14 DAY TRIAL // Nintendo is clearly a happy company for quite a while now, largely due to the fact that the Wii and DS consoles are selling like hotcakes, even if over two years have passed since their individual launches. People are still queuing up to get their hands on the very innovative Wii console and everybody wants to try out the new DSi handheld device that has recently been launched in Japan.
The holiday seasons have always been hard on Nintendo, because of the massive demand, which the company just couldn't keep up with. We've seen some very interesting statements about the upcoming Christmas season from the president of the company's North American division, Reggie Fils-Aime, who said that the holiday period would be very profitable for the company.
But now he tackles the very sensitive issue of console stocks and how the Nintendo wants to make sure that every customer will get his hands on a Wii or a DS. He says that, although the manufacturing plants are working overtime, people need to understand that if they really want a Nintendo product, then they should buy it in advance.
"We certainly hope not. Our goal is to have every consumer who wants a Wii console or a DS to be able find it during the holiday. We have increased by 50 percent the amount of product that is coming into the US, Canada, Latin America. We hope that that is enough product. But even with the strong sales that we have seen in October and so far in November, we are still suffering out of stocks. My message to the consumer is, if you see a Wii and you are interested in a Wii this holiday, buy it as quickly as you can."
Some very clever pieces of advice from Fils-Aime, as he certainly doesn't want the angry customers who couldn't find a Wii to go and buy a rival console, like the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. Let's just hope that the demand won't be so huge this year around, and that everyone who wants a console will get it.