The Switch Is Selling Out Fast, But Is It Genuine Demand Or False Rarity?

Nintendo is no stranger to console shortages, but they're also in desperate need of a hit. Is an artificial shortage really what's happening?

[GtR35olution]

Nintendo normally sends out low stocks to stores so that theyd sell out quickly then trickle in a few shipments to have those sell out. Wii, wii u,wii toys and nes classic are evidence of this sort of shenanigans.

[Double_O_Revan]

When the Wii came out, after the initial shipment, we would get them in 4-8 at a time, 2-3 times a week. There was never any mass shipment. Just a case or 2 at a time.

[3-4-5]

* Gamestop is getting like 38-56 units per store depending on size of store.

They said they are getting about 500,000 units total.

That doesn't even count Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target, or from Nintendo.

* PS4 & XB1 sold about 2 million units their first month each.

* Nintendo said they plan on shipping 2 million Swtich's.

* How is that purposely holding back stock ?

Please stop lying.

[maybelovehate]

Probably a combination of the two. Low availability and also interest from the Nintendo Faithful.

[FunkyGoron]

My theory:

Demand for it was more "real" than not. 3DS and Wii U's dried up. I believe Nintendo put all their manufacturing power into making Switch's. They may not still have a lot, and thus a scarcity has been made, but I don't think it's on purpose.

They can't have another Wii U, they need to produce and make and sell as many units at launch as possible, hold any extra stock if there is any, and create bundles for Splatoon/Mario

[Lon3wolf]

Genuine but a lot most probably brought on by people buying them to sell on Ebay for much inflated prices.

[RosweeSon]

Yeah all over eBay... "sourced from Amazon" so all Nintendos fault.

[Omnislashver36]

Reduced stock for sure. They've had this thing in production for a while, and it doesn't have any breakthrough tech. If it weren't for Nintendo's rabid core fans, they would hardly be selling at all. PS4 and XB1 would still sell well without 1st party players though, because casual 3rd party players(CoD, sports, BF) would still be snatching them up.

[eagle21]

Promise us if this time next year Switch is still selling you won't just say reduced stock. The tech is a breakthrough.

[jaymacx]

and you know this how?

[Omnislashver36]

Just a hunch, just like any other opinion in this thread. Any reason you're targeting me specifically? The fact that I have objective points to back up my view piss you off or something? Nintendo always gets crappy third party support, you can't change that. For that reason I am 100% sure personally. Their hardcore base isn't big enough to sell out.

Your Ninty bias get flared up at me or something?

[jaymacx]

Im not targeting you per say im just responding to what you said.. you have the right to your prediction though. Im not upset at all. I said this to someone below as well. Also though i tend to be an optimist .. not just nintendo.. i have love for all my systems .

[Gaming4Life1981]

I think it's low stock because I asked when I pre-ordered mine and they said they had 24, I know that's one store but that's low.

[Moonman]

Fanboys shouting 2 per store is low. 24 is reasonable for now.

[jaymacx]

24 was the minimum per store. some stores had 60. this isn't Amiibo and its not NES Classic. Problem is now that many buy several at once so that they are guaranteed one at launch and then cancel them all except one. Then you also have scalpers.

[rpgenius420]

I got one preordered at the walmart where I work with my discount! 290 total with tax. Can't wait for the 3rd of march!

[Tankbusta40]

Its a traditional sales ploy, was used for the xbox elite controller as well. Limit initial supply, go out of stock, and get idiots to believe its in demand, when it truly isnt. The only people rushing to pre order this are Nintendo enthusiasts, it isn't converting gamers

[jaymacx]

and you know this how?

[jmc8888]

Consoles sell out of its initial allotment. There will be MORE preorders put up as more are confirmed to be able to be sold, and I expect Switch to sell out of most of those too.

Wii U sold out as well. Despite all the problems we had reports of quite a number of sellouts for XBox One with Kinect. At the same time they reserve some for walk ins, and people even with a sold out console will be able to walk in and find some.

It's how it's selling in say August of 2017 and August of 2018 and thereabout that will really showcase if it has legs or not.

It's whether or not it has consistent sales month after month. Given this is supposed to draw in ALL of NIntendo's markets (handheld and console), then any consistently bad numbers month after month would be really bad for Switch.

Selling out in of itself doesn't indicate anything, as the amount sold is ambiguous, and when 0 previously had been offered for sale, of course there is going to be interest and sales.

[Derceto]

Pretty sure Nintendo is well documented in trying to create an image of bloated demand. Ya, I'll bet on that.

[DivoJones]

Think the gamut of replies has been covered.. the limited supply offered for pre-orders sold out, but you'll see more than a few on eBay or other after-market resellers looking to cash in. Nintendo fans are a loyal group, but I'd expect some feel burned by the WiiU and will hold off for a better game lineup or a price drop.

[MilkMan]

It's all the hardcore fans first, and the scalpers. Then the rest of us later.
Plus Nintendo sends out like 2 consoles per store to make product scarce When they have the demographic data and know they should stock the stores. You know, typical bullsh!t.

