Gamestop Wii pre-order confirmed for tomorrow [update 1]

[update 1: Gamestop has just sent an e-mail to newsletter subscribers confirming that stores across the U.S. will be taking Wii pre-orders for $50 tomorrow. Only one reservation will be accepted per household and the e-mail warns that allocations are likely to sell out within minutes. The e-mail also confirms that Canadian stores will be taking pre-orders for the Wii and PS3 on Monday, Oct. 16]
While we still haven't received official official word from Gamestop in the form of an e-mail alert or press release, reports from Gamestop and EBGames employees across the country confirm that the major retail chain will indeed be taking Wii pre-orders when they open on Friday, Oct. 13. Word apparently filtered down through an e-mail sent to the chain's 3,600 stores late last night. Three different stores confirmed to Joystiq that $50 down would be enough to reserve a system.
Reports on how many units are available per store vary -- one employee told Joystiq they'd be receiving 36 units, another said 32, yet another told us "under 20." Still other stores seem unwilling or unable to officially confirm the pre-order date or units available without the official word from Gamestop corporate. Regardless of what your local store tells you over the phone, though, tomorrow is definitely the day to line up if you want to reserve your Wii. We recommend you start packing your pup tent now.










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MMurdock @ Oct 12th 2006 10:35AM
finally!
pandlcg @ Oct 12th 2006 10:38AM
i'm excited to see how these lines compare to the ps3 lines
mribeme @ Oct 12th 2006 10:42AM
Yeah, I called like 3 or so different EB Games and Gamestops in the area the past couple of days and I'm getting the same answers of "definitely sometime this weekend" or..."most likely friday...but we're not sure yet since we don't know how many units we'll be getting yet".
I'll definitely be there when they open after I drop my wife off @ her college class @ 9.....EB Games is right across the road from there.
CAN'T WAIT!
lothar @ Oct 12th 2006 10:46AM
I dont think the lines will be as bad for this unit, reason is there were plenty of units built for shipping. People wont need to get on ebay to buy one of these.
Firegirl @ Oct 12th 2006 10:48AM
I agree that the lines probably won't be that bad since there will be a lot more units available. I don't see the need to preorder.
the worm @ Oct 12th 2006 10:49AM
in the UK you have been able to pre-order at GAME and GAMESTOP for the last 2 weeks. £20 saves you a Wii.
the worm @ Oct 12th 2006 10:50AM
sorry, i meant GAMESTATION (we dont have gamestop)
Neil Christie @ Oct 12th 2006 10:50AM
I always preorder my consoles online from Gameplay.com. Last year I received an Xbox 360 on launch day with NO bundled accessories or games that I didn't want.
At 10am I opened the door to be greeted by a UPS man with my machine. Brilliant service. I've preordered a Wii in the same way this year.
adam @ Oct 12th 2006 10:54AM
im waiting for the "official" confirmation. This is still a rumor.
Daniel @ Oct 12th 2006 10:57AM
Anyone know if EB in Canada will be doing this? Apparently they didn't for PS3 the other day, but here's hoping they do in Canada.
Wulf @ Oct 12th 2006 11:03AM
"8. I always preorder my consoles online from Gameplay.com. Last year I received an Xbox 360 on launch day with NO bundled accessories or games that I didn't want.
At 10am I opened the door to be greeted by a UPS man with my machine. Brilliant service. I've preordered a Wii in the same way this year."
^^^ Viral marketing for the loss.
rapture @ Oct 12th 2006 11:03AM
Look out for all the kids on Fall Break. That caused more competition during the PS3 pre-launch this week.
I would be surprised if there aren't enough Wii's to meet demand this holiday season. From the reports I'm seeing, Nintendo is pumping millions of these onto the markets.
crono141 @ Oct 12th 2006 11:04AM
"im waiting for the "official" confirmation. This is still a rumor"
GOnintendo has the official scan. Its not a rumor.
Jesse @ Oct 12th 2006 11:06AM
Yeah I'm curious about whether this is happening in Canada too. Does anyone know?
