Customers still lining up for Wii shipments
Sunday, March 16th, 2008 at 6:15pm by Derek
Last week, while the Infendo offices bubbled with giddy Brawl-induced enthusiasm and my colleagues took some brutal smash attacks from the regulars, I was taking a week-long break in sunny San Jose.
Finding a launch-week copy in California was almost impossible, so as soon as I landed in Pittsburgh late last night, I committed to a very important goal. There would be no phone calls, no unpacking. At least not for a while; more than anything else, I needed to get my Smash on.
I drove home, tossed my luggage in the corner and made an impetuous 12:15 AM beeline to a local Wal-Mart, desperate to find a leftover copy of Brawl and to log some late-night hours of Smash. I expected to a find ghost town, an empty department with few, if any, copies and nary a nearby Wal-Mart associate to assist me.
What I found was quite different.
As I passed the children’s apparel and turned right at the Wheat Thins, I noticed a large group of customers had amassed near the electronics department, forming a line that stretched well beyond the HD television displays. I immediately feared they were waiting for a Brawl shipment, leaving me Smash-less. But after asking one of the several associates patrolling the area, I learned they weren’t waiting for a new movie or game release at all.
They were waiting for Wii. This particular Wal-Mart had just received a shipment of 19 Wii consoles, and at midnight, they went on sale.
I had unexpectedly walked into another case of Wii-mania. Customers were complaining about low shipments, “unfair line” structures and stealthy “line jumpers.” More than 25 people waited in line, though several had walked away in the hours prior. Wal-Mart positioned several employees in the electronics department for the shipment, as well as managers and security for rambunctious parents who were nearing pre-Christmas levels of consumer anticipation.
On a random Saturday. At midnight. In March.
“My daughter knows someone who works here,” said one customer. “He told her yesterday they had a shipment coming in, so we got here at about 6:30 PM and have been waiting here ever since.”
Though most customers were able to pick up a Wii, several walked away discouraged as the hours passed. Some stuck around until the very end, perhaps hoping for some sort of miracle or counting error, before being turned away after the shipment was depleted.
“This is just ridiculous,” said one disappointed customer. “They’ve got to be doing this on purpose. How are people supposed to get one when they’re hoarding all the damn things?”
Conspiracy theories were abound, not exclusive to frustrated customers who were turned away without a Wii. Even some who were able to get one shared the feeling that Nintendo is leaking Wii systems to the market slowly, as did some Wal-Mart employees.
“Oh, they’re definitely doing this on purpose,” said a Wal-Mart electronics employee. “They’re saving them for Christmas, just like last year, so it builds demand and then we’ll sell a ton of them over the holidays.”
Asked when she thought supply might meet demand, and chaotic shipment situations like that night’s would stop happening, she answered me with a quick chuckle.
“Not until after Christmas. Not until next year, at least.”
“We get a shipment every two weeks,” she continued. “We started getting shipments of about 15, but they send bigger shipments to stores that sell more accessories. We’ve been trying to move a lot of that stuff, so now we’re up to shipments like tonight’s.”
Despite bigger shipments, Wii consoles still don’t last long.
“This happens every time. We usually already have people waiting, but we announce it over the speakers in the store, too. That’s when people start rushing back to get one. They sell out so fast that there’s no point putting them on the shelves. We tried it once, and people were breaking into the cases to grab them. So we don’t anymore. That sign has been in there for months.”
I checked the Wii section, and sure enough, there was a sign. Although a shipment had just come in minutes ago, all that stood in the glass Wii case was a simple white sign:
So when will the proverbial “bubble” burst, Infendoites? Is the Wii situation still desperate in your neck of the woods?
March 16th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
yeah, even this far after christmas it’s hard to find them here (i’m in upstate new york). i bet that employee was right about nintendo doing this on purpose though.
March 16th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
They are producing 1.8M a month.
Are they purposefully not paying millions to increase production to 2.8M a month? Yeah.
If they are happy with 1.8M sells a month for their bottom line, they won’t increase production.
March 16th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
It’s going to get worse when WiiFit and Mario Kart comes out.
