Since then, we have made about a million phone calls and probably hundreds of store drive-bys, just to try to get lucky. We have used the Wii Tracker on the web that Robin told me about. No luck. I can't tell you how many times Marc or I have gone into a store and inquired only to be told that they just got some units in an hour or so before, but now they're sold out again.
Last week, the electronics employees at Target informed us that they would be getting 42 of the systems in within a couple of days. Marc stood in line from 5:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. three days in a row. They never arrived, and now they say that the order was most likely canceled.
{provisions I got for Marc's early morning wait in the cold & snow}Yesterday, Marc drove by Circuit City and caught the UPS truck delivering several units to the store. However, they would not allow him to buy one, as they hold them for at least 24 hours, then post a sign on their door of how many they have and when they will be available for purchase. (They're going up for sale tomorrow morning, they have 6 units, and there are already more people than that camping in the parking lot.)
We have learned a lot about the ridiculous policies and deplorable customer service of almost all of our local stores. Why don't they just let us pre-pay and then get the next one that comes in? Do they want people camping in their parking lot? Why can't we buy one when both we and the Wii are in the store at the same time? Why can't we get our hands on one of these hot little numbers?
Here is a picture of Max and Lucas holding up a game and strategy guide that they got on Christmas day.
They also got some controllers. I think they took the news that we couldn't get one yet pretty well. Sadly, Lucas now plays with the controllers, pretending that he is actually playing a game. It's so pathetic.
Marc and I are now feeling a little traumatized by our fruitless search. I would love to give up entirely, if it weren't for the little matter of fulfilling the Christmas wish of my two boys...
12 comments:
Okay- seriously that just makes me so sad. I cannot believe he is just playing with the remote controls. Blasted stores. They just toy with your emotions.
I wish you the best of luck in your search.
This is way sad. I can't believe the store is holding them for 24 hours- are they crazy?!?! Have you been trying the game stores like Game Stop? That is where most of the people I know that have one got them. The one in AF by Target is way helpful according to Linc and will actually tell you stuff. Good luck!
I can only imagine the surge of hope Marc must have experienced when he saw the UPS truck at Circuit City. What a let down to be told them hold them for 24 hours, that's retarded, do they enjoy the pandemonium that ensues? They must. Maybe they're power-hungry beasts who enjoy exercising control over the powerless masses. So sad.
I just found your blog, I hope you don't mind if I comment. I too searched everywhere for the Wii and was so annoyed at the retail stores. I ended up finding a PS3 at Costco and bought it just for the thrill of finding it. My boys are diehard nintendo fans and would never be interested in the PS3 so I sold it to a guy in my ward who sells on ebay. I ended up getting them Zelda Twilight Princess for their gamecube and decided to postpone the Wii until next Christmas. My worst experience in my quest for the Wii was walking into a game store in the mall that had 9 boxes displayed in their window. I was so excited until they told me the boxes were just for display purposes. I was so bugged. Why display them all over the store when one can't even purchase the thing? Hope you find one soon. Hopefully it will be easier now that Christmas is over.
Good luck, I hate searching for something only to come up empty handed. Marc is a good sport to pack food and stand in line.
I think Jill is right on, the stores love the torture and chaos. Jerks!
I totally feel your pain! We were able to reserve our Wii games in Oct but not the actual station. That was to be reserved two weeks later. Well, I FORGOT to go back!Can you believe it? I didn't write it down - so I FORGOT! When I finally remembered, it was too late! I about died! I couldn't believe it! I gave up before Christmas as it was such a game calling daily, doing drive bys - all that stuff. I am hopeful that by Feb. we can just go and purchase it off the shelf. I hope that your husband is able to find one as he waits daily. Looks like your kids are good sports about it!GOOD LUCK!
That is a big bummer about your Wii's. I think you had a good idea. Why not prepay and then be able to pick them up? I think it's ridiculous how you have to wait in line for something (or campout) just to get an item. Marc is a TROOPER for doing that, especially over a period of days. Best of luck....hopefully you'll get one soon.
That seriously bugs! You can kind of see why people were shooting at people in line for the new Play Stations with pellet guns to get the line shorter! Its like Cabbage Patch Kids in 81! (Or was it 84?)
I agree, they should do like they do with each new Harry Potter book and let you order in advance! What a huge pain, I am so proud of your boys for being so grown up about it!
We also got ours at Game Stop. They let you prepay a couple of months ago. It will be worth the wait. It is super fun. The sports games that come with it is all we have right now, but they are a blast. My husband came home last night and found me playing tennis by myself. :) Good luck!!!
Hi, I've been admiring your style and talentedness for a while, now. I saw something on the noon news about this very thing today. They said that they expected by March that the shortages would be resolved. That seems like a ridiculously long time. These companies must be aware of Christmas, and so it does seem like they must do this on purpose for the hype. Sad for your boys. It sounds like they are being so patient, which makes you want to give it to them sooner all the more. Hope you find one soon!
Sadly, it's not the retailers but nintendo that has created the hype and shortage. Shame on them.
I actually watched all the sales on ebay and the ridiculous amounts of money people were willing to fork out to these single guys who don't have families to worry about so they can stand in line all night to get one and then jack up the price.
I saw a news story about a 12-year-old boy in line with all these guys and he wasn't going to get one and they let him buy one because everyone else was just reselling, which was very kind of them to give up that profit.
Crazy. Hope you find one soon.
On Friday Jeremy and I took our car down to the claims adjuster's office in Orem at 9:30. We also had a return to make at Best Buy. I was amazed at the number of people waiting outside of the store before they opened. Then, as soon as they lifted the gate, about the same amount of people got out of their cars to run inside. I wonder what they were looking for? I also remember when the PS3 came out. People were camping outside the store--sleeping bags, mattresses, the whole nine yards. Crazy what people will go through!
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