Toys "R" Us PS3/Wii pre-orders Sunday
by Kyle Orland 
{ Oct 26th 2006 at 10:50AM }
Those unlucky souls who missed out on getting their next-gen system pre-orders at Gamestop will have another chance to throw money at a large, multinational corporation this weekend. Toys "R" Us will be taking pre-orders for the PS3 and Wii for $50 down starting on Sunday, Oct. 29.
Stores contacted by Joystiq said they didn't know exactly how many pre-orders they would be taking, but a poster on the Gaming-Age forums estimates 12 to 25 Wiis and five to 14 PS3s per store (take these estimates with an unconfirmed grain of salt). The offer will be well-publicized in the Toys "R" Us "big book" (see pp. 64, 66) due in this weekend's newspapers, so be sure to get to the store early if you want to beat out little Billy's kindly old grandmother and others like her.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
32_Footsteps @ Oct 26th 2006 10:54AM
Before anyone goes out and does this - does Toys R Us still charge about a 10% premium on video games compared to other stores? Growing up, I went to Toys R Us only as a last-ditch maneuver for games because of markups compared to other competitors (Babbages, Kay-Bee, Software Etc.).
Gonzo @ Oct 26th 2006 10:57AM
You mean the unlucky souls who pre-ordered at Gamestop. They're probably not going to get their machine at launch AND they paid twice as much for the pre-order AND they had to deal with the fruitcakes at gamestop.
Dracula Jones @ Oct 26th 2006 11:09AM
I'm so there. It's gonna be confusing, though, trying to figure out what number in line you are... not gonna know who's there for PS3 and who's for Wii. Everybody wear a name tag with your console of choice on it.
"Hi, My Name Is Wii"
nick @ Oct 26th 2006 12:43PM
ill be there for a ps3!
Ricky @ Oct 26th 2006 11:05AM
I just called my local toysrus and they said they are not doing pre-orders. Maybe it is just certain stores.
OldKnuckles @ Oct 26th 2006 11:14AM
Anyone else notice on pg. 66 for the PS3 the ad says to visit your local Toys "R" Us store or go online to toysrus.com for information. "today" being Sunday.
Midnight preorder on the web maybe????
Dracula Jones @ Oct 26th 2006 11:22AM
I don't understand why they'd bother advertising it in the Big Book. By the time most people open the Sunday paper, I doubt there will be any preorders left.
Steve @ Oct 26th 2006 11:36AM
Time to go grab some more consoles for Ebay. CHAAA CHIIING!
IslandLife @ Oct 26th 2006 11:38AM
"get to the store early if you want to beat DOWN little Billy's kindly old grandmother and others like her."
Fixed.
SyChO @ Oct 26th 2006 11:44AM
If the American Toys'r'us is anything like its Canadian affiliate they should have somewhere in the 50-60 Wii consoles for pre-order.
Enjoy
Daniel @ Oct 26th 2006 11:48AM
I pre-ordered a Wii at Toys R Us in Canada about 2 months ago for $50. Is it safe to assume this story is in relation to the US only?
Rob_BMF @ Oct 26th 2006 12:04PM
I live in Canada and Ive had a wii preorder at Toys R Us for over a month now. Wooooohooooo
ill trooper @ Oct 26th 2006 12:09PM
"7. Time to go grab some more consoles for Ebay. CHAAA CHIIING!"
Kindly get a life. Who out there who types this on the forums is really doing this? You're just trying to put in a subtle dig that you don't actually think the PS3 is worth owning...
skaman @ Oct 26th 2006 12:10PM
Toys R Us Sucks!
EBGameStop FTW!
Greg @ Oct 26th 2006 12:12PM
@ Dracula Jones: They couldn't care less if there's any preorders left after the flier's been read... If the person, parent, child reads that preorders are available that day, they'll get in their car, head down to the Toys R Us and now they've crossed the biggest barrier in sales: Getting the person to come into the store. Once they're there and maybe preorders are available, maybe they aren't, the child is now tugging on the parent/guardian to go buy a video game or toy, especially if the parent/guardian wishes to numb the probable pain of "Santa" not bringing them their console this Christmas. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to a store to get something, they were all out, and settled on getting something else.
B @ Oct 26th 2006 12:18PM
...Or you can just wait for the amazon.com preorders.(Remember that Toy's R Us is not part of amazon anymore).
killcount @ Oct 26th 2006 12:19PM
All I have to say is thank you Joystiq for this heads up. I am not going to be number 11 in a line for 10 Wii's this time. Looks like it is the all nighter for me
Random Ransom @ Oct 26th 2006 12:23PM
I've called my local store and even the corporate line. I've had no luck confirming this claim. Anyone else had better luck?
