GameStop selling Wii 'rain check' certificates Dec. 20 & 21

by James Ransom-Wiley { Dec 14th 2007 at 11:29AM }

According to comments made by Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime during a conference call with the press today (like, right now), GameStop will be offering Wii "rain check" certificates for purchase on December 20th and 21st ... while supplies last. (Yes, supplies of the paper slip). The certificate, which requires that a Wii be pre-purchased in full, guarantees a console in January, so long as it's picked up by Jan 29th. Geez, promises sure are expensive these days...

Tags: breakingnews, gamestop

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

gonk @ Dec 14th 2007 11:33AM

now we can preorder consoles that are already out?

also what guarantees that they'll hold a wii for you thru january? they're not known as an honest company

baby sea tuna @ Dec 14th 2007 11:35AM

Fuck.that.

Jerk Face @ Dec 14th 2007 11:38AM

I just can't fucking believe that Wiis are still that hard to find this year. I have no idea what kind of debaucherous things my wife had to do to get one for me last Christmas.

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 14th 2007 11:42AM

And I'm sure that next year will be the same. SSBB, Mario Kart, maybe new colors, and a pice cut, it will be the most wanted console next Christmas too.

To get mine, I had to camp on September, in Toys R Us, at 3 am. The store opened at 11 am. It was and still is an odissey to get a Wii.

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 14th 2007 11:44AM

*September 2006

Gun Barrier @ Dec 14th 2007 12:01PM

to get mine all i had to do was walk into toysrus and ask for one. Seriously its like nobody knew about that store.
its in Bruckner Blvd, bronx NY
by the way

bounchfx @ Dec 14th 2007 12:22PM

all I had to do was pre order like a non tard ass when they started taking pre orders. then stroll in the day it came out and pick one up.

Hell, I've had over 6 chances to get one, and have gotten 2 for other people as well. oh boy oh boy. if only I was actually inclined to play it.*

*except mario galaxy, which is one of the best games EVAR.

John Z @ Dec 14th 2007 12:57PM

@bounch: Let me get this straight. You laid down $250+ for a console the minute it was available for pre-order, solely on the PROMISE of a couple games which in hindsight didn't appeal to you at all, and which would not in fact have any game you would enjoy until a full year later? And you're calling those of us who, say, waited to try it for ourselves and for games we wanted to play to come out and get reviewed-- you're calling US 'tards?

Granted, I've had the option to get it a couple of times after launch, too, and I've made use of it EVERY SINGLE TIME. The first for me, the second for a buddy, and the third-- six hours freezing my ass off in front of a best buy two weeks ago-- for my parents. But the difference is, we knew it was going to get used, we knew we wanted it. Whereas you... blew $250 for what, exactly?

DWells55 @ Dec 14th 2007 1:38PM

They're not impossible to get. If you check different stores and pay attention to Sunday fliers you can scoop one up with a little luck. I've seen them on shelves before; granted, they don't last long, but they are there. I'd rather take my chances trying to find one that way than paying in full for a pseudo-preorder from GameStop.

I got my Wii by showing up an hour early to GameStop the day they took preorders for the Wii before launch. In that situation I don't have a problem with putting a small amount of money down to save myself a bit of trouble and have what I want on launch day. One release day I showed up to Target two hours early and bought another Wii. I sold it on eBay and made enough off it to cover most of the Wii I kept for myself.

B1gC72 @ Dec 14th 2007 1:59PM

@Johnz

you are making it seem like pre-orders are binding contracts. if you decide you dont want it later than just dont go get it and move the pre-order to something else. i only had to plunk down $50 to pre-order mine, then i just drove pass the masses of campers, walked in the store with my receipt and was at home playing it 20 minutes later. plus there were plenty of reviews everywhere before the thing came out. hell i played one at Game Crazy like two weeks before i bought mine. pre-ordering is the smart thing to do because then you have one guaranteed if you want it and if you decide you dont, you could either not go get it or even sell the pre-order to someone else.

but anyway, back on topic. i hope GameStop handles this rain check like they do their pre-orders because i remember rain-checks when i worked at K-Mart and let me tell you, you better not hold your breathe on that call back from the majority of the people workin there at that time (i did my call backs though!)

mccomber @ Dec 14th 2007 11:42AM

I can't imagine explaining that one to your disappointed kids Christmas morning.

