Wii Shortage about over?

Here in the Bay Area, the drought is bad. Take whatever Wii shortage your region may have experienced, and kick it up a notch. That's here. It has a lot to do with demographics, though.

I agree that Nintendo shouldn't bother ramping up production. It will only bite them in the ass later on down the line. The cost to ramp up and then down once demand is sated, is just too high.
 
This is an amusing thread, I keep thinking of the Wii as an elusive Yeti when sightings are mentioned. I own all three systems, but I'm rooting for the Wii to succeed. Probably because my first gaming system was the Nintendo gray box. Oh the fond memories.
 
It's just Nintendo controlling supply. They're more than capable of producing enough of what is essentially Gamecube hardware... they've been making this thing since 2002.
 
[quote name='lanleague']It's just Nintendo controlling supply. They're more than capable of producing enough of what is essentially Gamecube hardware... they've been making this thing since 2002.[/quote]So Nintendo is holding back supply while still posting record breaking sales numbers every month? Could it possibly be that they are producing as much as they can with the production facilities that they currently have operating?

Why oversaturate the market and then be left with a surplus like what happened last gen with the GC when sales are already OUT OF CONTROL with the current production facilities?
 
Actually they should up the production. With Christmas only 5 months away they know they will have a sell out no matter how many systems are sitting on the shelf. I really believe they only have 2007 to get a nice lead. In 2008 I think the hype will be over. Look at the 2006 Christmas numbers for the Xbox 360 they are really high because no one could find a Wii or PS3. Now the PS3 hype is long over so Nintendo needs to take advantage of this holiday season.

Of course if Nintendo is controlling supply we will see tons of systems hit the shelf in late November.
 
According to Nintendo fiscal reports for Q1, they have upped their shipment forecast for the fiscal year (April 07 to March 08) from 14 to 16.5 million units. At the moment, they are selling around 1.1 million units a month worldwide - at that same rate, we're looking at a surplus of 4.5 million units. If that's correct, and they are stockpiling for Christmas, then they should be able to have around 6.7 million units in stores worldwide for the holidays. Could be better, but it shouldn't make shortages any worse, relatively, than they are now.

And to put those numbers in perspective, those same fiscal reports peg the final worldwide Cube shipments at 21 million. Wii has shipped 9.2 million through June 07 - add the forecasted shipments between now and March 08, and you've exceeded GameCube lifetime numbers in just over a year.

Edit: Also, attach rate for the Wii in NA is an astronomical 6.09. Taking out Wii Sports, that's still huge.
 
Technically, there isn't a shortage. Just an extremely high demand for the thing. I've managed to Ebay like eight of these by just staying on top of reception dates for stores like Wal-mart.

If you guys call Wal-mart around 11AM-1PM every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday whoever is looking for the console should be able to find one.

At this point everyone who isn't able to land one just doesn't want one, at least if they visit this site. Best Buy will have some on the 29th. Be there three hours before the store opens and you'll easily get one. But some people are apparently allergic to waiting in line and so when they miss out, they'll post back in the thread with some symphathy requests about how they overslept or somthing.

I've stopped Ebaying them because clearly demand has come down on the thing. Profit margins which ranged about $50 are now around $10 and that just isn't worth it anymore. If you scour ebay enough, you should be able to land one for about $280 plus shipping.
 
Well after searching Ebay I have to think that if people quit putting the systems on Ebay there would no longer be a shortage. There are tons of systems on Ebay.

I guess I should have bought a Wii in Michigan but since gamestop had a large shipment I figured all the stores got one. I guess I figured wrong.
 
[quote name='Zen Davis']Technically, there isn't a shortage. Just an extremely high demand for the thing. I've managed to Ebay like eight of these by just staying on top of reception dates for stores like Wal-mart.

If you guys call Wal-mart around 11AM-1PM every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday whoever is looking for the console should be able to find one.

At this point everyone who isn't able to land one just doesn't want one, at least if they visit this site. Best Buy will have some on the 29th. Be there three hours before the store opens and you'll easily get one. But some people are apparently allergic to waiting in line and so when they miss out, they'll post back in the thread with some symphathy requests about how they overslept or somthing.

I've stopped Ebaying them because clearly demand has come down on the thing. Profit margins which ranged about $50 are now around $10 and that just isn't worth it anymore. If you scour ebay enough, you should be able to land one for about $280 plus shipping.[/quote]

I have to get in line 3 hours early to get one easy and thats technically not a shortage? Really?
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']I have to get in line 3 hours early to get one easy and thats technically not a shortage? Really?[/QUOTE]

I think he was trying to say that there are a lot of wiis out there (thus, no shortage of them) but due to a high demand, you have to wait in line to guarantee you get one.
 