Daniel @ Oct 12th 2006 11:09AM
Rapture - though it's likely true that there will be plenty of Wiis for the 'holiday season', I think you (and so many others) are missing the point. This is for the people who want a Wii on DAY ONE. I'm not interested in how many Wiis will be available by March 2007 or anything. I want one Day, plain and simple and despite all the news about how well Nintendo is doing with production, I'm not taking any chances. I want to be playing Wii on the morning of Sunday, November 19th, 2006, absolutely no later.
Eric @ Oct 12th 2006 11:13AM
The "official" word so far is that the company ***plans*** on doing it tomorrow. They probably will, but as of right now no store has ***real*** numbers as to how many reserves their doing. Those e-mails have not been sent out yet. A delay in this could move it to Saturday or later, but it'll still probably be tomorrow...
crono141 @ Oct 12th 2006 11:14AM
Daniel:
Agreed! I just hope they aren't all gone by 12:30 in the afternoon, which is the soonest I can get there.
Darth Pixel @ Oct 12th 2006 11:14AM
I don't think there will be any major line for the beefed-up GameCube.
That's going to be a real test of Nintendo's hype machine. How many people stand in line before store opening.
lollercaust @ Oct 12th 2006 11:16AM
"Viral marketing for the loss."
Seriously, "Neil Christie", that was a stinkbomb you just squeezed out. Ugh.
adam @ Oct 12th 2006 11:17AM
@crono141
I've seen a lot of "official" scans and pics in the last few years.
It's not hard to type up a fake email, print it, scan it, and post it. It's probably true but i dont want to be waiting outside gamestop for nothing.
Combo4 @ Oct 12th 2006 11:25AM
finally i get to trade in my 360... how much are they giving in store credit for a used 360 premium?
crono141 @ Oct 12th 2006 11:27AM
Adam,
It comes down to an issue of trust. Yes, I know there have been plenty of fakes in the past, but most all of those come from a guy who knew a guy who decided to dig through a trash can, etc.
GoNintendo is fairly trustworthy. If they guy (who is one of their bloggers) says a GS employee forwarded the e-mail, or whatever, then I am inclined to believe him.
Point is, this is as official as official can get until we official get an official representative to official confirm that its official over the phone or officially in person.
Matt @ Oct 12th 2006 11:29AM
From what I understand (from my room mate, who is an ASM, or Assistant Manager, for an EB), the quantity allocation goes in tiers, based on the "performance" and sales of an individual store. The tiers are supposed to be based, roughly, on increments of 20, 40 and 60... so "23" sounds about right.
darryl @ Oct 12th 2006 11:31AM
"i'm excited to see how these lines compare to the ps3 lines"
Probably will be longer considering people know there will be many more units available for launch.
...and no, EBgames in Canada will NOT be taking pre-orders.
Ajump23 @ Oct 12th 2006 11:41AM
I just got a Wii pre-order announcement from Gamespot. Not that I am getting mine there but it is confirmed for tomorrow.
Vesty @ Oct 12th 2006 11:44AM
Yeah I just got the e-mail. Looks like a copy of the Ps3 pre-order e-mail, just with Wii substituted for Ps3
Mark Anthony @ Oct 12th 2006 11:45AM
just got my preorder email too... looks like i'm coming into work late tomorrow.
nodnetni @ Oct 12th 2006 11:46AM
Just got my email stating it starts tomorrow at $50
Plethorin @ Oct 12th 2006 11:46AM
See the preorder email @ plethorin.com !
Saturn @ Oct 12th 2006 11:58AM
You have to check this video out. This is girl is playing tennis on the Nintendo Wii.
http://www.str8up.com/watch.php?v=844
Combo4 @ Oct 12th 2006 11:59AM
but how much will they give me for my lightly used 360 + 2nd wireless controller and madden 07 hall of fame ed. ??
White Rose Duelist @ Oct 12th 2006 12:07PM
I just got an email from GameStop confirming this.
B @ Oct 12th 2006 12:14PM
Got an e-mail and called my local EBGames. They have a number of 20 Wii's for pre-order. However they said "we will get another allocation of units for the following weeks",so at least it's better than the PS3 fiasco.
nodnetni @ Oct 12th 2006 12:15PM
Why do they state that there is a "Extremely Limited Supply". If they are saying that about the Wii, they should have said something like "Almost Non-existant Supply" for the PS3.