Random Ransom @ Oct 26th 2006 12:26PM
Make that no confirmation on the PS3. They said the Wii is available for preorder, but nothing yet said on the PS3... which is what I'm looking for since the bozos at GameStop didn't call me even though I've been #20 on their call list for PS3s since March. :P
osmosis11 @ Oct 26th 2006 1:38PM
My toys' R Us says they are only doing Wii preorders on Sunday. They have no clue when or if they are doing PS3 preorders.
Kais @ Oct 27th 2006 9:31AM
hmmm, if thats so true, then why do i hear all these people on different forums say they called their local toyr s rus bs but they wont do it. these fucking stores need to get their asses straight and tell the people one answer, and all of them the same, YES OR NO!
Bryan @ Oct 26th 2006 12:42PM
It's times like this I hate living in NY. God damn Times Square.
Jastrick @ Oct 26th 2006 12:42PM
This is funny. My Canadian TRU had been doing Wii pre-orders since august. They in fact sold out 3 weeks ago :P
Kevout @ Oct 26th 2006 12:54PM
My Toys-R-Us said they wern't either
nick @ Oct 26th 2006 12:44PM
i called my toys r us and its all good for me. They are taking pre-orders.
Random Ransom @ Oct 26th 2006 12:46PM
OK. That's confirmed now... Toys "R" Us is not accepting PS3 preorders. Repeat, Joystiq jumped the gun or had incorrect information. Maybe only specific locations that are not around most of us will have PS3 preorders, but I was just told by the stores around me that they are officially not accepting PS3 preorders (or that's what the employees are being told by their higher-ups. Thanks, Joystiq, for getting my hopes up for nothing!
White-Wolf @ Oct 27th 2006 12:31PM
The idea is that if they were preordering the wii, that they would preorder the ps3 too, but this was just a hope, and a guess, and not based on any real info or a facts.
RolinCode3 @ Oct 26th 2006 1:17PM
Anyone else notice in the ad is states "...for details on how to reserve your Wii/PS3 now." It does not say that they will be taking preorders at all.
Joe @ Oct 26th 2006 1:26PM
Attention everyone!! Joystiq did NOT jump the gun. There have been many, many confirmations on other websites and forums of plenty of people who've called and got confirmation, including myself. Here's the skinny.
There will be preorders for the PS3 and Wii on Sunday, as well as a shipment of TMX. It seems as though every store will be getting 8 PS3, 7 60GB, 1 20GB, but some high volume stores MAY get more (all 4 of mine said 8 though). No one's given me a definite answer on Wii totals, but a couple said "maybe 20 or two dozen".
I think TRU is pulling a Gamestop by effectively lying to people about this to prevent mass hysteria on Sunday.
Amount of deposit is $50 for each console and I was told that there would NOT be bundles, simply the console itself. Anyway, that's all the info I've got. Good luck everyone.
Did @ Oct 26th 2006 1:23PM
I just confirmed with my local TRU, and they are indeed offering preorders on the PS3, they said they had 'some'. They didn't seem to know what a Wii is, but they were very sure that they would be offering the PS3 preorders on Sunday, and I double checked that it was sunday. So, I'm taking a few friends and getting as many as I can. Oh, and I didn't say where my 'local' TRU was on purpose.
Korexz @ Oct 26th 2006 1:45PM
TRU employees are for the most part stupid. I worked there for 5 years, not a soul there has a clue.
KnuxAran @ Oct 26th 2006 1:54PM
Aw crap... I just called the closest TRU and the guy said they have 5 "large" PS3s, 1 "small" PS3 and 15 Wiis. This should be interesting.
Random Ransom @ Oct 26th 2006 1:57PM
Then where do you guys live? All the store locations around me have said so. Although, one two hours away said to call back on Saturday and they might know then...
I've called 8 store locations in my area, and only the one told me to call back on Saturday.
Yes, Wii is available for pre-order, though, I've found. And believe me, I'd be so much happier if I could find a store location that says, "Yes, we're accepting preorders on the PS3 on Sunday." Grr... I hate living in a small town... (and not within two hours, at least, of these Toys "R" Us locations that are preordering)
KnuxAran @ Oct 26th 2006 1:58PM
Another TRU I called said they would have PS3s for preorder but ONLY in bundles. The guy I spoke to said that the bundles are all priced over $1000. Then he told me "but you'll be saving money." Ya... but that's not the point, buddy.
