The one American store with daily Wii shipments
by Kyle Orland 
{ Dec 13th 2007 at 4:30PM }
While most stores in this country (and abroad) simply can't meet demand for the Wii this holiday season, there is one store that seems to have no problem getting the systems in stock. GameDaily reports that the Nintendo World store in New York City's Rockefeller Center gets new shipments of the Wii every morning. The GameDaily reporter says that, on two recent visits, the store had "at least 20 [Wiis] lined up behind the main counter. Just Wii boxes waiting for the next person in line."Well, either that reporter had some good timing or the word has gotten out among New York's Nintendo fans, because WCBS Radio reports that 200 people were camped outside the store in the early morning before opening this Tuesday. One waiting New Yorker told the interviewer that she had ventured all the way out to Richmond, Va. to try and find a system. We bet Greenpeace would blame Nintendo for all the gas burned on the trip, too.
For those of you who can't quite make it to New York City, you can always try using ZapTXT to alert you the moment when your local store gets shipments. Remember: nice guys finish last, so don't be afraid to break all local traffic laws speeding to the store upon receiving word. Godspeed, good shoppers.
Read - Nintendo World gets daily Wiis
Listen - Lines outside the store
Read - ZapTXT Wii alerts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dkffiv @ Dec 13th 2007 4:39PM
I purchased 2 systems from Nintedo World in September. Went after work around 5-6 P.M. and they had 10+ left in stock both times.
A friend and a friend of a friend were looking for one, but I had noticed that the Toys R Us in Times Square had them in stock as well, so I purchased from there instead (much shorter walk). This was in October and then the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Both were purchased after work, 5-6 in October and around 4:30 the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Plenty were in stock in October, but right before Thanksgiving it was a mad house (I believe I picked up the 3rd to last one).
For kicks I walked by Nintendo World this morning around 9:05 and there were hundreds of people in line. Mass media coverage FTL.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 13th 2007 4:40PM
sigh, looks like I'll be taking a trip to New York.
Pedobear @ Dec 13th 2007 4:45PM
Whats the point of so many people in line? Surely the 200th guy in line can't think he is going to get one.
dkffiv @ Dec 13th 2007 4:47PM
Maybe he just really really wants to see the Pokemon museum?
Jason15 @ Dec 13th 2007 4:50PM
maybe hes waiting for next weeks shipment. better not lose that spot now!
WiNG @ Dec 13th 2007 4:49PM
yeah sucks for anyone who wants to make a "real" purchase
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 13th 2007 4:55PM
Well people don't necessarily know how many consoles are in the store. Besides, you don't want to be guy/girl who waited on line for 5hrs, left cause you got tired, and then realize they had enough for everyone in line.
Grog @ Dec 13th 2007 5:30PM
Last year, around launch, there was a similar article up about how the Nintendo World store was getting in 1000 Wiis every day. So yeah, maybe the 200th guy in line actually does have a reason.
WiNG @ Dec 13th 2007 4:48PM
Vegeta wtf... I thought you're on the NDF, but you don't have a Wii?
Also what is the point of driving to Richmond from NYC? It would be cheaper to just buy the marked up bundles on eBay.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 13th 2007 4:54PM
NDF? Me? Really? I mean sure I defend the Wii, but I don't think of myself as a Nintendo fanboy. I'm open to any game on any console as long as it's fun.
borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Dec 13th 2007 5:51PM
Vegeta: Dude, you're willing to travel to New York for a Wii and willing to camp out for one. I'd say that makes you an honorary member of the NDF no matter what.** For me, no console is that fun.
**Unless you jest
Pedobear @ Dec 13th 2007 4:53PM
I'm trying to find a dreamcast this weekend. Those things are always out of stock, any tips?
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 13th 2007 4:54PM
Go to Japan.
ShortFuse @ Dec 13th 2007 5:00PM
seriously, ebay. you're not even trying.
Alex M @ Dec 13th 2007 5:03PM
For a DC, online is pretty much the only way, dude.
I found one on a real store, but the price on it was 399. wtf?
FidliousWong @ Dec 13th 2007 5:28PM
I got my third dreamcast at a local Salvation Army for $30. Ironically, they wanted $25 for Sewer Shark for Sega CD.... I wonder who makes their prices? And I got my third DC because of a long ago idea, a Dreamcast in every room. Unfortunately, happening across the complimentary Cannon Spike for every room has been more difficult.
Pedobear @ Dec 13th 2007 7:23PM
I'd get it at ebay but the shipping on all the things I see is atrocious. 25+ dollars for 6-10 business days!?!?
