Topic: Can't buy games from the eShop...

Edit: Please close thread. This is now resolved. For those who may come across the same issue, waiting about 5 hours seems to resolve the issue.

It's been years since I've used the 3DS, but I recently decided to play it again and thought I'd pick up a couple of eShop titles.

Does anyone still buy from the eShop and if so, have you had any issues? I'm trying to work out what I can do without having to contact Nintendo (obviously I don't want to waste time doing that if it's an easy fix).

So my issue is that I can't add funds or purchase directly online. Obviously I discovered, whilst attempting to purchase directly from the 3DS eShop, that Nintendo no longer allows you to use a debit or credit card. Fair enough, they can't be bothered to update the security so it's compliant with EU laws, I can forgive them since the console is not really supported anymore. But attempting to add funds online or purchase from a computer/phone results in the following error message:

"Error Code: 902-3147
Your Nintendo Network ID is restricted from being used on computers or smartphones.
This setting can be changed from the Nintendo Network ID settings on your Wii U or Nintendo 3DS."

I figured that was fine and I just needed to change my security settings. So I changed them on my 3DS, but nearly an hour later I'm still getting the same error message... What gives?

Has anyone else had this issue? Do I need to wait longer. Does the setting usually change instantaneously or can it take a few hours for it to all update? I don't really get it. I've checked the setting on my 3DS and I definitely have it now set to 'do not restrict'.

Any help will be appreciated thanks.

@Reprise That's helpful to know it took about 5 hours for your account settings change to take effect for 3ds eshop

I bet others will run into this if they haven't gone on eshop since the security change(Nintendo ID issue) was implemented in the spring. Since Nintendo game development has slowed, a lot of people have been picking up their 3ds lately.

@WoomyNNYes Yeah, that's basically why I picked up the 3DS again. I thought I'd play some DS and 3DS games I never tried or got into (I was always a bigger Vita player).

Now I know I need to just purchase games via a phone or computer and have jumped through the initial hoops it's not too bad. For a moment I was worried I was going to need to buy eShop vouchers...

I really need some help with my eshop/3DS problem. I wanted to buy one frikkin' game on my 3DS (Donkey Kong Country, the SNES version). So I couldn't use credit cards on the system so I went to the Nintendo site and bought the game from there (using the correct link to the 3DS eShop).

As I bought it I just couldn't download it any way. I can't find the game on my 3DS or any download button on the 3DS eShop (using the 3DS system). Going to the sShop by 3DS it shows the purchase in the history, meaning my system is correctly linked. I even re-linked it, but still nothing. But going to the game in the eShop it just shows purchase button and I can buy the game again?! O.o

[ I already gave my support contact to Nintendo, waiting them to answer sometime next year. I also gave them some feedback about how OUTDATED and COMPLICATED their systems are. I mean, it's very confusing with all the different accounts I have to make My Nintendo, Nintendo Account, Mii something, Nintendo Network ID.. or whatever they are. And just trying to remember what name I used where is impossible, because I have no idea what refer to where. Not sure if they asking my console name or what, because in my ID the console name has one character less so I have to shorten it I'm fighting with this like its 2005 ]

Oh, I think I found my answer!

I just went on and on my "Nintendo pages" and found a recipe that the game I got is for "WII U"... Yes, I own a Wii U console that has been on the shelf having its retirement since 2019.
I did use the 3DS eShop, not the Wii U eShop, though. Either I'm gonna buy the game AGAIN and try my luck to get it on 3DS or wait for the support replay (the game is exact same, exact same price, but still Nintendo selling them separately??)

@Dead-Emmett If you contact Nintendo, I think there's a chance they could help fix your purchase. In the US, here, when I have callled support, they had some limited ability to manage your account. Maybe they could transfer the purchase money to the 3ds version? Ask nicely. Don't get your hopes up, but It's worth a try? If you haven't downloaded the game to wii u yet, that could help your case.

You can disregard, if you're done messing around with it, though.

I Also Got This Message When I Tried Buying Nintendogs + Cats. Then I Changed The Setting On My Poke-Ball Edition 2DS. But I Still Got The Same Message.

@Eggdog If the posts above don't answer your issue, I think your best bet would be to ask Nintendo. It's pretty easy to get someone on the phone, or you can use their chat messenger.
https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/contact

edit: the take-away from above was that it took 5 hours for user Reprise's nintendo account changes to take affect.