The Wii is still sold out

On Monday, we reported on the Wii Fit shortage. But believe it or not, the actual Wii console is still in short supply, a year and a half after its release. If you're like us, you figured that after the holiday season the overwhelming demand for the Nintendo Wii would finally let up and you'd finally be able to buy the console easily online and in stores. However, the Wii is still essentially sold out online; we couldn't find the console available to buy from major retailers like Amazon.com, Best Buy, and Circuit City. We did find a few places where you could buy a Wii, but they required you to buy an expensive bundle, like GameStop's $400 bundle or Wal-Mart's $500 bundle. According to Wii Tracker.com, you can't buy a Wii online for less than $390.

We contacted Nintendo for a comment on the persistant Wii shortages. Here's what the company said:

No home console has ever sold so fast for so long. We planned for big numbers--but not necessarily historic ones. We're doing everything we can. In fact, Nintendo recently forecast that for the fiscal year that began April 1, 2008, worldwide shipments for Wii will increase to 25 million from 18.61 million this past fiscal year. This summer, Nintendo will raise production to 2.4 million systems per month.

That extra production should help the shortage, but who knows if it's enough to handle demand. And while Nintendo claims it is doing everything it can, that's a little hard to swallow now that the company has had plenty of time to ramp up production. For what it's worth, other consoles are readily available online, with both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 available at Amazon. And Nintendo's other popular platform, the DS, can be ordered in a variety of colors.

When do you think the Wii will be in ready supply? Does anyone think Nintendo is purposely creating an artificial shortage? (We don't.) Does anyone have any tips for Wii seekers?

[Rod Roddy]

I think the shortage might be a strategy on Nintendos' part, of course we'll never know for sure. As a Wii owner, I feel Nintendo needs this business model, as they do not have nowhere near the amount of quality games as Xbox, and PS3. Nintendo needs to drop the "wholesome act", and start putting out quality games (Gears of war type) instead of "gimmicks" that use the Wiimote, or some other odd way of playing games.

I have to be honest, since I got my Wii in November '07, I've played it only 12 TIMES--there just is'nt anything there (or in stores) to keep me on for any amount of time, or to get me to play for that matter. Sure it has it's moments, ie; Everybody votes channel, and the Mii network are a lot of fun but these are essentially family/group apps and are only fun for a while, maybe I should have bought an Xbox?

[SleeplessHacker]

Sell it, we need these Wiis!

[Rowbert]

I was amazed when I arrived an hour before Target opened just to stand in line with 8 others wanting to buy a Wii. This was on Sunday, May 18th 2008, a year and a half after the Wii launch. I was able to buy a Wii, but no where else in Central Florida has them.

[Megamike360]

Yes, Target gets Wii's in EVERY WEEK. Thats where I got mine.

[8bithack]

Saying "nintendo should have been able to deal with this sooner" shows ignorance to a good business model. Nintendo has had a STERLING quality and reliability reputation for ages. Save for the design flaw in the original NES, most all of my Nintendo products still work like new. Nintendo's quality assurance is unquestionable, and were they to rush getting new lines and factories up and producing or deal with additional business partners with less than stellar reputations and facilities, the results could be unacceptable. You need only talk to Microsoft or Harmonix about what happens when you force and rush hardware production without mature design, test, and QA processes.

Beyond that, opening new factories and lines to drastically up production incurs a significant fixed cost that can become a burden once demand eventually tapers off. You can't "un-build" a factory.

There's no reason to intentionally keep supply constrained when demand is continually un-met, however, there is every reason to not rush out and overproduce to satisfy demand in 2008 when you will have a surplus of resources wasting money in 2010 unless the money that stands to be gained is so significantly compelling that you can't afford NOT to build one. I am quite sure that Nintendo has done the math. Sure, 360 and PS3 are readily available, but there are clear reasons for both, and both were outsold combined last month by Nintendo's juggernaut.

[flyingbuick]

And your data to support this is........? I love Nintendo and have been supporting them for years even when they were left behind by PS & XB. However, your statements are completely baseless and borderline on a cheapshot at the other vendors. Seriously, if they can't produce enough to meet demand, the VP who owns production would be fired. It's money for the company.

Look up the impact of currency devaluations and constant currency on international commerce. When the USD isn't in the sad place it currently is, the picture might be a little different.

[ptkdude--2008]

The Wii shortage in the United States is all about the dollar. Check Amazon's foreign stores, and they have plenty in stock. Why? Because the dollar is so weak. In order to keep the retail price where Nintendo wants it, they end up making less profit when they export units to the US. The Pound and the Euro are much stronger, so when they sell units in those areas, they see higher profits. I honestly don't blame them; I'd focus on markets where I'm making more money.

