Securing a Nintendo DS on Launch Day.
I’ve seen several posts similar to this one suggesting there will be a Nintendo DS shortage come Christmas time. While this most likely may occur, the chances of grabbing one at launch are still in your favor if you are willing to invest a little extra effort.
First, a quick look at why Gamestop is putting a halt to pre-orders. This really comes as no surprise. The DS is a hot item. The launch date is 5 days before the largest shopping (or commercial exuberance) day of the season. Every video game retailer wants stock available for the clueless parents who do most their shopping that weekend. Nintendo DS, Halo 2, GTA: San Andreas, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and MGS3: Snake Eater are just some of the items that video game brats (that’d be all y’all) are expected to have on their christmas ransom wishlist. Gamestop set a limit of pre-orders they can handle while still managing inventory for the holiday weekend so they too can witness their share of soccer-mom brawls. But, if you wait until the weekend after, you might be out of luck. I will not be surprised if they sell out all left-over-from-launch inventory before Thanksgiving.
I’m not going to say that the DS will be sold out everywhere on launch day. What I am saying is that if you don’t pick one up on launch day, all bets are off. You might fall short if you go looking for one on Monday the 22nd.
Best bet is to reserve a system. I’ve found two solid values for pre-ordering. Lik-sang, where I’m getting one of my two systems, lets you pre-order with $0 down and no obligation, plus you get an extra 100 payback points for their rewards program. Another good place to pre-order is Wal-Mart. For $169, you get the system plus a DS starter pack that includes a pair of earbud headphones, a 12-volt car adapter, and a screen protector (I’m guessing it’s for the top screen, since the bottom is Touch!). There’s other places still. Gamestop may not take any orders in their stores, but they are still taking pre-orders online.
I’ve always been planning on getting two systems: one for me, and another if my wife, my son, or any friends want join in on the wireless fun. I don’t expect my order from Lik-Sang to get here on launch day since I chose the cheap shipping options. And that’s fine, as long as I get one of the two systems at launch.
Most stores want to participate in system launches in a big way. On launch day, it’s common to see the competition between the stores bring the cost of the system down $5 or $10 or so. Some places might even offer a freebie alongside the system. Nothing too big, just a case or a cable or something extra. Either way, it’s worth a look in the morning papers that Sunday. At about 11:30 PM on Saturday the 20th, I’ll be heading to a nearby 24 hour grocery store where I know I can pick up the sunday paper a little early. I’ll scour the ads, see what retailer has the best value, and prepare to be there with my nose pressed up against their door when they open. Now, there’s a good chance that any added value might not be worth the wait ($5 or a carrying case may not seem too attractive at that time of night). So, I might just head over to Wal-Mart or EB where I know both places will be having midnight launch parties.
Sunday is a great day for a system launch. A lot of people have been questioning this. I think it makes perfect sense. It’s a weekend day, for starters. No missing out on work or school to stay your place in line. Then, once you have the system, you can enjoy it all day without that pesterance of school or work. Second thing, retailers can advertise the system in their weekly fliers as “available today”.
My fellow handheld gamers, we are now less than two weeks away from the Nintendo DS! Bah Humbug, Santa. Between Halo 2, Metroid 2, and most importantly, Nintendo DS, Christmas is a month early this year.
Comments
Wow. They probably still have in-store stock for launch day, but the fact they are taking pre-orders is a big indicator.
i like how you’re getting a ds for yourself, and one for your wife, son, friends. what a great dad! get the kid a damn ds for himself.
are you saying an ac adaptor WILL be included with the DS or it won’t? If it’s not that’s bringing the $150 price a lot closer to Sony’s $180. Although for Sony you’ll have to buy expensive as heck memory cards.
the ac adaptor WILL be included int he package, not only that, but if you have the gba sp, it uses the same ac adaptor….
I managed to get one no problem, thanks to my colleagues who work at Gamestop. It’s well worth the 150 up front, and hopefully will continue to be a solid release platform.
i like how you’re getting a ds for yourself, and one for your wife, son, friends. what a great dad! get the kid a damn ds for himself.
Oh, he’ll definitely be getting one when he comes of age. I’m still training him how to operate GBA Video on the SP. Perhaps he’ll even get my original launch system when I pick up a future redesigned unit (c’mon, it is Nintendo. They redesign and relaunch almost every system they’ve made. And we fall for it every time). 
are you saying an ac adaptor WILL be included with the DS or it won’t? If it’s not that’s bringing the $150 price a lot closer to Sony’s $180. Although for Sony you’ll have to buy expensive as heck memory cards.
the ac adaptor WILL be included int he package, not only that, but if you have the gba sp, it uses the same ac adaptor….
Yes, it did come with an AC adapter. Quite nice that it’s the same one as the SP. One for home, one for work. I can play one unit while charging the other. etc. etc. I’m falling in love with Nintendo.
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“and a screen protector (I’m guessing it’s for the top screen, since the bottom is Touch!).” the screen protector is just thin plastic that does go over the touch sreen just like a PDA. (and every one should get one. screen protectors that is)