"See, this piece of paper means that we will very-definitely-probably get a Wii sometime in the next month..."

gonk @ Dec 14th 2007 11:43AM

yeah, laaaaamesauce

just get 'em a 360 and halo3

Jerk Face @ Dec 14th 2007 11:44AM

LOL

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Dec 14th 2007 11:46AM

buy a kid Halo 3
an M-RATED game?
That's great parenting right there

clo1_2000 @ Dec 14th 2007 11:48AM

gonk is the reason why politicians want to censor my ability to play the games I want.

gonk @ Dec 14th 2007 12:00PM

well that's the game all the 12 year old boys want...

i know i was playing doom at about that age

Synner @ Dec 14th 2007 7:15PM

No, see you deciding that gonk wanting to buy one for his kids is bad parenting is why stupid politicians want to get involved.

It's because people like you aren't happy letting others raise their kids the way they see fit unless you post your commentary.

Benjamin Heckendorn @ Dec 14th 2007 1:45PM

Ah yes this brings back memories of the "Great RAM Shortage of '88". Let Nintendo get in charge and suddenly - magically almost - things become in short supply and free press headlines ensue.

Seriously, how hard can it be to build a 2001 model game machine? The average cell phone has a similar speed processor these days.

FAT JIM HALPERT @ Dec 14th 2007 11:48AM

i would never do this in a million years

bring a former of both EB and Gamestop i know just how disloyal this company actually is and how quickly they look to fuck over the customer at any expense in order to make a few more bucks

and personally, if my parents got me a fuckin paper slip for christmas telling me i had to wait another month for a wii, i wouldnt really feel that elated at the whole situation lol

Miles @ Dec 14th 2007 6:31PM

Brian you rule. I wouldn't do it because 360's and Call of Duty 4 are available. Wocka Wocka!

McWeen @ Dec 14th 2007 11:50AM

If you know when they get shipments in and call that day to confirm they really aren't that hard to find. I just picked up another one as a gift last week and their wasn't even a line up because people never do that at Meijer/Targets

FAT JIM HALPERT @ Dec 14th 2007 11:51AM

how did you get a wii in september 2006 fernando? considering they didnt come out till november 2006 lol

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 14th 2007 11:52AM

To pre-order... to get the Wii first day in November.

xFenixKnightx @ Dec 14th 2007 11:52AM

Fernando

I just dont see this much demand for it by next year around this time. Its more like 360 and PS3 will be about in even demand next Christmas when all those Wii owners realize where the real gaming is. I know this.....I have a newish Wii with a light layer of dust on it already =( 360 in the meantime gets all the punishment as will the PS3 in 2 weeks with UT3 =) Uncharted and Lego Starwars for the kiddos haha!

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 14th 2007 11:55AM

Thats the same thing people said last Christmas.

xFenixKnightx @ Dec 14th 2007 12:03PM

Uhhh yeah, I don't remember that happening. We'll see.

Anni @ Dec 14th 2007 12:18PM

"Its more like 360 and PS3 will be about in even demand next Christmas when all those Wii owners realize where the real gaming is."

The fantasy world you live in is really boring. Personally, my fantasy world involves robots and the moon.

FAT JIM HALPERT @ Dec 14th 2007 11:54AM

oh ok, that makes much more sense, i was thinking to myself how did i only get it a week early working at the company and this person got it 2 months early lol

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 14th 2007 11:56AM

Yes... I had to pre-order the Wii two months before the release... they were also taking prerorders for the PS3 and Elmo.

