Why do I still need to camp out for a shot at a Wii?

[davepesc]

Seriously, the thing has been out going on 5 months and stores still can't get more than 10 or so a week?

Two weeks in a row I head out two hours before the one store graced with a handful of systems that week opens, and there's still 30-40 people lined up outside! I understand this on launch day, but this is crazy.

Too bad I don't want a PS3, they're all over the place...


I know this is just the way it goes, but does anyone know why Nintendo can't come close to meeting demand?

[GillianSeed]

The problem is that if they add a bunch of extra capacity now, they'll be stuck with it when demand starts to level off to where they expect it to be long term.

[Gillian Seed]

The problem is that if they add a bunch of extra capacity now, they'll be stuck with it when demand starts to level off to where they expect it to be long term.

Yeah I definitely think that Nintendo is trying to mind fcuk us into thinking that there's a higher demand for the Wii. I think a lot of that is because there isn't really a compelling reason for everyone to get a Wii yet. Personally I'm waiting till Mario Galaxy comes out to buy a Wii and I hope all this madness ends by then.

[hezeuschrist]

A rep from gamestop (not a register jockey) said he expected the Wii supply to increase dramatically after April, as thats when Nintendos fiscal year ends. They've met their goals thus far and want to stem further boons to the numbers to next years goals.

And the fake shortage still makes it in demand and it's somehow making Sony look "bad" for running with adequate supply.

[zektor]

And the fake shortage still makes it in demand and it's somehow making Sony look "bad" for running with adequate supply.

What a twisted game! I wonder if this type of market strategy has ever been used before in the game industry. I can't recall another time personally. Either way, I think it's very crappy...but apparently it works.

[badinsults]

I think that the demand was more than they were expecting, and they still can't pump out more than 1 million units per month. Now when you distribute that many units to three regions, well that adds up to less than the amount of units they had at launch. But yeah, it is pretty rediculous that people are still camping out for it.

[Soviet Conscript]

yhea, i kept telling myself "i'm not going to get a wii untill i can just casually walk into a store at 6 in the afternoon and just find one" well i started wanting one and i started checking stores, nothing, this was about a month ago and for the last month whenever i had an oppertunity i would check stores. all kind, walmart, ebgames, sams club, target, toys r us. it was the same thing over and over, no stock and sales people would tell me it sold out within a few hours if not minutes of getting it in. needless to say i got frusterated and i gave in. got a tip toys r us was getting a shipment in and ended up getting up early on a rare day i would of been able to sleep in. i got my wii but there was still a line of over 40 people there.

yes, haveing people camping out this long after launch for the thing is ridiculas.

[ShenmueFan]

Nintendo is creating false demand for the system in order to keep it on the news. It's a freakin' Gamecube for cryin' out loud. How hard can they be to manufacture!?!

[Cmtz]

Nintendo is creating false demand for the system in order to keep it on the news. It's a freakin' Gamecube for cryin' out loud. How hard can they be to manufacture!?!

Let's see if Nintendo doesn't get the systems they need out there they lose money to Sony and Microsoft. Yea, I can see how they are creating false demand.

[Chadt74]

After the last two systems maybe they didn't expect the demand they are experiencing? It makes no sense to 'create demand' this far after launch considering the market advantages with volume and the profitability. Manufacturing yield might also be a consideration.

[ShenmueFan]

After the last two systems maybe they didn't expect the demand they are experiencing? It makes no sense to 'create demand' this far after launch considering the market advantages with volume and the profitability. Manufacturing yield might also be a consideration.

But what I don't get is WHAT is so hard to manufacture with the Wii? I mean, its not like it uses a blue-laser device or anything.

Are they having trouble printing the packaging? Is that's what's holding everything up? Nintendo's got a billion Wiis in a warehouse but hired a moron pimple-faced teenager, fresh out of college to run the printing presses?

I don't get it. Well, enought outta me :)

[NE146]

But what I don't get is WHAT is so hard to manufacture with the Wii? I mean, its not like it uses a blue-laser device or anything.

I dont think it's hard at all. Just seems to me they just dissapear as fast as they come out.