WiNG @ Dec 13th 2007 7:35PM
1. check Craigslist
2. Find a local eBay seller that will allow local pickup
3. post for a "wanted" on craigslist
Noshino @ Dec 13th 2007 4:55PM
Trip to New York: $ 278
Snacks for the line: $ 20
Nintendo Wii: $ 249.99
Massive amount of people buying a Wii online at ridiculous amounts: Priceless
rv @ Dec 13th 2007 9:07PM
Badly done mastercard joke: Useless
GoldenS1104 @ Dec 13th 2007 5:05PM
Anyone who decided to get a Wii at launch should have one by now. There's never a large quantity of them in stock, but major stores are sure to have a few of them (or at least they were before Holiday shopping started). Anyone who waited till this late in the year to pick up a Wii for Christmas is nuts. People should've been trying to get this mid-November at the latest. Hasn't Arnold and his classic hit Jingle All the Way taught us anything?
arrrgh @ Dec 13th 2007 5:22PM
you give the general populace far too much credit sir
Slaziman (B-B-BRUSHED WITH FAAAAME) @ Dec 13th 2007 5:08PM
Ahh... I'll be the first to say that the Wii is really profiting from it's shortages, making it the must-have gadget, even if you aren't really enjoying it. Getting to brag about it to your neighbor justifies the whole thing.
Enjoy your stupid Wii Sports, ignorant sheeps, and ignore the great games like Super Mario Galaxy (for such a landmark title, you would've expected more than about 10% of the installed base to buy it...). I hate you all! I hate you all for buying shovelware trash and ruining the system!
Mr Khan @ Dec 13th 2007 5:12PM
Super Mario galaxy does have only about a 10% attach rate, but even though the Wii is Nintendo's most casual console to date, Super Mario Galaxy is the fastest selling main Mario title to date
Martez @ Dec 13th 2007 5:14PM
Landmark my ass. It's a very solid, fun title, but it's really nothing incredible. Just fun.
arrrgh @ Dec 13th 2007 5:23PM
no. landmark was right.
Fatass of Kickassness @ Dec 13th 2007 5:25PM
What the hell?
What happened to fun being the main focus in gaming? Way back when, if a game was fun, it was incredible in my book. Guess fun is taking a backseat to cinematic value now.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 13th 2007 5:26PM
@slaz
I think you may be talking about Japan. everyone else has been buying the game.
Slaziman (B-B-BRUSHED WITH FAAAAME) @ Dec 13th 2007 5:31PM
Check Wikipedia Ska. Didn't do that good in NA either.
Noshino @ Dec 13th 2007 5:32PM
Fatass of Kickassness
I still find pong and tetris fun, but that doesn't mean that I will pay $50 for them...
"Guess fun is taking a backseat to cinematic value now."
mmm...no, example, Heavenly Sword...
Slaziman (B-B-BRUSHED WITH FAAAAME) @ Dec 13th 2007 5:33PM
@Fatass
Are you talking to me, or to Martez?
Q @ Dec 13th 2007 5:41PM
Yeah, stop buying that Wii Sports shovelware, sheep!
Probot @ Dec 13th 2007 5:12PM
I'd be wary of things promising to alert you of shipments. Most of the time, the stores don't even know when to expect them.
Recently an angry mob of about twenty people were at my local Game Crazy because they had an "insider tip" that the store was getting a shipment that night. But the store didn't get any shipment. They were expecting at least one shipment before Christmas, but that's all they knew. The Mob was not happy with that. Luckily, their anger was limited to yelling and threats of violence, but no actual violence.
Smaller groups, including some of the original Angry Mob, showed up every night until finally, a UPS truck did show up with a shipment of Wii. However, there was only 5 consoles. And they had to be checked in for inventory (or something like that. I don't work there.) So they couldn't be sold that night. A couple of Game Crazy employees had to escort he delivery driver to and from his truck because several of the customers threatened to attack him and get a Wii. They were probably empty threats, but better safe than sorry.
I'd hope this is a rare occurance, but I have a feeling it isn't.
But yeah, I wouldn't promote anything that promises to let you know when a store will get Wiis. The only reliable way is just calling the store and getting lucky.
FidliousWong @ Dec 13th 2007 5:39PM
Luck has dick all to do with it. Essentially here are the tips for idiots. I say idiots because I've had three people I knew asking me if they should buy off Ebay for a Wii despite the fact that I told them months ago if they wanted one for Xmas, buy it while every store has some. With my tips, all three of the dumbasses found units after Black Friday.
1. Call stores, get an idea of the time they can put them out. Very rarely does a store go from door to floor. So find out when they usually drop units. Be nice to the workers, don't be an ass, and they are often relieved enough to be treated as a human being that they'll give you those tips.
2. During the times they gave you, make calls. Be ready or have someone ready to rush out to snag one.
3. Best Buy and Wal-Mart are NOT the only stores, dumbasses. Secondary stores like Sears or even Meijer get shipments too. If you know a store that isn't "known" for it's gaming selection... guess where you have the best chance to get one?