Lane5slacker @ Oct 26th 2006 2:20PM
Mmhh, looks like I have a little bit of a drive ahead of me. Oh well, It will be worth it.
GuyCai @ Oct 26th 2006 3:15PM
Word to the wise for Sunday. TRU's will also have Tickle Me Elmo's extreme on the shelves. Between the PS3, Wii, and Elmo crowd, it's going to be crazy if not a bloodbath.
Dracula Jones @ Oct 26th 2006 3:15PM
Just called my TRU. Yes, they are taking Wii pre's on Sunday. Yes, they are taking PS3 pre's on Sunday. She said they are most likely only getting around 10 each. So really, what's the point? WHAT IS THE POINT, TOYS R US?! Why stand in a line for 6 hours when I can probably waltz into Best Buy or Target on the 19th and waltz right back out with a Wii. You bastards! Sadistic bastards!!!
Pheneneus @ Oct 26th 2006 3:31PM
I preordered my Wii from Toys "R" Us back in february when it was still called revolution. #3 on the list behind two store employees. I thought all toys "r" us's did that?
GoldenS1104 @ Oct 26th 2006 3:36PM
2 consoles on the same day!?!?! That's so retarded. ****. Now I can't pre-order both, unless I can manage to be in two different lines at once. **** you Toys R' Us.
Joseph @ Oct 26th 2006 6:42PM
YES TOYS R US YOU ARE A GOD!!!!!!
Ryan @ Oct 26th 2006 4:13PM
I think it's a bad idea for Toys R Us to do reserves for both systems on the same day. And with the Tickle Me Elmo thing, it's gonna be hell for shoppers. I will be standing outside the door with a bunch of other people nervous, not knowing who's here for what.
God, some parents will go to stupid extremes for their kids. I'm grateful I don't have kids, and don't plan on having any.
James G @ Oct 27th 2006 10:23AM
Don't be so quick to take your local TRU's word for it.
If you have ever worked retail, there is a HUGE GAP in communication between regional/disctric managment and local store management. These local stores may get the greenlight to do preorders the night before sunday...who knows??
T.Hubb @ Oct 26th 2006 5:04PM
Won't Toys R Us hand out a slip thing for the first X people, or organize those coming in for what, like the Ps3 pre-orders at ebgames/gamestop? If they're doing this, they should organize it SOMEHOW.
Jay @ Oct 26th 2006 5:09PM
All I can say is Thank You TRU for not only doing this to begin with, but doing it on daylight savings day so I can get up and go over there at 4 and still get almost a full night's sleep.
Lone Starr @ Oct 26th 2006 5:58PM
@ Random Ransom,
"Make that no confirmation on the PS3. They said the Wii is available for preorder, but nothing yet said on the PS3... which is what I'm looking for since the bozos at GameStop didn't call me even though I've been #20 on their call list for PS3s since March. :P"
They didn't follow the call lists.
cesar @ Oct 26th 2006 5:33PM
I tried calling to check if they were preordering the wii or not and i got an old lady that told me to call back sunday.
L8 @ Oct 26th 2006 5:38PM
Yeah, called my local TRU and Dustin says, "No PS3 pre-orders" and that, "it will be first come first serve...on the 17th". I'm going to call again to be sure Dustin knows what he's talking about...or maybe he's just trying to get them all for him and his friends. Either way, I'm going to call before the 17th to ask if they did pre-orders and if I find out they did, I'll be sure to let Dustin's manager know the full scoop.
Scott Krueger @ Oct 26th 2006 5:42PM
There are NO PS3s Available Sunday...
Everyone in Michigan please stay home on Sunday...
Do not come to ToysRUs...
Nothing to see here...
That Line with me in Front... That's just eager employees waiting to start their day at work.
T.Hubb @ Oct 26th 2006 5:52PM
wtf? i called my toysrus earlier in the day and they said they would be taking preorders on sunday for the ps3 and that i should come early, as they would have around 6 or 8. i called again now (only 4 hours later) and i get someone else who gets off the phone for a second to ask someone else, and then tells me that they're not taking preorders whatsoever.
what's the deal?
KnuxAran @ Oct 26th 2006 6:28PM
2 of the 3 TRUs in Austin, Texas are only offering the bundle option ($1000+). The other one isn't 100% sure if they'll just be the consoles or bundles, so I'm gonna call back tomorrow. Either way, they're only getting 5 of the $599 systems.
One of the TRUs offering the bundles is only getting 3. Damn...