I mean ask any retailer if they get more ps3's in than Wii's. Probably not.

[Griking]

It's a freakin' Gamecube for cryin' out loud.

It's so lame that people keep saying this but I suppose if it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside...

[heybtbm]

According to the CEO of Gamestop/EB, Nintendo has intentionally been holding back units, therefore creating a "false" shortage. This made the news last week.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6168172.html

[jajaja]

Its wierd that they still push out so few consoles. I just check a huge online store here and their next shipment of Wii consoles isnt before 16th of May. Then they get 700 units (altho unconfirmed). So thats 1 and a half month of waiting. PS3 got sold out too, but they have already restocked like 100.

Its hard to say if Nintendo do this on purpose, but it is possible. Making them hard to get makes the console sort of exlucive, since its hard to get. Many might buy it "just" because of this. The Wii is already damn easy to mod so alot of people want to buy a Wii because of this too. It might also be possible that they are working on the new revision too and therefor not making too many of the first revision.

[Chadt74]

"This is just my opinion. I think they intentionally dried up supply because they made their numbers for the year. Their new year starts April 1 and I think we're going to see supply flowing" Heybtbm that is what the Gamestop CEO said, please note that this is his opinion, not fact. The Nintendo rep said the same thing I said "they didn't know how big demand would be".

I've seen lots of things in a manufacturing environment screwed up, but again this is just a possibility that a number are not making it through Q&A or capacity could be limiting output.

FYI I am not a Nintendo fanboy, but delivering a high tech product to a worldwide audience is not as easy as everyone thinks.

[ShenmueFan]

You know what's weird - about a month ago I was in a Sam's Club and I sh*t you not, they had a FULL palette of Wiis just sitting there at the entrance and they weren't in any funcky $300+ bundles. I assumed the Wii shortage was done at that point but apparently it was just a fluke because I haven't seen a Wii in any store anywhere, including Sam's, since.

[GillianSeed]

According to the CEO of Gamestop/EB, Nintendo has intentionally been holding back units, therefore creating a "false" shortage. This made the news last week.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6168172.html

This from the company that sells used games as new... yeah, I'll take their word over Nintendo's. :rolleyes:

[ShenmueFan]

This from the company that sells used games as new... yeah, I'll take their word over Nintendo's. :rolleyes:

Yeah! What's up with that!?! I bought FFIII for the DS a few weeks ago "new" and they just took the box off the shelf and slipped the game in at the register. I asked if I could have a new copy and they insisted it was new, just not sealed.

I was in bizarro land apparently....which explains me walking on the ceiling, my 6-pack stomach and foot-long penis.

[tonyvortex]

wouldnt nintendo want to get their numbers even larger by the end of the year so they look even more impressive?i wouldnt understand them just saying ,"oh we sold enough lets take it easy now."

[Bronty-2]

Its hard to say if Nintendo do this on purpose, but it is possible. Making them hard to get makes the console sort of exlucive, since its hard to get. Many might buy it "just" because of this.

I just don't believe this for a second. They make the real money on the software. If they don't put the hardware into people's homes they can't sell the software. As far as I'm concerned all three of sony, nintendo, and ms want to get as many units into as many homes as possible as quickly as possible. Like another poster said, a worldwide launch for something like this is not exactly easy. Talk about a logistical nightmare, in fact.

[DreamTR]

If any of you had to deal with Chinese companies manufacturing products, it's a nightmare. You can say what you will about "conspiracies" holding back products, but Bronty is right, they want to sell software. They want to keep 3rd partie publishers happy, don't start jumping on the Sony train just because the Wii is popular because it IS that popular. Every time I am in a game store, at LEAST 2 people come in asking for Wiis when I am visiting.

[ShenmueFan]

Keep in mind that Nintendo has stated that from day one they make a profit on every hardware unit sold. So where Sony & M$ MUST get as many units out tehre as quickly as possible to start making their money back, Nintendo can sit back fire years from now and say, "Oh, we only sold 5,000 consoles this week....STILL good news for us!"

I honestly think Nintendo is gonna keep this Wii shortage crap through this year and make a second Christmas of "Must Have Wii" craziness.

