While watching the Earl Show this morning I saw a report on a shortage of the Nintendo Wii gaming system. This has caused long lines and frustration in many cases. It seems to me that Nintendo should have been better prepared for the Christmas demand since the game system has become so popular. Does it make you wonder if this shortage is planned? The system which usually retails for about $249.00 is being sold at one New York store for the inflated price of more than$600.00. What kind of message does this send? Would you pay such a price for it if you really wanted one, or would you wait?
[question posted by worldwise1]
responses and comments:
I really believe Nintendo knows exactly what they are doing. The motive behind the shortage I don't understand but am certain upper management knows. The company knows how their products sell and what to expect by looking back on sales from previous years and the forecast for Christmas 2007. Since I know nothing about the Wii, I wouldn't have any interest in buying even if it was dirt cheap. Increasing the price from $249 to $600 on line per sale is highway robbery. Increasing ticket, scalping, sales for any event where the seller profits is against the law in Missouri. Fines and possible jail also apply. I see the online increase as scalping. Just my opinion but I am not always right! [carolbee]
I really believe waiting in line is as much of a game as it is trying to be the first to buy a product. They are televised and do have fun. It's more publicity for the makers of products such as Nintendo Wii. [carolbee]
"Quel Dommage..." No seriously, thats what the shortage says. That's also what the inflato prices in a few stores and ebay are saying. I'd just hope nintendo gets their stuff in order, especially since Sony is now starting to catch up. I hope that gets nintendo back to producing enough for demand. *meanwhile, me goes back to playing Wii* Sorry peoples :) [theprogamer]
What!? What did I do!? =P Was it the "Quel Dommage" or me playing the Wii!? =D **Continues playing Wii!** Ooh yea! Fun!!! =D [theprogamer]
It seems strange, yes they should have been more prepared for the Christmas rush, lucky we got ours when they first came out, but I know that I would not pay the inflated cost, I would definantly wait until it came down to the normal price ... [Calais]
Well, Calais, it was mentioned that they will be shipping more until Christmas arrives. [worldwise1]
Someone is definitely coining it! I think I am in the wrong game, literally! I certainly wouldn't pay the inflated price, mind you I wouldn't buy a Wii full stop but even if was something else I wanted, I would be quite prepared to wait, it's more of the principle, I am a stubborn wolf and if I saw someone or a company was being greedy and blatantly profiteering then I wouldn't buy it, end of. But there are always people who do and when there's a market they can get away with charging over inflated extortionate prices. More fool the people who buy them, sorry! But why line their pockets even further! [wolfie34]
You're right, wolfie, in stating that there will always be people who will part with whatever it takes to own something they want so badly. I would never bow to inflationary prices when I could wait. [worldwise1]
I had not realised the Wii game was so popular. I wouldn't pay that much for a game set even for xbox or playstation if it was selling at $600. We bought our sons playstation 2 game for under $100 and even that was expensive for us. [maddysmommy]
I would love to try it, maddysmommy, but I won't be able to afford it for a few more years, lol. [worldwise1]
I remmeber back in 1984 when cabbage patch dolls first came out. I was living in Santa Barbara at the time and drove by a store and saw a line literally down the street and around the block! Didn't know what was going on, just that I wasn't going to go to that store that day! Later on the news on tv - there was that line and it said they were all waiting for the cabbage patch dolls. I couldn't believe it! I thought those dolls were the dumbest looking things since bright blue eye shadow! But they were going for $400 each! I think people should turn the tables on these stores/manufactures and not buy them at this time of year! Buy a few months prior or wait till the after christmas sales and get them then! Give a Gift card to someone for that specific purpose nad tell them "string attached" and say it MUST be spent on a Wii and nothing else! Don't think anyone would have a problem with that! [coffeebreak]
It was the same with Teddy Ruxpin, coffeebreak. The consumers desire for the product drives the cost up enormously. I've been waiting for some of the other game systems to come down in price before I buy a new one. [worldwise1]
The store inflating the price is not because of Nintendo, its because they are being greedy. In spite of what people think that Nintendo is doing this intentionally, I have to say that right now they have been trying to keep up with the demand of the Wii, but things are always worse at Christmas, because people don't think of it until it hits the Christmas Wish list. Also the marking of the price up keeps people from buying it to sell on ebay, in some ways its a smart move. Nintendo is producing thousands of systems a week to disttribute world wide and each chain only gets so many so they have to divy them up nationally so there are very few to go around. There is no way any game supplier can predict the demand at Christmas time. Mooch [oneandonemakesix]
I think they should have a pretty good idea of the demand, oneandone, if only from records of how the gamesystem has been selling. That is why they hire the experts who can gauge these things. [worldwise1]
It tells me that my child would do without. There is no way I would pay that much for it. People are crazy to pay such a price. My kids would wait!! [Thoroughrob]
In a realistic world, Thoroughrob, everyone would wait, but don't forget that we are talking about the "I want it all -and I want it now" generation. [worldwise1]
I would definitely wait - fortunately my son got his for his birthday from my ex so we didn't get pulled into this situation! I do think however that the whole situation is not just planned but very cleverly manipulated to cause more hype and publicity so that more people think the product must be great and decide they want one! Every year it happens with different products and I wish they wouldn't treat people this way! xxx [mummymo]
You're right, mummymo, and people shouldn't allow themselves to be manipulated in such a manner. [worldwise1]
Nintendo is reportedly make 1.3 MILLION wiis per MONTH with 600,000 of them coming to retail stores in the US. I think it's more the people who are buying them in bulk and reselling them that are the problem than Nintendo. Granted, in the beginning it was the fault of Nintendo, now it's the crazy Ebay resellers. [khakigirl]