Nintendo shorting UK pre-orders with supply problems

While Nintendo's Wii has been the undisputed champ of at-launch availability so far, and looks to be well on the way to its projected 4 million sales by the end of the year, supply problems are starting to crop up in Europe. Apparently Nintendo hasn't yet shipped the full quantities it has promised to some retailers, which naturally doesn't sit too well with pre-order customers. Hopes are high for getting the rest of those pre-ordered Wiis by Christmas, but that's little consolation to the fanboys hoping to get their European Wii on by December 8th. Non pre-order customers pretty much don't stand a chance, and we're just hoping this doesn't all end in tears, PS3 style.

[Davis Cooper @ Dec 7th 2006 5:00PM]

Hot damn, looks like I'm stuck with teletext until then....

[Manuel @ Dec 7th 2006 5:17PM]

Possibly because of the strap fix?

[John Hinds @ Dec 8th 2006 3:22AM]

Yeah,
On Sunday I went to pretty much every shop that'll sell them and they won't be able to have them in the shops until at least next year.

Looks like online stores like Amazon bought up most of them. :(

[JinKazama @ Dec 7th 2006 5:30PM]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm how long before someone somehow spins this as a positive for Nintendo when Sony was so harshly criticized for the same

5...4...3...2...1

[michael leimon @ Dec 7th 2006 6:10PM]

Actually, its quite a different matter JinKazama as something is much better than nothing. Which is exactly what Sony decided to give the entire continent of Europe this year. http://www.ps3land.com/faq.php#1 check me if i'm wrong.

[matt @ Dec 7th 2006 5:46PM]

nintendo forgot that UK have a different wall socket to the rest of Europe so they had to call hold quite a few back till they got them







not really

[Tekiek @ Dec 7th 2006 5:48PM]

Screw the UK ... until I can find one.

[CyBeR @ Dec 7th 2006 5:48PM]

It's all bull. I bought not one but two this morning in .nl out of two different stores without a pre-order.

(Yes, I realize I got very lucky.)

[Sunny Man @ Dec 7th 2006 5:55PM]

Just to let you know, Argos is one of the retailers that has not received it's full shipment quota from Argos and delays are expected on customer pre-orders there also.

[Michael @ Dec 7th 2006 5:55PM]

I just can't feel sorry for them when I can't find one here in the US either.

[Dimitri @ Dec 7th 2006 6:06PM]

What about focusing on the country that will encompass the vast majority of your sales? It's just plain economics. Supply the areas that have the greatest demand and greatest potential for the quickest sales.

That's not Europe, folks. That's not even Asia. It's the US and Canada.

[George @ Dec 7th 2006 6:09PM]

I was SECOND on the pre-order list at my local Currys (which is a major one) and am not getting one tomorrow (or even before Xmas apparently)... They have ONE unit coming?!?!? Currys blamed Nintendo... so I rang Nintendo... who said that ALL the retailers were getting their allocation, but many were selling them all via the internet... Someone is lying... but who?

[Jinkazama @ Dec 7th 2006 7:09PM]

1....

BINGO! Michael Leimon wins the prize

[evilfixx @ Dec 7th 2006 9:28PM]

So Sony does it and it's wrong, Nintendo does it and we're all being low key!? Screw that, they're not on their way to their 4 million mark if people can't walk into a store and get one.

[kitt2112 @ Dec 7th 2006 9:11PM]

You got that right Jinkazma! N fanboys make me laugh, in there minds Nintendo could never do wrong. lol they make it sound like Sony wanted to screw the ppl in the UK on purpose. Sure N has more systems out, when you compare what goes into making a wii vs a ps3, the ps3 is state of the art tech, when the N used gamecube 1.5 tech. with a new controller, look at what they do with the gameboy, 1st you have gbc no light, then a gba no light,only after ppl complained and afterburner comes out with one, they bring out the gba sp with a back light, then a gba sp with a brighter screen, then the ds, rushed out with bad design and a bad back light not to be toped by a new ds (mac design) ,but no, no one says there copying apple. lol they bring out a ds light after 6 mouthes but the nintendo fanboys just eat it up like sheep they keep on buying it, i even read that N was planing on making the wii a $99.99 system and if it didn't sell, they would just scrap it and bring out another, lolol there in it for the money just like sony and MS

[Miniboss @ Dec 7th 2006 7:36PM]

At least the Wii launched on time over there...

[James @ Dec 7th 2006 7:47PM]

i was first to get one tonight at my local gamestation. all 30 pre-orders there got for filled. just updating it now. had it on pre-order since the end of september. i got an extra nunchuck and zelda, but i couldn't get another remote. theres is quite a shortage on them, but will hunt around tomorrow and try and get one

[thecatt @ Dec 7th 2006 7:55PM]

Same thing appears to be happening here.

JC Penney had a pre-order that I ordered from, and called me today to inform me that Nintendo had failed to deliver the expected quantity, and cancelled my order.

[fruitcake @ Dec 8th 2006 12:10AM]

Can't fault their launch in Aus. Wandered into a store yesterday (launch day) and just grabbed a Wii from the pile of about 20-30 non pre order units out on the shop floor, an extra remote and nunchuck and zelda. My sister managed the same on the other side of town.