I bet they'll make it work too because nobody thinks the big N is sneaky.

[jajaja]

I just don't believe this for a second. They make the real money on the software. If they don't put the hardware into people's homes they can't sell the software. As far as I'm concerned all three of sony, nintendo, and ms want to get as many units into as many homes as possible as quickly as possible. Like another poster said, a worldwide launch for something like this is not exactly easy. Talk about a logistical nightmare, in fact.

Of course every company want to sell as much as they can. What i ment was that maybe they do it like this people want it more when its "exlucive". If they dump like 10 million consoles at once people might think "i'll get it later, its so easy to get anyway", but when its short and they stumble across a console in the store and they say "i gotta get this, its not easy to get!", if you get my point. I'm not saying its like this, just throwing out ideas.

[DreamTR]

Shenmue: They make $10-15 a console after all the costs, labor, and shipping. THat's not a lot of money at all. We all know it's in the software, it's just well known that Microsoft and SOny are losing money on each console being sold.

[Chadt74]

There are
1,826 Gamestops
742 Best Buys
626 Circuit Cities
3,331 Wal-Marts
1,488 Targets

8,013 major retail outlets in the US

Currently the Wii has sold 1,860,000 units from launch to 3/31/07 (per NPD group) so assuming that inventories are consistent from launch to now that would mean they have manufactured 1.86M Wiis in 130 days or Big N can produce 14,300 Wiis per day or give 1.8 Wiis to each major retailer in the US every day (assuming the above were the only to receive Wiis) or about 55 per month. Now you want more, easy right...

If you want to put 20 Wiis in each of those outlets you'll need 160,260 units (or 5,255/per day). So you want Big N to increase their manufacturing output by 39%. And this assumes every extra unit goes to the US, and this will put a whole 20 extra units in each of the above stores each month.

In a month you have 732 hours (30.5 X 24) so you need to make 219 units per hour or about 3.5/min to put 20 extra Wiis in each major US retail outlet per month. Of course this assumes you run your factory 24/7 with 100% perfect production and your production line will need SOME downtime.

It appears that Nintendo just does not have the capacity to meet demand.

[ProgrammingAce]

one word.... broadway

[heybtbm]

Currently the Wii has sold 1,860,000 units from launch to 3/31/07 (per NPD group) so assuming that inventories are consistent from launch to now that would mean they have manufactured 1.86M Wiis in 130 days or Big N can produce 14,300 Wiis per day or give 1.8 Wiis to each major retailer in the US every day (assuming the above were the only to receive Wiis) or about 55 per month. Now you want more, easy right...

The (main) problem with your logic is that it implies Nintendo started manufacturing Wii's on their launch date...which we all know they didn't. Wii's started production in early June of 2006. We can only guess how many they were able to produce between June and November.

Anyway...

I'm not a conspiracy type of guy at all. I don't think Nintendo is trying to purposely under-deliver Wii's to the US...but the CEO of Gamestop apparently is suspicious. Something tells me he knows a lot more about the details of this industry than anyone here at DP.

[chrisbid]

demand is very high, and releasing a console in three regions at the same time has kept supply low. in the old days, a company could over the initial demand by releasing hardware in one region at a time.

and the gamEBstop exec is probably just pissed that they have to wait in line behind walmart, target and best buy. he also really wants to sell you a zune.

[davepesc]

I can't believe any "false shortage" BS in an industry that makes its money selling software. instead of making people think, "I gotta sleep out and get this," I'd recon people are more likely to think, "That 360 ain't looking too bad."

The numbers posted about the number of Wiis that must be produced per hour make it sound like there's only ONE production line in the WORLD that can produce the thing. If I'm president of a company and there's enough demand for a product to warrant a 50% increase in production for a period of time, guess what I'm doing!

As it is, one of two things will happen. I'll find a Wii in my travels and buy it, or 6 months will pass with no systems on the shelves and no stellar games released (and what has there really been since launch?) and I'll be thankful that the Big N saved me $250.

EDIT: another thought. If I'm a game developer, why am I busting my ass to release one of those "stellar" games before there are more consoles hooked up to televisions?

