How to Find a Wii

Guide Note

The Nintendo Wii continues to be a much sought-after and hard to find item well after its release. With Christmas Day just around the corner, the search can be even more perilous. Here are some tips to find one in a timely fashion. Table of Contents

Introduction
Finding a Wii Online
- Gather Internet Intel
- Visit Online Resellers
Finding a Wii in Stores
Wii Retailers

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Introduction

You may be surprised to discover that even though it was released long ago, the Nintendo Wii is still hard to get your hands on. If you're thinking of buying one, you may need to implement a more cunning strategy than moseying down to your local gaming store this afternoon.

Finding a Wii Online

With a little hard work, this could be yours. (Creative Commons photo by Herman Yung)

While buying a Wii from an online retailer is probably your first instinct when your search takes you online, remember that there are more resources at your disposal than online stores for major electronics retailers.

Gather Internet Intel

Given the popularity of the Wii, a number of online services have appeared that are designed to help you find a little magic box to call your own. Sites like WiiTracker.com, will gather up-to-date information on who has Nintendo Wiis and Wii bundles.

You can also find out typically-private information like what time sites tend to put their stock out online.
WiiTracker in particular even includes pricing information and an RSS feed to keep you 100% informed.
"Wii Bundles" are the most common items that appear on WiiTracker.
- -Bundles are pricier packages (usually about $550-$650) that include a bunch of games as well as the system.
- -Major retailers like Amazon and Target typically offer promotional bundle packages.
- -Be careful when considering a bundle. Many individuals have reported on unfairly high prices on some of these bundles. Even Nintendo's American headquarters issued a statement warning retailers against high-priced bundles.

Other notable Wii Tracking websites include:

XPBargains.com: Wii Tracker/Locator
NowInStock.net: Nintendo Wii In Stock Tracker
Refresh Thing: Nintendo Wii Inventory Stock Tracker.

Visit Online Resellers

Check eBay auctions if you don't mind paying more than retail price.
- -Be sure to check the seller's eBay rating and history to avoid scammers!
- -If you're still having a hard time comfortable navigating eBay, Nintendo Shopper scans current auctions and organizes them for you on their webpage.
Browse Craigslist for people selling Wiis in your area.
- -Remember that Craigslist explicitly limits its liability in any transactions that take place through the site.
- -Be sure to meet them in a public place for your safety, and http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams carefully inspect the product] before you agree to buy it.
Amazon resellers are another place to find second-hand Wiis - as long as you're willing to run the risk of high resale prices.
- -Some Amazon members have noticed that resale prices have been going down in the 2008 Holiday Season, possibly due to economic factors and increased supply.

Finding a Wii in Stores

Web-savvy types may assume that if online resources are out of stock on Wii consoles, normal brick-and-mortar stores must also be out. But that may not necessarily be true! Don't be too quick to write off your local retailer. Before you start cruising the aisles though, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Strategize Before Leaving the House

(Creative Commons photo by Gwire)
Compile a list of stores in your area that potentially sell Wiis along with their phone numbers (see retailers section below).
Try setting up an iTrackr account to text you when a store in your area receives a Wii shipment.
If the trail is still cold, it has been popularly suggested that most major electronics stores receive new shipments of consoles and hardware on Sunday mornings.

Make Personal Contacts

Call each of them and ask if they have any Wiis in stock; odds are the answer is no. Follow up with a couple important questions:
- -When was their last shipment was received?
- -Are they expecting any in the near future?
- -How are their shipments delivered?
- -Do the shipments arrive at a regularly designated time?
If you still have no success, don't get discouraged. Keep calling the stores in the morning to ask about the Wii.
Try to acquaint yourself with the store's staff, and deal with a specific clerk or manager whenever you call.
Persistence is the only path to success, but remember to be polite ! Nobody wants to go out of their way to help someone who's being impatient and rude.

Shop Smarter, Not Harder

Try to find a store that is somewhat out of the way; of course the store that's always packed with customers will run out of Wiis faster.
It is unlikely that stores will have any sort of waiting list, so arrive well before opening to avoid like-minded Wii devotees... The earlier the better!
Focus on a few specific stores and get to know all of their important facts (opening/closing time, when shipments arrive, etc.). Don't try to cover every single store in your area.