Your best bet for finding a Wii

Your best bet for finding a Wii

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Story Published: Nov 28, 2007 at 8:22 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 29, 2007 at 1:32 PM PDT

By Connie Thompson

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If you snagged a Wii Console during the mad rush after Thanksgiving, consider yourself lucky.

Despite earlier predictions of a tight but ample supply this holiday season, the demand for Wii is off the charts, just like last year.

Will accelerated production and shipping solve the problem? A Nintendo spokeswoman said there are no guarantees.

A top Nintendo Co. executive said holiday sales of the Wii game consoles have gotten off to a "fantastic start" but warned Tuesday that Wiis would be scarce through the end of the year.

Nintendo sold 350,000 Wiis in the U.S. last week, when many stores were closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, compared with 300,000 the previous week in the U.S.

But I did learn some things that may help, if a Wii is on your list. Some major retailers are now getting up to 2 Wii shipments per week, and Nintendo is now skipping the distribution centers and shipping directly to the stores.

Stores don't know how many they'll get. That depends on overall Wii sales at each store.

So if you must have a Wii before the end of the year, you're going to have to get your game on, so to speak, and swing into action.

Call the store within the first hour of opening and call every day, if you have to.

Ask if any deliveries are expected that day and what time deliveries are typically made.

Knowing when the last delivery was made might help tell if another shipment is due.

But no matter what, be polite; don't take it out on the store employees.

As for which stores to call, here's a list of the largest Wii retailers in our area in aplhabetical order: Best Buy, Circuit City, EB Games, Fred Meyer, Target, Toys R Us and Wal-Mart.

The stores with the largest game sections and highest sales get the most game consoles.

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