You Can't Get A Package Delivered On Thanksgiving, But Somehow, A Bunch Of Wiis Will Show Up At Best Buy
from the grinch-came-early dept
While the first batch of Playstation 3 and Wii owners are getting settled into their new systems (or nursing their injuries from standing in line), demand for the machines remains high as retailers look ahead to "Black Friday", the traditional shopping-heavy day after Thanksgiving. But now, after some people struggled to find consoles online, it appears that some bricks-and-mortar retailers aren't making things easy, either, by holding back in-stock units of the Nintendo Wii. Reports say that Best Buy stores in the US and in Canada aren't restocking their shelves until Friday, so that they'll be able to "fulfill" Friday newspaper ads featuring the console. This is hardly surprising, since retailers are pulling out all their tricks to capitalize on the popularity of the new systems. It does seem a bit odd, though, that Best Buy is now so apparently focused on driving people into their stores on Black Friday, and is even disclosing what will be in their newspaper ads -- when they've used bogus DMCA claims to try and get copies of their ads off the web already this year.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Business Model
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Re: Business Model
It is funny that they are turning away sales, so that they can boost sales on Friday.
They won't make any more money by selling them Friday than today, but Wall Street will like it, as they will extrapolate strong numbers this day.
Morons.
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False Advertisements
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Re: False Advertisements
Stores aren't required to have a minimum number of anything in stock unless it explicitly says so in the ad -- and there's no way in hell Best Buy would publish an ad that required them to have a fast-selling item like a brand new video game console in stock in every store. They just want to boost Black Friday sales. Trust me, I work in the same business, and Black Friday is to retail what the sweeps are to TV networks -- everyone is going to pull out all the stops to get customers that day.
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Re: Re: False Advertisements
Best Buy, and other stores, routinely advertise how many of a "doorbuster" item they'll have on hand. Best Buy, at least in my area, has been doing it since they opened the doors. I know. I worked there.
The Thanksgiving ad for my area doesn't list the Wii at all, but it does list the Xbox 360 Core. It very specifically states "Minimum 30 per store. Limit 1 per customer. No rainchecks."
The Saturday ad lists the Wii, and specifically states that there will be a minimum of 15 per store, and that they are doing a "lottery" for the available units.
Wal*Mart also advertises the minimum number they'll have in each store, especially when they've made a special buy, and there won't be any rainchecks.
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Re: Re: False Advertisements
Of course, supply plays a big part of the availability too. The manufacturer will ship what they have based on their allocation and it's up to the store to comply with the law.
Read the ads more closely. They often state "minimum quantity per store - x". To not do so would be a violation of bait-and-switch laws and would create unfair competition.
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Not exactly true.
Just a minor correction ;) (hope this don't get me fired)
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Consumer Protection
When I read the catalog sales each week if there is something I want on sale I always call the store the day before the sale starts. I ask how many of the item they have in stock, and if they have extra units that will be added for the sale. Half the time the staff don't even know there will be a sale on that day!
What really annoys me is when they advertise something and don't have ANY stock. I know they didn't have it because I was first in line. Yet sometimes they try and refuse to give a raincheck so I could come and buy one at that price when they do get stock in (which would be illegal if they don't supply it here). But there isn't much you can do here apart from file a complaint with the ACCC on the Trade Practices Act that protects us consumers here in Oz.
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Not happening here
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Because PS3's are sold out
I know people mean well to at least try and get something video-game related instead of a sweater or socks, but sometimes it's better when people say a specific thing and not the rival product, then when you can't get the right one - it might be better to just not buy anything for the time being...
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Re: Because PS3's are sold out
On the subject of "getting the right one" - grow up. You sound like you are whining because you didn't get what you wanted even though you got something related. Waa.
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Here's another tidbit...
Maybe this clears things up a little...maybe it makes people mad. Take your pick...
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Typical Best Buy
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What's new?
Welcome to the world of retail 20 years ago.
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The best buy ad
I have worked retail for what seems like forever and every year its the same thing with a different product. People are pissed cause they can't get one for Timmy and blame the big bad retail chain for lack of production by manufacturers or following standardized advertising laws.
There are tons of Wii's coming, you will get one.
Patience is a virtue.
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Maybe not Friday so much...
Here in MD, all the Best Buy employees are saying Sunday. I was at Best Buy today and they only had 15. They didn't even put it in their sales ad.
15 doesn't sound too strong, so I'm hoping Sunday will be. I know the store had around 120 on launch, so it's obviously a big store, but how much would that equate to now, 30? 50? hopefully a lot is all i can say. If anybody actually knows, reply away
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Wii's in Houston, TX
Toys R' Us was officially saying either Saturday or Monday is when they expected to have the Wii available to sell, but really wasn't too sure. Realistically, that one shipment could come just about anywhere between today (Friday) and Sunday. Just to toss numbers around, there were 90 Wii's and 8 PS3's available for their respective launch days.
EB Games was just as unsure, as was GameCrazy.
Fat lot of good it did my brother and I, being 10th in line at 3:30am in front of Toy's R' Us.
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Dumb
NOTHING IS THAT IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!
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what about nintendo
They know what the demand is, and they purposely create a frenzy by not manufacturing enough units. Let's put the blame where it belongs.
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Re: what about nintendo
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In Line
I knew they were lying so I stayed in the lot all night. The next day I got in line for a Wii (5th out of 18) Never did see a UPS truck.
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CONSOLES
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