Granted, these are all tips I didn't personally have to employ. My PS3 preorder wasn't high enough in priority at EB to get my launch unit so I decided "fuck it, I'll snag a Wii" from Toys R Us and their line (also found my second Beatmania controller and both Donkey Konga 2 and Jungle Beat bundles for $20 each, good morning that was). Funny thing too, Sony shipped out more units FAST. Like I got the call Tuesday that my 60GB was in.
Slaziman (B-B-BRUSHED WITH FAAAAME) @ Dec 13th 2007 5:16PM
Here in the Netherlands where the Wii hype never caught on (I've never seen it in mainstream media except for the commercials) it's widely available. When I decided it was time to surrender myself to Mario Galaxy, I went to my site of choice and ordered it. No bundles, no price-gouging.
What troubles me is how much Wii's are being sold way below retail on an ebay sort of site in the Netherlands (Marktplaats), are people getting bored with the Wii already, at least in this little country? What does this say about the Wii's future in countries where it's still wildly popular? Can the Wii keep it's momentum going?
Find out in the next episode of RANT BY SLAZIMAN
Noshino @ Dec 13th 2007 5:23PM
Right after Fox News...
Sidepocket @ Dec 13th 2007 10:02PM
Dude, of course the Wii is not popular. Your country has pot and legalized prostitution. Why the fuck do they need a box to have fun when fun is built directly into the culture!? XD
sheetman @ Dec 13th 2007 5:59PM
My mom and I were recently looking for one. Needlessly to say, we were unsuccessful, but she was told to check back January 8th. How much do you all think we can trust that, because I've got more than enough cash to get one right now, but I dont want to go on some fruitless search January the 8th.
Loki_d20 @ Dec 13th 2007 6:00PM
And I'm still clueless as to why so many people would want a Wii while the majority of the people that own one refuse to buy games for them.
syco @ Dec 13th 2007 6:47PM
I bought GH3 (lol mono)
I will be buying Galaxy later on when I have some money
Honestly my Wii purchases are tempered by lack of time and money, not a lack of a library.
Tommers @ Dec 13th 2007 6:11PM
In Canada you can use Consolewatch to alert you when stores like Futureshop update their online inventory and you can order online...if you are quick enough. I scored my Wii with this site last year from the source and even got some DealGuild cash back...sweet site.
Cyantre @ Dec 13th 2007 6:21PM
Hey, if they get a shipment in everyday just suck it up and wait in line for a very long time. I was in NYC close to Christmas and the line extended to the end of the block and they only had enough for about 50 people, but those are still pretty good odds considering the short supply of the system. Don't bother taking the train in to get there around 6AM or 7AM (the store opens at 8AM) the people in the front of the lines usually have been since around 2AM.
Project Ekim @ Dec 13th 2007 6:25PM
In all honesty i think the wii is boring and there is really no good games on it except like mario galaxy but it just lacks in so many areas i dont see whay people want it so much.
OTAM @ Dec 13th 2007 6:32PM
I'm surprised to hear about the high demand because most of the stores here always have them in stock (I live in the sticks of Pennsylvania so).
I should start up a service of getting Wiis for people and keeping a $10 for my time. I imagine I could get a pretty penny by time the shortage ends.
gamernewz.net @ Dec 13th 2007 7:41PM
You could do way better than $10.
Scott @ Dec 13th 2007 7:40PM
That's where I got mine...........in MARCH!!!
I fucking knew I should have grabbed my girl and bought two a day in September for a week, damn it to christmas christ!!!!!!!!
And back in March they "seemed" to get about 75 in the morning (yeah I counted the boxes behind the counter, want to fight about it?) - I hope they are getting more nowawdays...
gamernewz.net @ Dec 13th 2007 7:39PM
Shouts from Ric Va! Ain't no Wii's here fool! When will everybody come around and finally admit Nintendo is going to dominate this whole gen?
mike @ Dec 13th 2007 8:59PM
if only i had known the wii would sell out again this xmas. I could of bought over 1000 wiis over the period from feb 2007 to nov (which is when stock was plentiful here).
$200 profit per wii * 1000 = $200 000 profit. I could of been rich (or at least well off :) )
I seriously question why people are buying wiis now tho. I did all my xmas shopping in october, and i didnt even buy stuff that was ultra popular. I was able to get smoking deals on everything. Now people are shopping with a deadline and are paying retail or higher for their goods.
honkyjesusownsu @ Dec 13th 2007 11:19PM
Great news for ppl looking for a last-gen system.
The PS2 and Gamecube should be easy to find FYI.
LaughingMan @ Dec 13th 2007 11:51PM
Can we now- over a year after the launch- close the debate and accept that the big N is purposely holding back supply? Why isn't the blogosphere (Joystiq) not making more of this? We get page after page after page of some numb nuts not liking "Kane and Lynch" but when it comes to the Wii, I think most people just shrug, mumble "whaya gonna do?" and just hope years later (no sarcasm) that they can readily find them in stores.