Not so long ago Best Buy, one of the retailers distributing the rather attractive New Nintendo 3DS Majora's Mask 3D model, began to cancel some pre-orders. The retailer initially targeted duplicates, but was then forced to cancel individual orders due to insufficient stock being supplied by Nintendo; it compensated those affected by the latter issue with $50 of in-store credit.
Fry's Electronics is now evidently following the same path, cancelling orders and informing customers that there simply isn't enough stock to fulfil all pre-orders.
It's a frustrating scenario for those affected, and continues trends we've seen with a host of Nintendo products over the last few months. In some cases eBay scalpers have been a problem, with hundreds of these models being sold - as pre-orders - on eBay shortly after they were announced. Beyond that it's clear that stock issues very accurately reflect the term 'limited edition'.
Let us know what you think of this latest set of cancellations, or even if you've been directly affected.
Thanks to all that pointed us to this.
Comments 26
Nintendo might want to rethink only producing these very small numbers of such high demand items.
The equation is complete:
Make more MM new 3DSs
Still call it limited edition
Keep the fans happy
Profit!
@EaZy_T yeah I don't get it, just say it's limited, keep making them, then after February stop making them, simple.
I'm going for the white n3ds as its less stress and Zelda face plates are a guarantee at the end of the day.
Uh, how do pre-orders work with retailers/distributors anyway? Maybe they are taking pre-orders even though they don't know exactly how many Nintendo is manufacturing/producing?
I know the Nintendo online store is taking more orders but they won't be ready until end of March. I agree though- produce it for a few months then stop. Still a ltd edition and keeps people happy.
I've said this about the Toys R Us amiibo incident and the Best Buy incident: You know it's a bad sign if you can't even count on pre-orders anymore...
Surely these companies are receiving some kind of ballpark estimate of their stocks before opening for pre-orders, right?
Folks can say what they want about GameStop in other situations, but they've been coming through for folks pretty well regarding pre-orders. Though, when your primary trade is video games, you're bound to take it more "seriously" compared to stores which only treat it as a sub-category of entertainment (if even THAT).
These retailers should know how much stock that they are getting, it is simply irresponsible of them to put a product up for buying for customers, only to inform them that they can't. Anyways, even though Nintendo has been botching recently with supply and demand (see amiibo and gamecube adapter), this time I don't blame Nintendo. This is a limited edition system, if it sells out quickly then they shouldn't have to make more, the name says LIMITED. Anyways, in this Majora's Mask scenario, it's really up to how retailers handle it, and they haven't been handling it well.
I really don't understand how this happens. People have been clamoring for a MM remake since OoT came out for the 3ds. Nintendo didn't think a MM3ds would be in such high demand?
@Chubblings True but on the other hand Nintendo aren't really in the financial position to decide whether Limited Editions should really be Limited in stock numbers. I'd much rather they do fair money making techniques like making limited editions not so limited than abusing microtransactions like in Pokémon Shuffle.
i much prefer my 25 anniversary zelda 3ds
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BZrikLwIEAAaMlk.jpg
@Sionyn Yea, that was an great design. I only sold mine to move up the XL.
Also, this will be interesting for those who sold preorders on eBay. Going to be seeing some unhappy buyers too.
I don't blame Nintendo either, I blame BestBuy & Fry's. It would be nice though if Nintendo would make more and sell them only to customers that could show proof of a canceled preorder
So, I guess we'll never know who's fault this is, huh? Ninntendo over-promising stock and under-delivering, or the reatilers taking more pre-orders than they knew they were going to get.
Regardless, it' shard to get too upset over something labeled "limited" you know they are only gong to be so many, but the amiibo really need to be in stock in higher numbers. What if people don't like SSB so they haven't been collecting amiibo yet, but they want Mario Party 10 and then decide it's time to start buying amiibo, they are going to be in for a rude awakening.
Pre-orders should never be canceled though. Ninteod is leaving so much money on th etbale by not making more amiibo and "limited edition" 3DS models. Judging by sales they could make double of everything and still sell out, then let all the eBay scalpers be stuck w/ items they can't unload.