[dbiersdorf]

If Nintendo was creating a "fake" drought, then why is the Wii killing the PS3 and Xbox 360 in the most recent NDP's?

[jajaja]

I just check a huge online store here and their next shipment of Wii consoles isnt before 16th of May. Then they get 700 units (altho unconfirmed). So thats 1 and a half month of waiting.

Checked the store again, now the date is set to 31th of May and the number of consoles are changed to 69. Damn.. nearly 2 months of waiting for 69 consoles. Wonder when Nintendo will get the quantity of Wiis up.

[The Great Dane]

Yeah, it's annoying to not be able to find a Wii still. I actually found one casually sitting in a shelf at walmart the other day...yet, I had to wait until I got my next paycheck, and obviously it was gone in three days when I came back:(

[vintagegamecrazy]

[quote]This from the company that sells used games as new... yeah, I'll take their word over Nintendo's.[quote]

Amen Pal. I just thing the big N is struggling to meet demand.

[Nature Boy]

don't start jumping on the Sony train just because the Wii is popular

Why the hell would I need someone to tell me this exactly?

[RyanMurf]

Thats more tax money they would have to pay.

[Buyatari]

Might be killing the Ps3 but the 360 seems to be outselling them both.


If Nintendo was creating a "fake" drought, then why is the Wii killing the PS3 and Xbox 360 in the most recent NDP's?

[GrandAmChandler]

So, it looks like 5/1 is the new target date? According to this bundle from Gamestop that you can "preorder"

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=B020070K

-GAC-

[neuropolitique]

Lies!!

[davepesc]

So, it looks like 5/1 is the new target date? According to this bundle from Gamestop that you can "preorder"

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=B020070K

-GAC-


God I'm tired of overpriced bundles full of junk.

*still waiting...

[djsquarewave]

God I'm tired of overpriced bundles full of junk.

*still waiting...
...an overpriced (though it's straight retail price) bundle that contains four good-to-great games, an extra remote and nunchuck, and a memory stick.

That's actually one of the lest offensive bundles I've seen in a looooong while.

[WanganRunner]

I'm not sure I'm convinced it's "fake demand"

Hasn't the Wii sold WAY more units than the PS3? Real sales sound like real demand to me.....

Oh, and that bundle isn't really a rip-off, the only game in that collection that I wouldn't want is maybe Super Monkey Ball, but it's probably worth it anyway.

I'd still rather just have the system though, because given that I aspire to play every single title released for the console, I'm just going to use gamefly, and then buy things occasionally (Zelda, Mario, Cooking Mama, Square, etc...)

[heybtbm]

Oh, and that bundle isn't really a rip-off, the only game in that collection that I wouldn't want is maybe Super Monkey Ball, but it's probably worth it anyway.

At this stage in the Wii's life, a bundle with any game included is a rip-off.

[Andred]

It seems to me like it comes down to a couple things. First, as a couple people have already said, after the GameCube's relatively lower sales they probably didn't expect the insane amount of demand that they're seeing now.

Also, you have to consider that they have two systems with huge demand right now. They're selling DS Lites at a MUCH faster rate than the Wii. Most companies can't handle 1 hugely popular console but The Big N is dishin' em out two at a time. Both holes. I'd say it's understandable.

[backguard]

hey - if you want a decent shot at a getting a wii, circuit city is getting a shipment in this sunday. you will have to camp probably, but at least you know they will be there.

edit: i probably shouldn't say they are getting a shipment...they are putting whatever shipments of wiis they've recieved up for sale. :P

[studvicious]

As I've mentioned before in the past I work at the Best Buy Distribution Center in Virginia. As I was driving through the isles today I noticed that we just got in around 1,500 - 2,000 Wii's. So hopefully the eastcoast BBs should be fairly stocked soon. But who knows how long THOSE will last?

[ShenmueFan]

*Yawn* It's been almost 6 months. I wanna see some Wiis just sittin' on store shelves...pronto!

[mr_nihilism]

*Yawn* It's been almost 6 months. I wanna see some Wiis just sittin' on store shelves...pronto!

I second that. I've yet to see a Wii anywhere in all this time and will probably be shocked when there actually is one easily available.