NATO_Duke @ Dec 14th 2007 11:55AM

So all the people who pre-ordered the Wii from GameStop to get screwed the first time around are going to pony up money and get screwed over a second time. Brilliant.

zombie @ Dec 14th 2007 12:14PM

how do you know if you've been banned?

gonk @ Dec 14th 2007 12:19PM

?

you posted, so i'm guessing you aren't

zombie @ Dec 14th 2007 12:26PM

on my main account, it keeps on saying you did it! or w/e and it said check my email to confirm the message, but nothing in my email since last night, i can only post on this alt

gonk @ Dec 14th 2007 12:33PM

just keep using this acct then, and forget the other

Kidvid01 @ Dec 14th 2007 12:20PM

It's interesting how I find out what my job is doing thru Joystiq. >_>

And, yes, the console is still nigh impossible to find. Honestly about 75% of the phone calls to my store are "Do you have a Wii?" and are usually followed up by "Do you know when you're getting them?" It's quite ridiculous. It's funny how parents get around this time, too. People call and are willing to give us their credit card numbers over the phone, even in a day and age where identity theft is common.

Either way, working next Thursday or Friday will be quite an experience. Parents will be clamoring over pieces of paper. I predict the funniest day of work EVER.

yaksplat @ Dec 14th 2007 12:28PM

They should just buy them from me off of eBay $$$$$$$$$

Mezstizo @ Dec 14th 2007 3:35PM

I'm running out to set my tent now!

No.. Seriously, It's amazing how well the Wii is doing. I remember when I showed up at Gamestop to per-order the Wii last year. I got there an hour before the store opened and was first in line. This system was suppose to be DOA remember. Everybody was talking about it being just a gimmick system. I wasn't sure if I was wasting $250 or not but I'm sooo glad I did. It's been a great purchase. It makes me sad to think of the kids AND parents that will not obtain one this Christmas season. Happy Holidays All!

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 14th 2007 12:51PM

How did this thread go from a Wii thing to a I hate Gamestop cause they raped my family and kids thing?

Anyways, This'll probably be my one opportunity to even come close to getting a Wii so I may have to buy one of those slips. I mean shit, it's better than waiting in line at Walmart.

ThornedVenom @ Dec 14th 2007 5:27PM

It's Wii or bust: paper slips can wipe my shiny metal ass.

duerra @ Dec 14th 2007 7:50PM

This may not be perfect for Christmas, but at the very least it's perfect for people who have been looking for a Wii to buy for themselves for a long time, but for the life of them haven't been able to find one in the stores. It's better than nothing to know that I could pay retail for it and have it guaranteed in the next month versus waiting who knows how long before I see one in the store.

Cuja @ Dec 15th 2007 4:08AM

Gamestop is screwing themselves. Instead pushing the superior systems that they have in stock, they're making people wait for a lesser system with a lower attach rate. If these buyers find one sooner somewhere else in retail or change their mind, Gamestop misses out. As for next Christmas? Things will be different.

WorMzy @ Dec 16th 2007 1:10PM

They're not making people wait, the people are having to wait one way or another. It's not as though Gamestop is hiding the PS3 and Xbox 360 boxes and forcing people to buy the Wii.

WorMzy @ Dec 16th 2007 1:11PM

Although that would be a good idea.

stever @ Dec 19th 2007 7:22AM

**INFO: GAMESTOP ISN'T ISSUING RAIN CHECKS FOR NINTENDO WII SYSTEM!
I hope that I am wrong, but I just spoke to the local GameStop yesterday, in Watchung, N.J.

I called them asking of the details, to prepare myself for the December 20, 21st rain check herds. The manager told me that only on the 21st, and only the first 24 people who paid in full were going to get a Nintendo Wii system by January 25th, 2008, because that's all the store was getting in! There was no mention of any kind of a rain check offered. And he told me that they opened at 9:00 A.M. on the 21st.

I doubt that GameStop is going to make any kind of dent in the alleviating the shortage of wii, or the greediness of other sellers.

And, for a moment I actually believed that my children were going to get a wii system soon, not necessarily before Christmas, but shortly after!