DS Lite sells out quickly in Japan [update 1]
by Blake Snow 
{ Mar 2nd 2006 at 5:00AM }
Reports are coming in that initial sales of the DS Lite in Japan have been extremely high, selling out in many stores even before doors opened. Attempting to secure a DS Lite at Japanese retail outlets, IGN writes: "With the Japanese DS Lite launch on Thursday morning, 3/2, Nintendo has embraced launch carnage like the good old days of Super Famicom and N64. Forget about selling out minutes after opening -- the DS Lite was sold out hours before opening time at every retailer IGN was able to visit."
Though initial sales figures have yet to be released, Nintendo announced plans to ship over 450,000 DS Lite units and 200,000 original DS units during the month of March. Do you expect the same for a US launch of Nintendo's DS Lite?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dynamius @ Mar 2nd 2006 5:16AM
mmm.... no. it'll only really attract new buyers mostly. most current ds owners aren't crazy enough to rebuy what they already have in a slightly smaller prettier package imo
Jeff @ Mar 2nd 2006 5:53AM
I love IGN's launch reports.
You know, Japan is not like the United States. It's very centered around a few big cities, and those cities are extremely dense.
So what does IGN do whenever they try to buy a new system there? Why, go to the most heavily trafficked stores in the largest city in the country, of course!
They could take the train 20 miles outside of the city and visit a suburban Wonder Goo and have themselves any system they want. They'd be back in Tokyo within 2 hours. But, unfortunately, they're just a bunch of lazy bastards who get paid money to write about how lazy they are.
tim @ Mar 2nd 2006 6:07AM
It's sold out - everywhere. It's not just IGN reporting this....
Hooligan @ Mar 2nd 2006 6:14AM
bit harsh that ^
theyd b stupid to have a title like :
'IGN goes to Wonder Goo and proves that DS Lite has not sold out!'
Lets wait til the stats come out..i bet it says DS Lite sells 900,000 in one week.
This comment was solely to Mr Stupid Jeff :)
AbleJames @ Mar 2nd 2006 6:33AM
The funny thing is, the comment is one of the rare one-star modded comments (speaking of which, does that do anything at all?).
The comment is likely not true, but has a 'truthy' sound to it--in reality I'm sure Nintendo allocates shipments based on the store traffic, which probably means that the stores '20 miles' outside of the city have a much smaller share, which I imagine is going to be just as quickly snapped up by the 'lazy' gamers with nowhere else to go to get one.
Sockatume @ Mar 2nd 2006 6:34AM
I imagine the DS won't sell as crazily in the US and Europe. We actually have DSes, after all. I think the old-style DS went out of stock in Japan last year.
Greg2k @ Mar 2nd 2006 6:34AM
I doubt the US launch will see anything remotely similar. Unless there was Halo DS launching the same day, of course.
clee @ Mar 2nd 2006 6:42AM
IGN wasn't the one speculating about the US launch, it was the one who posted this joystiq blog. If you have a problem with that statement, direct it at him.
And I remember one of the 1up bloggers mentioning that he lives in a relatively rural area and he couldn't find one to buy either.
mrdelayer @ Mar 2nd 2006 6:47AM
I'd prefer the Canon EOS 1Ds mark II advertised in the top-left, honestly.
Jay @ Mar 2nd 2006 6:53AM
I'd prefer any dSLR camera mate. but after that I'd get a DS Lite.
This is nice. Nintendo were right, people want a prettier and brighter DS. now get these out in Europe!
paris @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:00AM
Liksang has increased the DSlight price to $199 and is informing all of its preorders now! This sucks!
fawazr @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:02AM
"most current ds owners aren't crazy enough to rebuy what they already have in a slightly smaller prettier package imo"
Speaking for myself, I can say that you're completely wrong. a) I'll buy like ten of 'em and b) I'm a crazy sonomabeetch!!
And #7, The Canon EOS 1Ds MII is definitely nice, but wouldn't you prefer a Nikon for that sort of money?
