mini snes launch whats going on?

chrcoluk

chrcoluk

chrcoluk

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Posting here, wonder if ocuk staff or others can offer some insight as to how pre orders normally work.

So the super nintendo launch is 3 months away, and it has gone up for pre orders on various sites.

Normally I would expect a pre order system to allow both the retailer and manufacturer to know how much stock they need and they just accept all orders.

However the mini snes sold out within 24 minutes. On all sites it originally appeared, it showed up on argos a day later and sold out in 15 minutes.

Late last night argos delisted the product.

Nintendo have been silent.

It would appear nintendo have decided to not meet demand and only sell a fixed amount of units, polygon have speculated given that nintendo historically have shortages not just on hardware but also on games and the AMIIBO's that nintendo are artifically creating a shortage to create hype and drive more demand than there would otherwise be.

Do retailers normally get told to only accept X amount of preorders? is this situation normal for preorders?

I dont think I have ever seen e.g. ocuk refuse to back order/preorder out of stock products, which is whats happening with the mini snes.

Thoughts?
 
Based on how the mini NES went I don't think any major shop had it available and in stock once it released, so I fully expect the same here.

Retailers have most likely been told they have such an allocation. Nintendo have already said it will only be manufactured this year. So there's no point in taking pre-orders they can't guarantee they can fulfil.
 
You can't really ask how pre-orders work as it'll vary from product to product and with how each company operates. Nintendo is already widely known to create these shortages to create hype and with the success of the Mini NES last year all this would have done is increased the level of pre-orders from scalpers knowing there is a quick buck to be made.

I got lucky with my pre-order, I saw the initial Nintendo release statement saying it was coming but didn't think there would be pre-orders so soon as they didn't say anything only to find out the next day it was sold-out everywhere. It was only by chance that I registered my work email account rather than my personal that as soon as the Nintendo pre-order went live I was able to jump on it and get one ordered.

I would guess that a lot of companies have a rough idea from how many NES mini's they got off Nintendo and how much stock they usually get for console/amiibo launches and just added a rough limit. This will be also why some people are ordering multiple as there is a chance for instance they won't get one from X and will rely on Y or Z to get it.

Nintendo being silent is just Nintendo being Nintendo.
 
For info we have a SNES mini thread here - https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/snes-mini-classic.18784463/

Nintendo have stated it's a limited run thing, that wasn't so clear with the NES version. Knowing it's limited edition will generate much more interest, others have commented in the thread I linked above that people they know are pre-ordering because of this, as annoying as this is for many it is making headlines around the world and they are selling out instantly.

I think we may well see them bring one of them out again ready for next Xmas, and then the other the year after, keep milking it year after year.

I missed the initial pre-order the day after but Very had them available the following day (for a £10 premium and £4 delivery the cheeky gits), Argos had stock yesterday morning, Toys R Us did too yesterday and I've not seen anything from Tesco yet so expect them to have an allocation at some point.

There are some stock informer sites but you just need to keep checking all the usual places as I do believe Nintendo will be making significantly more of these.
 
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Raymond Lin said:
The only 100% safe pre-orders would be Nintendo themselves and Amazon, everywhere else I wouldn't hold my breath.
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I agree although wouldn't rely on Amazon, didn't they screw a load of folks for one of the special editions of Breath of the Wild?
 
KraniX said:
I agree although wouldn't rely on Amazon, didn't they screw a load of folks for one of the special editions of Breath of the Wild?
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Mine was cancelled by Game for no reason. Luckily I had it on order with Nintendo as well. I have 4 preorders in at 4 different places for the SNES.
 
Mucky_Pup said:
Mine was cancelled by Game for no reason. Luckily I had it on order with Nintendo as well. I have 4 preorders in at 4 different places for the SNES.
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Had you paid the deposit?

I'm hoping that the £50 deposit I paid is quite a strong argument to not be cancelled :D

Failing that I've supposedly got one with Smyths but I figured one of the two will come good at least :)
 
GhostWKD said:
Had you paid the deposit?
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No, they were supposed to take the payment when it was ready to ship, and shortly before it was released they emailed saying it was cancelled and to reorder it, even though it was sold out on their website, I could have got it from the shop itself when I picked up my switch on launch night because they had a few instore, but I knew I had it on order from Nintendo which came a few days later.
 
Ahh sorry I misread that it was your Mini SNES order that was cancelled. That's awful though, amazing how many people get the preorder stuff wrong.

I almost bought a switch at launch in Sainsburys' of all places as they had a few in stock but they went quickly and were for sale in CeX for £100 over rrp.

Definite trend with this stuff though
 
I have a couple of pre orders at different resellers just in case one of them let's me down. I realise by ordering multiple units I'm part of the supply issue but after the NES mini debacle I'm not taking the chance. I REALLY want a SNES classic :)

I'm sure a lot of others will feel the same way which is only going to exacerbate the problem unfortunately.
 
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Only went for one option , with Very. Seeing i have an account and done buy now pay 6 months I'm hoping it goes through.
 
You guys seem to have not had much trouble, I have probably spent over 10 hours refreshing pages, checking retailers etc. and got nowhere.

Thankfully someone on nintendolife took pity on me and told me the dutch were starting preorders earlier today and I have one pre ordered now at a dutch retailer.

Game uk told me over the phone this morning that nintendo are doing a strict limited run regardless of demand. Thats why they not allowed to just accept all pre orders like they do for games.

Argos have delisted the product and cancelled various orders, a story is here which I agree with, its just been chaos and poorly planned. Nintendo seem to be using the mini snes as a way to promote classic games with the possibility they will use the hype to sell more switches with virtual console.

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/20..._for_a_snes_mini_is_bad_business_for_nintendo

Also I didnt see a seperate thread hence making this one, go ahead and merge mods if you think this shouldnt be here, sorry.
 
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