Thats still in every way a shortage. If I cant go to any Target near my house right now, right before close and find a reasonable stock, then there is a shortage.

Is demand higher than supply or not?
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']Thats still in every way a shortage. If I cant go to any Target near my house right now, right before close and find a reasonable stock, then there is a shortage.

Is demand higher than supply or not?[/QUOTE]

K, I guess you and I have different definitions of shortages then.
 
Pretty much you're being screwed by Ebay hoarders. That's what I genuinely believe. There is no shortage. Only an insane demand. When a company is making 1 million consoles a month, I can't in good faith say that they're not making enough, especially when I can land them so easily. We're free to disagree MK, but if there were only like 100,000 consoles being produced every month, that would be one thing but comparing the number of consoles out there in a fair comparison to the 360 and PS3, to me tells me there is no shortage.
 
Now we're just arguing the semantics relating to the difference between a shortage and a manufactured shortage.

It's not as if Nintendo is at fault, given the historical sales of Nintendo consoles, and video game consoles in general, but there is definitely a shortage as demand is greater than supply.
 
When demand outpaces supply there technically is a shortage. Call it a surplus of demand if you want to get technical, but demand for the Wii still slightly outweighs the supply. It's not an issue of opinion. If there's an issue, it's the issue of terminology.

Having said that, I've seen several Wiis in the Jacksonville, FL area. When the Wii gets some games that are compelling experiences, it will explode. As much as I think Halo 3 will move a lot of 360s, I've got to believe either Smash Brothers or Mario Galaxy will move just as many if not more Wiis.
 
[quote name='munch']The thing is we're not arguing semantics. People just won't say it's a shortage, for whatever reason.[/quote]Well, they're saying it's not a shortage because Nintendo is producing enough. And obviously producing enough (by whatever measure) doesn't mean there's not a shortage.
 
[quote name='botticus']Well, they're saying it's not a shortage because Nintendo is producing enough. And obviously producing enough (by whatever measure) doesn't mean there's not a shortage.[/QUOTE]

I know what they're saying, but I'm saying it's retarded. "Enough" doesn't even make sense if people want them and they can't buy them.
 
Since one little opinion is getting picked apart to shreds, I might as well reiterate what I said.

Nintendo is sending no shortage of wiis to stores...as in they aren't sending a significantly lower amount of consoles then they normally would.

The demand is extremely high, so you don't see them on shelves. See what I mean by there is no shortage of wii's being sent.

In the business sense, yes, there is a shortage. But what I was saying is there is no shortage being sent....as in it's not like Nintendo is barely sending any consoles.
 
I work at a Wal*Mart in a small town. We get batches of Wiis anywhere from 3-9 (although last week we got a whopping one Wii in... dunno what that was about). Anywhoo, occasionally, we'll get a good size shipment (6-9) in and they'll be sold out before the night is over. Other times, we'll go a week before we sell out. There seems to be no real pattern. One thing is for sure though, when we don't have any on the shelves (3/4ths of the time, guestimate), we seem to get a lot of people asking for them...
 
Wii shrinkage, eh?

Good luck with that one. eBay average price still is slightly above $300 for new ones and sometimes even used consoles sell for the retail price of $250, so people who don't like the Wii can even get their money back after "testing" one.

Honestly I work in retail and I see these come in once a week. Maybe 12+ consoles and they are gone by the afternoon (sometimes within hours if word gets out). We still get calls for Wiis every hour, not as much as months ago but still there.

I don't foresee the Wii's being constantly available till March, and thats only if Wii fit doesn't take off and there is a low chance of that. Of course Nintendo might be able to amp up their production by then to.
 
It's like this. If you go to the store and they don't have any soda, are you going to come back on CAG and post that there is a soda shortage?
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']If people have to line up to get a soda WORLDWIDE or they cant get one until next week, then yes.[/quote]

Ignore him, he's an idiot stranded in his own world, where his backwards ideas reign supreme. Comparing the demand for sodas to that of a Wii is evidence of this. This is a video game message board afterall, although some people seem to have forgotten that. :roll:
 
[quote name='Zen Davis']It's like this. If you go to the store and they don't have any soda, are you going to come back on CAG and post that there is a soda shortage?[/quote]
Wii was released late November of last year. We're currently almost at August. People still can't get a hold of a Wii, nor can stores keep them in supply. Stores constantly advertise a limit per customer when Wii units are expected in stock.

So yes, there IS a shortage.
 
