Nintendo denies a lowering of the trade price is behind widespread hardware discounts on upcoming console
Whilst we’re used to aggressive price battles in the software market, hardware prices are typically resilient – which makes the current price war surrounding the upcoming Black Wii all the more surprising.
A number of leading online retailers – such as Amazon, Play, ShopTo and GAME – are offering the upcoming new SKU for £164.99 on pre-order. This represents a £15 saving on the RRP.
However, Nintendo has told MCV that it has not further cut the machine’s RRP beyond the trade cuts announced last month.
“The latest reduction in the trade price of Wii in the UK saw it return to the level it was prior to the price increase in April this year,” a spokesperson told MCV.
“This was the same trade price that Wii launched at in Dec 2006. Retailers are able to sell at whatever price they want to.”