Getting your hands on a Nintendo Switch system isn't as straightforward as you might hope in the US at the moment, with stock issues at a number of major retailers hinting at wider distribution struggles.
Well-known stores such as Amazon, Target, GameStop, and Best Buy have been struggling to keep up with demand both online and in-store at various locations. Searching for a console online at the moment presents you with constant 'out of stock' messages; Target's wording actually says that the console is "discontinued for shipping".
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, a Nintendo spokesperson has provided comment on the shortages.
"Nintendo Switch hardware is selling out at various retail locations in the U.S., but more systems are on the way. We apologize for any inconvenience."
The comment stops short of providing a reason for the stock shortages, but a Bloomberg report published in February noted that both Europe and the US could see stock issues as soon as April due to the coronavirus outbreak. It's possible that this impact is now starting to be felt.
Both Best Buy and GameStop closed their physical stores across the US over the weekend, and Nintendo of America's repair centres have also now been shut down.
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
[source hollywoodreporter.com]
Comments 54
What living, breathing human being still doesn't have a Nintendo Switch?
It’s also bad in the UK, my sister was looking into buying one and they’re going for £400 - £500 on Amazon at the moment.
Japan:
@EagleOne looks up the worldwide population numbers
...I hope you don't want them listed by name?
I needed to get another Switch last week. I was able to order one from GameStop — which was my last choice. BestBuy, Amazon, Walmart, and Target did not have any (or at least not have any at near regular prices). There were some SwitchLites to be had — but my son wanted the full console.
I was on the fence about buying one with the upgraded battery, but I mostly play on TV; the battery only became an issue during my recent visit to the hospital, which took longer than expected. Now if I see one, I'll be even more tempted to snag it.
The Target I work at is having the hardest time keeping them in stock. It’s wild!
Yesterday we received 10, and 9 of them sold within 30 minutes.
We have units here in Brazil, but get ready to pay around U$500
There was one in stock at the local Target yesterday, and it was the first one my friend who works there had seen in a while (they also had about 10 Switch Lites). Like the puzzles and board games, anything that can be played indoors is a hot item right now.
Yep, the Switch is manufactured primarily in China and shipments haven't been going out since mid-February, last I read.
After the warehouses empty, that could be it for a few months, at least.
Of course, that goes for food, supplies and other products as well.
Even if you don't buy Chinese products, a lot of people do, and that's going to put a strain on certain other products that are manufactured outside China.
The world really needs to stop doing so much business in China, they've proven to NOT be trustworthy, in more ways than one.
@nhSnork Yes! Check them for a pulse, quick!
@EagleOne I would say about 7,48 billion people
@nessisonett,
It has been bad since the Christmas period, my sister is a big Animal crossing fan and managed to order one from Smyths toy store, they had stock around the 13th of February.
I guess its a good thing i decided to upgrade to the Switch with the upgraded battery at the start of March.
I wanted to pick up a Switch in the UK before Animal Crossing. Couldn't find one.
Maybe its because of this we haven't gotten a drect yet.
They've been hard to get in the UK all year. See also: Ring Fit Adventure.
I don’t think Best Buy is closed, last I heard they were doing curbside pickup.
@Impaler-D Clearly you don't know sh*t. If other countries are responsible for this under these circumstances and conditions, they can only do worse.
Wow, glad I just bought the updated Mariko Switch recently. I'm loving the extra battery life.
Looks like things will get worse before they get better 😣
What would one expect as results of CV19.
Get my people Switch's Nintendo.
@Impaler-D yo comarde did you know everything your using is now made in PRC. Also someone in the WH still thinks this is a hoax and isn't responsible for not taking the lead but blames everyone but himself. That tells lack of LEADERSHIP.
This is unfortunate. I wish good luck to those hunting for a unit! I just grabbed my V2 unit over the holidays and love it.
...Just don't go into it with as much backlog as I did. XD
@Impaler-D China knowingly lied for months, endangering the world.
And you think they are the only one-this is what I called narrow minded mindset people whom only spouts hoaxes.
@Impaler-D A few, like Italy, didn't close their borders in time because they were afraid of being called meaningless slurs like "racist".
Really they closed their borders already so what are you getting at? Brownnie points-missed that already EU nations where already closing their Borders.
@Impaler-D Most all industrial nations produce better products than China, on the whole.
Really where this evidence please bring this forward for the rest of us here and the world. Oh and remember most manufactures are located in China so your telling me those companies are making poor quality items. I think your going to eat your own words here.
You need to educate yourself so read what Bill Gates said about Ebola is now coming true with CV19.
The next outbreak? We’re not ready | Bill Gates
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Af6b_wyiwI
Yeah about 2 weeks ago my sister was trying to get her kids a Switch in NYC w/o any luck. I'm still not sure if they have 1 or not, all she could find was scalpers on Amazon and closed stores.
Switch has barely been in stock in the U.K. since xmas...
Not quite the same but I panic bought some joy con yesterday here in the U.K. as drift getting worse and stock shortages
@Impaler-D A true trolls for the love at heart. You keep spouting PRC but yet have no solutions. That's true troll at heart. I also know you won't pay 3x the price to get the same merchandise as well nor pay 2x the cost to get Produce as well. So stop with the denial.
