Wii’s and Walmart
Monday, November 27th, 2006First let me start off by saying that I’m happy to say that I have converted and/or convinced 5 family/friends to buy a Wii, since getting mine.
This is the story of my sister’s journey to get a Wii; after her boyfriend played my Wii, not being an avid gamer, he decided that he wanted one for X-Mas. After surfing though digg I found a couple of post that stated best buy would be holding some of their stock for the Sunday after black Friday. My sister decided that would be the day she would try and get one. Long story short, she didn’t get one.
So today started the calling. With 4 24×7 Wal-Marts and 1 8-10 within a 10 mile radius she decided to start calling right before her lunch. She picked up the phone and called the Wallie World closet to her place of employment. Success, first hit! They where unloading them off the truck at that very moment. She took lunch early, hopped into her car and drove over. She wondered back to the electronics department and tracked down an employee. “I just called over here and they said you have Wiis.” The Wal-Mart employee responded “We sure do would you like to purchase one?” “Yes, Yes I would” The Wal-Mart employee wondered into the back only to return empty handed. “Sorry but I can’t sell you one, we have to hold them for our December 3rd advertisement.” Now my sister isn’t the type of person we want to screw around with, however she politely asked to speak with a manager. While asking to speak with a manager another hopeful Wii seeker overheard the conversation and stated she too was told over the phone they had them available to purchase.
Enter the electronics department manager, which I didn’t even know such a position existed in Wal-Mart, “I confirmed that we are not able to sell you the Wiis until December 3rd. Sorry, but you will have to return at Midnight December 3rd to get a Wii.” At this point my sister and the other Wii hopeful were a little miffed. They decided to seek out the store general manger. After finding and telling the store manager the problem, the manager decided to go-head and give them each one anyway. (Element of surprise music queues), When trying to ring them out, the system wouldn’t physically allow the transaction to be completed. “Looks like you will have to come back December 3rd after all.” the store manager stated.
Nevertheless, the story does have a happy ending. The store manager gave them each a voucher good for one Wii and then proceeded to put the Wiis with copies of the voucher in her office. “Track me down December 2nd at 11:30PM and I will personally make sure you each get one.”
So looks like Wal-Mart will be holding Wii stock until December 3rd. So campers and parents be alert and on your game Saturday night.
-Bryan
Just got the call I was hoping for. My Wii will be available for pick up Sunday morning @11AM, I was number four in line if that helps anyone else. The bummer is I have to buy any two games from FYE. I guess it isn’t really a bummer, I was going to get Red Steel, Zelda and Madden anyway. However, I wish I would have known that before I reserved a few games elsewhere. I guess I will be traveling around and canceling some of those games in exchange from some accessories.
So I finally got my DS-X for my DS Lite. This thing kicks so much ass. The homebrewed applications for it rock, dsmail, dslinux, DoomDS… Not to mention I get my Wii Saturday (18th) night at midnight! Should be an interesting week.
