How the Birmingham Mail drew a blank in the search for a Nintendo Wii

Dec 7 2007 By Catherine Hendrick, Birmingham Mail

IT is one of the most sought after gifts this Christmas.

But parents could also be forgiven for thinking it is also as rare as hens' teeth. Kids across the West Midlands are in danger of disappointment this Christmas thanks to a worldwide shortage of Nintendo Wii games consoles.

Even shoppers lucky enough to track one down complain that they could not buy the consoles at the recommended retail price of £179.99. Instead people are being forced to buy them as part of packages, including extras like games, costing up to £350.

To find out whether there's any hope for parents, I spent the afternoon pounding the streets of Birmingham to track one down.

.Store: Argos, Martineau Place.

As soon as I type in the Nintendo order number into a gadget which checks what's in stock a message flashes up telling me Argos doesn't have any Nintendo Wii's either in store or its warehouse.

Undeterred I collar a member of staff. Are they likely to get any in before Christmas I ask hopefully?

"We can't say."

Store: HMV, Pavilions.

The news is no better. "I'm extremely pessimistic about us getting enough in before Christmas and we can't take reservations," says a frustrated looking member of staff.

"It's a case of being in the right place at the right time. We had three in this morning and they went within ten minutes."

Store: HMV, Bullring.

My hopes are raised when I see signs on the shelves boasting "Nintendo Wiis now in stock".

Maybe things aren't so bad I think, grabbing the nearest shop assistant.

"I'm not sure we have any," he says.

He agrees to check the stockroom but, within moments, he's back.

"I'm sorry, we've sold the last one."

Store: GAME in Selfridges.

f=XFrutiger-Black Any joy?: oNone whatsoever. Shop assistant: "We haven't got any".

Me: "Do you have any suggestions?" Assistant: "Try an X Box instead? I think they're better."

When I explain the child I'm buying for has set his heart on a Nintendo Wii the assistant replies: "They won't get it before Christmas then."

Store: GAME, Bullring.

I don't even need to speak to a member of staff at a store which bills itself as the "UK's specialist retailer" in games consoles.

Notices on the shelves explain that they're out of stock due to "high customer demand" but that GAME is "working hard to secure more".

Store: zavvi.co.uk, Pavilions.

Any joy?: No. An assistant tell me: "We've had so many disappointed customers coming in looking for them but we just can't get the stock.

"We'd love to order 200 but you're lucky if you can get three in store.

Like everywhere else, there's no waiting list customers can put their names on either.

Store: Currys.digital, Bullring.

There's even more bad news from one of the country's biggest electrical retailers.

"Normally we'd let customers pre-order them but we can't guarantee we'll get them in before Christmas."

Store: Game Station, New Street.

This store sells second hand consoles as well as new so I figured I had a better chance here than elsewhere. No such luck. It seems anyone who wants to sell a Nintendo Wii is flogging them on eBay.

EVEN eBay lets us down....

A search for Nintendo Wii on the auction website brings up 29,190 items. This is more like it I think.

But on closer inspection it isn't. One is actually on sale at a staggering £9,223 and others are German models.

TIPS

IF YOU'RE really desperate for a Wii, try logging on to www.wii-consoles.co.uk

It lists which shops last had them in stock and pledges it will even send you an alert if a new batch arrives.

Try ringing individual stores first thing too. You never know you might be one of the lucky ones.

See Monday's Shopping section for some great ideas on how to keep your kids happy this Christmas even if Santa can't get his hands on a Wii