Jeff @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:05AM
Jesus, have any of you people actually been to Japan? Obviously not. I have never had a problem finding any system out in the sticks. How do you think the DS continued to sell 20,000-30,000 units per week while it was supposedly "sold out"? It was sold out as far as Nintendo's stock and it was sold out in stores in the big cities. But they were always still available in various less-trafficked stores in more rural areas. My wife was actually in Ibaraki during the shortage and they were available there.
And where in my earlier post did I say I'd guarantee that you'd be able to buy a DS Lite tomorrow or the next day? I said if IGN wanted to buy one, there are many more stores than just the ones they "were able to visit" (in other words, that they could get to in 5 minutes on the Yamanote line) where they could have spent ten minutes waiting in line with five other people and walked out of the store with a system at the store's opening. They just didn't try hard enough.
It is not intuitive to anyone with half a brain that the way to get a system is to go to the most populous city in the country and wait in line at the most popular store in that city. Allocations may be made based on store traffic but stores can only order as many systems as they have space for. This is Japan, for crying out loud. Bic Camera and LAOX carry more than just the DS Lite, and they're not going to put all their other stock out on the sidewalk just to fit 5,000 extra DS Lite units on the floor. They get as many systems as they can stock, which is never enough to satisfy demand at any system's launch. The rural stores get a better ratio of systems to demand. That's true in the US too, but it's doubly true in Japan where shelf space in the cities is at more of a premium and there's a higher ratio of customers to stores in the densest cities.
But no, go ahead and take IGN's word for it, especially given that they've apparently never even been outside of Akihabara and Shinjuku.
BlackYoshi @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:12AM
I can't really forsee the US launch being like this. The worldwide sales got posted a little bit ago on a different site, and US DS sales were barely over 25% of the worldwide sales. The DS is not nearly as popular here as it is in Japan, and it's probably going to remain that way. I mean, if Mario Kart and Animal Crossing couldn't boost sales a large amount, I don't think Hunters or Tetris will do an amazing amount either. If you are an North American Nintendo fan, this could be bad as they start focusing most of their stuff in Japan, and North Americans get the shaft.
Spiffae @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:27AM
I'm no expert, but I've been living in super-rural Japan for about seven months now, and I agree with Jeff - What IGN is doing is like going to the biggest movie theater in New York City for the opening of Lord of the Rings, and finding big lines and no tickets, the walking to the next big theater and finding the same thing again, and reporting "New York Sold Out For LOTR" - It's not quite true.
The little first and second hand game store 20 minutes from my apartment has had a few DS's in stock through the whole "shortage" here. I am considering picking up a DS lite, I'll probably head down this weekend or something to see if they have one. I doubt the DeoDeo or Sofmap will have them in Hiroshima, but out in the boonies - my odds are pretty good.
Vilhelm Sm? @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:29AM
Listen to what Jeff says. It's true that even though major retailers in Japan have sold out the DS Lite there's a 100% chance that it's still available in the rural areas. It can get a bit tricky for some to drive 30 miles to a rural town and grab a unit, not all people in Tokyo have cars and so on.
Go to Japan before you pull out your crap-o-matic and start plaffing people. :P
mrdelayer @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:33AM
fawazr: meh, for the price, I could get a semi-decent 35mm SLR, tons of film and processing. :o I've seen some pictures that were taken with the 1Ds-mkII, though, and I must say, they are amazing.
Sloopydrew @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:34AM
It's great that Nintendo is getting these kind of sales (they are the best of the big three console makers), but why are so many people willing to wait in long lines to get a handheld that they already own? Sure, the DS Lite looks nicer, and is lighter, but it's still the Nintendo DS. I would have loved to take pictures of people playing their Nintendo DS in line while waiting to buy a Nintendo DS.
guyinjapan @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:48AM
Heyyy that's Yodobashi Camera. I bought a Sound Blaster card at that same store just a few days ago. Funny, it doesn't look much more crowded than it usually is lol. America should learn something from Japan- 7-story electronic superstores do very, very well.
x23 @ Mar 2nd 2006 8:03AM
as with most system launches ... if you skip the nerd herd stores you won't have a problem getting a system. a best buy or gamestop or EB or whatever is always going to have hideous lines and get sold out. go to a grocery stores electronics section and there is no line and plenty of stock. at least for every first day system i have ever bought. which has been 3 i think. i'll find out if it holds true again come Revolution time.
strider_mt2k @ Mar 2nd 2006 8:30AM
I might give the redesigned DS a shot if I can get it in black. The original was too big and clunky.
