Gamestop: Wii Rainchecks Dec. 21 - One Day Only -

[RelentlessRolento]

http://kotaku.com/gaming/wii/gamestop-outlines-wii-certificate-program-334053.php

I know I'm linking to a news article, but it's a deal for those of us unable to find a Wii this holiday.

here's the info:

- Only chance is this friday, december 21
- $250 for the raincheck/reserve
- Pick up date/when your Wii Arrives: January 25th 2008
- One per household


Personally, I'm not in a hurry to get a Wii, but have been wanting one for a while. The pick up date is 6 days before my birthday so I'll be glad to pick one up then.


here's the info/fine print:


GAMESTOP ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY WII RESERVATION PROGRAM

Exclusive One-Day Program Helps Customers This Holiday Season

GRAPEVINE, TX, December 18, 2007 – GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer, announced today an exclusive, one-day reservation program to assist customers wishing to give the highly sought-after Wii this holiday season. Only on Friday, December 21, 2007, customers can reserve a Wii console for pick-up by January 25, 2008. Reservations must be made in-person at any GameStop or EB Games location in the U.S., including those in Puerto Rico and Hawaii.

While many store locations will have Wii in stock for immediate purchase during the holiday season, quantities are limited. As such, GameStop is offering this exclusive reservation program to provide peace of mind to shoppers that may not be able to locate a system in time for the holidays.

A limited number of reservations will be available at each store and only one reservation can be made per household.

The reservation process requires payment in full at $249.99 plus tax, to guarantee delivery in January. Customers will receive a custom-designed DVD case emblazoned with a Wii and the iconic Mario character wishing a “Happy Holidays! Your Wii is on the Way!” Inside the DVD case is a guarantee slip that provides gift-giver guidelines and an explanation of the gift receipt.

When the reserved Wii console arrives, the gift-giver will receive a telephone call indicating that their system is available for pick-up. Consoles must be picked up at the store location where the reservation was placed.


About GameStop Corp.
Headquartered in Grapevine, TX, GameStop Corp. is the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer. The company operates over 5,000 retail stores across the United States and in sixteen countries worldwide. The company also operates two e-commerce sites, GameStop.com and EBgames.com, and publishes Game Informer(R) magazine, a leading multi-platform video game publication. GameStop Corp. sells new and used video game software, hardware and accessories for next generation video game systems from Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. In addition, the company sells PC entertainment software, related accessories and other merchandise.

General information on GameStop Corp. can be obtained at the company's corporate website: http://www.gamestop.com/corporate.

[slidecage]

http://kotaku.com/gaming/wii/gamestop-outlines-wii-certificate-program-334053.php

I know I'm linking to a news article, but it's a deal for those of us unable to find a Wii this holiday.

here's the info:

- Only chance is this friday, december 21
- $250 for the raincheck/reserve
- Pick up date/when your Wii Arrives: January 25th 2008
- One per household


Personally, I'm not in a hurry to get a Wii, but have been wanting one for a while. The pick up date is 6 days before my birthday so I'll be glad to pick one up then.

im sure somewhere on that little piece of paper says something like

If there is a shortage gamestop has the right to refund the 250 bucks or some other BS like that. gamestop will pull something out of their $#$#$# to #$#$# people over

[fatherofcaitlyn]

I wonder if this deal has any astericks.

Such as ... limit 10 per store.

I can't imagine giving a company $250 for a product it hasn't had in a regular supply for over 12 months.

Are there a million Wiis just waiting for the new year to be sold?

If GS or Nintendo could honor this deal, wouldn't there be extra Wiis on January 26th?

EDIT: If they guaranteed a free new Wii game for each week they couldn't fulfill the preorder, I'd bite. I'd like to own a Wii and 20 games.

[mattheus]

im sure somewhere on that little piece of paper says something like

If there is a shortage gamestop has the right to refund the 250 bucks or some other BS like that. gamestop will pull something out of their $#$#$# to #$#$# people over

That's what I'm afraid of and the very reason why I wont take part in this.