March 16th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
March, April, May.
Brawl, Kart, Fit.
Bam, Bam, Bam.
March 16th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I’m sorry, but there is no way that Nintendo is holding back units on purpose. That makes no sense whatsoever. Why on Earth would Nintendo hold back from selling thousands of Wii’s every week, just to be able to sell more systems for the Holiday? Creating demand only makes sense if there is no demand in the first place. The Wii is the most demanded system to ever be built, why lose countless sales to increase the demand for something that doesn’t need increasing in the first place.
March 16th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
At my local Best Buy they had 72 that they had had for a while but they couldn’t sell them until Brawl Launch. There was a huge line outside when Brawl came out.
March 16th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Still can’t find them in UK, and we don’t have Brawl yet!!
March 16th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
All stores in Omaha, NE (Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc) have none. They all have the dreaded ’sign’. I am glad of my purchase Nov 2006. I have many friends that still don’t have one yet. Last week, the satellite guy came to install DishNet however he was wondering what the white box was on my entertainment center. I told him a Nintendo Wii. He asked what does it do? Is it like the PS2? He seemed amused with the explanation and stated he needs to get one for his kids. (Where do they come from — kids haven’t heard of Wii???)
March 16th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
My best buy, just like Hizeme’s, got 72 (i’m in Ohio, where you at?)
and it was pandemonium when I went to pick up my pre-order on launch day. They had a special checkout and pick up area just for wii and accessories. People were waiting for hours to get in.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:28 am
Really though what ever they are doing people will continue to line up if they don’t have one. The hey they are doing this on purpose is what people used to keep people from trying…..LOL
It doesn’t work. If you want one you will go for it. Nothing is going to stop this till people get their Wii!
March 17th, 2008 at 1:01 am
This just in from Houston Texas….there are still no Wiis to be found anywhere. I repeat…no Wiis! It looks as if the only way you’re gonna get a Wii is by robbing your arthritic grandmother while she is taking out her dentures. Survival of the fittest. Which I’ll segway into this…start saving up for Wii Fit!
March 17th, 2008 at 1:11 am
I’ve never seen a single Wii on a store shelf. I remember before launch everyone was saying “there will be plenty of Wiis, just walk in on launch day and pick one up off the shelf.” Riiiight. 16 months later and you still can’t get one.
I’m glad I waited in the cold at Costco to get one from their first shipment just after launch.
Come on Nintendo - build more factories. The only thing keeping you from completely owning this generation is your lack of production capacity.
March 17th, 2008 at 2:54 am
I check for Wiis at nearly every store I go to, and since launch, I’ve seen them a total of four times: twice in a bundle at Costco, once at Target (there were only 2) and once at Wal-mart (there were a bunch). I have about ten people at work who want me to find them a Wii. YeahOKwhatever.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:13 am
This is ridicoulous!!!!
I think Nintendo is misjudging where to send stock instead of producing enough Wiis.
As I said many times before, here in Italy there are plenty of stock… but not because the demand is high… quite the opposite!!!
Nintendo Wii’s stock are gathering dust because it doesn’t sell much at all!!
I might even consider the idea to start selling them on eBay for European users at least, considering the fact that for an american, with current euro/dollar exchange rate, it will cost a shitload of money to get one (260 euros = 397 dollars, plus shipping and tax…. much more than a PS3!!!).
March 17th, 2008 at 5:56 am
It is indeed surprising that this far after launch Wiis are still an item you cannot go into any retailer and buy when whim dictates.
Just Sunday, I decided to buy a Wii again, after I had to sell my previous one for monetary reasons. I arrived at Target at 6 AM and was first in line before the other waiters decided to get out of their cars and join me after about 7:15. Turned out it was all unessessary, as Target received 42 Wiis , more than enough for everyone that showed right at opening. Likely, volume depends by area, and being that I’m in Charlotte, NC, it would make sense for a large shipment to go there. Still, though, that’s far more Wiis than I’ve encountered in shipments to Best Buys or Wal-marts.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:08 am
I think this whole thing is a joke by Nintendo..
walmart gets 20 wii’s only? Americans are like what 300 million?
