What's up with pre-orders these days?

[Taketheword]

Does anyone find themselves asking "What the hell is up with pre-orders these days?" Has anyone else noticed that game systems, games, and especially special editions of games are now being pre-sold out? I was hoping to get the Breath of the Wild Master Edition (comes with a really neat Master Sword statue), but I somehow missed the news that they were available for pre-order by a couple of retailers a couple weeks back. Anyways, apparently every retailer is already sold out of that edition, and the game doesn't even get released until MARCH. It seems ridiculous that pre-orders have gotten so out of hand that products are being sold out a month and a half before they're even available for actual purchase. That seriously screws over the average buyer. It only benefits the awful scalpers (which can all go to hell btw).

I plan on going to the Switch release, so I am hoping that they will have some more available in stores.

Anyways, is anyone else tired of this new trend?

[wiggy]

I missed out on that one too, and I was all over it like flies on shit. Blows, but 'tis the way of the world nowadays

Scalpers would still scalp them either way. It's just easier for them now.

[Taketheword]

I missed out on that one too, and I was all over it like flies on shit. Blows, but 'tis the way of the world nowadays

Scalpers would still scalp them either way. It's just easier for them now.

According to the lady at my local GameStop, it is unlikely that the game will ever be restocked -- even on the day of release. This style of promotion/sale is horrendous, and quite frankly, turns me off of Nintendo. I understand limiting stock for special editions, but having a game pre-sold out with no additional stock ever is inexcusable. It really screws over fans.

[TDIRunner]

If everyone would refuse to pay marked up prices, scalpers would disappear over night.

[TDIRunner]

Also, it's only the limited edition that's sold out.  You can still get the game. 

[Taketheword]

Also, it's only the limited edition that's sold out.  You can still get the game. 

Yes, but am really wanting that Master Sword statue. It would go well with my collection. I may just have to settle for not having it though. I refuse to give scalpers a cent.

[SegaNomadman]

If everyone would refuse to pay marked up prices, scalpers would disappear over night.

This. I don't really find pre-orders that bad, but I do wish people wouldn't be so silly about scalpers' marked up prices. We've got people paying more than double price for the NES Classic, but I bide my time... (still haven't seen one in person though). I do enjoy the allure of pre-ordering a game to get a special edition, I did this with Sonic Mania recently, but if people would just stop giving scalpers a profit then it would certainly make it easier on regular buyers.

[e_brugal]

If everyone would refuse to pay marked up prices, scalpers would disappear over night.

This. I don't really find pre-orders that bad, but I do wish people wouldn't be so silly about scalpers' marked up prices. We've got people paying more than double price for the NES Classic, but I bide my time... (still haven't seen one in person though). I do enjoy the allure of pre-ordering a game to get a special edition, I did this with Sonic Mania recently, but if people would just stop giving scalpers a profit then it would certainly make it easier on regular buyers.

All of this. I believe that if people stop paying scalpers high price they will disappear. But people are so stupid that even knowing that the price of an item is xXxX, they are willing to pay scalpers their higher price. I'm waiting for the nes classic and was watching one but the when Bid went up of 60 I stop watching.

Some people need to understand that there will be more in a few month, pre orders are just to have that item at release time, but that doesn't means that production of that item will stop if pre orders are sold out.

Some one in the future will be selling that sword at a great price, maybe some one (not a scalper) pre order just to have the game and not the sword.

[xwaprez]

This is par for the course when it comes to Nintendo, though. I mean, of course "scalpers be scalpin" and all that, but Nintendo always and I mean *always* underestimates demand which leads them to produce small quantities of ___________ item.

Anyone that's been collecting amiibo, or tries to get any Special Edition 3DS or games (not an exhaustive list)...knows what I'm talking about.

I don't think the people that pay the scalpers on eBay are stupid. If they want something, and they can't walk into a retail store and buy it at retail price, what are they supposed to do? Wait and hope that the scalpers lower the price? They might...they might not. Case in point, the Majora's Mask Limited Edition is still selling comfortably in the $75-$100 range. That was released almost 2 years ago, and I've never once seen it in stock at any retail store here in the Baltimore, MD area (I know because I want it).