[lbhair]

Very true. It's about economics. Would you rather sell something for $250 or ?250?
Regardless, I did walk into the Nintendo Store in NYC and saw a shelf full and decided to pick one up about a month ago.

[s1apnutz]

You ever think it might have to do with the shear number of people in the U.S. who can afford to buy a Wii vs. Europe? We have 300 million people in the U.S. England, for example has a mere 60 million. Go back to watching Lou Dobbs and stop posting.

[adub4185]

If you are in the Corsicana, TX area, they have them readily available at the WalMart. I called up on mother's day while i was in town (i live in Dallas) and they had three or four of them on the shelf. They made me buy an extra controller, but i would have done that anyway. i would call first if you are considering making the trip over there though...

[vchhahira]

In the Overland Park, KS area, they are at Best Buy and Walmart (as of Thursday of last week).

[sefuly]

I used to work for a major retailer, the demand is just overwhelming. It didn't matter how many wii's we received. It was sold out in about an hour, even with shipments of 80 to 120 units. There were always a line outside the store. Do I think Nintendo is holding back production to drive demand, I personally don't believe it. I don't think a video game company of that stature would do that. Is it possible, yeah like 1% but again I highly doubt it. Demand for the Wii would still be high even if they shipped units to stores every week. Wii outsold xbox360 80 to 4 and for ps3 80 to 1, it's mind boggling and i'm not exxagerating. I must agree with an earlier reply that there are a bunch of low quality third party games, and the only really good ones are the ones by nintendo. I personally only like the Wii for the ability to download oldschool games. It's such an awesome feature, oh yea backwards compatibility too. Playing the original street fighter 2 was just awesome. So in conclusion kudos to nintendo for producing such a highly intuitive system that will still be in high demand for at least a year or more. Oh yea and just for the record I don't own a Wii, just played it at my friends house, I'm going with the new metal gear bundle for ps3. Dueces

[DADSGETNDOWN]

I was told by a couple different big name businesses, that they are told to "stop" selling on certain dates even if they have units to sell, and not put any on the shelf until a certain day and time even if they have them ready and people asking if they have any in stock or in back to sell.
and the game has been out how long and they are putting out how many per month (many many thousands and more) and still not meeting what you want to call demand...?

[DADSGETNDOWN]

This summer, Nintendo will raise production to 2.4 million systems per month.

[DADSGETNDOWN]

there are in no way that many people that are buying the Wii, or that cn afford it.
millions per month for how many months and you can't buy one and if you do they limit you to 1 per houshold.
..
(This summer, Nintendo will raise production to 2.4 million systems per month.)

[Ormagon]

The Wii DOES have some killer 3rd party titles, like Suda51's No More Heroes (originally intended for the 360) and some RE titles (including the Wii-exclusive Umbrella Chronicles).

[scottpee]

i was just in europe last week and there were plenty to be had. they're not sending them to the US because the sales are so much more profitable in other areas.

[ivanchank]

how much is Wii in europe, then?

[royauty]

Exactly! The Wii is so successful because the price that Nintendo picked is too low. As the burgeoning re-sale market shows, they could easily have gone for a 300 dollar price-point. It would have been more profitable for them and demand probably would remain high. Actually, given the ridiculous decline of the dollar, they should consider jacking up the price even at this stage. No-one questions the fact that other imports (cars, certain foods) are going up in price. It's time for Nintendo to start profiting from the Wii, instead of the parasites that skulk around on Ebay.

[TonyAlto]

I don't think nintendo is creating a false demand. The problem is that the system is so widely accepted that everyone wants one. For example my 65 year old parents who haven't had children living in there house for 12 years bought a Wii this past weekend.

[mreal03]

its totally ridiculous. The Wii cost less to produce therefore its at cheaper retail cost. The XBOX 360 and PS3 are both cost more to produce but still they have a lot more units out. Nintendo acts like they are the good guys and doing everything they can but i highly doubt it. They are the hustlers of the gaming world. Messing with people and telling them that they are doing everything they can to keep up with demand. Nintendo are liars and bullies!

[tvolkes]

I think your anger towards Nintnedo is clouding your logic. Demand is just contiunually outstripping supply. That's all. Everyone wants one. Not just gamers like the other systems. Everyone. They're making almost 2 million a month, soon to be 2.4 million. They used to sell around 500 million a month in the states last year. Always sold out. Now selling almost 800 million a month in the states (supply increased 60%) and they're still sold out. So they're selling 1/3 of there production in North America alone so i don't believe the anti- U.S. theory either. Aside from building a new factory, I don't think they can make more. ( they won't build a new factory. wouldn't make fiscal sense.). Just too many people want one. Microsoft and Sony don't have this problem. They probably have extra capacity in there factories due to there low sales. Wii's outselling them almost 3 to 1 every month.