@datamonkey But yet they won't ship to EU because they are out of the EU now and the cost to ship would be cost prohibited. Why else would they have stock they can't send it out anywhere else now.
@SwitchForce Now I'm seriously wondering about your nation of residence.
Trying to rack up some social credit points? 😂
Yes, China demonstrably LIED and endangered other nations.
"And you think they are the only one-this is what I called narrow minded mindset people whom only spouts hoaxes"
What the ****?
"Really they closed their borders already so what are you getting at? Brownnie points-missed that already EU nations where already closing their Borders."
...What?
Anyway, yes, Italy have admitted they delayed their response and delayed closing their borders for the aforementioned reasons.
"Really where this evidence please bring this forward for the rest of us here and the world. Oh and remember most manufactures are located in China so your telling me those companies are making poor quality items. I think your going to eat your own words here."
If you need evidence that Western-made goods are higher quality than Chinese products, you really haven't been paying attention, or you're completely delusional.
Multinational corporations USE China for their cheap slave labor, which is not only unethical in itself, but helps to prop up the disgusting, irresponsible, oppressive Chinese Communist regime.
Products from Chinese companies certainly are of lower quality and products contracted by multinational corporations often do have highly publicized manufacturing issues and flaws due to cutting these corners in manufacturing.
@SwitchForce
" A true trolls for the love at heart. You keep spouting PRC but yet have no solutions. That's true troll at heart."
Again... what?
Lmao "PRC"
I hope Winnie sees this, bro! 😂
@Impaler-D A true Troll is in the works guess they pay you well.
@SwitchForce If "they" did, they would be getting their money's worth instead of employing a cheap Chinese knock-off shill like you. 😂
Man I want to buy a switch lite or a new 3ds lol
Don't worry guys. If you can't buy Switch in US or Europe, you always can buy it in Russia. It's really not popular here and it lay on store shelves for several months. You can get Switch for $312 and Lite version for $215 here. And don't worry much about COVID-19. Here is much safer, then in many countries.
Please, please, please, please, please, please restock the Animal Crossing console!
It's criminal if it's only an extremely limited edition.
It was pre-order only in Australia. No store had any extra in stock!
@SwitchForce
I believe you need to educate yourself. China barley outpaces the US in manufacturing. $2010b vs $1867b and the vast majority of Chinese products are inferior. I work in industrial distribution and design. I've done qc work on imports, some is fine, much is not. You really have to be careful, even most electronics "made in China" aren't made there, just assembled. Believe it or not Germany makes a huge amount of the actual components.
It's going to be like this for any console at the moment. I honestly don't care. I have the PS4 and XBONE, and my kids play that like crazy (as well as having the older consoles which I found myself putting back out for boredom sakes). May have lost the original switch during the divorce and was hoping to get one back for my kids this Easter (may not happen now) but oh well. Somehow I still have the games of theirs, just not the console. Divorce is fun.
@Rando1ph "Made in X" has a very specific legal meaning.
Anything made darn near anywhere has lot of components from all over the world.
The US produced a high dollar amount of goods, but not a high number of goods. Each is much more expensive and generally industrial or commercial in nature. China produces an absolutely unbelievable of inexpensive consumer goods.
@EagleOne my buddy, who lives across the street has been questioning me about Switch for about six months, and I keep trying to convince him to get it, but then he doesn’t..every time, I’d rather he not question me about it anymore if he isn’t going to get one. Suddenly, yesterday (now that they’re no longer available) he tells me “I’m gonna get one”, but the he can’t find one to buy. I get home from work and then my buddy tells me: “Too late, I bought an XBox One” :-/.
Manufacturing for just about everything is hindered by this virus issue. Everything including Switch. It sucks, but it shouldn't be surprising.
@JSDude1 oh, now that's just a betrayal...
@JSDude1 You didn't do a good enough job in persuading him. You should have literally pulled him into the store and HANDED him the Switch.
@Franz nah, I’ve done what I can, if you know my buddy, you’d know that he’s very unreliable (or super indecisive) in doing anything he says . Maybe you’re right and I do need to go shopping in person with him next time, especially when this COVID-19 thing is over and the economy is back to normal.
@EagleOne YES, yes it is..
*”Buying a Switch at MSRP ...”
There - fixed it for ya cheery folk.
Just bought mine from Amazon for MSRP last week, just to play ACNH. Next day couldn't find one less than $450. I'm never that lucky.
Luckily for me I snagged one from Walmart about 2 weeks ago. Enjoying the switch, ever since. Not sure if there still in stock though. Most likely not.
@Impaler-D I hope you have a better brain. Waste no more time with you, thankfully there's an ignore function here.
Why don't you all try buying from Alibaba Nintendo Switch Animal is hot now selling
A real apology would be a link to purchase the limited edition Animal Crossing New Horizon's Edition Switch. Even if it takes 6 months to ship.
@imoc
"WASTE NO MORE TIME WITH YOU AMERICAN!!"
I hope Pooh doesn't have you thrown in the back of a police van for your pathetic showing here. 😂
The coral pink switch lite was originally due to come out April 3rd (US). I noticed a few days ago that that date had been removed on Amazon, and they don't know when they'll be in stock. May have to wait awhile longer than originally expected. Bummer. 😕
Tap here to load 54 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...