If people are waiting in line for it it's a good thing.
Ardeo @ Mar 2nd 2006 8:46AM
I just had to pay an extra 30.00 dollars to Lik-Sang just to keep my preorder from being cancelled. I am up to 199 plus shipping on this thing... :(
Vinnk @ Mar 2nd 2006 8:55AM
Well I do live in rural Japan in a caty called Nakatsu in Oita Prefecture. And they are sold out here too. I went to the store this moring and the limited shipment they received was sold out within minutes of them opening. We who live in the smalller towns can sometimes luck out (when Micros were scarce I could find one). These new DSs are very popular and yeah they might be easier to find outside of a large town but to say that there is a 100% chance is unrealistic (I'm proof of that). My friend in Usa (not USA) was also told they they were sold out in his small (ish) town. Same for my frind in Ajimu(there is only one game store there and he is not sure if they got them at all). In fact my only friend who did manage to get one was in the relatively large city of Nagasaki.
I don't claim to know all about every area of Japan, but to just blanketly say, there are plently in the rural areas is just as misleading as saying there are none anywhere.
Regardless, this is a very popular item. And if you can get them in your rural cities, that is awesome, but not universal. Maybe I'm just bitter because they ARE sold out here and I didn't get one.
Vinnk @ Mar 2nd 2006 8:57AM
Oh lord.. so many spelling errors in my above post. Sorry about that.
J B Cougar @ Mar 2nd 2006 9:07AM
Yeah, no one with a DS is crazy enough to buy a newer version of what they already have.
Ever heard of an iPod?
We'll just all pretend that comment was meant as flamebait, sarcasm or bitterness that you took out on the DS as you waited for your PSP's 6 minute load time to complete. Your choice.
sauer @ Mar 2nd 2006 9:29AM
I don't know how you can possibly think people won't "rebuy" a DS. I've had my DS since launch, and I LOVE it. I've spent more time with it then any other system I own. I will most definitely be picking up this new version. The added brightness and portability are a huge plus in my opinion. i will most likely give my older DS to charity or something. It's obvious that the DS is much more popular in Japan, that doen't mean it won't sell well in America. If the DS Lite launches here with a Mario Bros bundle, I'll snap that up in a second, as will other gamers.
Todd @ Mar 2nd 2006 9:38AM
So I'm crazy because I want a Lite and I already have a Phat that works just fine. Nah, I just know what I want and can afford to get it. Besides, I'm helping out a company who has a philosophy I believe in by doing exactly what they want. I'm giving them another customer by giving my old one to a family member. So you can look at it this way. Even though a DS is sold to someone who already has one they still gain a new customer that will buy their software.
Do I think the DS will sell out here? Probably so. It'll sell out just the same way it has in Japan. Yes, I know the arguments you’re having in previous posts, but you've got to think of "sold out" as a relative term. You've got to compare it to the nearest store that does have it in stock. It goes like this. I check all the stores in town...sold out. I check all the stores in the surrounding 30 miles...still sold out. I keep expanding until I find one...its 70 miles away. Do I have the time to take a road trip to get it and take the chance that it’s sold when I get there? Nope, I'll just wait. Then when I tell my friends that I tried to find one and they were sold out it's not really a lie either. It’s sold out in the area I’m willing to travel to.
mike @ Mar 2nd 2006 10:03AM
metroid DS comes out in about 18 days.. the PSP is so irrelevant it's not even funny
Jay @ Mar 2nd 2006 10:16AM
Of course it sold out, they only shipped like 80K for the first day. They are only shipping 450K DS Lites for the month. :
djSyndrome @ Mar 2nd 2006 10:26AM
"metroid DS comes out in about 18 days.. the PSP is so irrelevant it's not even funny"
But...but...the PSP has Initial D now! :D
sauer @ Mar 2nd 2006 10:36AM
Ultimate Ghouls and Ghosts and Katamari Damacy PSP, make the PSP pretty relevant to me. It's too bad i still don't own one, do to the insane price. If the PSP drops down to 150, i'll think about it. As far as games go, the DS is still on top IMO.
