Toys R Us Wii pre-order today -- Round 2

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 12th 2006 at 10:55AM }

Although there are still questions regarding whether this is regional, The Boston Globe certainly had the flyer (photo at right) with the Toys R Us Wii pre-order offer in it. The Toys R Us flyer's online version does not have the dark purple reserve graphic on it.

If your experience ends up being anything like this reporter's, most people were unaware of this second round of pre-orders. This was actually a very nice casual experience. We were at the Toys R Us in Dedham, MA and by 9AM there were still only approximately 10 people in line. Unlike the PS3/Wii pre-order from a few weeks before, there was also a very nice demographic spread; a couple wives, two kids with their parents and a nice melting-pot mix of people under 35.

This is certainly looking like the last chance to guarantee a Wii for launch. We are still getting very mixed reports about this second round of pre-orders, but make sure to check your local newspaper. If it's in there, then it should be happening in your region.

Tags: preorder, toys r us, wii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

angrytaxman @ Nov 12th 2006 11:00AM

I just got back from waiting at Toys R Us for a Wii preorder. I was 3rd in line and I got there at 4:45. At 7:45 the manager came out and gave everyone in line (14 people) a flyer with a piece of paper on it saying that we coudl come back at 10AM to preorder a Wii. So I'll wait 2 hours in the warmth of my home and then go back in 2 hours to go pick it up.

From what I'm reading online not too many people know about this preorder and you can still probably get in on it if you have a Toys R Us in your area.

jayntampa @ Nov 12th 2006 11:02AM

There are a couple other chances ... Nintendo is having this odd mall tour thing and a couple stores are going to have ridiculous amounts of Wii (you know, the plural should be like deer ... just Wii). I know one mall that will have, between two stores, 300 Wii. And, they only did the standard pre-order of like 20.

Skycap @ Nov 12th 2006 11:02AM

If anyone is wondering, its happening in Fresno, CA. I just got back early from a cold night, which I am pretty pleased about. Unfortunately, the preorders are sold out now... Even before anyone got a chance to read the Sunday paper. Thank you Joystiq community!

Kevin @ Nov 12th 2006 11:15AM

I just got back from the King of Prussia location and the last person to get a preorder(18 total) arrived 10 minutes before the store opened. Most of the people who were there either got the early paper or happened to be in the store yesterday and heard about it.

Steve @ Nov 12th 2006 11:05AM

I was in my car outside the Toys R Us in Frederick, MD at 5:30am and waited until about 8:30 to line up when a few more cars showed up. everyone in line was very nice and genial. a lot of parents getting Wiis for their kids. about 15 minutes before they opened the doors at 10:00, the manager came out and gave out all of the preorder tickets she had. there were 18 preorder tickets and 18 people in line. about 5 minutes before the doors opened a few more people showed up. needless to say, they were rather displeased to hear that there were no more preorders available.

i got my preorder plus a preorder for Zelda. i'm quite satisfied.

Psykechan @ Nov 12th 2006 11:10AM

Just got back from the preorder in central OH. I showed up at 7:30 (They opened at 10) and was 5th in line. They had 15 total so it was a Wii for Mii!

There was a good mix of people there. Sorry, I didn't get any pictures. For anyone that did get pictures, I was the woman wearing an actual Power Glove. :P

I got to play Clubhouse Games and Elite Beat Agents while waiting, so it looks like Nintendo not only wins by people buying Wiis but them buying more DS games as well.

Randy @ Nov 12th 2006 6:08PM

I Went in this morning to toysrus right at 9:00 went in preordered my wii and I was the only one there

Wayne @ Nov 12th 2006 11:18AM

I got at the Sterling, VA store at 8:30AM with about 10 other people already there. I must agree that there was a good mix of people and a nice friendly mood. One or two were looking to buy for ebay purposes which I was surprised considering the supposed large amount of units. The manager handed out slips at 9AM and they had 17 to give out at 1 per household. I kind of felt bad for the first 2 guys in line that was there since 7PM the night before. Paid for my preorder and Zelda reserve after they opened at 10AM. Awesome experience for a change. Just hope there is no extra wiimote shortages as I want to get a couple more.

T-Bag @ Nov 12th 2006 11:18AM

I'm just wondering how some of you 20+ year old guys are going to go in THAT SPECIFIC STORE and ask for a Wii... If only I worked in Toys R Us just to see the look on your faces.

God bless manchilds...

Exick @ Nov 12th 2006 11:32AM

I was just at the Burbank, CA store. There were 7 of us in line, and the manager came out at about 7:15, handed us all tickets so we wouldn't have to wait out in the "cold", and said to come back after the store opened (but before 1pm for some reason) and put down our money.

I just wanna give a shout out to the 4 dudes playing Mario Kart DS, Brian, and #7 in line, The Quiet Storm.

