Nintendo Wii pre-orders cancelled across Europe / Play.com unceremoniously starts cancelling its Nintendo Wii pre-orders citing European shortage as the reason. Bugger!

Nintendo Wii pre-orders cancelled across Europe?

Filed under: Nintendo Wii
Posted: Nov 7th 2006 by Stevie Smith

If this turns out to be true, then those Wiis may as well be flying pigs!

The European launch of the Nintendo Wii may well be pasted firmly as 08 December in the minds of all interested and expectant consumers—especially in light of Sony’s recent European abandonment. But, a grave email that arrived at the GamerSquad office this morning may be about mark yet another wave of Euro-pee-on disappointment and frustration. How we hope we’re wrong on this one.

That said, the email in question, which came from Play.com and concerned a Nintendo Wii pre-order we’d submitted back in September, was really rather ominous in its delivery. It reads:

"Dear Customer,

Due to a European shortage of the Nintendo Wii consoles, we regret to inform you that Play.com will be unable to supply your pre-ordered Nintendo Wii at launch. As an Official distributor of Nintendo products we are guaranteed more stock before Christmas, but Nintendo have informed us, along with all other official Nintendo retailers, that the console will not be freely available until next year."

Blah, blah, first come first serve basis, fill orders as soon as we can, blah, blah!

Now, we’re not ones to be overly cynical on this site (do you ever read our posts?—Ed) but the fact remains that Nintendo gleefully announced this past week that some 4 million Nintendo Wii’s would be available globally between the November US launch and the close of the year. Where does Europe figure into that gigantic number if Play.com—one of Europe’s leading online retailers—is already pulling out of its pre-order commitments?

We can’t speak for you guys, but we’re worried, and not looking forward to camping out in inclement British weather in order to secure Nintendo’s latest hardware offering.

Similar fears and concerns? Comments please!

8 Comments

Comments

I pre-ordered from play just hours after the launch details where made public in europe, at about 16:30 on the 15/09/06. So I think I was amoung the first handful to pre-order. I too got one of these e-mails. To say that I'm disappointed in a bit of a under statement. When I talked the guy that did my security check a few days after I placed the order, I mentioned that I was aware of the first come first serve policy, what are the chances of getting a Wii at launch, the guys said "you WILL get one". I hope this is just Play trying to lower customers expectations, so not too many people are disappointed when the posty doesn't show up with the console of 8/12. But I'm at a loss why they sent it to all the pre-order customers, not just the ones who've pre-ordered more recently or even the people who didn't make the guaranteed spaces. Unless they did and there guaranteed supily is real small. I think I might see what Game can do for me..... I also noticed that play have put the price up on the games in my order from 32.99 to 37.99.

Posted 756 days ago by Si

I have exactly the same thought as you. I got the newsletter email but my preorder remains in my Play.com account. Why newsletter? I am more than annoy. I sold my Gamecube and prepare for Wii. Now I am consoleless. If I don't get one by mid Dec, I am not too bother. I get a PS2 or Xbox360 instead. That will last me for a long long time. Probably until Nintendo slash their price to beg me having one.

Posted 747 days ago by Don Kuan

sorry, they did not send that email to everyone! i guess i am one of the lucky ones! Dear Customer, We can confirm, despite a European shortage of the Nintendo Wii consoles, that Play.com should be able to supply your pre-ordered Nintendo Wii at launch. If you no longer wish to keep your pre-order with Play.com please login to your account and remove the item from your Outstanding Orders. Kind Regards PLAY.COM

Posted 756 days ago by v00doo

ive had a preoder since the first possible day on play.com,and i havnt had either a yes or a no email. im starting to worry now

Posted 726 days ago by Myke

Yeah im the same as you Myke, no email about whether i am gonna get one or not. Its really annoying because they dont even have an email address for me to find out! Im going to ring them in the morning and see whats what - my Zelda game is already packed and being shipped !!!!.

Posted 726 days ago by H

well thats made me feel a bit better, my zelda games being packed atm, but still no news on the wii!!! we're both in the same boat here mate.

Posted 726 days ago by Myke

I preordered a wii from play a few days after official release date was announced an i got the email about the shortage. I've read other people's comments and it looks like this is typical play and game is the best to preorder from. No suprise when my account on play say "awaiting stock". (9/12/2006)

Posted 724 days ago by Dale

ahahahahaha wow wayto fuck ur little nintendo die hard fans. wow and wii fanboy's where saying how bad ps3 was at least they have them in stock but the do sell quickly so ya first come first serve. but ouch nintendo not good news im surprised u even have fan boyz will i can see how because of the children liking the idea acting like zelda LMFAO but hey there kids so enjoy the wii while u see the ps3 and the cheap ass xbox 360

Posted 660 days ago by XxMyLeSmAyAxX

Add a new comment

Your name (required):

Your email address (required, will not be shown to the public):

Do you want us to remember your personal information for next time?

Yes No

Add your comments:

Please enter the code above:

Email me if anyone else comments on this story

Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.