Tom S. @ Mar 2nd 2006 10:42AM
I will never purchase from Lik-Sang again.
I had a contract for at DS lite for $169 plus shipping. Now they want an additional $30? Sure, they can change the price for people for people buying today, but changing the price after the contract is made is fraud!
I understand circumstances change. But a contract is a contract. If Nintendo secretely did a world-wide release and the DS was availabled in the US for less than what I paid for the import, it would be my problem that I paid more.
If Lik-Sang costs go up after they make a contract, that is their problem. I have already relied on that contract to my detriment (by not pre-ordering elsewhere).
LIK-SANG ARE A BUNCH OF CROOKS AND WILL NEVER GET MY BUSINESS AGAIN!
knight37 @ Mar 2nd 2006 10:57AM
That's very low of Lik-Sang. I will never pre-order anything from them ever either, and I am not one of the ones that got shafted (didn't pre-order the DS Lite). But shady business practices like that really chap my hide, and I hate companies that do things like that. I have ordered some stuff from them before, but you can bet I won't be in the future. Lik-Sang can FOAD as far as I care.
djSyndrome @ Mar 2nd 2006 11:01AM
"If Lik-Sang costs go up after they make a contract, that is their problem. I have already relied on that contract to my detriment (by not pre-ordering elsewhere)."
That's hilarious. You had no 'contract'. Nowhere on Lik-Sang's site is any sort of language stating that they are bound to sell you the DS Lite at the price you pre-ordered it at. Even if Nintendo themselves raised the price at the last moment, do you really think Lik-Sang would just eat the difference to keep you happy?
Their costs went up, and as a result so do yours. They are a business, not a charity.
Instead, you should be thankful that your cost is only being raised by $30, while the kind folks at NCS (who are not located in Hong Kong) are looking at charging nearly double the initial asking price because they are being gouged by HK middlemen.
Pissed off Lik-Sang Importer @ Mar 2nd 2006 11:01AM
#29, I totally and completely wholeheartedly agree with you regarding Lik-Sang.
Basically what they did is they saw the frenzy of buyers for the DS in Japan, and saw an opportunity to rape all of their customers for more money.
This Joystiq article does nothing but confirm why Lik-Sang is doing what they are doing.
They are a bunch of frauds and I will NEVER do business with them again.
Chris @ Mar 2nd 2006 11:03AM
"Jesus, have any of you people actually been to Japan?" - jeff
Has anyone seen that Axe bodyspray commercial about the "one-upper"
"You think that salsa's good?! You obviously haven't been to Equador."
I couldn't help be see the similarity : ) From this point foreward, I dub the jeff, a one-upper!!
enemy @ Mar 2nd 2006 11:21AM
@ Jeff I lived in Japan for 4 1/2 years and i did have problems getting some systems on base or in the styx. Some things are big sellers in Japan other things arnt. I have seen old Japanese ladies with DS's and i think its pretty funny. Dont get so bent you put yourself out there and people kicked you for it dont get so defensive mate these people shouldnt really bother you. But the fact is of course they will be available somewhere but it did sell out where they went. Nuff said.
Spiza @ Mar 2nd 2006 11:22AM
Guys, if you paid lik sang with a credit card, first complain with lik sang. If they still over charge you, then call up your card company, tell them everything you've tried and ask to have the payment removed from your credit card. Bada bing. Now lik sang could either charge you less or go threw a big ordeal to get paid the full amount. AMphotoworld.com tried to overbill me when a canon 20d camera I ordered showed up. So far, I've gotten the camera for free. They would never agree to refunding me the money.