I'm sure some of this is Nintendo's fault but I also think alot of these shortages are due to the damn scalpers who have systems in place where they end up with tons of systems & figures on launch day and what's even worse is the people who buy them at these inflated prices but they know Nintendo has some crazy diehard fans & they prey upon them.
Nintendo could just remedy the situation however by releasing more of them but then again they're the masters of creating hype through shortages.
I doubt this is all Nintendo's fault (surely some blame falls on retailers overpromising and the rise in scalping) but at the end of the day people are only going to remember Nintendo's hand in it. Let's face it, the end of 2014/start of 2015 is going to go down as the Time of Cancelled Nintendo Preorders and that's surely starting to lose them customers by this point. We're several months into this debacle. Nintendo needs to step up. They're the root of the problem and the most capable of solving it.
@readyletsgo
I wish I had that option here in the states
@arrmixer me too!
You guys might get it for a Christmas launch though, I can feel it!
Their updates regarding the cancellations should have began with "It seems you have met with a terrible fate..."
I've never had problems getting limited edition Nintendo stuff in the past, so this is inexcusable. For example, I was able to pre-order the limited edition Skyward Sword bundle about 2 or 3 weeks after it was announced without problem, but I couldn't get a pre-order for the MM3D bundle on the day it was announced! Sure, I can understand it being difficult to find limited edition consoles, but my older sister was able to get her hands on both the Zelda and Fire Emblem edition 3DSs rather easily, so when pre-orders are becoming unreliable, something is very wrong.
I honestly think they are taking more preorders than they can handle, rather than that Nintendo just not giving them enough. It is a limited edition (emphasis on LIMITED) system, and I'm pretty sure they at least know a good range of the amount they will get, yet I'm betting they accept pre orders left and right without considering that number.
I don't like Fry's. They always screw things up, and their employees are all abnoxious.
Look people, just preorder stuff like this from GameStop. They won't let you down.
Yeah, "limited edition" used to mean that Nintendo's stuff just wouldn't be on the shelf forever. Now it means you won't be able to buy one at all. I'm so irritated at the way they are handling the new 3ds launch. No standard model, a limited edition that no one can even get... Video games are supposed to be a fun diversion, not a frustrating lesson about economics. I'm really curious about the total number of Majora's Mask 3ds's that there will be, so I know if I should place more blame on scalpers or Nintendo.
Best Buy, Fry's; you had better not screw me over gamestop...
I'm just gonna hold out on the New 3DS. I just bought a Peach 3DS shell to go with my Pink/White 3DS xL. I figure I can make it ladt a bit longer...
I even cancelled my New 3DS black preorder and put my $50 towards Smash Bros Wii-U...
@DTFaux Retailers do get an actual number. However, manufacturers can revised those numbers at any point in time, as well as, reallocate supplies to different retailers. Nintendo is infamous for not giving accurate #, and often short change most retailers/not giving an early notification.
Gamestop knows this, and since game is there only business, they spend far more money to buy up more supplies and undermine other retailers. Around the same time Best Buy had to send out cancellation, Gamestop open up orders for more MM 3ds.
People complain about how ever other retailers aren't reliable, and switch to Gamestop. Gamestop gets more money and leverage, uses it to undermine other retailers by buying up allocation away from other retailers. Other retailers get revised numbers and are force to cancel. Repeat the catch 22.
And Nintendo tends to never produce enough to meet demand which drives up more demand now and in the future as people will view their stuff as rare.
They should be forced to honor every single order they receive and cancel none, and be fined if they can not do this.
@Meloetta Same here. I think it comes to Nintendo (of America) doubling down on their shelf presence/product demand. Ever since third parties unofficially dropped them, it's almost as if they have lost market confidence and lowered supply.
That way if they underperform it doesn't stand out (or hurt as much financially), and if they surpass expectations it creates buzz, demand and makes them look more successful. It's almost a win-win situation
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