[Tywon]

Check your local Best Buy's for a Wii. Today, I went into mine to pick up a Lupe Fiasco CD and I saw a man browsing around with one in his buggy. I'm like, "Where in the world did he get that Wii". Keep in mind, this was after hundreds of people lined up for one sunday. So I walk over to the Game section and lo and behold, there are 7 Wii's sitting right there. Don't know if they got a shipment or what.

Might be YMMV. Might have even already been posted. Just trying to help.

[Tywon]

Wrong thread.

[djkunai]

See, Nintendo needed to do this TWO MONTHS AGO. I've had my Wii since launch, so I'm speaking objectively.

[Chitown021]

Will people line up for vouchers?

[mattheus]

See, Nintendo needed to do this TWO MONTHS AGO. I've had my Wii since launch, so I'm speaking objectively.

I agree, that would have been very kind of Nintendo and made my shopping easier.However, they will still sell all these rainchecks for the cost of a full priced system so why should Nintendo care.

[V-G]

Why do people like the Wii so much??? I hate my Wii... I should go to a Gamestop and sell it and all the shit I bought for it for about 600...

[SmellsLikeRandyMossGuy]

People like getting on items when they are hot, then when something new comes around they drop it and go for something new.

[Cry Havoc]

"The certificate itself will be in a custom-designed DVD case featuring a picture of the Wii and Mario."

I like how they'll do that but they won't take cases just like that and make place holders for games instead of gutting them.

[stealth1290]

as it appeared in the email today
http://i3.tinypic.com/73muusi.jpg (http://www.gamestop.com/gs/help/wii.asp?affid=3000&mc_id=1218nl)

[62t]

"The certificate itself will be in a custom-designed DVD case featuring a picture of the Wii and Mario."

I like how they'll do that but they won't take cases just like that and make place holders for games instead of gutting them.
they also make case for pre order games

[radjago]

I think it's a good idea, but it's too little and too late. It's not like Nintendo didn't anticipate the demand. What amounts to a one-day pre-order window a year after release is just sad. They should extend the program as long as there is still demand.

[Aleman]

I hate this Wii shortage. I paid about $100 over retail for a Wii at launch, kept it for about two months, then sold it after it started collecting dust. Now I find myself wanting a Wii again, mostly for Mario Galaxy, but I think part of the attraction is that it's so damn hard to find. I'm starting to think I wouldn't want one at all if I could just walk into any store and buy one.

Back on topic, this GameStop deal sounds fishy. Either Nintendo will intentionally be holding back stock for Jan. 25 (which would be maddening), or GameStop will only have a limited number of vouchers and people will line up for them like usual, or GameStop will take more orders than they can fill. The demand is just too ridiculously high.

[portcityplaya]

Can you imagine how much money Gamestop will make off of this. They will be able to hold $250 dollars form thousands of people for more than a month and just collect interest on that money. It's a rip off for them to require folks to pay the full amount upfront. It's a preorder like any other preorder and should not required a full up front payment. Gamestop will make millions off of this.

[Aleman]

Can you imagine how much money Gamestop will make off of this. They will be able to hold $250 dollars form thousands of people for more than a month and just collect interest on that money. It's a rip off for them to require folks to pay the full amount upfront. It's a preorder like any other preorder and should not required a full up front payment. Gamestop will make millions off of this.

Yea, pretty brilliant business move IMO. I don't think a lot of people grasp the concept of interest. I've read so many posts (on less Cheapass forums) of people talking about paying off pre-orders in full thinking they're somehow helping themselves out.

[LinkinPrime]

I got the email today as well...here's the whole schabang:

GAMESTOP ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY WII RESERVATION PROGRAM

Exclusive One-Day Program Helps Customers This Holiday Season
GRAPEVINE, TX, December 18, 2007 – GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer, announced today an exclusive, one-day reservation program to assist customers wishing to give the highly sought-after Wii this holiday season. Only on Friday, December 21, 2007, customers can reserve a Wii console for pick-up by January 25, 2008. Reservations must be made in-person at any GameStop or EB Games location in the U.S., including those in Puerto Rico and Hawaii.

