We knew that the situation was dire in the UK, but we didn't realize how deep the desperation was around these parts until checking out these exorbitant prices. It's just madness that a one-year-old console is going for at least twice its worth. This also seems like a huge jump from last week's Ebay sales, during which the average cost for a Wii was $377 (according to Terapeak).
The holidays are a scary time, indeed. Run while you still can.
[Via NeoGAF]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-26-2007 @ 6:05PM
Andre said...
Time to track down some Wiis and eBay them, I guess.
Reply
11-26-2007 @ 6:08PM
cmichaelt said...
or you could not be a jerk and maybe someone who actually wanted one and can only afford 250 can get it.
11-26-2007 @ 8:05PM
Atlantis1982 said...
Or how about let people that WANT them to get them.
11-26-2007 @ 6:09PM
JC Fletcher said...
Everybody wants to play Cosmic Family.
Reply
11-26-2007 @ 7:11PM
Mr Khan said...
And, for some reason, Carnival Games
I had written it off, but its somewhat of a casual hit
11-26-2007 @ 6:16PM
Nate said...
If I find them, you better believe they'll be on eBay. I have one, and I won't pass up the opportunity to make a little money.
Reply
11-26-2007 @ 10:32PM
B1gC72 said...
i hear that man. im a between jobs right now plus paying for college so i could definitely use a little cash. i bought one at launch so this would be strictly for the money. i see one every now and then where i live so ill keep an eye out for the sucker.
11-26-2007 @ 10:33PM
B1gC72 said...
i hear that man. im between jobs right now plus paying for college so i could definitely use a little cash. i bought one at launch so this would be strictly for the money. i see one every now and then where i live so ill keep an eye out for the sucker.
11-26-2007 @ 6:28PM
Fullmetal Salchemist said...
I work at a GameStop, I'm going to try to score one and eBay that sucker.
Reply
11-26-2007 @ 6:33PM
Alistair said...
Hmm. I just tracked about ten auctions as they closed and most were going for $400-$420. Still well above retail (and, indeed, above last week, where they were going for $350 or so) but not as egregious as it seems.
That said, there were (inexplicably) some Wii auctions sprinkled among them going for more. But I also saw one that closed at $355.
Bottom line -- if you don't want to camp out for hours before a store opening some Sunday, you're going to be paying $400 or so. The fascinating thing is that that's about what the Wii was going for on eBay at this time last year...
(Makes me glad I got mine in August! I have three friends who are desperately trying to get Wiis for their kids this Christmas.)
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11-26-2007 @ 8:20PM
Nate said...
I couldn't agree more. I got mine off eBay in May for 300 with Zelda...
11-26-2007 @ 6:47PM
Jake said...
Anyone got details on Used Wii's?
If not having a Wii for a month or two means I get $400 I am in :)
Reply
11-26-2007 @ 6:57PM
Potter said...
true dat yo
11-26-2007 @ 7:39PM
Dio said...
There's like, two used Wiis at my Game Crazy for $230, but they don't have the boxes =/ If I could, I would buy and resell them as "barely used! I took it out of the box for three days!" as other auctions do.
11-26-2007 @ 7:13PM
Mr Khan said...
The cruel trick would be to start an auction at $200, and the people, competing for such an awesome low price, would actually get it up higher
Reply
11-26-2007 @ 8:18PM
Avoli said...
The holidays are going to be a savage time indeed as the time ticks nearer. At the BB I work at, we get a ton of calls asking if any are in. Oh the disappointment in the voice when we say, 'They all sold this morning.'
Reply
11-26-2007 @ 8:38PM
accidental said...
Anyone in the UK wanting a Wii: Import from Australia or New Zealand – they're everywhere here (especially in NZ) and you can buy them used for about $200 USD on our local auction sites.
Reply
11-26-2007 @ 9:32PM
Valien said...
My brother-in-law picked up 2 Wii's @ TRU last week and sold one of them on eBay on Friday for $510 + shipping. This is for the base unit with nothing extra.
Hey, if people want to pay that much money for one kudos to those that can sell them and make money on it! If I can find one in a store I'll be throwing it on eBay ASAP.
But still, $510 for the Wii that's been out for a year. Crazy supply and demand. Economics at it's best.
Reply
11-26-2007 @ 9:39PM
Abscissa said...
I believe the term for that is "being a douchebag".
11-26-2007 @ 9:36PM
Bluebreaker said...
Is it a bad sign that the value price console "for the people" is almost more expensive than PS3 *online* yet retains it's low price in a brick and mortar outfit?
Reply
11-26-2007 @ 11:19PM
LittleKey said...
It's being so successful at those prices because of the parents who have to get their kids a Wii for Christmas. Somebody like Jack Thompson could probably chalk that up to child abuse. I wouldn't be surprised.
Reply
11-27-2007 @ 9:22AM
saylorsgang said...
I remember when the original NES came out, it was going for like 700$ in the classified ads, I knew a kid who's parents paid 1100$ for the "ultimate" set that included duckhunt/gyromite, the gun and R.O.B., that kid is most likely buying ne of those 500$ Wiis for his kids.
Reply
11-27-2007 @ 7:49PM
Dusty said...
ok i wasn't going to post this until i got my wii....AND THAT DAY IS TODAY!!!
first i asked a walmart employee when the wii was shiped,and he told me that they get wii's on tuesdays,and that they will know if they have any between 12pm and 1pm. i was there at 11:30 and got the 4th one.
see if you can find a decent walmart employee in the electronics department and see if he will tell you what day and time they expect wii's(p.s. walmart recieves shipments in electronics everyday,but wii's arrive on only one day of the week,oh he also said the get between 24 and 34 wii's in a shipment and they all sell in less than 24 hours)
this is your best bet.
happy wii hunting! W!!
Reply
11-27-2007 @ 8:06PM
Hafk said...
Hey, do you want to go see a movie?
Reply
12-05-2007 @ 11:22PM
Thursdae said...
Just sold my Used Wii with Game for $420.00! woooot
Reply
12-24-2007 @ 1:21PM
funkycomposer said...
The Wii epidemic is an example of capitalism at its worst. It is absolutely sad as to the way we are being treated as potential buyers of the Wii product. You have stores playing games with customers, lying and being secretive about expected times of shipment, and rationing sells. It is totally disrectfully for the consumer to be treated in this way. The stores act as though they are giving away money to the consumers for every Wii they purchased. You have what I thought were respectable stores like Toys R Us engaging in price gouging on line, selling Wii at $600 plus with 10 games to justify the inflated price, not giving the consumer the choice of buying just the console bundle. Taking advantage of the so-call Wii shortage. I refuse to camp out at stores or pay inflated on-line prices. I expect Ebay to inflate but not Toys R Us. There should be protest for such blatant disrespect for the consumer. Oh! What is this selling Wii only on Sundays Crap?????????
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