Nintendo Releases Official Statement on Proper Wii Remote Usage

Not a recall, says Nintendo, but "...we will be providing replacement wrist straps free of charge..."

Posted by Staff
Following SPOnG’s earlier news in which we brought some clarity to the situation over the Wii Remote strap issue, we have just received the ‘official line’ from Nintendo, which clears up the matter once and for all.

Although the company is not issuing a recall, it is making free wrist straps available to anybody requesting one. This introduces a grey area inside which Nintendo has either invented a manufacturing process that produces wrist straps for free, transports them for free and delivers them to the consumer requesting a replacement for free, or doesn't. In the latter case, of course, the company will bear a cost.

The question is, whether exchanging - for free - items that are not yet broken can be classified as a recall. According to Nintendo, it doesn't.

And here's the official word regarding an apparent misquote from Nintendo spokesman, Yasuhiro Minagawa. "Mr Minagawa was misquoted somewhere, which is the source of this confusion. This is not a product recall, we really cannot stress this enough." Nintendo UK's Rob Saunders told SPOnG earlier.

In order to quickly fan out damaging and misleading reports emanating from the usually reliable BBC and Associated Press news services, Nintendo has just issued the following statement:

1. Will you be issuing a recall?
A: No. There is no problem with the wrist strap as long as the Wii Remote is used sensibly and properly in accordance with the guidelines provided by Nintendo. However, we will be providing replacement wrist straps free of charge to consumers who request them. Consumers who break their wrist straps and consumers who are worried about their wrist strap they should contact their nearest Nintendo Service Centre on 0870 6060247

Nintendo is confident that by using the Wii Remote and wrist strap in compliance with the guidelines provided by Nintendo, people will fully enjoy their games without causing injury to other people or damaging surrounding objects. Nintendo is continuing a dialogue with its customers about the proper and safe use of the motion-sensitive Wii Remote controller when playing Wii Sports. The following tips are advised for safe play:

If you have any questions about your Wii Remote wrist strap please contact your nearest Nintendo Service Center 0870 6060247


Companies:

Comments

SPInGSPOnG 15 Dec 2006 15:31
1/2
Recalling the Wii straps would be expensive. Offering a free replacement much much less so, because 90% of people won't bother.

But next time someone breaks a TV and tries to sue Nintendo, they will be able to point out that the customer did not take them up on their generous offer of a free replacement strap, which would surely have prevented the mishap, thus enabling them to refute culpability.

Personally, I think the wrist strap is strong enough. You'd have to be doing something crazy to break it in most normal (and some abnormal) use.

PreciousRoi 18 Dec 2006 00:58
2/2
The question is, whether exchanging - for free - items that are not yet broken can be classified as a recall. According to Nintendo, it doesn't.


hah!
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