So Tommy has been saying he wants a Nintendo Wii since... well, since they were first announced as an upcoming product.
So, naturally, since they have become available for sale (before Christmas some time), they have been being snapped-up and resold on eBay by leeches (and sorry, but if you do this, that is what you are).
There is even a real-time website which polls sales sites for "in-stock" status on Wiis, and they go in-stock to out of stock in a matter of minutes, kinda freaky. Plus, the on-line stores sell only "bundles," meaning Nintendo's "less costly" Wii ($249.00 list) quickly becomes a $700.00 purchase, with a raft of unwanted games and accessories.
So Celia gets up this morning and, on a tip from someone, checks the on-line Target ad, and they show Wii for sale. Store opens at 0800. We drove there, knowing we were bound to be too late (it was 7:40).
When we got there, we found 7 other people ahead of us, and a very pleasant fellow opened the door, and gave us a business card with "8" on it; he told me that they had eight to sell.
Before the store opened, another 10-12 folks showed up, but they gave no numbers after (I think) 10 or so.
Store opened, we went to the service desk and Wiis were sold in sequence, with polite humor pervading the process. I think everyone in line was buying for their kid except one, twenty-something, who gave attitude when the manager told him he could buy only one (to glares from the rest of us). Bet the one he bought is on eBay already.
We got home, Tommy was up already, but I wrapped up the Wii console, as well as the second controller with games we also bought. I gave him the second controller to open and told him he'd get the Wii whenever we could find one, and he accepted that with good grace (I guess, because that meant he at least had the promise of one). Then we dished the console itself. Smiles ensued.
Happy Birthday to Tommy! Twelve years old today.
So, naturally, since they have become available for sale (before Christmas some time), they have been being snapped-up and resold on eBay by leeches (and sorry, but if you do this, that is what you are).
There is even a real-time website which polls sales sites for "in-stock" status on Wiis, and they go in-stock to out of stock in a matter of minutes, kinda freaky. Plus, the on-line stores sell only "bundles," meaning Nintendo's "less costly" Wii ($249.00 list) quickly becomes a $700.00 purchase, with a raft of unwanted games and accessories.
So Celia gets up this morning and, on a tip from someone, checks the on-line Target ad, and they show Wii for sale. Store opens at 0800. We drove there, knowing we were bound to be too late (it was 7:40).
When we got there, we found 7 other people ahead of us, and a very pleasant fellow opened the door, and gave us a business card with "8" on it; he told me that they had eight to sell.
Before the store opened, another 10-12 folks showed up, but they gave no numbers after (I think) 10 or so.
Store opened, we went to the service desk and Wiis were sold in sequence, with polite humor pervading the process. I think everyone in line was buying for their kid except one, twenty-something, who gave attitude when the manager told him he could buy only one (to glares from the rest of us). Bet the one he bought is on eBay already.
We got home, Tommy was up already, but I wrapped up the Wii console, as well as the second controller with games we also bought. I gave him the second controller to open and told him he'd get the Wii whenever we could find one, and he accepted that with good grace (I guess, because that meant he at least had the promise of one). Then we dished the console itself. Smiles ensued.
Happy Birthday to Tommy! Twelve years old today.
Just wait and see what they do when the new Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camero come out next year.
