Mobile Fun, which has been offering for sale Wii bundles at an astonishing £319.95, has blamed its supplier for the price.
In response to SPOnG querying the price of the bundle, a representative of Mobile Fun told us:
The question we're left with, then, is where in the supply chain is the Wii's price getting inflated? Speaking exclusively to SPOnG, a Nintendo representative told us it is not at the top:
SPOnG and our readers have been tracking Wii prices and so far have discovered the following: Overclockers UK is selling the Wii at £328.99 - without even bundling in any extras. Saverstore will sell you the same package for £299.99.
Microdirect, meanwhile, is selling the Wii (again, without a bundle) at £317.24. Microdirect, however, has added the following to its product description: "Micro Direct apologise for the increased prices of our Nintendo Wii product. This is due to severe shortages which means we have had to source products from Europe. We hope to obtain a better sell price as and when more products becomes available." This would confirm what Nintendo has told SPOnG.
We've contacted Koch, Nintendo's 'preferred' distributor of the Wii in the UK, for comment. All this still leaves us with an unpleasant taste in our mouths. Even the upfront honesty of a company like Microdirect cannot sweeten it. Why, we have to ask, is the Wii available in Europe yet rarer than hen's teeth in the UK? Over to you Nintendo of Japan.
If you are a SPOnG reader outside the UK, how easy has it been for you to find a Wii? To the rest of our readers who have already been so helpful, keep the information coming in the Forum below.
In response to SPOnG querying the price of the bundle, a representative of Mobile Fun told us:
"There is nothing sinister in this at all. It is a case of supply and demand. We had a number of customer requests for the Wii Console as they had realised that the Wii Console was going to be in short supply this year.
"At this time of year, the cost of the Wii from the suppliers has been hugely inflated. We have purchased the Ultimate Wii Console Pack as a bundle and are making a very small margin. The decision to sell them has been based solely on trying to service our customer needs. I hope you can appreciate this. We have actually seen the Wii Console being sold on eBay for over £400 recently!
"As always we try to give value for money on all purchases."
"At this time of year, the cost of the Wii from the suppliers has been hugely inflated. We have purchased the Ultimate Wii Console Pack as a bundle and are making a very small margin. The decision to sell them has been based solely on trying to service our customer needs. I hope you can appreciate this. We have actually seen the Wii Console being sold on eBay for over £400 recently!
"As always we try to give value for money on all purchases."
The question we're left with, then, is where in the supply chain is the Wii's price getting inflated? Speaking exclusively to SPOnG, a Nintendo representative told us it is not at the top:
"Mobile Fun do not purchase their Wii stock from Nintendo so I cannot comment on their supplier or where they are getting their stock from. This is a very important point because the cost price for Wii was set at launch and has not changed since. Nintendo does not adjust the prices of any of its products based on levels of supply and demand and we strongly refute any claim to that effect."
SPOnG and our readers have been tracking Wii prices and so far have discovered the following: Overclockers UK is selling the Wii at £328.99 - without even bundling in any extras. Saverstore will sell you the same package for £299.99.
Microdirect, meanwhile, is selling the Wii (again, without a bundle) at £317.24. Microdirect, however, has added the following to its product description: "Micro Direct apologise for the increased prices of our Nintendo Wii product. This is due to severe shortages which means we have had to source products from Europe. We hope to obtain a better sell price as and when more products becomes available." This would confirm what Nintendo has told SPOnG.
We've contacted Koch, Nintendo's 'preferred' distributor of the Wii in the UK, for comment. All this still leaves us with an unpleasant taste in our mouths. Even the upfront honesty of a company like Microdirect cannot sweeten it. Why, we have to ask, is the Wii available in Europe yet rarer than hen's teeth in the UK? Over to you Nintendo of Japan.
If you are a SPOnG reader outside the UK, how easy has it been for you to find a Wii? To the rest of our readers who have already been so helpful, keep the information coming in the Forum below.
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Comments
SuperSaiyan4 7 Dec 2007 14:29
1/7
I think these retailers are talking s**t, if they are sourcing them from Europe then not only are they taking away any chances of our neighbours being able to get one but are also buying then reselling...Considering that I could or anyone could easily import a console from say Hong Kong including import tax and delivery it is still cheaper than buying one from those sites.
What they are trying to say is that they had existing stock or their new stock was low and saw the amount of money they could easily make by this shortage of Wii's that they though to cash in like the ebayers.
