I found out about this breaking news exactly one minute after the customer service number had closed. Helpfully, they let me know that they open at 6:00 AM. Being a giant, giant nerd, and determined to play Zelda in the best visual quality possible (a sentece that qualifies me for said giant nerd status), I promptly set my alarm clock for 6:00. And here I am.
First, an observation: calling them was a nightmare of "all circuits are busy" errors (in all manner of voices and accents), spontaneous busy signals, "please call again later" recordings, and just flat-out lost phone connections. Now, I don't know how robust their phone queue is, but I do know Nintendo consistently makes the argument that an incredibly small percentage of their customers have a high-definition set, and that's why HD was left out of the Nintendo Wii. Based on today's phone adventure, it seems like Nintendo might be underestimating their HD-using audience. Who knows. I guess this is anecdotal at best, but I'd love to know how many get ordered.
Anyway, here's my point. Exclusively for you, wonderful reader.
While on hold, they announced a website where you can order Wii Component Cables.
And if you jump on it, you just might snag one pre-launch. And if you try it, let me know how it goes! (Maybe even post your order number, so we can play the 'how many orders' ridiculous guessing game!)
Good luck!
Picture brazenly ganked from the awesome Chris Kohler! Thanks Chris, you lucky bastard.
posted at 7:07 AM
27 Comments:
grrrr!
-Kyle
I ordered online via your link, then called and got through nearly immediately. Admittedly, the first 12 redials were met with "all lines are busy" messages. The guy I spoke with said "they're currently still in stock, so they should go out now with delivery on Friday or Monday (2-3 day UPS "Red" shipping). The $13 option.
It's worth it. I'd heard some high-quality (and $50+) third-party ones were available at Best Buy, but my local one didn't have any.
store.nintendo.com/html/Nintendostore/prodlink.html?part=117711&parent=63205
It's just as likely that the people who are chomping at the pre-order bit (or who wake up at 6am to order cables by phone) are the same ones who would be ahead of the curve with HD televisions. It's likely that this is a small, though dedicated and vocal, subset of the purchase demographic, given the ratio of SD to HD televisions in this country.
Friday? Saturday? Sunday? Monday?
Much appreciated. The old component cable for the GameCube made a massive difference (if you were lucky enough to have an original Cube that supported this feature).
The Wii component cable will likely have the same effect, if not more so, due to the level of interactivity that we will all now have with our games.
Thanks again for the URL.
I'm just hoping that that is true :(
EDIT:
Check out this picture.
http://img1.putfile.com/main/11/31818133584.jpg
Nerds rejoice.
:(
(and as a side note, I got the most awesome verification word for posting this comment: shykt. And, thus I no longer need to think of a name for my first-born son)
My progress says "preparing package for shipping"
w00t! i should get mine sometime around monday or tuesday i figure.
All other orders marked "backordered" as of now, he said, will not go out until about the 28th (they'll get them on the 25th and prepare them the following Monday or Tuesday for shipping).
I then asked a curiosity question. I live in PA and the state sales tax is 6%. Yet I was charged $2.58 for a $29.95 item. When I add the $13, the math works: $2.577 = 0.06 * (29.95 + 13). WTF Nintendo? Since when do you charge sales tax on shipping costs?
FYI I ordered mine around noon EST.
I need to get a life.
Status: Preparing Order
The web page you link to know says: "Due to continued high volume of orders for many parts, standard processing times and shipments may be delayed. "
'continued high demand' - i.e. they scrtewed up on how many made ... surely not?
best wishes.
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