Amazon speaks on quick Wii pre-order "sell out"
by Kyle Orland 
{ Sep 19th 2006 at 5:25PM }
Certain portions of the Internet were all atwitter last Friday when word broke that Amazon.com was taking pre-orders for the Wii. Then the buzz got even louder when word broke that the offer had been pulled after only a few hours. Had Amazon sold out of their allotment that quickly?Not quite. According to Amazon Video Game Editor Jon G., the offer was pulled from the site because the rate of pre-orders "dramatically outpaced what we had anticipated." The popular web store doesn't yet know how many systems they'll be getting from Nintendo, so they temporarily stopped pre-orders to avoid over-promising the system.
The company has pledged to honor pre-orders from those that were lucky enough to get them in, and has fixed their e-mail alert system so that those who sign up will be told about further pre-orders beforehand.
[Thanks randomengine]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mandarin @ Sep 19th 2006 5:32PM
Well thats better than BestBuy...
Melophonist @ Sep 19th 2006 5:34PM
That explain's quite a bit. I went there as soon as I heard about the fact and was met with the "sold out" banner. Iv'e been calling gamestop and EB every day to find out if pre orders are available but I can't find them anywhere. I wonder if it is the same everywhere?
turtleJP @ Sep 19th 2006 5:35PM
The think is that I've been signed up for their "e-mail alert" for the Wii for months now. Did I even get a heads up? Nope. Better come through the next time.
darryl @ Sep 19th 2006 5:42PM
Thankfully I was able to get my preorder in early. I should be able to get enough for the Wii on ebay to pay for an additional PS3.
Mr. Khan @ Sep 19th 2006 5:41PM
Gamestop sent me an E-mail alert that informed me of only what i already knew, 11.19.06, but I call once a week (only because I'm afraid to piss them off, or else it would be daily)
My greatest fear is that the Hawaiin experiment of $50 dollar trade in starts to spread...
AceMilo @ Sep 19th 2006 5:42PM
Amazon has screwed me over before on preorders, thats why they lost my business entirely. Fear not, in the latest ebgames newsletter they clearly state that they will have a wii preorder soon.
Blu Ray owns your Soul @ Sep 19th 2006 5:43PM
My cousin works at GAME, he said they have had 15 people register interest for Wii this month (he works weekdays 5-9pm all day weekends) and over 100 for PS3. Most of the PS3 registers were after the Champions League football games which showed PS3 billboards. I guess this is kinda down to people dont know what "Wii" means or just havent even heard of it it yet
CakeOrDeath @ Sep 20th 2006 4:17AM
rate of pre-orders "dramatically outpaced what we had anticipated."
Just how popular is the Wii going to be? For a store like amazon to be worried about being unable to fulfill orders there must have been a very large no. of preorders.
.ed @ Sep 19th 2006 5:52PM
I've called about 12 stores, from EB-Gamestop to Target and all expect to get "Tons of Wii" but expect the demand to be "Murderous" as the manager at Gamestop put it:
"judging by calls for Wii alone, we've all been asked to keep a daily record, there are about 90+ calls a day at our store, it's like Christmas is already here..."
ejflex @ Sep 20th 2006 4:02PM
Wii FTW!
Sub @ Sep 19th 2006 6:39PM
So.. I should preorder if I want any chance of getting it day one?
Sean DL @ Sep 19th 2006 6:49PM
Unless you know about 20 target/walmarts/ebgames ect... that you want to go to that Sundaty Morning of November 19 AND you live in a state that isn't a big city AND you have a car...yes, you should preorder when you can....
Owns @ Sep 19th 2006 7:12PM
Seriously, why bother? Did you not see how many units will be available come launch? This isn't going to be like a 360 or PS3 launch, they'll be enough units shipping so that anyone can just walk into a store and buy one.
Sean DL @ Sep 19th 2006 7:17PM
" Did you not see how many units will be available come launch?"
Yeah that's nice and all, but you have to remember how big the US and Canada are.... And how many stores will only get maybe 20-30 systems that first day, so yeah, pre order if you know you have to...Which is a HELL YES for the PS3 and a Yes, if you want a easy time for the Wii.
Hoffer @ Sep 19th 2006 7:46PM
I got into work on Friday and went straight to Gamespot's Wii forum. Saw a thread about Amazon pre-order, went straight there and ordered one. I'm pretty sure I got in on it pretty early because it didn't close until about 2+ hours later.
dvddesign @ Sep 19th 2006 8:00PM
Well, it's good to see my paranoid delusions of losing my preorder won't come to pass.
I've had a long standing personal rule about game consoles. If I want one, I'll have it the day I want it and there are no exceptions. And so far, it's been 100% dead on.
N64 - 4 days before launch
Dreamcast - 2 days before launch
PS2 - wanted it in march 2001, got it same day.
GC - got it launch night with no preorder at a Gamestop
GBA SP - walked into Best Buy the day before it came out and bought it off the shelf.
