Even though the Nintendo Switch came out back in March, they’re still selling like crazy and almost impossible to find. If you’re hoping to score one before the holiday season, here’s what you need to know.
Since March, Nintendo has increased production of the console, and Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé told Variety that their number one focus is on having enough for consumers this fall. But there’s no telling whether Nintendo will actually be able to meet demand. GameStop got a shipment of nearly 25,000 units to its more than 4,400 stores a month ago, and they all sold out in minutes. That means you’ll have to be on top of things if you want to score one for your family (or yourself) any time soon. Oh, and you better start looking yesterday.
Keep Checking With Retailers
Chances are, you won’t happen upon a Switch just sitting on a shelf as you saunter through the electronics section, so you need to make an effort to reach out to stores and ask them for information. Call stores nearby and kindly ask if they have any units, then ask if they know when they usually get shipments of the console. I was finally able to get mine by talking to a Toys”R”Us employee and showing up to the store the morning of their usual shipments. Here’s a list of big box retailers worth checking with regularly:
* GameStop
* Walmart
* Target
* Best Buy
* Toys”R”Us
* Kmart
If you’re hoping to snag one online, check these websites a couple times a day, and follow their Twitter accounts for shipment announcements:
* Amazon (@amazondeals)
* GameStop (@GameStop)
* Best Buy (@BestBuy)
* Newegg (@Newegg)
* ThinkGeek (@thinkgeek)
If you don’t want to check stock yourself, you can try a stock tracking site, like NowInStock.net or NintendoSwitchFinder.com. You might also find the Nintendo Switch Deals subreddit and Cheap Ass Gamer Twitter useful. That said, I wouldn’t rely on those tools too much since those in-store availability trackers are rarely accurate.
Pre-Order: Nintendo Switch Super Mario Odyssey Bundle $379.99 via Best Buy. https://t.co/m97pGhcQ3P pic.twitter.com/TMUYvc2YqN
— Cheap Ass Gamer (@videogamedeals) September 14, 2017
Pre-Order One Soon
All in all, you’re probably better off pre-ordering a Nintendo Switch from any retailers that offer it. GameStop offers pre-orders of the console for sure, but be sure to double check the estimated arrival time. Even so, a pre-order guarantees you’ll get one eventually. So while you may not have the console all wrapped up on Christmas morning, at least you could show your recipient(s) that one is definitely on the way. Unfortunately, pre-ordering leads to another issue…
Be Ready to Pay Extra for a Bundle
The best thing you can do to ensure you get a Switch before the holidays is fork over the extra cash for a system bundle. These usually come with a game, some accessories, and sometimes an extra controller, but they also cost a lot more. A Nintendo Switch Console costs $299 on its own, but a bundle will cost you anywhere from $400 to around $550. And guess what? If you want to pre-order a Nintendo Switch, or secure a purchase early, it will probably have to be one of these bundles. Good luck!