Nintendo has been plagued with hardware supply problems since the launch of the Wii console in December 2006. The issues continued throughout 2007, with the company unable to meet demand for its latest console in both the US and UK.
It would seem that a similar problem is now arising with Wii software. Last week, Wii Fit dropped out of the UK charts as gamers couldn’t get hold of the title. Nintendo commented that there were “pockets of stock shortages” across the country, although it was continuing to supply stores with the game.
Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter told the LA Times that according to his estimates, 2 million copies of the game have been shipped to Europe, but only 500,000 have made it to North America. He believes this is because Nintendo is strategically directing its stock to Europe to benefit from the strong euro.
Pachter said, “The shortage demonstrates one consequence of the weak dollar. We’re seeing companies ignore their largest market simply because they can make a greater profit elsewhere. They know that Americans will be just as fat a few months from now.”
Tee hee.
Welcome to the New Mexico, Nafta works…. Why do you need a border wall you are the same now.
Wii Fit shortages in U.S. are deliberate?
So?
Uh, #1 – are you commenting on the right post or having beer for breakfast?
Just as fat? Maybe a little fatter!
This article also shows that someone very high up at Nintendo should be fired. The article doesn’t say that Nintendo reduced supply to raise prices, but that given the number of games that they could produce, they had to ration them with a priority toward Europe.
Anytime you have to delay the introduction of something like this, sales get hurt.
Oh damn. A shortage of video game consoles. And software too! ARRRGHHHHH! Where’s the hemlock tea??
THE FUCKING TERRORISTS HAVE WON!!
>>Maddog – are you commenting on the right post or
>>having beer for breakfast?
I think his name says it all. He just forgot the “20-20” part.
Wait until this starts happening with other products. We are at the risk of falling off of the radar for advanced product releases as our market isn’t as profitable (or in some ways, as sophisticated in tech infrastructure) as the European and Asian markets.
I was at the Society for Information Display conference last week and some manufacturers don’t even bother displaying all their prototypes and advanced tech because nobody in the USA designs TV sets anymore.
Well more and more people I know over here in Eu are taking weekend holiday’s to the US to buy stuff cheaper then they can get it over here. Just like my friends in the US would go to Mexico to do the same. Companies would rather sell outside outside US cause they can make more money in better economies. Soon companies in EU and India will start out sourcing to the US 🙂
#2, it may seem meaningless to you now, but when products YOU want and need are no longer available because someone decided that selling to you is less profitable then selling to someone else, we’ll see.
Artificial shortages can be forced on anything if there is sufficient business advantage for the supplier(s) in doing so.
haha, they obvious did not foresee the influx of returns due to the 250lbs max weight limit was not enough for the common shopping cart pusher patrolling the lanes at Wally-World. What have we become when common parlance to take the night off and play with one’s wii?
Just got our Wii Fit today, it’s sold out in most stores around here (London, Ontario, Canada).
BTW the limit is 300 lbs.
It’s capitalism in action. We should be happy
the answer said, on June 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
It’s capitalism in action. We should be happy
I agree. BTW, I just returned this minute from Nintendo World in Manhattan. An employee told me that the shortages have to do with…wait for it…the *weight* of the units; they can only ship so many at a time! Man, they’re not even trying to lie well. She told me that all the Wii Fit units are produced in the USA for the USA market, so oversupply in Europe has nothing to do with shortages here. Also, she has a bridge for sale…
The games developed so far a really cool, and i hope more developers will jump on board and make even more exciting games.