Nintendo unsure of Wii availability for the holidays

A senior Nintendo of America official says that demand for the Wii may once again outstrip supply during the runup to Christmas. However, the official says that U.S. supplies are up 50% over the same period last year.

Nintendo Unsure of Wii Availability for the Holidays

Even Reggie doesn't know when you'll be able to find a Wii

Denise Kaigler, Nintendo of America's vice president of Corporate Affairs, made the comments to The Industry Standard in an email. "It's true that despite this amazing amount of product we're putting into the channel, some locations around the country are still experiencing sellouts," Kaigler said. "There's no way to know if we'll have enough Wii consoles for the holidays."

This is the third holiday season in a row that retailers have experienced shortages of the popular -- and profitable -- console. Best Buy says on its website that the console is sold out online. Amazon's Wii page acknowledges shortages, and includes a policy that threatens to cancel orders and close the accounts of customers who order more than three consoles. While the retailer currently is not selling consoles on its own, the small number of partner merchants who have new Wiis in stock are listing them on Amazon.com for US$350-$363, a markup of at least $100 over the in-store retail price.

However, Kaigler noted that production of the Wii had increased since last year. "Nintendo now manufactures Wii consoles at a rate of 2.4 million a month worldwide," she said. "During the October-to-December timeframe, we will have 50 percent more systems in the U.S. market than we did during the same period last year."

Nevertheless, Kaigler advised people interested in buying a Wii to do so if they happened to see it in stock at a local retailer. "It might not be on that shelf much longer," she said.

When asked about recent comments by Microsoft suggesting that the Xbox 360 and the Wii are not competitors, Kaigler said, "That's for the market to decide."

See also:
Remember When Nintendo Made Playing Cards?
Changes Confirmed for Wii Versions of Pikmin, Mario Tennis

THE VERDICT by Blake Snow Blake Snow's Avatar When Nintendo first started saying this stuff -- back in '06 mind you -- I thought it was silly corporate speak. Granted, this kind of language still encourages people to buy a Wii if they see one, but in a way Nintendo is being honest here. Crazy how that works.

Comments [33]

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EBURKULOSIS

I'm a nintendo fanboy and I'm sick of Wii...once you play Mario Galaxy, Zelda, Smash and Kart...that about sums up its worth. Motion Controls are overrated, can't wait to get a PS3.

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CaptainSony

Best console out now..why wouldnt people want it? Its main focus in gaming not movies. People are actually buying Wii games. People are not buying PS3 games it seems since most are now being called flops..reminds me of something I read the other day, not very funny but true. you cant spell flops without PS.

CaptainSony

EBURKULOSIS wrote:

I'm a nintendo fanboy and I'm sick of Wii...once you play Mario Galaxy, Zelda, Smash and Kart...that about sums up its worth. Motion Controls are overrated, can't wait to get a PS3.

Sure you own a Wii.... Oh and not a PS3 atm.. Sure kid...Oh yeah guess you didnt know PS3 has gimmicky motion controls either huh? Nah why bother getting info just claim to have played the highest rated games on Wii as proof you own one then trash it... Always happens to be someone wanting a PS3.... Like people are really stupid enough to believe you and the other Sony fanboys making the exact same claims... If its trash sale it..Oh but then you couldnt claim to be one and know form experience the games are complete crap... Total BS.. Anyone can read PS3 top rated games come in here and make the exact same claims you did...

EBURKULOSIS

Why would I lie? I couldn't care less about "Console Wars" I think I have the right to "claim" that myself personally is sick of my Wii...for whatever reason. I think the motion controls are chinsey and not responsive enough. This attack coming from some "kid" named CaptainSony...you are the definition of an Oxy Moron...Moron.

EBURKULOSIS

Why would I lie? I couldn't care less about "Console Wars" I think I have the right to "claim" that myself personally is sick of my Wii...for whatever reason. I think the motion controls are chinsey and not responsive enough. This attack coming from some "kid" named CaptainSony...you are the definition of an Oxy Moron...Moron.

AANTHUNDER

Reggie is saying, " I carry home bags of money this BIGGGG from the sales of Wii's. I wish we had more GC hardware laying around to coat it with Wii logos to sell. I'm 3 times f*cking better magician than Cris Angel and David Blain, I creat money out of dead technology and people can't get enough of it." Reggies wipes sweat off his forehead with roll of hundreds and says, " Now excuss me, I get some women to pork and wag my d*ck infront of their face like a wiimote."

EBURKULOSIS

As a footnote...whoops I sent the same message twice...anyways...I think you (CaptainSony) think your opinions are valid or unbiased because your screen name is Captain Sony and you are jocking the Wii but I see right through your BS.

pho3nlx

I'm just going to point out that while the PS3/360 have more "hardcore" titles, there's more to Wii than just those... ie Metroid, Okami, No More Heroes, Z&W... May not be your cup of tea but they're certainly not bad for their respective genres ;]

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EBURKULOSIS

I played No More Heroes...different, but yawn, repetitive fighting. I just wanted to see that chick naked. Metroid, traded it in in 2 days, don't like that there are different difficulty settings...the old school Metroids didn't have that. Imagine if Zelda had different difficulty settings...that would suck right?! Never heard of Okami. I like those games I mentioned earlier...but beyond that, playing some old school games is cool...wish I could store more than 5 on the Wii though. I am ready for a Hardcore change, that's all. SargeantSony had a big problem with it though.

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