Josh @ Nov 12th 2006 11:34AM

Just called my local TRU. They're not taking anymore, but they were this morning. Launch day it is.

Megan @ Nov 12th 2006 11:48AM

The buckhead atlanta toys 'r us was dead. We were there at 9:30 (store opened at 11) and by the time the store opened, there were about 5 people in like for Wiis, including the most bizarre stoner-dude who was going on about how bad shooting games are and how people should 'just go hunting'. I told him that hunting sucked, as you had to spend a lot of time outside in the cold, and then looked upwards and went "hmmm..." And then some other guys and us talked about how awesome Gears of War is and about being Wii60 households. :) Anyway, as far as i know, they still have 10 pre-orders to go, so if you're in the ATL and want a wii, try the buckhead toys 'r us.

Adam McD @ Nov 12th 2006 11:45AM

I have to agree with the reporter and everyone else here. I showed up at the Manchester, CT Toys'r'US at 9:15 am expecting the huge line that was there when the PS3/Wii first pre-order happened.
To my surprise, there was only 8 people in the line and some of them were there for Bratz and other stuff.
They had 17 extra Wii's available for pre-order. The total for the store from both pre-order sessions was 40.
It was nice fun experience with many family's waiting in line and talking about the crazy price of the PS3. I think it is safe to say that not many families or casual gamers are going to stump up $500/$600 for PS3's. If you can get one before Christmas......

undeadAmnos @ Nov 12th 2006 11:56AM

Got back about 30 minutes ago from the Toys R Us in Savannah GA. I got there at 10:30 am and the doors opened at 11. There were only two other cars in the lot when I got there. The manager walked out and gave me a voucher. When the doors opened he had only 4 left (out of 10). No crazies, demographic varied, one guy thinking he could get a PS3 (he was let down). Pre-ordered the Wii and Twilight Princess, no campin out for this monkey.

Josh L @ Nov 12th 2006 12:14PM

I was lazy and missed out at getting my pre-order at the Savannah Store... bah. oh well, I've got my camping group together.

TheOtherAlex @ Nov 12th 2006 12:11PM

Hi Alexander,
Thanks for keeping spirits high at the Toys R Us. If you can see my email send me a quick hello! There was something I was meaning to tell you but don't think it is appropriate to post to the masses.

Me -> The Idiot that arived at 4:00am at a store that didn't sell out of preorders when they opened.

Ian @ Nov 14th 2006 12:41AM

My dad got in line this mourning, not for me though for my cousin, and he was number 18 in line when he got there this mourning, and they had 21 and all in all they'll have 80 Wiis, I thought that was a pretty good number.

Thrawn @ Nov 12th 2006 12:26PM

Showed up for the pre-order around 9:20 since I didn't think that a) my store would actually be doing it and b) that if they were I didn't have a chance in hell of getting a pre-order ticket.

Turns out that they had 40 pre-orders and I actually was in the 20's. Everyone on line was quite friendly with the exception of one boob who had to start barking after tickets were handed out and the line degenerated into a mass waiting to get into the store. Apparently he'd been waiting there since 4am and was worried that even with a pre-order ticket people would "cut" him in line. Other than that I'd say a full third of the people waiting there were just there by dumb luck and had literally no knowledge of what a "Wii" was or that it was being launched next Sunday.

Thanks to Toys R Us now I don't have to stand out in the freezing cold on Saturday in front of a Walmart or Target.

badle @ Nov 12th 2006 12:29PM

Went to the North Charleston, SC TRU this morning. Got there at 9:50, went to the door around 10:15 and i was #2 in line. Couple moms, couple kids, couple 20-30 yr old males. Typical crowd. Great time waiting with them. Highlight of the morning was the guy who got super pissed when he showed up at 11:15 and they were all sold out. Blamed the manager and yelled at him for about 10 minutes. most people vocally laughed at him. Got my Wii pre-order, COD 3 and Zelda. Can't wait!

d34dl1nk @ Nov 12th 2006 12:47PM

Thanks to Joystiq I'm now the proud owner of a Wii pre-order.

After missing out on the 1st EB games pre-order(I was #9 in line) I'm am freaking amazed to have gotten my wii pre-order. I woke up at 10:45 central time, checked joystiq, saw the toys r' us link, checked my paper and then I halled @$$ to the nearest store. Thank God it was only like 5 mins from my house. I thought by this time there would be a huge line, because last time they pre-ordered there were people that camped out all night. So, I showed up and only 7 people...7 PEOPLE WERE IN LINE!!!! I was #8 I can't believe it. My Toys R Us in Lubbock,TX must have gotten about 15 pre-orders today. Man am I lucky.