[quote name='Indiana']Well after searching Ebay I have to think that if people quit putting the systems on Ebay there would no longer be a shortage. There are tons of systems on Ebay.

I guess I should have bought a Wii in Michigan but since gamestop had a large shipment I figured all the stores got one. I guess I figured wrong.[/QUOTE]

Hey that store is 5 minutes from my house. If you need one I will do it at cost for you.

FYI.

Just PM me.

I would use DHL to ship and that should be under $10 easily.
 
Wiis are nonexistant in my area. I think the shortage is ending, or interest is going down. But not by that much. I think after the iPhone coming out, people are back looking for Wiis.
 
[quote name='Zenithian Legend']Ignore him, he's an idiot stranded in his own world, where his backwards ideas reign supreme. Comparing the demand for sodas to that of a Wii is evidence of this. This is a video game message board afterall, although some people seem to have forgotten that. :roll:[/QUOTE]

Stop following me around. It's fucking creepy.
 
[quote name='Tsukento']Wii was released late November of last year. We're currently almost at August. People still can't get a hold of a Wii, nor can stores keep them in supply. Stores constantly advertise a limit per customer when Wii units are expected in stock.

So yes, there IS a shortage.[/QUOTE]

Technically, I'd have to say you're right. I just personally feel that they're nowhere near as rare as they're said to be, and since they're findable, I don't consider that a shortage. To me "shortage" implies that they're harder than hell to find, but to me that's simply not the case. It's relative.
 
It's also relative to where you live. Many urban/suburban areas you have to either luck out at GS/EB/Wal-mart, or get up and hit the big box stores before opening on a Sunday that it's in the ad.

That's a shortage in my book, as anytime I can't buy something just by going to the local stores at my leisure, their is a shortage of it IMO.
 
[quote name='Zen Davis']Technically, I'd have to say you're right. I just personally feel that they're nowhere near as rare as they're said to be, and since they're findable, I don't consider that a shortage. To me "shortage" implies that they're harder than hell to find, but to me that's simply not the case. It's relative.[/quote]
Oh no. You can find them. Just by the time you get to the location with them, they're no longer there. :p Stores that generally get their shipments sell out the morning they have them on sale. Because it's not readily available to everyone at any time, it's still technically a shortage. The demand is higher than supply.
 
ah vegginomics

061012.jpg
 
[quote name='Zen Davis']Technically, I'd have to say you're right. I just personally feel that they're nowhere near as rare as they're said to be, and since they're findable, I don't consider that a shortage. To me "shortage" implies that they're harder than hell to find, but to me that's simply not the case. It's relative.[/QUOTE]

Shortage doesn't imply anything. It is simply when demand outweighs supply. It's not a relative term. You can say that there's a slight shortage or a massive shortage. A shortage can be relative to an area or widespread, but if there is a demand that is not filled then a shortage happens even in your earlier soda analogy. That's what my objection has been to what you've been saying. I know it's grammar nazi level posting but something about microeconomics terminology being misused always irks me to no end.
 
If Oprah peddles the Wii on her TV show, this "demand overwhelming supply" condition will last the entire life of the system. Even if that doesn't happen, I doubt we'll see Wiis on store shelves regularly, worldwide, until 2009. The resellers will never let this console hit "pick up & purchase" retail locations consistently enough to make it common; the demand and the potential for regular profit is simply too high.

It may be easy for someone who treats reselling as a side job to find Wii after Wii, consistently, but for someone who works 70+ hours a week and wants time away from the telephone and computer "every so often", this console is indeed difficult to find.

I'm one of those backward yokels who would like, oh - every ONCE in a while head into a store, find a product and purchase it. Anytime I want! Ahh-hyuck! How twentieth century am I?
 
[quote name='maigoyume']ah vegginomics

061012.jpg
[/quote]
Funny thing about that is even with the Wii being sold out most of the time, it's still outselling the PS3, which stores were having trouble trying to get to sell. :p
 
I still can't find one!! I saw one at CC 2 months after launch but I didn't buy it because I didn't have the cash on me (bank was right next door too!!), and I regret it!
 
[quote name='Zen Davis']I've managed to Ebay like eight of these by just staying on top of reception dates for stores like Wal-mart.

If you guys call Wal-mart around 11AM-1PM every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday whoever is looking for the console should be able to find one.

At this point everyone who isn't able to land one just doesn't want one, at least if they visit this site. [/quote]Or because people like you are stalking their prey, waiting for them to hit the shelves so they can go and sell them at a higher price.

That's your right. I'd just prefer to sell games which have been sitting around unwanted on shelves for a long time, than add to the difficulty of Joe Average trying to finding a new product in high demand.

