Where Can I Buy A Wii?

Even though it has been available for nearly two years, the Wii is still hard to find in stores and is in very high demand. You will find plenty of them online at prices that are marked up way above retail price. You shouldn’t pay $400 for a system that retails for $250, so I’ll try to offer some tips for getting a fair price. There are always systems for sale on eBay, but there is lots of competition for them, so you’re likely to still pay a marked up price, even for a used system. Online retailers like Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, and Target.com are almost always sold out of the systems. However, it is not impossible to find the Wii in stores, where you will pay the fair price for them. This can be difficult, and may take some searching and calling around. Depending on store policies, you may be able to have a Wii set aside for you in certain stores when new shipments come in, but not all stores will agree to that.

Now is probably the best time to look for a Wii in the store. It is early summer. It’s no longer graduation or Father’s Day season, and the holidays are still months away, so demand is decreased. I was shocked when I wandered over to the Wii section of Target intending to look at their game selection and saw that they had four Wii consoles in stock. I bought one on the spot and I do not regret it. I have also seen them in stock at GameStop in my local mall. Don’t wait until the holiday season, though, even if you intend the Wii to be a holiday gift. By then the demand will go way up and they will be impossible to find in stores. If you want to surprise someone during the holidays, I advise buying the Wii now and hiding it well. Here are some places you might consider calling or visiting to see if you can find a Wii:

GameStop
Target
Circuit City
Best Buy
Wal-Mart
Kmart
Toys R Us
KB Toys
Blockbuster
Sears
RadioShack
CompUSA

Other Options to Consider

1. Some lesser known online discount electronic retailers may have Wii systems in stock for retail price or close to it. There is always a risk with these sites, so you should make sure they are reputable and have good ratings before you make a purchase from them. Search using Google’s “shopping” feature for prices and ratings from these retailers.

2. Major retailers may have Wii systems in stock online as part of a “bundle,” meaning it comes with the Wii plus extra games and/or accessories. These will tend to be expensive, but that is because you are paying for all the extras. Before buying a bundle, make sure it is worth it. Add up the retail prices of all of the items included (check BestBuy.com or somewhere similar to find those), and make sure that you are not paying too much for the extras. Also, keep in mind that the games and accessories offered with the Wii may not be ones that you would want. Research the games and see if you’re interested in them before wasting your money on extras you don’t really want. If you don’t like all of the items in the bundle, or if they’re marked up from retail, then it’s really no bargain.

3. Try searching items for sale in your local area on craigslist.com. People will probably still mark up the price for new systems, but it is likely to be less than you would pay on eBay, and most people will allow you to go pick up the item, so you will save on shipping costs. This is also a good way to get a bargain on a used system, as many people want to unload them quickly and may include lots of games and extras with the purchase.