Thanks, Joystiq because of you my girlfriend and I can play with my Wii all night long.

sosumi @ Nov 12th 2006 12:38PM

Went to a quiet little Toys R Us in south Houston this morning just thinking I would drive by and see if it was worth my time. The store opened at 11 and I drove by at 10:30 and saw about 8 people in line. Pulled a u-turn and decided to go for it and counted myself as 10th. A nice lady came up behind me a few minutes later trying to reassure herself that she made it. Apparently her husband was at another store across town doing the same thing. With about 15 minutes to go the line was stable at 13 people and we come to realize that No. 6 and 7 had no idea what the line was for or even what a Wii was. So 8 and 9 spend some time explaining it and still don't think they quite got it.

By 10:55 the line explodes to well over 20 and even an ambulance drives by peering into the storefront. We joke that they're here for the ensuing riot when they announce there are no pre-orders available. At 11:00 the store isn't open yet, the manager is still having a meeting with the staff. At 11:05 he comes out announcing there are 13 available and without a ticket you don't get one. Now, the only bad part of the whole experience was that No. 6 and 7 who have no clue ask for tickets, surely robbing some children of Christmas joy.

Everything was very orderly, those of us with tickets made our way to the game counter to plunk down our $50. I spotted the ambulance crew in line with a copy of Final Fantasy XII, I guess as a consolation prize for themselves?

Thanks for the tip off Joystiq!

Mike Thinks Podcast @ Nov 12th 2006 12:48PM

Yea, I decided to give it a go myself. Since this was a very low key thing, I felt pretty confident the line wouldnt be bad, and it wasnt. I drove by at about 10am (store opens at 11am) and there were only a few people, so I popped into McD's for a breakfast sandwich and came back. It was about 10:15 when I got in line, and was #7, by 10:30 the line a swelled quite a bit, but much of it was Mom/Dad/Kid combos, making things look much worse than it was.

When they handed out tickets, the actually had 1 left over. 45 min wait...yea...that I can do.

Timothy Dorr @ Nov 12th 2006 1:32PM

@12

Hey, I was the guy in the black coat that showed up 2nd after you two. Small world (or perhaps small website?). And yes, that stoner dude was...odd.

It's interesting considering that in a city of 4M+ people, only about 8 people showed up for the main TRU in the middle of the city. But hey, now I've got something to rub in my friend's face :P

Chris @ Nov 12th 2006 1:19PM

Since I wasn't in the mood to sit around all morning I decided to head over to Toys R Us just before they opened. I got there at 10:45 and there were probably 25-30 people there. I figured I'd give it a try anyways. Eventually a women walked by asking who was there for Wii . I raised my hand and got one no problem. she still had a few left to give out too. Lucky me.

bo0 @ Nov 12th 2006 1:38PM

West hartford CT. 10am.... No one on line.

I was first... at 10am Opening. haha.

I was first there and no one had shown any interest except two dads and a few moms after a few minutes into the store opening while i was paying for the pre-order.

Sad for the you doods you spent all night. Sorry.

JoeSchmo @ Nov 12th 2006 1:37PM

It was very very low key. We arrived at 8am, it opened at 10am. We were 4th in line of about 20. The 20th person arrived just before they opened. Thanks Joystiq.

Devin @ Nov 12th 2006 1:42PM

I got mine. 2nd in line of 14 in Westminster, Colorado

eatrice @ Nov 12th 2006 1:47PM

I got two pre-orders today. I showed up at 10:15 at a ToysrUs in Scottsdale, AZ. Then I drove across the valley to one in west Phoenix, Az, and got another about 10:50.

The second was for my girlfriend. And one of them said that they were having a MIDNIGHT release? Is that univeral or only a couple?

nick @ Nov 12th 2006 1:49PM

Got there at 7am for Bellevue, WA (near Seattle) and there were already more than 10 people in line. There were 20 preorders and I ended up being #14.

That kinda sucked. Rainy and cold. Was hoping to wait in my car... but the line was formed so I had to get in.

Oh well, least I got the thing. The manager said they would have 200 on launch day (100 at midnight, and another 100 at 8am).

Evan @ Nov 12th 2006 8:02PM

I just got back from the Toys R Us here in Bakersfield, CA with a pre-order for the Wii. Sixth in a line of about 15, when I left the store they had aleady given everyone in line their pre-orders and still had some left over. Kind of makes me feel like a sucker for waiting 3 hours.

prguitarman @ Nov 12th 2006 1:57PM

I got one :D
Here's a picture of the line
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v118/PRguitarman/Useless5/CIMG0865.jpg

Kris @ Nov 13th 2006 7:31AM

Woke up at 8:50 and found and article about this on Kotaku, drove over to the store and got there at 9:15. I was 6th in line. Everyone was nice, but a quarter of the people that showed up 30 minutes before 10 were there to get a Tickle Me Elmo. They only gave 18 pre-orders and I was suprised how short the line was. Now I don't have to camp at Target.

greggoconnell.com @ Nov 12th 2006 2:37PM

I got to the San Diego toys r us on West Morena Blvd at 5:45am. They had 10 preorders and were all taken up by 6:30am.

