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

[leahsdad]

I just spent an hour on the phone looking for a Deluxe system preorder...which made me realize, hey, I should start a thread so that we can pool information.   

So as of right now, as far as I'm aware, Gamestop has stopped accepting preorders on the Deluxe/Premium SKU, both in stores on online.

BestBuy has stopped online, but is still accepting preorders in stores.

Kmart is accepting preorders online, but is not yet accepting preorders in stores.

And that's what I've got so far.   I'm going to stop by Bestbuy later today to get my preorder in there.

[UncleBob]

I think Walmart.com still has them in stock, but they're bundled.

With that said, don't worry... I'm sure you'll be able to walk into any store and pick one up on release day.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I'm sure you'll be able to walk into any store and pick one up on release day.

It never gets old I luv it

[lolmonade]

At this rate, I may go the Wal-Mart online bundle route.  It wouldn't kill me to have a spare Wii Motion Plus, and I was planning on getting an additional Wii U game anyway.  Just need to wait for my next paycheck.

As I mentioned in the Wii U thread, my backup plan is to store hop on launch day, but I have a sinking suspicion that it'll be easier said than done.

[Retro Deckades]

Yeah, I put an online preorder in on Best Buy's website yesterday, and today I received a message that there was a problem with my order -- something about the billing information that I entered not matching what my bank has on file or some bullshit like that. So I just went ahead and cancelled that order. I've since put a preorder in on Future Shop's website, and am waiting to see if there will be complications with that one as well.


What I really want to know is when the bloody effing hell is Amazon going to put the Wii U itself up for preorder?

[UncleBob]

Never, apparently.
Amazon doesn't sell Nintendo hardware or something...

[Retro Deckades]

Really? They seem to sell the Nintendo 3DS... Perhaps it's a console thing?

[UncleBob]

Where's the link for 3DS units sold by Amazon?

[Kwolf]

I think the 3ds's they are selling are through other places just using their market place as a exchange.

Amazon sent a message to all the people who signed up to be notified about Wii U preorders.  I will copy and paste what they sent me.

	Dear Amazon.com Customer, Thank for you signing up to be notified when the Wii U is available.  Unfortunately the Wii U console is not available at Amazon.com at this time but please check back in the future, as availability may change.  We do have the latest Wii U games and accessories available now so check them out.  Thank you for shopping with Amazon Video Games.

I guess they could change things around before launch, but the thing with the 3ds has been going on for like 8 months or something.  Maybe a year now?  Not sure.    I was pretty bummed too.

[shingi_70]

http://gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=185593

Target online is sold out.

[MysticGohan]

I just pre-ordered at gamestop nearby, unfortunately it's the $299.99 model, but I was told I could upgrade if anymore open up for the premium model.

Hope they'll get more, as it's the one I want.

[Kairon]

Last I heard Toys R Us and Best Buy were still accepting pre-orders, but I'm not sure what the current situation is regarding store vs. online, and if my information is out of date.

Are there any places that absolutely have NOT opened pre-orders? Either online or in-person?

I looked at the WalMart one and it's not bad if you're in the market for an extra Wiimote Plus. [Edit: Actually, since games are not $60 the WalMart bundle doesn't charge you anything extra at all, they just force you to buy more]

[MegaByte]

I checked everything earlier today, and only ToysRUs.com still had pre-orders open. Kmart had some earlier but then ran out. GameStop, Target, Walmart, Sears, and Best Buy were all out.

[Retro Deckades]

Where's the link for 3DS units sold by Amazon?

Unless I'm mistaken, the 3DS is being sold directly from Amazon:


http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-3DS-Cosmo-Black/dp/B002I096AA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347752377&sr=8-1&keywords=3ds

[UncleBob]

You're mistaken.

"Ships from and sold by Just 4 Games."

[Retro Deckades]

You're mistaken.

"Ships from and sold by Just 4 Games."

Oh fudge, you are correct. I could have sworn that when I posted that, it didn't say that. I was certain to look there before I linked it... Well at any rate, you've certainly prevented me from waiting for Amazon to offer pre-orders.

EDIT: Ahh, apparently it takes a moment to load that information.


As suspected, I received an e-mail from the second website on which I tried to submit a pre-order, telling me that there was a problem with my order and to call them. To hell with that. How about you don't be lazy and remove the option to pre-order the damn thing from your website?


Just put in a pre-order at EB Games. We'll see if that's fruitful.

[Caterkiller]

Glad I jumped on mine right away. I think my brother is holding out for a major launch party like Wii had. I'm almost sure Nintendo will do it again at the same place. If its like last year they will have 500+ Wii Us available. I will be there despite preordering mine at BB miles and miles away. I gotta 50$ gift card, better use it during all the festivities.

[Caliban]

You're mistaken.

"Ships from and sold by Just 4 Games."

Oh fudge, you are correct. I could have sworn that when I posted that, it didn't say that. I was certain to look there before I linked it... Well at any rate, you've certainly prevented me from waiting for Amazon to offer pre-orders.

EDIT: Ahh, apparently it takes a moment to load that information.

3DS is available through amazon.ca. Sold and shipped by amazon.ca. They don't have the Wii U in the system yet though, but some games are.

[TJ Spyke]

Amazon hasn't shipped any 3DS's since last October because apparently they had large numbers just sitting in their warehouses (when the 3DS wasn't selling well), and Nintendo refused to give them a special deal like they do with Walmart and also refused to let Amazon sell the system at a discount (and the last straw was when Nintendo let Walmart sell the 3DS at a discount before the official price drop). So apparently people who work at Amazon say that it's Amazon who refuses to buy hardware from Nintendo right now.

[BranDonk Kong]

Jesus Fucking Christ! I want to pre-order one now...maybe a local GameStop will have some available...

[UncleBob]

Amazon hasn't shipped any 3DS's since last October because apparently they had large numbers just sitting in their warehouses (when the 3DS wasn't selling well), and Nintendo refused to give them a special deal like they do with Walmart and also refused to let Amazon sell the system at a discount (and the last straw was when Nintendo let Walmart sell the 3DS at a discount before the official price drop). So apparently people who work at Amazon say that it's Amazon who refuses to buy hardware from Nintendo right now.

Nintendo doesn't set the retail price for hardware.  It's illegal for them to do so.  As they found out once before.

[TJ Spyke]

Actually, it's NOT illegal for them to set the price. It's called the MSRP. Retailers can sell it for less than the MSRP, but then they lose money on it since the profit margin for retailers is razor-thin. Amazon essentially wanted Nintendo to compensate them for selling it at a discount.

[UncleBob]

You know what that "S" stands for, right?

[lolmonade]

You know what that "S" stands for, right?

Srequired?

[TJ Spyke]

I didn't say Nintendo can force them to sell it at that price, just that technically they do set the price and retailers can choose to sell it or not at that price. But Amazon wanted to sell it for less and Nintendo to compensate them for that.