As much as I hate scalpers, I can't help but feel like Nintendo creates an ecosystem for them to thrive and after all this time it almost seems like they do it on purpose.

[wiggy]

I missed out on that one too, and I was all over it like flies on shit. Blows, but 'tis the way of the world nowadays

Scalpers would still scalp them either way. It's just easier for them now.

According to the lady at my local GameStop, it is unlikely that the game will ever be restocked -- even on the day of release. This style of promotion/sale is horrendous, and quite frankly, turns me off of Nintendo. I understand limiting stock for special editions, but having a game pre-sold out with no additional stock ever is inexcusable. It really screws over fans.

Why blame Nintendo?  GameStop and the like are the companies responsible for pre-orders, not Nintendo. It's not like Nintendo is making fewer LE versions, they're just all being sold online instead in-store. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan, but it doesn't seem fair to blame Nintendo for the pre-order only thing.

[TDIRunner]

I don't think the people that pay the scalpers on eBay are stupid. If they want something, and they can't walk into a retail store and buy it at retail price, what are they supposed to do?

I disagree.  They are stupid.  These are not necessities.  No one has to own video games.  

People can spend their money however this wish.  If they have more money than brains, then by all means pay the scalpers whatever they want, but I will still look at it as a stupid purchase.  If a millionaire spent $200 on an NES Mini, I would still refer to that as a stupid purchase.  No offense to anyone here who may have done that, but that's just how I look at the situation.

[xwaprez]

I don't think the people that pay the scalpers on eBay are stupid. If they want something, and they can't walk into a retail store and buy it at retail price, what are they supposed to do?

I disagree.  They are stupid.  These are not necessities.  No one has to own video games.  

People can spend their money however this wish.  If they have more money than brains, then by all means pay the scalpers whatever they want, but I will still look at it as a stupid purchase.  If a millionaire spent $200 on an NES Mini, I would still refer to that as a stupid purchase.  No offense to anyone here who may have done that, but that's just how I look at the situation.

That's a pretty hard stance to take, as is your right. We can agree that the purchase might be stupid, but I can't get down with saying that a person is stupid because they make a stupid purchase or do some other stupid thing. Smart people do stupid things all the time. Also, if you're gonna say "no offense to anyone who may have done that", it'd be better if you didn't call them stupid first.

[TDIRunner]

Meh.  If I was going to revise any part of my statement, I would get rid of the "no offense" part.  Others can spent their money as they wish, but my personal opinions still stand.  Others have told me my purchases are stupid more times than I could count.  Never once have I been offended by it. 

[e_brugal]

I don't think the people that pay the scalpers on eBay are stupid. If they want something, and they can't walk into a retail store and buy it at retail price, what are they supposed to do?

I disagree.  They are stupid.  These are not necessities.  No one has to own video games.  

People can spend their money however this wish.  If they have more money than brains, then by all means pay the scalpers whatever they want, but I will still look at it as a stupid purchase.  If a millionaire spent $200 on an NES Mini, I would still refer to that as a stupid purchase.  No offense to anyone here who may have done that, but that's just how I look at the situation.

Agree with you on this

[e_brugal]

This is par for the course when it comes to Nintendo, though. I mean, of course "scalpers be scalpin" and all that, but Nintendo always and I mean *always* underestimates demand which leads them to produce small quantities of ___________ item.

Anyone that's been collecting amiibo, or tries to get any Special Edition 3DS or games (not an exhaustive list)...knows what I'm talking about.

I don't think the people that pay the scalpers on eBay are stupid. If they want something, and they can't walk into a retail store and buy it at retail price, what are they supposed to do? Wait and hope that the scalpers lower the price? They might...they might not. Case in point, the Majora's Mask Limited Edition is still selling comfortably in the $75-$100 range. That was released almost 2 years ago, and I've never once seen it in stock at any retail store here in the Baltimore, MD area (I know because I want it).

As much as I hate scalpers, I can't help but feel like Nintendo creates an ecosystem for them to thrive and after all this time it almost seems like they do it on purpose.

That's different, that's an item that is no longer for sale in stores, an item that you know won't be for sale in stores. You have to pay the price. But when you know there would be another production and you buy at a higher price, sorry but that isn't a smart move (stupid).