Mr.Handsome @ Mar 2nd 2006 11:38AM
Well I Preordered one from play-asia.com and the won't send them until they have enough...the only good thing is that according to them, they won't change the price ($169.99)
JKTrix @ Mar 2nd 2006 11:54AM
Hey, don't bash Lik-sang, it isn't their fault at all.
Read this, from Play-Asia.com (where I ordered my Enamel Blue)
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-17-71-8s-74-11a-49-en.html
And lik-sang's here
http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3812
#32's post was well said. Lik-sang (LS) and Play-asia (PA) are not located in Japan, they're in Hong Kong. As such, they have to pay to get these things from Japan to HK. What happened here is that their *supplier* (HK Middleman) saw the huge demand for this, weighed it against the stress and effort to obtain it, and the balance is the increased price.
Neither LS or PA actually have systems to sell yet, but LS is forecasting the price to still be pretty high while PA looks like they're gonna wait until they can stick to their price. Both want to get you your system ASAP, neither want to cheat you of your money.
Pissed off Lik-Sang Importer @ Mar 2nd 2006 12:17PM
#32
Thats fine and all, but it still doesn't make right the way they marketed the sale of the DS-lite all throughout the web and especially their website.
Do a Google search on DS-lite, and Lik-Sang is what comes up first. They have been advertising the hell out of this thing, and advertising just as much that the units would ship out on 3/2.
NEVER did they even put an asterisk or warning that supplies might be limited, or price might be subject to change due to demand. You would have to be an idiot not to have expected what has happened regarding the initial demand of the DS-lite.
You can say all you want that it's not Lik-Sangs fault that Hong Kong middlemen are holding them up for more money. I couldn't disagree more, mainly because of how Lik-Sang has advertised the hell out of this, listed immediate shipping, and kept taking pre-orders I'm sure all the way up through yesterday night showing delivery to be when product arrive 3/2.
Are they committing fraud. By it's legal definition, probably not. Have they tried to conn people, bait and swich, and used false advertising, YOU BET THEY DID!
Tom S. @ Mar 2nd 2006 12:44PM
#36, It is not a question of whose fault it is. I can accept that LS costs may have increased. That is too bad for them. LS took orders for one price, now they want more money. Not cool.
Even when a biz incorrectly lists a wrong price and 5,000 bargain hunters place orders, the biz often honors the price. LS is not saying there was a typo or they listed the wrong price; they just want more money (for add'l costs, profits, whatever).
I understand that this is a pre-order, which in my mind, makes it worse. I placed my order on 02/11/06 so I could be close to the "front of the line" for order fulfillment. Now if I have to order through someone else, I am at the back of the line. This is not "boo-hoo poor me," I am not asking for your simpathy. This is simply how I am harmed by LS fraudulent business practices.
It is not a question of fault, it is a question of honoring the contract.
#32 says that there is no contract. If there is no contract, then if LS shipped the DS as agreed, I wouldn't have to pay?
Of course there was a contract. I placed an order, I provided my credit card info. I got a receipt. THAT IS A CONTRACT.
If LS has language in their small print that gives them an escape clause, which LS or anyone else has yet to cite (ie prices may change before orders are fullfilled), I don't want to deal with them anyway. Who wants to go to a store, pay at the register, then be hit up at the door for more money.
If Lik-Sang has done good by you in the past, that's great. But they are SHAFTING people right now. I'm voting with my dollars, buh-bye Lik-Sang.
Sonic Youth @ Mar 2nd 2006 12:49PM
I have not cancelled my preordered DS Lite with Lik-Sang yet. They sent an email saying they want more money after I already paid by credit card. I replied saying I will be happy to pay the original amount they advertised provided there are no MAJOR delays. The ball is in their court. I hope they will not dissapoint. If they do, then they have lost another customer.
j @ Mar 2nd 2006 2:07PM
The minute they get here in the states I am trading in my old DS. New screen with 4 levels of brightness with the weakest one starting at the current DS level and a better battery and its smaller and no power button above the thumb with improved D-Pad. SOunds like a win win situation
James @ Mar 2nd 2006 3:33PM
I pre-ordered from Lik-Sang Jan 27th, hours after the announcement of the DS Lite. Situation has changed in Hong Kong, they can't get the units. They also couldn't control Nintendo dropping the launch allocation by such a HUGE amount. This is the nature or pre-orders. Just because I pre-ordered Twilight Princess for a November 2005 release doesn't mean I have the right to be upset at the retailer.