While many store locations will have Wii in stock for immediate purchase during the holiday season, quantities are limited. As such, GameStop is offering this exclusive reservation program to provide peace of mind to shoppers that may not be able to locate a system in time for the holidays.

A limited number of reservations will be available at each store and only one reservation can be made per household.

The reservation process requires payment in full at $249.99 plus tax, to guarantee delivery in January. Customers will receive a custom-designed DVD case emblazoned with a Wii and the iconic Mario character wishing a “Happy Holidays! Your Wii is on the Way!” Inside the DVD case is a guarantee slip that provides gift-giver guidelines and an explanation of the gift receipt.

When the reserved Wii console arrives, the gift-giver will receive a telephone call indicating that their system is available for pick-up. Consoles must be picked up at the store location where the reservation was placed.


About GameStop Corp.
Headquartered in Grapevine, TX, GameStop Corp. is the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer. The company operates over 5,000 retail stores across the United States and in sixteen countries worldwide. The company also operates two e-commerce sites, GameStop.com and EBgames.com, and publishes Game Informer(R) magazine, a leading multi-platform video game publication. GameStop Corp. sells new and used video game software, hardware and accessories for next generation video game systems from Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. In addition, the company sells PC entertainment software, related accessories and other merchandise.

General information on GameStop Corp. can be obtained at the company's corporate website: http://www.gamestop.com/corporate.




http://www.gamestop.com/gs/help/wii.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1&affid=3000&mc_id=1218nl

[RelentlessRolento]

updated a bit ...

[jp0213]

All of the 6 gamestops I go to in 10 minute driving range of my apartment has a limit of 18 rainchecks per store.

[Aleman]

"A limited number of reservations will be available at each store and only one reservation can be made per household."

So basically the lines will be just as long as at any other store, except you have to wait a month to get it. Sounds awesome!

[RelentlessRolento]

best bet is to stop by local stores other than GS to see if the Wii is in stock (or use this http://wii.findnearby.net/ ), and if no go, just reserve at GS.... though expect a sour taste in your mouth.

[SirChadlyOC]

From my boss at my GameStop in central Ohio:

We are getting 24 Wiis for this raincheck promotion, which is not a lot considering we sold 30 Wiis on Black Friday. There hasn't been a lot of press regarding the fact that quantities are limited, so this should end up going worse than expected.

[Chitown021]

From my boss at my GameStop in central Ohio:

We are getting 24 Wiis for this raincheck promotion, which is not a lot considering we sold 30 Wiis on Black Friday. There hasn't been a lot of press regarding the fact that quantities are limited, so this should end up going worse than expected.


Yikes! I would hate to be working at one of those stores that day. The vouchers will be gone within the first 15 minutes then you'll have to deal with angry customers the entire rest of the day.

[io]

Yeah, with quantities that limited this is nothing more than reserving 2-3 weeks worth of normal January shipments to Gamestop and preselling them now. I suppose it will be a bit easier than finding one the normal way though. I'd do it if I was having a hard time finding one. In any case, the limited nature should put ot rest all the conspiracy theories that arose when this program was first announced last week: NO shorting other retailers to fill these GS preorders, NO holding back of December shipments to get the miniscule interest on prepayments, etc... All this is doing is ensuring demand for January keeps up with that from December (though I hardly think that is necessary). So, really, in the end, it just comes down to Nintendo, and, dare I say, GS, really trying to provide a way for people to secure a Wii other than the normal hit-or-miss checking over and over again. The DVD case gives people something to put under the tree. It is a nice gesture, though I'm sure more for PR than anything else (so people aren't so pissed at Nintendo/GS for never having them). I'm sure it will also backfire with the extremely limited quantities.