DS - Got it at Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, and Target with no preorder on launch day. (sold the spares on eBay...)
PSP - Got it on launch day, 4th in line, waited 2 hours at Best Buy.
All I've done now is just save myself the hassle of waiting in line. Thanks Amazon!
B @ Sep 19th 2006 8:05PM
#14:
Hope you have fun camping.
Vin Verinoldi @ Sep 19th 2006 9:45PM
When the Wii launch date was announced I went to the Nintendo World Store in NYC & they guaranteed availability if you pre-order w/ $50 down.
My friend went to the Nintendo World Store Monday the 18th to pre-order and he was pre-orders were still being taken. (however, they told me they will not take pre-orders on games for Wii's launch)
clo1_2000 @ Sep 19th 2006 8:45PM
I ordered mine and got confirmation, looks like I won't have to wait in line.
seamonkey420 @ Sep 19th 2006 8:47PM
spoke w/the store manager at Gamestop in the MOA and he said they would be taking pre-orders in begining of Oct.. guess they had a big store manager meeting somewhere thatas like a mini E3 where they will discuss both PS3 and Wii pre-orders..
not sure if its a load of crap or not but the game he recommended for my new Onyx DS Lite, Phoenix Wright, was a on-the-spot recommendation!.. hehe..
wii all want a wii!
i'll be back soon enough for my pre-order of mana to come in.. ;)
Freddy @ Sep 19th 2006 9:48PM
I don't get it. If you preorder a Wii, you will not get it on release day. There is no post on sunday.
Moist Vomit @ Sep 19th 2006 10:02PM
I pre-ordered at the Nintendo World Store. They said they will be open the night of release (saturday). However, they did not know if they would be open at Midnight or 2am (manager told me they have been receiving conflicting information).
Wonderous @ Sep 19th 2006 10:44PM
Whew. Got an email alert, and didn't hesitate to preorder on Amazon, purchased one. Should be great.
Anonymous Hero @ Sep 19th 2006 11:26PM
I really am an anonymous hero.
ANYONE who lives in or near New York can go to the Nintendo World Store in Rockefeller center and pre-order one. They are GUARANTEED to have them on launch date if you get a pre-order. I also have a few on reserve at lik-sang.com
Feeple @ Sep 20th 2006 1:44PM
#23.
I can't say how popular in numbers or anything concrete, but all the local gaming places out in St. Louis, MO are waiting to check their allotment, and I've only got personal connections to use in terms of getting one ASAP.
Rallion @ Sep 20th 2006 4:05PM
In November I'll probably either be working at Target or at CompUSA. I'm not worried.
Rob O @ Sep 24th 2006 2:15PM
At $250 for the console, the Wii-mote + Nunchuk, all cabling, sensor bar, and a copy of Wii sports; even if it sucks major ass (not likely) you're still only out $250. That's why the demand is so high; it's new, it's different and people are curious, and it's a much smaller and more reasonable investment.
And that there's a Zelda game launching with it that supposedly takes 100+ hours to completely conquer isn't gonna' hurt either!
Nevyn @ Sep 28th 2006 5:02AM
As of 9/27/07, both the Gamestop and the EB in zip code 18201 have confirmed that they will accept Wii AND PS3 preorders for ONE DAY ONLY on October 9. Also, the store manager told me that they will be offering some sort of bonus with trade-ins - all trade ins that are for pre-orders are given and extra 40% more credit.
Jigen @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:50AM
"I don't get it. If you preorder a Wii, you will not get it on release day. There is no post on sunday."
I work at an EBGames, and lemme tell you. DS Lite's release day was on a Sunday, and we sure as hell sold it on Sunday. Better skip church the day the Wii comes out. ;)
I imagine, though, most stores (like mine) will have a midnight release for it. I hope I work that night.... lol
Bessie @ Oct 12th 2006 11:48AM
if people order it online, won't it get to them on monday since there is no mail sunday? i think thats what Freddy was asking.
dar @ Oct 24th 2006 11:24PM
I see some comments about preordering on lik-sang
When I went to their site...I found this:
Important Notice: Lik-Sang.com Out of Business due to Multiple Sony Lawsuits
http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901&
juju @ Oct 31st 2006 8:12AM
I was lucky enough to get my preorder on Amazon back in September. :) I am not as worried about having it on the day of release - just peace of mind knowing that I have one coming to me.
bo0 @ Nov 15th 2006 9:56AM
bah, just get one when you can. Stop being so anxious guys/gals.
dan @ Nov 19th 2006 10:40AM
Well, today is Nov19th, i went to best buy at 5:45am and let me tell you, #106 was not pretty..the best buy i went to had 89 so i left for costco which had 14 but then when it was time, they said 7 of them weren't working-probably lying for their employees, then i drove down to future shop and i was the 46th in line so i thought i had a good chance since they said 30-60 but then they only got 31. Lastly, i decided to go to loblaws..and they had 2. So after all, i just went to Sears.ca and ordered one. It cost the same and should ship by nov23.