometimes the price is much lower than online, so it's worth it. And it can preorder things for you too as if you are ordering online, but it comes to the store.  I'd say this is probably the best way to preorder a system right now.

[Louieturkey]

It really is amazing how fast the preorders are going considering all the doom and gloom. Nov 17th even Broodwars will post in here desperately trying to buy one.

I'll spare us all from a copy/paste from the NFR 4.5 thread and say this: No.

There's probably two regulars here who are opting out of preorder mania, myself and broodwars. One's financial, one's lack of games.

I'm opting out too.  I'm planning to make a trip to my friends' place in Oregon sometime in 2013 and will pick one up then.  I save on tax and get a 10% discount due to one of them working there. Of course, that won't stop me posting about the excitement I hear about.

[Kairon]

Update: My friend preordered a black Wii U in-store at a Toys R Us yesterday and I've seen anecdotal reports of people doing the same thing in-store today as well.

[broodwars]

 

It really is amazing how fast the preorders are going considering all the doom and gloom. Nov 17th even Broodwars will post in here desperately trying to buy one.

I'll spare us all from a copy/paste from the NFR 4.5 thread and say this: No.

There's probably two regulars here who are opting out of preorder mania, myself and broodwars. One's financial, one's lack of games.

Indeed. Like many folks, Nintendo has yet to convince me that the Wii U is worth its price considering its lack of must-buy exclusive software (everything else I can, and probably will, just buy for my PS3).

Even if I wanted to buy a Wii U, though, pre-orders on the less-gimped Wii Us sold out days ago.  I can wait till next year when Nintendo actually announces something I want to buy, perhaps with a price cut as well.  In the meantime, someone who actually wants the damn thing can enjoy it for Christmas instead.

[Kairon]

In the meantime, someone who actually wants the damn thing can enjoy it for Christmas instead.

I support this line of thinking. Actually, it was my exact approach to the 3DS launch. (Ambassador program finally made me change my mind five months later and I'm glad I did!)

[Caterkiller]

Toys R Us is sold out of preorders.

http://www.toysrus.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=12807702

[Kairon]

Toys R Us is sold out of preorders.

http://www.toysrus.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=12807702

online != in-store

[Mop it up]

I'll be waiting as well, buying a system at launch isn't worth the money to me. There aren't enough games to satisfy my interests, and there won't be any good sales or old bargain games to find.

[Kairon]

Apparently, you can pre-order the UNBUNDLED system at Walmart.com for regular price if you have the right link, but you have to be willing to depend on Walmart honoring those orders and have to risk slow snail mail shipping when they do (allegedly, the same thing happened for the 360 at launch?).

source

Oh... I'm not sure if Walmart wants to charge you full price now instead of when it ships. If so that's pretty unappealing...

[leahsdad]

Even if I wanted to buy a Wii U, though, pre-orders on the less-gimped Wii Us sold out days ago. 

You know, the crazy thing about this whole situation is that the Wii U price and launch date were announced DAYS AGO. 

I still can't believe that demand is this high.   None of the press was favorable around the Nintendo Direct.   Which is leading me to suspect that there is a serious manufacturing problem.   I think the 3DS shipped...what, 2 million units for launch for North America?   I suspect the Wii U is a whole lot smaller...I bet 500,000 units available at launch, maybe even less. 

I know we have some Europeans and Australians here....is it like this across the Pacific and the Atlantic, or is this a very special situation we have here in North America?

[Disco Stu]

I still can't believe that demand is this high.   None of the press was favorable around the Nintendo Direct.   Which is leading me to suspect that there is a serious manufacturing problem.   I think the 3DS shipped...what, 2 million units for launch for North America?   I suspect the Wii U is a whole lot smaller...I bet 500,000 units available at launch, maybe even less.

I'm guessing that retailers just don't know the exact numbers that they're going to get yet and wanted to play it safe on the earliest pre-orders.  I bet they'll open them back up again in October or something when they have more concrete information.  Also, you can bet they are going to manufacture a hell of a lot more than 500,000 units for launch.  I'll eat my shoe if I'm wrong.

[leahsdad]

This articles quotes some guy (another journalist who does not name his source) as saying there will be 300,000 at launch.   Hmm....

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120916/METRO/209160341/1361/Early-Christmas-shoppers?-Wii-U-gaming-console-preorders-selling-out-fast

[BranDonk Kong]

I hope GameStop gets more preorders (Black) before launch...I have $160 store credit there.

[Adrock]

I walked into Best Buy around 2PM today and preordered the Deluxe Set. I haven't decided to get one yet, but the preorder $5 and I'd rather be safe than sorry. I have about 2 months to figure it out. I'm still hoping there are some surprises for the launch window before the end of the year otherwise I'd pretty much be buying a new console for Mario.

[Kairon]

I walked into Best Buy around 2PM today and preordered the Deluxe Set. I haven't decided to get one yet, but the preorder $5 and I'd rather be safe than sorry. I have about 2 months to figure it out. I'm still hoping there are some surprises for the launch window before the end of the year otherwise I'd pretty much be buying a new console for Mario.

I honestly don't expect any surprises within the launch window time frame. I feel like Nintendo showed the 50 games they have planned from now until the end of March and we have no reason to suspect any additions where that time frame is concerned.

EDIT: Actually, I take that back. I'd love to see some surprises on the eShop between now and then!

[Adrock]

we have no reason to suspect any additions where that time frame is concerned.

Isn't the Tokyo Game Show in a few days? It's a long shot, but it's still there.

[ShyGuy]

So, has anyone ever got a system from Best Buy before? I'm nervous about getting my pre-order on launch day.