I have some a photos and a blog up on my website
http://www.greggoconnell.com/2006/11/nintendo-wii-preorder-toys-r-us.html

Vance @ Nov 12th 2006 2:55PM

Store: La Mesa, CA. (East of San Diego)
I arrived at 9:30 am and was the 13th person in line. A few minutes later, the store manager announced that there were only 13 available! How lucky is that?!

Hank Bobo @ Nov 13th 2006 12:51AM

Saw the ad in the paper this morninng... got to the Reno store at 9:30... which opened at 10. Couldn't believe it, was almost #1 in line... couple guys that were keeping warm in their car beat me to that... #4 in line was a family with no clue about Wii hoping to find one of those Elmos... they didn't get Elmo, but picked up a Wii instead! All 15 preorders were gone to folks in line. Guy at the electronics counter said the employees didn't know about it until they showed up at work!

Kuan @ Nov 12th 2006 3:35PM

Just to let you guys know: this is regional. I have the same ad and I live in San Diego. Just checked, my frind up north has it, too; along with my friend in Missouri.

ogvor @ Nov 13th 2006 1:14PM

I checked our Toys'R'Us at 11:00 before going to bed (no one their) woke up at 5:00 (Still no one) checked again at 7:00 (still empty) Then came by at 9:40. 4 people were in line. Got to preorders (one to keep one to sell).

I really put to much effort in to that.

Megan @ Nov 12th 2006 5:50PM

Hey Tim (#22) if you want to add us to XBL, our gamertag is zerogeek. :)

Leo @ Nov 12th 2006 6:19PM

Nashville, TN (Bellevue) Number 3 of 8 preorders. Got there at 9 and waited 3 hours. It was well worth it and I'd do it again because the manager was very reassuring that anytime on Sunday I could come by and pick it up because it'd be waiting just for me. Plus there was a nice crowd there. Everyone was really nice since there were no PS3 eBayers there.

Anth @ Nov 12th 2006 6:33PM

I got to my TRU (Meadows-Las Vegas) at 10:10A and was #8 out of 18. The manager had 6 tickets left over when he passed them out at 1030. He hung around outside until he had given out all his tickets, about 10 or 15 minutes later. I got my preorder, just have to drive down there next sunday morning.

Ryan @ Nov 13th 2006 3:17AM

I read th rumor about toys r us having pre-orders again, so i drove there and i was first inline. I was there at 845pm-10am....that was in the bay area, california...im so excited, everyone got a wii, except 2 people who got there at 945am, i didnt feel bad.

jah from da bx, ny @ Nov 12th 2006 10:01PM

yeaaahhhh baby! bronx in da house! casual walk into bronx, nyc toysrus plus no waiting on line @ 1145 hrs=one pre-ordered wii and one pre-ordered copy of zelda! [ren n stimpy chorus] happy, happy, joy, joy! happy, happy, joy, joy!

btw: nintendo supposedly will not have the supply problems that sony will BUT why chance it?

Tommy @ Nov 14th 2006 1:45AM

I went to the La Mirada, CA location and got myself the very last one left at - get this - 6:00pm this evening!!

I freaked out when I read the article this evening (I was a lazy Joystiq reader today, lol!) and immediately made a call to the surrounding Toys R' Us in the area. La Mirada - a five minute drive from me - was the only one that had anything left. I was very surprised when they told me they had two left. When I got there, only one was left.

Now I'm happy. Still going to wait in line for the launch (for some friends' systems), but if we end up out-of-luck on launch day... I'll have my little surprise to pull on them! :-)

Johnny C @ Nov 12th 2006 10:56PM

Hey all! Our toys r us out here in st. louis had 20 wiis for reserve and i beleive i was 7th in line today, one guy was there since 1am... crazy... anyway the manager at that toys r us had said theres going to be 4 or 5 toys r us's in the nation selling wii's at midnight this saturday... the one i went to being one of them, he also said they will have extras and stay open until they deplete their supply, mucho cool!

Aaron Reason @ Nov 12th 2006 10:59PM

Hey number 31.. I was at the reno store today too. I was number 8 and that family that was infront of me the one (with the boy and the bouncy ball) was really clueless! but it was fun because i finally got my wii presale and now I don't have to worry about it! :) i'm soo excited!

B1gC72 @ Nov 12th 2006 11:19PM

i went first thing this morning. i figured not many people would know about it so i showed up at 9:15. and sure enough it was only me and this cool as gamin granny there. i was in first and then she went right behind me. i didnt see anybody else preorder while i was in there and i was in there for a good half hour just browsin the game section. which surprised me cause the first preorders they had went like hotcakes. but who cares, i got mine locked up, no more launch day planning for me!