Just got back from lunch today and the same store I got mine still had a half dozen units in a display near the front door of the store.

Have to see it's the best console launch I ever seen.

[rcme @ Dec 8th 2006 12:32AM]

"While Nintendo's Wii has been the undisputed champ of at-launch availability so far, and looks to be well on the way to its projected 4 million sales by the end of the year"

Say What? What world do you live in! Here in the Midwest US, there is not a Wii to be found! Anywhere! Of the almost 30 stores "selling" the Wii in my geographic region (i.e. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, CompuUSA, Circuit City, Gamestop, etc.), none have now or have had ANY Wii's in stock since Wii launch day (I have a lengthy call list I go through every day to find out if any stores are getting any in stock). Even on launch day, I understand that most stores had only a handful of systems (i.e. less than 20). I can't believe that Nintendo is anywhere close to distributing 4M Wii systems. the only way I can see they will get to 4M systems by EOY, is if there is a very large warehouse somewhere stuffed with 2-3M Wii systems just waiting to be sprung on the masses in the next couple of weeks.

[Timp @ Dec 8th 2006 4:11AM]

After 1 seven hour wait in a queue at the local 24hr Asda I now have my Wii (yay!) We even got a free coffee from the staff!

[Evan Evans @ Dec 8th 2006 11:49AM]

It was probably the kind that could only be free. :)
Evan Evans

[Pyrofer @ Dec 8th 2006 4:30AM]

Michael @ Dec 7th 2006 5:55PM
"I just can't feel sorry for them when I can't find one here in the US either."

Well thanks for that, at least they LAUNCHED it in your damn country. You get everything first, and cheaper. Your a jerk if you have no sympathy for others worse off.

As for Dimitri @ Dec 7th 2006 6:05PM
Wow, what a selfish arrogant viewpoint. Of COURSE a Japanese country would want to serve those in the USA first, because we all know you are the gods of the universe and everybody must worship the USA and do your bidding first.

Jeez, get a grip guys. Stop moaning about it being hard to get when we didnt HAVE it in UK untill today.

[tom (dB) @ Dec 8th 2006 4:39AM]

i just went to collect mine pre-ordered from Curry's. They have received none but said Nintendo will deliver by the 16th of December...but not to hold my breath...this sucks.

[Stephen Tordoff @ Dec 8th 2006 5:24AM]

Got one this morning, with NO pre-order!

[chris e boy @ Dec 8th 2006 6:05AM]

Got a dispatch notification from Amazon this morning, but tracking information is not available yet. I'd imagine it will arrive monday since i dont think Parcelforce deliver on Saturdays.

[Sidney S @ Dec 8th 2006 10:03AM]

Nintendowiifanboy mentioned a site called wiisearcher.com that also covers UK stock listings - I've checked it out and its covering all UK retilers, supposed doing auto checks every few nins.

http;//www.wiisearcher.com

Don't know if this will help - I stood in the queue at a local Tescos last night and *just* one....number 41 ouot of 43....phew.

[Blake Moore @ Dec 8th 2006 10:11AM]

The demand in the UK or anywhere else should be high, based on a recent online poll many people are choosing Wii over Xbox 360 and the newly released Playstation 3. Apparantly, people like the controller system of the Wii. The Xbox 360 now released an add on for HD. While PS3 comes with Blu Ray as standard.

See for yourself: http://todayspolls.googlepages.com/home4

[drpepper @ Dec 8th 2006 10:24AM]

Would help if the link worked mate lol

Try this;

wii searcher

Cool looking site and they have pre-orders on there. I wasn't gonna get one but saw my mates this morning and it rocks! Just ordered one from that site. Hope it gets here by xmas, gotta be worth a try.
I think Nintendo are holding stock back anyway cos they're just trying to make everyone want one more.

[drpepper @ Dec 8th 2006 10:26AM]

OK so my link didn't work either lol.

Try again!

http://www.wiisearcher.com/buying.aspx

[Flibx @ Dec 8th 2006 11:17AM]

My friend was saying that the shop he pre-ordered from got _extra_ stock so instead of getting a wii off the second batch he is getting one today...

[drpepper @ Dec 8th 2006 11:24AM]

Well get on that site and pre-order one for yourself then, you don't wanna miss out do you?
Makes me feel better about mine now :-)

[Evan Evans @ Dec 8th 2006 11:48AM]

UK press is not as important to gamers as the USA and Japan. From a bean counting perspective they are not first in line when the choice is being made of where to ship hot-off-the-factory-line orders. Nintendo would more gladly suffer brits whining then US customers.

Evan Evans

[Matthew @ Dec 8th 2006 3:51PM]

Thank you Woolworths. Not only was pre-ordering not a problem, I didn't have to put down a deposit or nothing.
I even got a text message when it was ready for pickup (afternoon delivery). I've been playing for many many hours. Only Wii Sports atm since Marvel Ultimate Alliance isn't out till next Friday and Far Cry even later. Yeah, you heard me, fuck Zelda. Gay ass game. I'm pretty sore now, mostly back pain because I really get into it.
No AV Component Cables anywhere. Sucked and No Nunchuck either... for some reason. Oh well.
At least I got my Wii. I mean we do pay a lot more than the Americans.