Nintendo Wii Shortages Make for Disappointing Christmas

At this time last year, there was plenty to go around for everybody.

Now if you want the Nintendo Wii system, you're going to have to deal with a major headache.

Nintendo announced in November that Wii production was not keeping up with customer demand. With that announcement, the Wii became a hot item. Whether this was intentional or not, suddenly Wii's can't be found and it seems like eveyone has one on their Christmas list. It's not just a local shortage here in the US, the UK and other countries around the world.

I arrived at my local GameStop in Summerville, SC this morning to do a little browsing. In a mere 20 minutes, fifteen customers arrived all wanting the Wii. The manager started passing out numbers. The store received nine. I wouldn't have wanted to have been the manager having to incure the wrath of the unlucky six that didn't get the system. To put this in the proper persepctive, the manager and the employee helping him must have fielded over a dozen calls. Judging by the conversation on their end, I could tell they to were in search of the ever-elusive Wii.

My niece had a Wii on her list. She was fortunate enough to have a family member that worked at Wal-Mart call her when they got their shipment. She raced over as soon as she got the call. This Wal-Mart received three units. Not enough for the average neighborhood, let alone the average town.

Want to try E-bay. Prepare to pay 150 dollars above retail. Or if you want one you have buy it as part of a 600 dollar bundle which will include games and other accessories.

There is one popular theory making the rounds that alleges Wii shortages are contrived, merely to fuel a buying frenzy.

An entry I found on the pro-consumer blog Consumerist.com (a site owned by Gawker Media) recounts a Best Buy employee who sells "the very last Wii" over and over. Calling it an act of "amazing sleaziness," the post reads:

I was standing near the back of the store when one of their salespeople came strolling from a back door holding a Nintendo Wii over his head, and started walking the aisles announcing that it was their last unit. I followed, wondering both how quickly would it get snatched up and how quickly could I decide if I wanted to buy it. It took a few minutes for a couple to come rushing up to claim it, exclaiming how happy their kids were going to be. I went back to looking around the store. About 30 minutes later, I heard this announcement on the store's PA: "Attention Best Buy customers! Julie is now walking through the store with our last Nintendo Wii! If you're looking for a Nintendo Wii, please look for Julie!" And there was another salesperson doing the same thing as the first--walking the aisles of the store holding the Wii above her head.

Whether the shortages are real or not, be prepared for a struggle to get a Nintendo Wii.Sources: www.gametap.com