Rivithed @ Oct 12th 2006 12:16PM
Here is a screenshot of the official email newsletter, just released:
http://www.gamingbits.com/content/view/1208/2/
nodnetni @ Oct 12th 2006 12:18PM
Like I said Nintendo isn't stupid, they are going to send out the the first shipment for hardcore gamers, the second shipment will be for BlackFriday. Were as PS3 is going to be sold out and no one will see it again till 2007. Kind of like the 360.
MrHoju @ Oct 12th 2006 12:26PM
Hmm.. Well I am definitely pre-ordering the Wii, and since I live in Seattle and have family up in Vancover BC... maybe a trip up to Canada is in order for a PS3 pre-order.
Thank God for sick days!!!!
m3mnoch @ Oct 12th 2006 12:32PM
"I don't think there will be any major line for the beefed-up GameCube."
darth. seriously. ya gotta stop making predictions. you're killing your credibility. pre-orders for the wii will sell out just as quickly as they did for the ps3.
the difference will be that there are more of them.
m3mnoch.
NordicNINE @ Oct 12th 2006 12:32PM
The Gamestop website states that a preorder doesn't guarantee that you'll get one a launch.
So, what's the point?
I think I'll just run to Walmart or something on launch and pick one up. If Nintendo has as many as they say they will, it shouldn't be a problem. Aren't they ahead of production schedules?
Rob @ Oct 12th 2006 12:36PM
All of them claimed that they have already recieved way more phone calls about the Wii preorder tomorrow than actual units they will have to sell.
They highly suspect it will be the same situation as PS3 (1st come 1st serve) and suggest showing up at least an hour in advance BEFORE they open.
So to sum it up, If you want a Preorder for Wii on launch day, you'll need to show up BEFORE the Gamestops and Ebs open to que up. At least this is what Gamestop and Eb are telling me.
Otherwise, you can camp out (in the cold) at your local BestBuy or Walmart on the 19th..
Daniel @ Oct 12th 2006 1:11PM
darryl - you're wrong.
To my fellow Canadians, EBGames Canada WILL be accepting pre-orders, this Monday October 16th. Unfortunately, they will begin accepting PS3 preorders the same day. I suggest getting there early (not that I had to tell you that).
http://www.ebgames.com/gs/wii/wiipre_ebca.asp
ninja @ Oct 12th 2006 1:18PM
I would be surprised if Nintendo sold out their first batch of units; its been how long since they have had a successful console?
jhelms89 @ Oct 12th 2006 1:40PM
Well since like the gamecube considering that they have been making a profit for a long time.
Beeves @ Oct 12th 2006 1:46PM
'its been how long since they have had a successful console?'
You mean with the exclusion of the DS?
chuck @ Oct 12th 2006 1:46PM
hey guys.. this is mildly related to this post..i was browsing craigslist this morning..and ran across a story of gamestop screwing over three brothers. keep in mind that all three brothers had different addresses.
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/sys/219448492.html
Jay @ Oct 12th 2006 1:46PM
By the way, I've seen the reported elsewhere, but it's worth a reminder that for those of us in NYC, Nintendo World is once again taking Wii pre-orders. I went over there at lunch today and put down a deposit, and everything seems to be running smoothly.
Karen @ Oct 12th 2006 2:00PM
Have you seen what EB games Canada is asking people to give them for pre-orders for a Wii or PS3?
$50 CDN in trade or a $200 CDN cash/credit reservation deposit is required.
http://www.ebgames.com/gs/wii/wiipre_ebca.asp
Daniel @ Oct 12th 2006 2:06PM
Welcome to post #42 Karen :P
Cory @ Oct 12th 2006 2:38PM
For the guy asking - GameStop trade-in on an XBox 360 premium is $220 in store-credit, even less in cash. AKA a rip-off. Sell it used on eBay or to someone you know who wants one for like $300 at least. $220 is an insult.
Chris @ Oct 12th 2006 3:12PM
YES! Time to camp out for the preorder :P