[FinalomegaS]

i think your 2 console per store is vastly exaggerated, i took the time to combine all the EB,Gamestops,BestBuys,Walmarts and one other big chain with world wide store locations including canada.

even giving 30 per store came up to 740k aprox.

2Mil is a decent amount to get the ball rolling. Think the balancing act for something really new and not yet proven and no way to know the demand is always a sellers problem.

[XXanderXX]

Genuine want from me , look forward to my unit at release.

[BlakHavoc]

Who knows, we'll know the answer in due time. I do think that we're seeing fans that we're going to buy the console regardless because of Zelda and Mario, and other Nintendo IPs. Ppl can't refute that the reveal presentation was a travesty, and I don't think uninterested parties were suddenly convinced after watching that. I'm sure Zelda and Mario will be GOTY contenders this year, but I don't think they're enough to push the hardware. My guess is that it will sell well for the first 6 months to a year but see a huge drop off after the holiday season.

[CrimsonWing69]

Don't be stupid, it's Nintendo brand loyalists. My god do research, this thing will sell beautifully for a couple years due to that and anyone curious about it. After that sales will plummet immensely. Nintendo's smart in that the produce enough early on to make profit and create artificial demand. People somewhat interested but want to wait may be inclined to buy the console next time a batch is out so they don't have control on when they can purchase it.

If Nintendo made enough units to where anyone could walk n and get it you know many would wait for a price drop. Take away the ability to purchase a unit on your own accord and then you're more likely to purchase it when they're available since there's no telling when your next chance to buy one will be.

[sk8ofmnd]

This is not news. Theres at least 10 million nintendo fanboys... This im sure. What happens this fall when the switch is up against its competition most likely with pricedrops and their heavy hitting exclusives.

[cell989]

Scalpers thinking they're gonna make money lol

[Tetsujin]

I guarantee scalpers are 80% of the initial pre-order sales. They figure "the NES mini is still a hot item, why not the Switch?"

[Rude-ro]

At least it is preorder demand unlike microsofts "sold out" that they are trying to sell when the Xbox one released.
Every company tries to do it one way or another.
Love how all of a sudden it matters.

[spawnwavemedia]

We will need to wait to see how the launch month goes. Based on what Nintendo is promising for the first month (2 million units) it does not appear to be a shortage of units, but high demand.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

It's not in any way guaranteed to be a fake out.
If we hit three months in and this is still an issue, THEN we'll talk artificial shortages.
People tend to forget that the PS4 went through something similar at first, albeit to a lesser degree, and that didn't turn out to be false rarity, so there's every chance that, after how well the initial trailer was received by the public, it's just selling really well and demand is outnumbering supply.
Game stop, IIRC, got somewhere in the ballpark of 500k for all of its nationwide locations, yet far as I'm aware they are all sold out.

[RosweeSon]

It's scalpers and we all know that's entirely Nintendo's faults I mean it's nothing to do with the retailers of course?

[tigertron]

It's classic Nintendo strategy which is only ship out limited numbers to create artificial demand and hype.

[Artemidorus]

Anything new and the demand will be high. A percentage will be people looking to extend the profit by throwing it on eBay for more.

When it dies down only then will you start seeing this console follow the routes of the Wii U.

[Noxrest]

Both

[cityboy100]

I doubt it's reduce stock. At Foxconn one production line can make about 2100 a day max is 20,000 a day and nintendo started production in November so to have 2 million world wide sounds about right to me so your looking at around 16,000 to 17,000 a day. You also have to remember this is a world wide launch so stock will be low for awhile. You can look it up for yourself these are the numbers on the Nintendo switch from Foxconn.

[Pancit_Canton]

*Looks @ ebay*

Yup, scalpers bought it all.

[Lionsguard]

This is just the initial rush. It's the sales that happen for the next 5-6 years after that matters.

[MultiConsoleGamer]

First, it's called "false scarcity." That's something they did with the NES Mini.

Second, they're shipping 2 million units. That's definitely not false scarcity.

[ZeekQuattro]

I was actually able to pre-order one unlike the Wii where I was sold ever time I tried for it. They will ship 2 million units before their fiscal year ends in March. The PS4 sold that between its launch during the holiday rush. Not sure how this is false rarity on Nintendo part otherwise Sony would of been guilty of it when the PS4 was sold out for a bit and people were defending Sony. Same when it happens to Microsoft. No one bats an eye. As for people bringing up the plug and play device known as the NES Mini Classic just stop. You are comparing a hot novelty item that is $60 to a new console release. If you don't see a flaw there then god help you.

[Realplaya]

Nintendo if they market this right can make a killing. There are no life altering games on any system right now so people crapping on Nintendo are foolish. The switch will sale off of marketing hype like the PS4. Most people are still awaiting greatness.

[WeaseL]

http://imgur.com/CEWKlMN