Wal-Mart sent out a flier last week stating they would have more Nintendo Wii's on sale this morning, Wednesday, and promised that each store would have a minimum of three systems.
With a bit of insider information (a relative that works as a head CSM at Wal-Mart) we went knowing they had 33 systems in stock. These systems have been collecting in the store managers office (locked at all times of course) for over a week. They actually held back sales for this one special day.
The store opened at 6:00 A.M and the Wii sale went on at 8:00 A.M (why make everyone wait two more hours? Not sure). At 5:30 A.M we arrive to begin the wait... already had 33 people waiting. Many of these folks sat through a cold New England night (yes, below 32F) with a constant wind hoping for a console system with the crisp morning store opening.
The manager told us people had started lining up at 7:00 P.M the night before and have been out there all night. We, being #34 in line, decided it wasn't worth the wait considering we knew the store had 33 consoles. Perhaps one person would have a rejected credit card or drop dead from a coronary but that's a long shot considering the weather for a console that should be easily available in January. The store wasn't going to hand out tickets until 7:00 A.M and that was two hours away.
While in line, a conspirator states "I bet the Wal-Mart employees already bought half their stock" as one guy stands up in line, raises his head and says, "Nope, I work here." Now that is a dedicated employee - arriving early for work on his day off.
What is the moral of the story? No matter how insane you are, waking up before light kisses the sky just to own a Nintendo Wii... there are at least 33 people crazier than yourself.
No $250.00 Nintendo product is worth Jack Frost nipping that hard at our nose!
