If you want to buy a Nintendo Switch, you should not go to Amazon. The cyber-commerce giant no longer offers the Nintendo hybrid console, and only third-party sellers on the platform have stocks, often at a particularly high price - at the time of writing these lines, the pack without any game is sold from 345 €.
Nintendo would have decided to no longer offer stocks to Amazon in France.
The Japanese manufacturer would have been scalded by the sometimes very low rates posted by Amazon - we found the console around 270 € against 329 € to Micromania and 299.99 € to Fnac.
Amazon tells us "can not communicate about this," and have "no information" to give.
Nintendo, for its part, did not respond to our requests.
With the approach of the holiday season, and while several packs have been announced with the Switch, the lack of stock on Amazon and the prices posted by third-party sellers may well become problematic. We will update this article if Nintendo responds to our requests.
UPDATE :
Useful clarification : upcoming games are also affected by Nintendo's decision. It is not possible to preorder the next new games of the company, including Super Mario Party and Super Smash Bros Ultimate.
Well to be fair it's very convenient for preorders, since they give you the preorder price guarantee thingy, and you can pay in smaller transactions by applying gift cards on your preorder before it comes out.
As a comparison the Switch with no games retails for 340 euros in Greece in all major retailers. With the same price you can get PS4 Slim with both Fifa 19 and Spiderman and 1tb hdd.
It's easier for a faceless megacorp like sony or microsoft to lower cost and prices. They have much more control on the manufactoring process. Nintendo is a dwarf compared to them. The objective of megacorps like Sony or Microsoft is getting a monopoly then screwing the consumers. The objective of Nintendo is to survive against the big fishes and maintain their identity.
Right, it makes sense. This is likely an issue that was raised to Nintendo by other retailers in France. When Amazon France routinely undercuts the MSRP, which is what has been alleged, it devalues other retailers' stock in that region. It sounds like a dispute involving multiple retailers.
I'd expect this to resolve soon.
#MudStrongs
Switch Friend Code: SW-7842-2075-5515 | My Nintendo: HobbitGamr | Nintendo Network ID: HobbitGamr
@HobbitGamer The MSRP means what it means (M. Suggested R.P.) so, I don't see what's the problem.
You know, Sony, Microsoft and whatever other Manufactures, they all live the same thing...
Why the bloody hell that's only Nintendo that stop to deliver their products to Amazon... I have my little idea about it BUT not the way that you explain just above.
When I see the price of a Dock Station, of the joycons, now the online not free anymore etc... I think that it's more about the buying price between Amazon and Nintendo that cause problem... :/
Maybe I'm wrong but from my perspective Ninty has become more and more greedy with the time... :/
The article above is misleading, it state why it thinks Amazon is not stocking the Switch but actually has no proof.. both Nintendo and Amazon have declined to comment. Also, this is not new, I have found articles all the way back to 2012 with exactly the same situation.. Amazon refusing to stock the 3DS, Wii, WiiU etc. and neither Amazon or Nintendo confirming why.
There are many articles on the subject, but basically the origin of the dispute seems to stem from 2012 when Amazon demanded to sell the 3DS at a discount & then accused Nintendo of shipping them 3DS' with scratched screens in order to bully Nintendo into letting them have this discount. Amazon basically accused Nintendo of sending them defective goods (without evidence) and tried to strong-arm money from them. Not something I'd recommend.
Finally, I would just add that most of this is easily researched - whether it really is Amazon at fault.. or that Nintendo just refuse to deal with Amazon and their practices. I'd note both Sony & Microsoft seem to have had issues with Amazon in the past.
Edit: Just to add, I have read a few sources but not posted them all here. I do not mean to belittle the French article, but it is odd how they don't seem to have picked up on the Nintendo/Amazon history.. a bit like they didn't do their research. And yes, I have read the French article (auto translated).
Danté: Old, cool & wise (the latter two are lies)
3DS FC: 1461-6243-5395
Switch FC: SW-4146-5915-6308 "Friendship is rare, hand me that shotgun buddy, hand me that chair."
@HobbitGamer - You’re exactly right. Nintendo has a long history of pulling/withholding stock from retailers who sell below their MSRP. The “S” really isn’t a suggestion.
@bimmy-lee@20HobbitGamer As per my post above, Amazon & Nintendo have had issues since 2012 beginning with Amazon attempting to force Nintendo into letting them sell at discount - accusing Nintendo of sending them scratched stock. The situation is pretty similar to now, neither side confirming what's happening... let's not forget the French IGN article only guesses what the issue might be.
Danté: Old, cool & wise (the latter two are lies)
3DS FC: 1461-6243-5395
Switch FC: SW-4146-5915-6308 "Friendship is rare, hand me that shotgun buddy, hand me that chair."
@HobbitGamer - Man, those first few years after launch must have been Wii mania. What a phenomenon. It took me almost two years to finally snag one because I wasn’t willing to fight grandmas and trample children to get one when a shipment came in. I lived in Philly during that time, and there were near Wii riots.
@DanteSolablood - I remember the scratched stock situation, but I wasn’t aware they’ve already clashed over MSRP. I remember stories all the way back in the NES era of Nintendo shorting retailers who broke MSRP. But yes, my first comment was made under the assumption the IGN article is correct. Two really stubborn companies involved in this one, so who even knows what’s truly going on.
In Europe there is a law that allows shops to decide the price, that's why Nintendo Directs show no prices for Europe but for Japan and US. Nintendo must accept this if they still want to sell in here.
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Topic: Amazon.fr stops selling Switch ! o_O
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