[mswete7]

I didn't come up with this theory, but I truly believe this is the case, that Nintendo is purposefully not giving the US as many consoles as maybe it should. Instead it is shipping more over to Europe. This is because of the weak dollar and strong euro. If Japan sells a Wii for 249 euro, the conversion to yen is 40,377. To sell a Wii for $249.99 gives Japan only 25,907 yen, WAY below what they could be getting if they ship the Wiis west instead of east. It's simple economics. By doing this, they're quelling demand for the Wii in Europe and waiting out the economic slump in the US until the dollar is stronger. However, demand in Europe is settling, so we should be getting more Wiis soon.

[soggy0]

I highly doubt they sell it at the same nominal amount in different regions.

[jsargent]

The UK is in the EU and has an even better currency rate with the YEN for Nintendo and they have a shortage in the UK. The Wii is just priced at right amount for US and UK buyers.

[jsargent]

Of course they ship more to the EU. We have double the population.

[veranet]

I traveled to Scotland on the summer of 2007 and found that the Wii was not only easy to find, but they had give-aways with it. I saw large store signs advertising the console packaged with free controllers and other gadgets for about £200.
This theory makes perfect business sense to me. The Japanese are expert business men. I'm certain that this strategy would not escape them.

[veranet]

I traveled to Scotland on the summer of 2007 and found that the Wii was not only easy to find, but they had give-aways with it. I saw large store signs advertising the console packaged with free controllers and other gadgets for about £200.
This theory makes perfect business sense to me. The Japanese are expert business men. I'm certain that this strategy would not escape them.

[csu714]

I don't think this is entirely true. Sure, there is a bit more of a profit margin selling a Wii somewhere, let's say, the UK, but it's not that much if you factor in the VAT at almost 20% and the fact that a Wii retails at about 180.00 GBP. The price is pretty even, give or take a few dollars, around the world. Also, I'm not sure if more is required in development from switching from NTSC to PAL, but that may be a factor of the price, in addition to shipping costs from the manufacturing plants.

Cost accounting is a pretty complex thing. I don't think it should be assume that because the price of a Wii is higher in one country vs. another, that Nintendo is getting to pocket the money. There are numerous factors that must be accounted for to get to the "street" price.

[supertrasgu]

You can find them in any store in Spain, and it has been like that for more than a year. Actually, I was surprised to read that you have shortage in the US.

[pezman77]

Saw a stack at Best Buy just yesterday . And I know that Gamestop, EB Games, and the like receive Wii shipments weekly, which is how I got mine during the Christmas rush this past year.

I think that it should be relatively easy to find one now at the Brick and Mortars, and there is no need to buy a bundle.

[onesixski]

If you guys have family in the military or are in the military go to the PX/BX, most of us don't buy that stuff as often as civilians, I mean everytime I go it's in stock. If you live in NC go to the Camp Lejeune USMC PX, that's the specific one I'm referring to but in my experience everywhere I've gone doesn't have a problem keeping good items

[mdespark]

If are in NYC you can go to the Nintendo store in Rockefeller Center they are on sale everday I picked up one today.

[achroous]

HA! you must not have visited a target lately :p i've been to five of them this past month here in h-town and each one has at least 3.

[sting7k]

I have wanted to get a Wii since it was released. I have never seen one on the shelf in my area at dozens of stores. I live in MD and I was visiting my brother in St. Augustine, FL and I finally found one on the shelf at a local Target, had it shipped back home and I finally got one. This was 3 weeks ago, I still have not seen any at my local stores while I was getting accessories.

[Bacalhau]

people should read about the toyota manufacturing system, just in time, lean manufacturing and the all around japanese production model.
the way nintendo manufactures is based on many diferent concepts used by many japanese companies.
sure nintendo must be shipping more to EU since the dollar is so weak right now, after all nintendo is a bussines and it works on a profit. but it works with a projected demand, an american company would produce at its maximum capacity and create the demand, the japanese model works with the pull system, in which the market pulls the production. obviously the demand is there, and nintendo must have projected the demand way wrong! but it cannot simply ramp up production because in the japanese model the companies work with a risk sharing system, in which all partners share the risk but also share the profits , so nintendo can't force a partner to change its current production system and nintendo won't go after a diferent partner just so nintendo can sell more products
yeah, whatever...

[Indigo_Blue_X]

Wii Sold out? I just recently purchased my Wii from a GameCrazy store here in Arizona for $249! It included the Wii sports. And with the purchase of Super Smash Brothers Brawl, it all came out to $357! $390?? $400?? $500. Pfft.

[irhfah]

Hi All,

I live in IL, and on Friday I went to Sam's and saw on the door a sign that stated, Wii's are in stock. I walked back to the section and pulled a tag. There were tons of tags left. Try some of the discount stores, I have had luck there finding items.