11-19-2006, 11:59 AM
I’m sure that some of you, like me, were reluctantly stuck at home on the 18th, wistfully thinking about lining up for a Wii at your local target or Toys R’ Us or Best Buy. And now, the morning of the 19th has dawned, and many of us are still Wii-less, but not by choice. The question is, where do you go from here? What do you do if you want a Wii, but don’t know how to get it? Here’s what my course of action will be for the next few weeks or until I get a Wii. I think it will be useful to anyone who was stuck empty-handed on launch day, either due to inability to get to a store, not getting there in time, or something else entirely.
1. Pinpoint your retailers and make a cheat-sheet.
Here are the Wii retailers all good Wii-hunters should know: Wal- Mart, Target, Toys R’ Us, Best Buy, Circuit City. Now, visit their websites. Find the two or three stores for each that are closest to you, and record their location, phone number, and hours. Here’s my format:
1. Wal-Mart
Location 1:
Hours:
Phone:
Notes:
Location 2:
Hours:
Phone:
Notes:
Location 3:
Hours:
Phone:
Notes:
2. Target
etc etc.
The notes section is for you to record any info you get over the phone. I recommend printing this out and taping it to the wall. I have it next to my bed, and am not ashamed to admit it.
2. Make calls.
As soon as possible, make initial phone calls to all your locations of these stores, to get an idea of what the Wii situation is at each. I did that this morning. Here is what I would ask:
*hold music*
Them: Hello.
Me: Hi, I was wondering if you had any Nintendo Wiis in stock?
Them: I hope you’re kidding.
Me: Okay…so what was the line like at your store?
Them: Across the street (or some other response).
Me: Oh…so when do you think you’ll be getting another shipment?
Them: I have no idea (that will be the usual response, although a woman at a Target store said that she thought they might be getting shipments every day…she spoke broken English, though, so maybe she thought I was just talking about shipments of everything, not just Nintendo Wiis)
Me: So when do you think is the best time to come and get a Wii?
Them: I’m not really sure (they might say something useful, if you’re lucky).
Don’t get disheartened by these conversations leading to nowhere. Take notes, keep track of different responses, and follow up on leads. If you mess up the conversation somehow, just end it quickly and call back in a fake voice. I’ve done it. Otherwise, lather, rinse, and repeat daily.
3. Research!
The Wii situation will probably be changing constantly, and it’s important to be working with accurate and recent information. Wii Loaded will most certainly have all the latest news about how to find a Wii, and also try using a news search engine or just a regular search engine to find information. Try some combination of theses words: Nintendo, Wii, Shipments, Retailers, Stock, Where, Find, or anything else you can think of. Additionally, you should be subscribed to any and all mailing lists that could be helpful in finding a Wii. If you find any useful charts and numbers on Wii amounts, print them out and put them next to your retailer chart. Researching should be a daily routine, too.
4. Pay a Visit.
It’s often a lot easier to get information in person than it is over the phone. But leave the lead pipe at home—just be polite and cordial, and don’t come across as a Wii fanboy or a crazed upset holiday shopper. Ask the same questions as you would for the phone conversations, and any others you can think of. Talk the employees up. It might even help to visit a couple stores each day (it’s Thanksgiving week, so hopefully most of you have school/work off) and ask about the Wii. Establish a relationship with the employees there, and ensure that you will be the first one they call when a new shipment of Wiis comes in. And, most importantly: if, over the phone, there is the slightest hint that there might be a Wii or two at a store, DO NOT HESITATE! Get in your car, get your mom to drive you, somehow get to that store as quickly as possible and scout it out. You will regret passing up a potential opportunity to get a Wii much more than you will regret taking a short drive.
5. Stay in touch!
If you have any questions that you need answered and will help you, and maybe others, in Wii-seeking endeavors, then post it on a Wii forum, much like this one. The path to a Wii is not a lonely one! You might also help others by updating on your Wii situation, especially if you manage to find one. Any information you can provide is useful. In addition, you might even try finding a few friends who live nearby and also want a Wii, and forming a support group of sorts. Combine your efforts to maximize your Wii-searching capacity, and if someone finds a Wii, then you all may be getting a Wii too.
6. Here, Fido.
If all else fails, borrow a Wii from someone else for a bit. Get a dog, and train him to the scent of a Wii. Return your friend’s Wii, and then take your dog to a shopping mall, retail center, or known distributor of Wiis. Let him find you your Wii.
Just remember: Nintendo is shipping 4 million Wiis by the end of this year. That’s a lot more than were available on launch day. Stay motivated, you’re going to get a Wii eventually! If you can’t do all of these, then do as many as possible; anything is better than nothing. Good luck in your Wii search!