Where To Find A Wii

If you are like most who have been looking for a Nintendo Wii this Christmas, you have not been having much luck. Nintendo has underestimated demand and has not produced enough Wii's.

Places like Toys R Us, Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, GameStop, Amazon, and Circuit City sell out immediately whenever they get the Wii's in. You basically have three choices. You can shop locally, buy one of eBay, or buy a bundle off Wal-Mart or Amazon.

1. Shop Local. If you choose this option, your best bet is to call around to every video game store in the phone book and ask a ton of questions. Make notes of when the stores will be getting shipments in, how many they will get, and when lines usually start forming. Some stores will not be very helpful, but many will. Keep trying until you have a few stores that give you good information. Smaller stores will generally be better for getting a Wii as many people go for the bigger retailers. In addition, video game stores in the mall are good because at least you can line up inside if you live in a cold weather location.

2. Shop on eBay. Winning an auction on eBay means you are guaranteed to get your Wii by Christmas. They go for more than retail value, but in exchange, you do not have to spend time calling around to stores, driving and waiting in line. I waited in line for 4 hours in 20 degree weather, and spent another 2 calling around to get my Wii. In retrospect, I would have gladly paid an extra $100 to win an auction from the comfort of my own home.

3. Buy a bundled system online. Amazon.com and Wal-Mart.com are offering Wii's immediately, but you have to buy a specified number of games with the system. If you are planning to buy the games anyway, this is a great way to ensure you get a Wii by Christmas. When choosing a bundle, make sure you have control over which games come in the bundle. Some retailers do not offer you a choice, which will likely mean you wind up with a bunch of games you or your kids will never play.