Nintendo Wii still hard to purchase? Number 1 in video game systems???

I remember all of the complaints last Christmas about how people were trying to buy a Wii but they could not find them anywhere. Stores and Internet stores like newegg.com could not keep them in stock. Since we already owned the XBox 360 I did not even contemplate considering buying a Wii at the time. We bought our XBox 360 when Halo 3 came out, not at the initial release of the new XBox. I always prepare myself for disappointment when a new gaming console comes out as usually it is in high demand and the company usually generates a low supply either out of stupidity or out of weak initial sale forecasts (low confidence). Largely I suspect they do this to increase the hype around a gaming system as they think it boosts their sales. And it probably does. Lemings….

My husband and I have played the Wii at many friends’ houses lately. We played it after a friends wedding this last Sunday and decided we should get it. We both had been thinking about getting one but had never really vocalized it. Today we bought one. My husband is at home setting it up while I am at work. I can’t wait until I get home.

We bought the Wii at Fry’s and we used my American Express because it has the 90 day purchase protetion; satisfaction guarantee and it double the manufacture’s warenty. Well actually my husband bought it then we completed the following events

  • realized we should have used the American Express card
  • he picked me up a work
  • drove back to Fry’s
  • returned the Wii and all its accessories
  • purchased the Wii with the American Express
  • he dropped me back of at work so I could finish my day

Fry’s was very nice and understanding about our situtaion and made it very easy and fast to put the items on a different credit card. The customer service rep assisting us, Marlene, was quite nice and advised us how hard it is to keep the Wii in stock and how frequently people are cued up to buy what is in stock.

I believe her as I had spent some time online looking for Mario Kart and other Wii bundles to compare prices. A lot show the stock as OUT. The husband spent some time going to other stores today and could not find any instock. We are probably lucky we found the one we did today. Or should I say Nintendo is lucky for having received our money today. It is still hard to beleive that after about 8 months it can still be difficult to purchase a Wii.

I was listening to Leo LaPort’ Tech Guy Podcast and he stated Wii as the number one selling console in the USA. I think he said they have sold over 10 million. I must have heard that figure wrong??