The main problem is also that not only is there around 63pages or more on ebay of Nintendo Wii's thats one of the reasons why there is a shortage...People always find ways of making money and since there clearly are people willing to pay top dollar for something that will always be the case.
The funny thing is I dont have a need for a Wii but I like the look of it so if I come across one I will buy it to keep not to rip someone off.
What they are trying to say is that they had existing stock or their new stock was low and saw the amount of money they could easily make by this shortage of Wii's that they though to cash in like the ebayers.
The main problem is also that not only is there around 63pages or more on ebay of Nintendo Wii's thats one of the reasons why there is a shortage...People always find ways of making money and since there clearly are people willing to pay top dollar for something that will always be the case.
The funny thing is I dont have a need for a Wii but I like the look of it so if I come across one I will buy it to keep not to rip someone off.
deleted 7 Dec 2007 21:12
2/7
as the previous post states, where people will pay other people will charge what they can, my freind has boxed his Wii which ws purchased day of release in the UK and is selling it on ebay for £300.00 + 49.99 delivery!!, its still mint condition with everything rebagged, and advertising it as good as new, he says that he can live without his wii till after new year as his 360 is fulfilling his needs, he still has his games, and his extra wiimotes and when he buys a new one later on he has made £180 give or take profit, now is he any better than the retailers or for that matter are the retailers any worse than him?
maybe those cursing the retailers now should of purchased one in the summer where there was a plentiful supply and some good deals around, businesses are in business to make money not freinds, and if you say the reputation of a company would be affected by this, well then just think how hard they will have to work in the new year to garner that rep back.
maybe those cursing the retailers now should of purchased one in the summer where there was a plentiful supply and some good deals around, businesses are in business to make money not freinds, and if you say the reputation of a company would be affected by this, well then just think how hard they will have to work in the new year to garner that rep back.
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Joji 7 Dec 2007 23:55
3/7
Lol. This is as sick as it is funny. Sick because of Nintendo barking 'we'll meet demand' and then buckling under Wii's popularity. Funny because of the fallout this whole Wii shortage is having.
Sure, I want a Wii but I'm not that desperate for one. I'd easily rather go the Hong Kong route and get one. I'd love the funny looks i'd get from Nintendo Europe/Japan for doing so.
Sorry Nintendo, but this shortage crap is pathetic. You guys do this crap every time you get in the lead with a console, and frankly its not good or remotely funny. Someone at NoJ is badly running this puppet show.
Guess I'll stick with my DS, til Wii's are actually available properly in 2010.
Sure, I want a Wii but I'm not that desperate for one. I'd easily rather go the Hong Kong route and get one. I'd love the funny looks i'd get from Nintendo Europe/Japan for doing so.
Sorry Nintendo, but this shortage crap is pathetic. You guys do this crap every time you get in the lead with a console, and frankly its not good or remotely funny. Someone at NoJ is badly running this puppet show.
Guess I'll stick with my DS, til Wii's are actually available properly in 2010.
Joji 7 Dec 2007 23:56
4/7
Lol. This is as sick as it is funny. Sick because of Nintendo barking 'we'll meet demand' and then buckling under Wii's popularity. Funny because of the fallout this whole Wii shortage is having.
Sure, I want a Wii but I'm not that desperate for one. I'd easily rather go the Hong Kong route and get one. I'd love the funny looks i'd get from Nintendo Europe/Japan for doing so.
Sorry Nintendo, but this shortage crap is pathetic. You guys do this crap every time you get in the lead with a console, and frankly its not good or remotely funny. Someone at NoJ is badly running this puppet show.
Guess I'll stick with my DS, til Wii's are actually available properly in 2010.
Sure, I want a Wii but I'm not that desperate for one. I'd easily rather go the Hong Kong route and get one. I'd love the funny looks i'd get from Nintendo Europe/Japan for doing so.
Sorry Nintendo, but this shortage crap is pathetic. You guys do this crap every time you get in the lead with a console, and frankly its not good or remotely funny. Someone at NoJ is badly running this puppet show.
Guess I'll stick with my DS, til Wii's are actually available properly in 2010.
Bentley 8 Dec 2007 02:06
5/7
I hate it when people say "the funny thing is" and then follow it with something not in the least bit funny. But then, I am a miserable old cynic.
RiseFromYourGrave 8 Dec 2007 04:33
6/7
colloqially at least, funny can also mean paradoxical, strange, intriguing, daft and more in that context
Hypnotoad 10 Dec 2007 00:02
7/7
Gold Coast, QLD Australia has anything but shortages. How many do you want??