Amazon Not Taking Wii U Pre-Orders

[Sarah LeBoeuf]

Amazon Not Taking Wii U Pre-Orders

The Wii U's future availability on Amazon.com is uncertain.

After the Wii U's November 18 release date was announced yesterday, retailers like GameStop and Best Buy jumped into action and began taking pre-orders for Nintendo's next console. Online retailer Amazon, on the other hand, still doesn't have the Wii U listed. While that didn't seem like a big deal yesterday, when information about the Wii U was flying fast and loose, the retailer has since notified customers to tell them that the Wii U is "not available at Amazon.com."

Those who signed up to be notified of the Wii U's availability received this email from the online store:

Dear Amazon.com Customer, Thank for you signing up to be notified when the Wii U is available. Unfortunately the Wii U console is not available at Amazon.com at this time but please check back in the future, as availability may change. We do have the latest Wii U games and accessories available now so check them out. Thank you for shopping with Amazon Video Games.

This gets even weirder considering that Amazon stopped selling the 3DS (the ones available on the site now are from outside retailers) and has never stocked the 3DS XL. Amazon hasn't given a reason for not making the Wii U available, but gamers who prefer it to brick-and-mortar stores may have to look elsewhere if they're hoping to pick up a Wii U on launch day.

Source: Joystiq [http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/14/wii-u-not-available-at-amazon/]

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[The White Hunter]

Thats weird, I'm sure in the UK amazon sell the 3ds still? :\

 

[Andy Shandy]

What is especially odd is that Amazon.co.uk seems to be.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nintendo-Wii-8GB-Basic-Pack/dp/B004Y59P3A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347636881&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nintendo-Wii-32GB-Premium-Pack/dp/B008B5YB4W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1347636881&sr=8-2

 

[Jhooud]

That doesn't make a bit of sense. Some sort of business intrigue going on here? Well, that ought to make Gamestop (and Walmart, etc. etc.) happy anyway...

 

[disgruntledgamer]

OMG Amazon isn't accepting per-orders on something that's 3 months away and was just announced yesterday? ZOMG it's a conspiracy, the end of the world is coming.

Sarcasm mode off - Seriously this isn't a big deal, they're probably just working out the details, unlike Best Buy & GameStop they deal with more than just games or electronics. If they still don't have it up by the end of next week I'll be surprised until than just chill.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

I'm guessing they want to sell it at slightly less than MSRP and that Nintendo won't let them OR the profit margin to the retailer is so small that amazon doesn't think it's worth it unless it cuts a deal with Nintendo. I was thinking of buying it that way, since I wouldn't mind waiting and I have a fancy Amazon credit card.

 

[NLS]

Unfortunately the Wii U console is not available at Amazon.com at this time

Considering it's not even the 18th of September, let alone November, I'll let Amazon state the obvious and lower my pitch fork.

 

[Yopaz]

OMG Amazon isn't accepting per-orders on something that's 3 months away and was just announced yesterday? ZOMG it's a conspiracy, the end of the world is coming.

Sarcasm mode off - Seriously this isn't a big deal, they're probably just working out the details, unlike Best Buy & GameStop they deal with more than just games or electronics. If they still don't have it up by the end of next week I'll be surprised until than just chill.

Maybe not, but the fact that they don't sell the 3DS either makes this more than just slow listing. Considering that Amazon UK and DE have listed pre-orders and still have 3DS and 3DS XL and that they are listing games I doubt it's something substantial. It's odd, but true, too early for conspiracy theories. My guess is that they are doubting if it will sell and wont waste money on taking in consoles.

 

[KagatoAMV]

I wonder if Amazon get burned by Nintendo over Wii pre-orders?

If so, they might be waiting until they have them in stock before offering them.

 

[SmokePants]

Amazon probably crunched the numbers and found that they'd lose money because of Amazon Prime's free shipping and a razor-thin profit margin from stingy ol' Nintendo.

 

[Petromir]

Amazon probably crunched the numbers and found that they'd lose money because of Amazon Prime's free shipping and a razor-thin profit margin from stingy ol' Nintendo.

Surely that would apply in the UK to and Amazon.co.uk is taking pre-orders.

 

[Podunk]

Hm, interesting. Maybe they just don't want to over-promise and be completely incapable of delivering, like Gamestop and Best Buy will be? I'm sure neither of those chains know how many Wii U they'll be getting at this point, but they'll still take preorders from hell to breakfast anyways.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

That's really weird...people are bitching and moaning about the Wii-U now (well...you know what kind of people) but the thing is going to sell like mad in its first 5 weeks just by virtue of when it's being released. Hey, if Amazon doesn't want my money that's fine. Hopefully my independent place can get me one though.

 

[weirdee]

slow or not, as an online, if not global company they really can't afford to stick to the concept of standard business hours anymore