[Atari 5200]

I've seen the Wii in stores three times...When I first bought mine, sometime in february, and today.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

I actually saw my first Wii in the wild, (how's that for a phrase - Wii in the wild?). It was at a local Target. I actually had to look twice to make sure that it wasn't some sort of accessory kit or something.

JY

[davepesc]

Well, May 15 and I still haven't ever seen a Wii on a store shelf.

According to a few clerks, I've come as close as 30 minutes to one, but it's still a matter of camping out.


*still waiting*

[Melf]

My local EBs, GS, and TRU have them in stock all the time. Took them long enough.

[heybtbm]

Well, May 15 and I still haven't ever seen a Wii on a store shelf.

*still waiting*

Well, the rest of us are "still waiting" for a good game to come along. Your not missing much.

[Red Warrior]

My local Wal-Mart had 9 Wiis in stock tonight when I was there. That's officially the first time I've seen them in the wild since I bought mine at the midnight launch in November.

[GrandAmChandler]

Well, the rest of us are "still waiting" for a good game to come along. Your not missing much.

Really? I have several good games.

Excite Truck
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Wario Ware
Wii Sports
Zelda

[Oobgarm]

Really? I have several good games.

Excite Truck
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Wario Ware
Wii Sports
Zelda

Wii Sports is fun, but not a system-carrier.
Zelda is a Cube port.
I still view the others as too gimmicky.

Elebits, now that's a game that really takes advantage of everything the control scheme has to offer.

I think that's what's being referred to-a game that doesn't put the control in as an afterthought, tack it onto a ported title, or utilize it in a gimmicky way. We've not really seen one of those yet, save for the aforementioned Elebits.

[heybtbm]

Really? I have several good games.

Excite Truck
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Wario Ware
Wii Sports
Zelda

I'll won't beat this dead horse anymore and simply say...to each their own. If you're having fun with your Wii...great. I'm still waiting for the A-list titles. Super Smash Brothers and Mario Galaxy can't come out fast enough IMO.

[drewbrim]

I actually saw my first Wii in the wild, (how's that for a phrase - Wii in the wild?). It was at a local Target. I actually had to look twice to make sure that it wasn't some sort of accessory kit or something.

JY


Saw my first two last Friday that I promptly purchased. I also had to ask and make sure they weren't just display boxes or something.

[Chris]

Wii Sports is fun, but not a system-carrier.
I disagree.

Can't wait for Wii Music and Wii Motor Sports!


Well, the rest of us are "still waiting" for a good game to come along.
here it is (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=76286)

[djsquarewave]

Let me toss in Super Swing Golf and Sonic and the Secret Rings as "good games" as well.

The AI (and the oft-excessive moe moe) in Super Swing Golf can sometimes be grating, but it's a total blast when you've got a few other people with comparable skill.

Sonic is just a fun time all around apart from the damned race-the-floating-puff missions.

I've had no regrets about plunking down the cash on launch day. :)

[cyberfluxor]

I've only seen a Wii once around here and it was in an independent game store for $200 (or something like that) a few months ago. It's pretty funny this system makes such a rare appearance.

[Richter]

If you have a friend in the military, head over to their Navy Exchange. The Wii will be in the 3/23 - 3/28 flier. Most, if not all, stores already have the shipments in.

[jdc]

I'm so darned happy with the Wii that I'm even having a blast with games such as Ant Bully!!! (picked it up new for $20) Seriously. I'm finding that it's fun to play "lesser" titles on the Wii, just to see how the game is done for the controller. I'm of the opinion that there are no bad games on the Wii....it simply depends on your mood and perhaps how used you are to the controller. As far as the original topic goes, I still haven't seen one in the wild.

[starfox316]

Are you guys serious about not seeing wii around? At first I couldn't buy a look at one in stores, but over the past 5 months, I have no trouble finding 2-3 at all the eb's and wal-marts I check out. I would just drive out and shop somewhere you haven't looked yet.