[quote name='Zen Davis']It's like this. If you go to the store and they don't have any soda, are you going to come back on CAG and post that there is a soda shortage?[/quote]Don't even freakin joke about no soda.
 
[quote name='guinaevere']

Don't even freakin joke about no soda.[/QUOTE]

:lol: Now, THAT would be serious business, I agree!
 
To me "shortage" means that I have to completely devote myself to finding one and around my area that's just not the case. Call Wal-Mart on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday around 11-1PM and you'll get one Wii. I got one every single week. Sometimes more.

Most people have the issue that they can't pick up a Wii at their own leisure and that in itself constitutes a shortage and I can't agree with that. Having to wait on line for something doesn't mean there's a shortage.

Most likely though, because I've been able to get so many so easily, I'm most likely jaded/biased about the entire thing.

Oh and remember, more Wiis at Best Buy this Sunday!
 
And keep in mind that it's not that "easy" in some places, and many people have real jobs and can't be calling Wal-mart and running out to pick one up in the afternoon on week days.

And yes, having to show up before opening and wait in line, or call around like shitbag hoarders like yourself, to score one does mean there is a shortage.

Shortage just means that demand is greater than supply, which is clearly the case or Wii's would be sitting on store shelves gathering dust with the PS3s and 360s.
 
[quote name='Zen Davis']To me "shortage" means that I have to completely devote myself to finding one and around my area that's just not the case. Call Wal-Mart on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday around 11-1PM and you'll get one Wii. I got one every single week. Sometimes more.

Most people have the issue that they can't pick up a Wii at their own leisure and that in itself constitutes a shortage and I can't agree with that. Having to wait on line for something doesn't mean there's a shortage.

Most likely though, because I've been able to get so many so easily, I'm most likely jaded/biased about the entire thing.

[/QUOTE]

Yeah if you really want a Wii you can get one if you call alot and visit stores frequently. IF you want to get to stores early on Sunday morning you can often get one too. But there definitely is a shortage when stores can't keep them on shelves for more than a few hours and when people are still paying $50+ over list for them.
 
[quote name='Zen Davis']To me "shortage" means that I have to completely devote myself to finding one and around my area that's just not the case. Call Wal-Mart on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday around 11-1PM and you'll get one Wii. I got one every single week. Sometimes more.

Most people have the issue that they can't pick up a Wii at their own leisure and that in itself constitutes a shortage and I can't agree with that. Having to wait on line for something doesn't mean there's a shortage.

Most likely though, because I've been able to get so many so easily, I'm most likely jaded/biased about the entire thing.

Oh and remember, more Wiis at Best Buy this Sunday![/QUOTE]

But that's the problem, you don't have a grasp of what a shortage really is. Do you think demand is greater than supply? If the answer is yes then there is a shortage. That is the only way to define it. Right now that is the case. Just because you're the ultimate Wii hunter does not mean there's not a shortage.
 
I don't think I'm the ultimate Wii hunter. I also don't think I'm a shitbag hoarder. Most of the money that got made on these went towards helping my uncle pay off some medical bills so curse me out if you want, it doesn't bother me. He still has over $5,000 left to pay off. Lets be adults about it though instead of throwing insults.

I think in my area, they're relatively easy to come across, that's all. Keep in mind that I'm nearby the New York Nintendo World Store which gets new consoles every single day. Like I said, my perspective is most likely jaded.

I genuinely believe that using the term 'shortage' with the Wii is more of an overreaction than anything else. There are like 30 million people who want a Wii around the world right now. The demand is unprecedented. At what point would you declare a Wii shortage to be over? How much should Nintendo ramp up their production and still be a responsible business entity?

When I look at this, I don't compare it to how long I have to wait in line or whether or not I have to call anyone to see if they're in stock. I compare them to the other consoles. Compared to the 360 and PS3, the Wii is shipping and selling more units, and with the demand that they've had for their systems, I think they've been doing a good job. It's unlike the 360 launch where a 360 was just about impossible to find until 2006. To me that was a shortage. That's just my perception and you guys can feel free to disagree with me, but I'm coming at it from a different place than a lot of you are.

But fine, if bothers you all so much, there is a shortage on Wiis. A horrible, inhuman shortage of Nintendo Wiis on the empty shelves of American stores across the landscape which will leave little children crying and cursing their worthless parents for not braving the telephone calls to customer service and for not getting out of bed in the early 8AM Sunday hours to get on line. I mean even that ugly white elusive unicorn off Interstate 80 was able to get his muddy hooves on one.

fuck Nintendo.
 
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