The whole "interest" thing is overblown - it will be less than a month for most of these systems as they'll probably deliver them as they come in throughout January. Sure, in total, GS will make a bit off interest, but to any individual person the loss of interest on $250 for 3-4 weeks is pretty damn insignificant.

[DamingR]

Can anyone else confirm Best Buys receiving wiis yesterday/today? A fairly knowledgeable seeming CSR guy told me I was crazy, that they never sell them except on Sunday.

[MoFro]

This just blows my mind...

I am so thankful that I got my Wii on launch day, because I had nothing better to do on a Saturday and decided "Why not sit outside at Wal-Mart?"

I really pity all the gamers and parents alike who are having trouble with this still.

[Aleman]

Yeah, with quantities that limited this is nothing more than reserving 2-3 weeks worth of normal January shipments to Gamestop and preselling them now. I suppose it will be a bit easier than finding one the normal way though. I'd do it if I was having a hard time finding one. In any case, the limited nature should put ot rest all the conspiracy theories that arose when this program was first announced last week: NO shorting other retailers to fill these GS preorders, NO holding back of December shipments to get the miniscule interest on prepayments, etc... All this is doing is ensuring demand for January keeps up with that from December (though I hardly think that is necessary). So, really, in the end, it just comes down to Nintendo, and, dare I say, GS, really trying to provide a way for people to secure a Wii other than the normal hit-or-miss checking over and over again. The DVD case gives people something to put under the tree. It is a nice gesture, though I'm sure more for PR than anything else (so people aren't so pissed at Nintendo/GS for never having them). I'm sure it will also backfire with the extremely limited quantities.
Yes but each GameStop is providing far less vouchers for this event than the bigger retail stores get in a regular weekly shipment. So this makes it no easier for people because the lines will probably be just as long. It's just a publicity ploy by GameStop.

[Xiasis]

Each store has already been allocated the amount of system they will receive. The average number of systems per store is about 12-24.

Most stores should also be seeing systems during the week, there is even a good chance there will be systems available for immediate sale on Friday morning in addition to the raincheck deal.

[Xiasis]

Yes but each GameStop is providing far less vouchers for this event than the bigger retail stores get in a regular weekly shipment. So this makes it no easier for people because the lines will probably be just as long. It's just a publicity ploy by GameStop.

This is of course a marketing decision and has nothing to do with any big payday, at least as far as interest is concerned. Gamestop wants to show that Nintendo has a comitment to supplying their companies stores with units.

I also hear people say things like this all the time, that Gamestop receives far less systems than the bigger retailers do in a week, but these people generally fail to realize that Gamestop (In most major markets) opperates far more stores (Total Stores = Bestbuy - 1400, Gamestop - 5000) in the same amount of space than say Bestbuy does. For example in my area alone, within about a 5 mile radius we have 3 Gamestops, and only 1 Bestbuy. So if each Gamestop got about 24 units, while Bestbuy on average will have around 40-50, thats about 25 more Wii's available through Gamestop in comparison to Bestbuy.

All this marketing move shows is that Nintendo sees a benefit in showing some commitment to Gamestop as a company, for being very succesful at moving large quantities of their hardware and software. It is important to remember that this raincheck "deal" was first announced by Reggie and not Gamestop. So if it all goes sour, its Nintendo that should get the blame for droping the ball on this one.

[Dead of Knight]

This is not a deal. This is a way for Gamestop to pad their cash accounts before the new year.

[io]

I also hear people say things like this all the time, that Gamestop receives far less systems than the bigger retailers do in a week, but these people generally fail to realize that Gamestop (In most major markets) opperates far more stores (Total Stores = Bestbuy - 1400, Gamestop - 5000) in the same amount of space than say Bestbuy does. For example in my area alone, within about a 5 mile radius we have 3 Gamestops, and only 1 Bestbuy. So if each Gamestop got about 24 units, while Bestbuy on average will have around 40-50, thats about 25 more Wii's available through Gamestop in comparison to Bestbuy.