Not to mention people that buy from american stores online
like from amazon. I wanted a Wii originaly for this this generation, but I just happen to buy an xbox 360 and a year later my xbox gets RROD, i sent it to america to get it fixed, it will probably get back to me after a month, and I still can’t buy a wii!!
I can find it locally but for $488!!
Some stores Just give you the box, no extra controller no extra game
March 17th, 2008 at 9:40 am
A Walmart employee’s opinion is news?
March 17th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I’m a big cynic, but even so, if Nintendo was doing anything on purpose after this long a period of time, then some really good reporter would have found a mole or a whistle blower within Nintendo, somehow some way, and would have blown this story wide open.
It’s a disruptive, fun little machine. It’s like the iPod and is more than just hype. It does as advertised, no more, no less. It’s a good product and unfortunately even Nintendo didn’t expect that.
Remember that the DS also sees occasional supply constraints to this day. Are they purposefully doing it with that as well?
March 17th, 2008 at 9:53 am
lordjames: No, her opinion isn’t the news.
A product still inciting long lines on random shipping days nearing two years after its release is, yes, news.
March 17th, 2008 at 10:37 am
In a GT TV interview with Reggie (recently covered on Infendo courtesy of Kotaku :P) the butt-kickin’ prez said that they’re shipping 1.8 million units now as opposed to the 1 million they had gone up to beforehand.
It obviously doesn’t make sense to just massively boost production of the Wii cuz they know that eventually they’re going outpacing demand and that is no good for business. Still, it’s insane to see such high demand for the console.
March 17th, 2008 at 10:50 am
But the question still remains………..DID….YOU….GET….BRAWL!?!???!
March 17th, 2008 at 10:59 am
EthoSoccer: Ha, I forgot to mention that! Yes, I did. Surprisingly, there were several copies there. Friend code coming soon for Brawl Thursdays. I expect most of you will wipe the floor with me.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Everyone that I know that wants a Wii, has a Wii. If you really want one, they aren’t that hard to find. That’s all I’m really concerned about.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Well, they are definitely harder to find than 360s or PS3s!
The “Nintendo doing it on purpose” theory is, of course, ridiculous: NOW would be the time to bring out all those supposedly hoarded Wiis, when demand is ramping upwards because of Brawl…
March 17th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I rolled into a Best Buy at 12:15 pm on Sunday and they had a stack of more than 50 Wii’s. In a line of 12 people, 10 were purchasing Brawl and 6 of the 10 were picking up a Wii. That was the first time I walked into a store where you could buy a Wii without waiting in a line.
You will be able to walk into a store and buy a Wii from September to October of this year. After that, I’m guessing next February will be the date when supply out paces demand.
March 18th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
lol @ lordjames
also, still wondering when the contrived demand-stimulating shortage ended and the actual shortage began. maybe someone can explain that sometime.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:04 am
yea i just went this sunday to stand outside of my local target i thought i was gunna be the only one there waiting to get a wii but sure enough there were two guys in front of me and not long from then people started pilling up behind me forming a great long line behind me after the doors opened we all rushed to the electronics department it was crazy. but thanks to target i finally was able to get my hands on a wii for mii!!!!!!!!!!!!
yay……. im already soar from swinging my wiimote too hard after just one day.:) guess will have to stick my copy of smash bros back in my wii…… WOA…. the Wii Rocks!
March 19th, 2008 at 2:38 am
@deepthought
If you have any evidence that the Wii’s shortage was at any time contrived I would be joyous to hear it. It’s a wonder people here have tolerated your stealth trolling and troll-baiting this far.
And what a silly thing to fault a company for. It’s like the Alan Parsons Project making fun of the Beatles because they couldn’t fit all of their 14 million fans into the local venue, when they have no trouble fitting in their 400 fans at every seedy bar they come across.
It’s also interesting to see Microsoft claim shortage. If Nintendo is having a legitimate shortage and can produce 432k in February, there’s no way an MS shortage would limit them to 280k.