If you did get the Wii you really wanted? If so, count yourself lucky. It appears that more than seven months after the release of the gaming console, Wiis are still running scarce. The demand is definitely outpacing the supply.
The Wii, launched by Nintendo, is a video game unit that is best known for its wireless controller that is also motion sensitive. The units are selling so quickly that hopeful consumers have to go to the trouble of calling around to their stores to find out when the next shipment will come in. Recently, the line of Wii wanters was snaking around the block outside of Manhattan’s Nintendo World, according to the Associate Press. The customers came from as far as New Jersey, some arriving at 6 am in order to stand in line.
And for those in the know, scheduled store shipments are like classified secrets, with some people actually selling the information online.
For those people who aren’t the type to to wait on line, they can go online to purchase a Wii, but they will be paying a very hefty premium. Online auctions, such as Ebay, and classified sites, such as craigslist offer the Wii console for a very premium price. Even Amazon is getting into the act with a used Wii going for almost $600. Other sellers have it priced less.
You may remember an earlier article I wrote about how my son’s school was auctioning off a Wii as part of a spring fair and fundraiser. I was told by one of the people involved in the fundraiser that the raffle was the biggest money maker they had at that event.
Nintendo has said that they have been increasing supply dramatically since the first launch, in order to meet the worldwide demand.
According to the NPD Group, a market research company, more than 2.8 million Wii units have been sold.
Mary Ann Romans also writes for the Frugal Living Blog here at Families.com, where she shares money saving tips for today’s families.
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