Earlier this month Nintendo revealed the gold Mario amiibo figure would arrive exclusively at Target stores in Australia on 25th June. Fans were further informed the rare figure would receive only a single run and would be limited to one per customer with no pre-orders available in-store or online. With such odds, the chance of missing out on this one-time amiibo was always going to be incredibly high.
Sure enough, launch day for the golden amiibo is now here, and Target Australia reportedly made a big mistake. The figure was scheduled to go on-sale 8am AEST local time online, but instead became available prior to the scheduled time and before some Target stores around the country had even opened their doors.
The result was a world of pain for online customers who were not refreshing their browser well before 8am, with stock allegedly sold out within ten minutes. Target eventually removed the gold amiibo from its online store to help avoid disappointment and has since reconfirmed the item will not be restocked.
https://twitter.com/Targetaus/status/613924690654932993
In-store the situation was reportedly mixed, with some customers able to obtain what they came for, while others were not as lucky arriving late to the party. The queues outside particular Target stores around the nation were also rather long:
Already there are scalpers on eBay and local trading site Gumtree listing the gold Super Mario amiibo for two times the retail price and even right up to AU$100.
If you live in Australia, let us know in the comments below if you were able to acquire a gold Mario amiibo today. If you live outside of this region, tell us if you are hoping to get this amiibo on release.
[source kotaku.com.au, via gonintendo.com]
Comments 20
I managed to score one when I had a feeling it'd be put up early. Orange is the New Black kept me company while I waited. All the negativity on Twitter makes me feel bad for the Target employees who'd be berated by annoyed customers.
At first, the Amiibo sounded like a good idea — but I figured even before they were out that Nintendo was not going to be able to keep up with demand. They never do, they constantly underestimate and under-deliver. It started in recent years with that 25th Anniversary Mario Collection for Wii, and got worse after that. I have no interest in the figures at all. The whole thing has degenerated into the worst kind of consumerism, and has really brought out the worst in some of the gaming community too. It's just gross all around. Oh, and the gold one looks incredibly tacky, I don't understand the demand for it at all.
Nintendo should sell them on their own site — list each one of the silly things, take as many orders as they need to do a production run, produce, rinse, repeat until there's no more demand. It's not rocket science. Retailers should not have to suffer the brunt of customer dissatisfaction — it's not their fault.
@felixthekarl I covered NZ earlier this month:
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/06/gold_mario_amiibo_arrives_at_target_australia_on_25th_june
If stock isn't already sold out on the NZ site, I'm guessing Mighty Ape members in Australia will be required to stick to the Australian site.
For anyone still looking for a gold amiibo in Australia, this Reddit thread might be of assistance:
http://www.reddit.com/r/amiibo/comments/3a5gee/target_australia_gold_mario_store_stock/?sort=new
That sucks that you can't order it online
Although when I went into target a couple of hours ago, they had plenty of gold mario amiibo, as well as other rare amiibo (i.e. captain falcon, little mac, wii fit trainer, villager, robin, lucina). I would suggest those that couldn't order online to check out their local target store.
I got up at 5am to wait in line. It was kinda pointless, considering only seven people showed up in a store that had 50 of them.
Disappearing quicker than GTAV...
I was going to buy one online but totally forgot. Oh well, I might spray paint a Mario amiibo gold just to make myself feel better
That sucks. I hope there's a restock despite what the twitter post says. Also, Europe wants the Gold Mario as well Nintendo.
@PrincePeach92
People queue with their non-gaming friends and family members.Saw several people apparently dragged along early today. Mum's and young kids getting one each before school too.
Got one, waited a minute for Target to open, walked in, picked one up and went home.
@PrincePeach92
Some have multiple accounts and addresses they can buy from to get more then one.
Yes, I managed to get one! As I don't have a car, I woke up at 6am so I could catch a train (which pulled into the station near Target at 7.55am). It is only a few minutes walk from the station to that Target. There was a long line when I got there (about 8.03am), they were just pulling them out of the boxes and handing them out to the customers. At first I thought that I was out of luck when they ran out of them - but they found another box of them out the back luckily.
I should probably also mention that I was able to get all 3 (green, blue and pink) of the wooly Yoshi amiibos as well. Yoshi has always been my fave Nintendo character, so that made my day.
Alot of people I know got one, I think they look tacky as hell!
I bought the Yoshi's Woolly World amiibo bundle though, now that's all kinds of awesome!
Ouch... This here is the reason I gave up on Amiibo I really wanted to like it, but these stories (along with my own personal stories) just turned me off to the whole thing... Now, if they came out with the cards perhaps I might gain interest again (as long as said cards include the rare Amiibo as well)
Managed to pick one up in target queanbeyan this morning with wooly world bundle but no blue or pink yoshi
Grats to everyone who got one!
My wife and I got one each at the Grafton Target around 10am. Ordered 1 on Target online too at 730 this am. There were plenty left at Grafton, would have tried my luck for another one except the same attendee was manning the desk
In all honesty, what were you guys expecting?
So what else is new? You're doing great, Nintendo !
One has to respect the fact that Nintendo is still standing ... with their unyielding insistence on shooting themselves in the foot!
Tap here to load 20 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...