From what I've heard, at least around where I live, 12-24 would be a couple of shipments worth - maybe half to 2/3 of the January allotment for GS. I think they usually get 6-12 in a shipment (here, anyway). I know the local Fred Meyer had them last weekend and only had 12 - and while they are a chain with limited geographic coverage, they are more akin to a Target than a Gamestop. (But like GS, there tends to be more of them than Target/Best Buy in any given area so it sort of makes sense).

Point being, it doesn't appear Nintendo is shipping any more to GS for this promo than they would have normally, unless they will ALSO have them for sale in the regular way throughout January - but that remains to be seen.

Oh, and while I don't think the interest angle is all that important, it IS important to GS and their stock price/shareholders to rake in all that cash for these presales just before year-end. Though that just pushes sales next year back to this year, so in the long run is meaningless.

[Chitown021]

Point being, it doesn't appear Nintendo is shipping any more to GS for this promo than they would have normally, unless they will ALSO have them for sale in the regular way throughout January - but that remains to be seen.
I was wondering about this as well. What if you reserved one for the end of January but GS gets late Dec shipments of actually Wii units in. Do they go ahead and sell those because the vouchers are good for systems in Jan?

[K_G]

This is not a deal. This is a way for Gamestop to pad their cash accounts before the new year.


Like most retailers, their fiscal year ends in at the end of January so this wouldn't have any impact given the hardware is arriving before the end of the fiscal year

[monkeydeew]

i'm surprised they arent selling bundles

[bossman]

Can anyone else confirm Best Buys receiving wiis yesterday/today? A fairly knowledgeable seeming CSR guy told me I was crazy, that they never sell them except on Sunday.
My local BestBuy was selling Wiis today. I picked one up around noon but they sold out in about 15 minutes.

[bigdaddybruce44]

Might worth swinging by the local GS to see the insanity...

[Xiasis]

I know that some Gamestops will be receiving Wii units most likely tommrow. Might be worth it to swing by and check.

[NamPaehc]

Isn't this the same thing as pre-ordering the system??? Only differenace I see is that they make you pay it all off up front (GS is going to LOVE that interest they make off your cash...). What am I missing?

[Indiana]

It's sad because I can just picture some kids opening up a paper on christmas that says you will get a Wii in January. For the rest of christmas you will just have to play your old PS2 because we spent all the christmas money on the Wii voucher.

[bigdaddybruce44]

The true icing will be when GameStop calls to inform the parents that the shipment is not as large as expected, and the money is being refunded.

[Indiana]

The true icing will be when GameStop calls to inform the parents that the shipment is not as large as expected, and the money is being refunded.

If that happens they will end up losing customer rather than making new customers. I seriously hope they get their shipments in or they are going to be in deep.

[yuffiestrife]

I hope parents don't fall into this trap.

I'm thinking the 360 Arcade pack is going to have a nice sales spike thanks to the Wii shortage.

[Chitown021]

If that happens they will end up losing customer rather than making new customers. I seriously hope they get their shipments in or they are going to be in deep.

This is GS we're talking about. It's not a matter of "if" but "when" it happens.

[bigdaddybruce44]

Exactly what I was thinking.

[DisturbedZen]

I do believe that Nintendo is backing GS on this "Wii Rainchecks".

Its Nintendo's way of saying, we have enough supply, but we just don't want you to have it.

[un_plug]

So here it is Dec 24th, and I am stuck here at work, when I get a call. the Wii I reserved and payed for on the 21st is here! Just in time for Christmas! WhoooHoo!

[leehom]

So here it is Dec 24th, and I am stuck here at work, when I get a call. the Wii I reserved and payed for on the 21st is here! Just in time for Christmas! WhoooHoo!

supply is starting to meet demand.

[colforbin13]

un_plug, do you know by any chance, what the number was on your reservation card? I'm wondering if they're sending them out numerically overall, or just by store. Mine is 2703 or something.