RUMOR: Wii price drop in October.

Favs · 09-12-2009, 05:08 PM

Source: - Kotaku

Advance retail listings forwarded to Kotaku indicate that Nintendo is planning to issue its first price drop on the Wii, with a less expensive version of the console—currently priced at $249 USD—coming the first week of October.

That listing comes from an early version of a Walmart ad that loosely dates, but does not price a "rollback" for Nintendo's console. While the ad is not official confirmation of a price drop, the timing makes sense, as the Wii is about to enter its fourth holiday shopping season at its original price.

Should Nintendo announce a price drop prior to October, it has a venue at which to do it. The company will be participating at the Kyoto Cross Media Experience 2009, a multimedia event that runs September 26th to October 4th, overlapping with the Tokyo Game Show.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata just recently said that the company is not planning on announcing a price drop. "Right now," Iwata said at a recent investor Q&A, "there aren't a lot of discussions going on about what exactly to do about hardware pricing."

Of course, that "right now" was from early August and plans may have changed. Sales of the Wii in the U.S. are down by almost half from last year during the summer quarter. A price drop and upcoming marquee software releases like Wii Fit Plus and New Super Mario Bros. Wii may turn things around.

With Microsoft and Sony recently issuing their own price cuts on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Nintendo may be wisely following suit.

Due to the unofficial nature of the price drop info, we're labeling this rumor for now. We've been in touch with Nintendo of America and Walmart to get comment, but have not yet heard back.

Update: The official response from NOA, as expected, is "Nintendo does not respond to rumors and speculation."

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Good news for soon to be owners if this is true.

Bonus: 250 points

sociallyantisocial · 09-14-2009, 02:34 PM

You beat me to it Favs ..

Here is an update:

Last week, we got a peek at an alleged upcoming Walmart ad that indicated an official price drop would be coming to the Wii. Today, it appears that retailer Toys R Us may have heard the same thing.

While the Walmart listing we saw didn't put a price tag on the Wii—currently still at its launch price of $249 USD—the Toys R Us version does, pegging the new MSRP at $199. And that's with Wii Sports included, not a stripped down package. The ad is purportedly from the end of September, due to hit the week of the 27th according to the tipster that forwarded a shot our way.

That's a week earlier than we were expecting based on the Walmart tip we received, but still not official in any capacity.

If accurate, that would mean a price drop announcement from Nintendo sometime within the next two weeks, possibly during the Tokyo Game Show. Nintendo won't be exhibiting officially at the yearly game show, but will be present at the Kyoto Cross Media Experience 2009.

We contacted Nintendo to get clarification, but were told "Nintendo does not comment on rumors and speculation." And they don't comment on blurry shots of Toys R Us circulars either!

Here is a picture of the alleged ad....

Favs · 09-15-2009, 12:56 AM

Was about to post this thanks for the update.

sadsoul938 · 09-15-2009, 06:46 AM

dannnng I better go sell my wii on ebay.....

letian · 09-15-2009, 08:31 AM

OMG if really price drop i going to kill myself coz i just brought my wii 3 days ago!~

FAINT!~

ModderMan · 09-15-2009, 10:00 AM

Toys R Us Ad Points To $199 Wii Price Drop This Month

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

Last week, we got a peek at an alleged upcoming Walmart ad that indicated an official price drop would be coming to the Wii. Today, it appears that retailer [Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register] may have heard the same thing.

While the Walmart listing we saw didn't put a price tag on the Wii—currently still at its launch price of $249 USD—the Toys R Us version does, pegging the new MSRP at $199. And that's with Wii Sports included, not a stripped down package. The ad is purportedly from the end of September, due to hit the week of the 27th according to the tipster that forwarded a shot our way.
That's a week earlier than we were expecting based on the Walmart tip we received, but still not official in any capacity.
If accurate, that would mean a price drop announcement from Nintendo sometime within the next two weeks, possibly during the Tokyo Game Show. Nintendo won't be exhibiting officially at the yearly game show, but will be present at the Kyoto Cross Media Experience 2009.
We contacted Nintendo to get clarification, but were told "Nintendo does not comment on rumors and speculation." And they don't comment on blurry shots of Toys R Us circulars either!

source: kotaku.com

messie · 09-15-2009, 10:34 AM

LOL thats 150 euros or less... i got mine at 250 euros... sucks...

wiidoggii · 09-15-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by letian

OMG if really price drop i going to kill myself coz i just brought my wii 3 days ago!~

FAINT!~

Most places in the US have a 30 day return policy.
Take your reciept back to the store and show them.
They will give you the $50 back.
And if they don't then return it, Get your money , and by another one.

wiidoggii · 09-15-2009, 02:32 PM

Just to add to my other post about returns.

I am looking at a receipt from Target and it looks like they have a 90 day return policy..Hmmm....

Favs · 09-15-2009, 02:33 PM

I hope this price drop also comes to the PAL regions as it would be nice.