Lik-Sang offered you the opportunity to pay more to get the unit at a higher wholesale price, thus getting it sooner. Or, you can wait till whole sale prices come to where they are supposed to be, and they can sell it to you at the price you paid. Play-Asia is in the same boat, it's just they aren't offering the "pay more" option.
You're not even getting screwed - Lik-Sang is doing their best to get it to you fast, but they have to increase the price to do so. While that may seem unfair, they're just passing along the costs of doing business.
Pre-orders aren't charged to your card, there is no authorization taken out, NOTHING. It's merely a waiting list of sorts, and sometimes stuff changes.
At first I was irritated, but I want one, so I ponied up another 30 bucks, but with the 10 dollar coupon it's more like 20 extra. Now if the Play-Asia folks get theirs first, I'll be upset given that I've been on the list since Day One, but for now I'll get LS the benefit of the doubt.
Sonic Youth @ Mar 2nd 2006 4:38PM
#43, you may be willing to give in on this issue, but I agree with #40. It is the principle here that some people are missing. As long as customers continue to fall for this trap, LS and other will never change. I just wish they were here in the States. The BBB would have a field day with this BS!
Einhanderkiller @ Mar 2nd 2006 6:49PM
OFF-TOPIC
Guy/girl in that bright purple rain jacket really stands out amongst the crowd.
HunterF1 @ Mar 16th 2006 1:21PM
Tom S., #42, you tell it! Your preaching and I am steady saying AMEN!
All in all, the whole thing was piss-poor in execution and managed.
My problem lies with Play-Asia. What is weak to me is the complete lack of keeping the preorder customers posted on the situation. No news or expected shipments, no hint at what their preorder number is and were I lie in that line, nothing. Just a total blackout of information until, I guess, I check my order status and it miraculously says "shipped". Weak.
Also, think about this....we all paid a 30% increase to these "Import Pirates" for the import DS Lite...it is expected to ship here in the US for around $140 or so...we bought in at $169.00+. Then we have to pay another $27+ to get semidecent shipping time. So, all in all, we are paying in excess of at least $50.00 to get it now. Now....I hear you moaning and groaning about this....I knew that when I ordered. And that is right, and that is fine. ASSUMING they hold up there end of the deal. The entire point of doing this is relying upon their skills, connections, and methods to do the ONE job that they have....supply customers with products at release. That is the entire purpose of their business.
At the rate they are going, we will have paid $50+ and get our systems about a month or two before they are released in the US for $140.00. Bad deal.
And the 1st week 64,000 were shipped. How many preorders do you think PlayAsia has.....1,000...2,000...whatever? My point is it is a tiny fraction of that 64,000 number and they couldn't hold up their understood part of the arrangement. Weak. Then, the second shipment, around the same figures, and nothing....not news, no status, nothing. It is like, "Oh well, screwem, well ship them when we ship them." I wonder if they would have had such a blase attitude if it was not so comfortably preordered and they were seling them in a straight retail situation? You can bet they would have had their hands on quite a few if they were dependent on that type deal. The preorder situation is clearly in their favor. They can take their sweek time filling orders, leave the customers in an information blackout, and still have the comfort of seeing how many they have sold when they arrive.
Bottom Line: They failed in their only job....get systems to customers. It is not like the 360 were sweet little were produced and the whole thing was really a "smoke and mirrors" situation. Nintendo kept their end up...they produced units and still are producing them weekly. It is Play Asia and Lik-Sang that are deficient here.
Will likely never buy from this type set up again. Once burned is enough for me. We'll just have to see.