The wii seems like a great concept, just too underdeveloped as far as games go so far. And what the fuck is the playstation 3??? I've seen 3-4 new games for it since the launch titles. Every single game strangely makes me feel better that I have 600 dollars in my pocket and that ps3 is still sitting on a shelf. I'm probably going to buy a wii within the year, just please nintendo, PLEASE have 10-15 solid games ready for me by then.

[studvicious]

Are you guys serious about not seeing wii around? At first I couldn't buy a look at one in stores, but over the past 5 months, I have no trouble finding 2-3 at all the eb's and wal-marts I check out. I would just drive out and shop somewhere you haven't looked yet.

The wii seems like a great concept, just too underdeveloped as far as games go so far. And what the fuck is the playstation 3??? I've seen 3-4 new games for it since the launch titles. Every single game strangely makes me feel better that I have 600 dollars in my pocket and that ps3 is still sitting on a shelf. I'm probably going to buy a wii within the year, just please nintendo, PLEASE have 10-15 solid games ready for me by then.

I don't know about you but I live in area that has other people in it. People that desperately want a Wii. I've only seen them in the wild once and that was at a Wal-Mart. There was 7 of them and let's just say they didn't last very long.

[theoakwoody]

I don't know about you but I live in area that has other people in it. People that desperately want a Wii. I've only seen them in the wild once and that was at a Wal-Mart. There was 7 of them and let's just say they didn't last very long.

I was at Target today and overheard a soccer mom talking to one of the workers about how she had to camp out till 4 am to get a Wii. I knew the Wii was hard to get in the Chicagoland area but this is like fricking launch day. Actually, I feel kind of guilty at how easy it was for me to get a Wii at launch day. TRU recieved more than they had initially thought so I just got in line and had no problem.

[studvicious]

Yeah I was easily able to get one on launch day too. I was the first person in line (of about 35) at my local K-Mart. The funny part was that they only got 4 in.

[RugalSizzler]

The Wii/revolution is basically diffrent and people think that it is amazing. Like the NDS completely out did the PSP in all ways.

[Hep038]

Their are 13 of them at the Ionia, MI meijer. My Dad just picked up 2, One for my nephew and one for him, so they must not be too hard to find right now.

[theoakwoody]

How many people on this board think that this shortage nonsense is just fanboys spreading rumor of the Wii not being available anywhere. It seems like any time someone mentions being frustrated about not being able to find one someone else pipes in about seeing 50 neatly stacked Wiis at the local Walmart. I mean the 360 was hard to get for a while too so why is it such a big deal that the Wii is also? I'm sure Nintendo's production will catch up sooner or later but personally I think they love the fact that demand is greater than supply.

[jajaja]

Its suppose to be easier to get a Wii now where i live. I havnt checked myself, but i read on forums that you just need to check some toy stores etc. and you will find one.

[udisi]

Well, they're still not sitting on shelves here. They come in and go out. I think it's getting close though to the point where they may actually catch up with demand and you may see systems on shelves soon.

I honestly think nintendo just totally underestimated demand for the wii. I myself did. I thought I'd be able to pick one up on launch or find one on a shelf in the week after or so, but I was definitly wrong. I think nintendo may have dropped the ball a bit, by not having enough consoles availble. Sure the scarce hype helps a bit, but I think they would have been better served with more consoles. I mean even controllers and accessories were scarce. That's a sign that they totally had no idea how big the wii was gonna be.

[slip81]

well I still don't see them sitting on shelves around here. IN fact I've only seen one in the wild since launch. Granted I don't check or call stores everyday, but I do work in a mall and will check the stops twice a week or so.

Big stores like CC and TRU are still handing out tickets on Sundays around here.

This though is probably better for Nintendo right now. I'm sure it's more cost effective to make a small amount of systems and know that they all will sell vs making too many and loosing money on overstock.

[DKTheArcadeRat]

All I have seen in the wild were 2 at a target store, so i picked em up and got 10% off with a coupon. w00t. Other than that, they're hard to find.

Dave

[drewbrim]

How many people on this board think that this shortage nonsense is just fanboys spreading rumor of the Wii not being available anywhere.

Just you. The fact that they are still being sold above msrp on eBay shows that you just can't walk into a store on any given weekend and pick one up.