Is the designation of a percentage of Wii consoles as bundle-only illegal?

Question

As you may or may not know, Nintendo's new "Wii" console is extremely popular, to the point that new shipments sell out within a few hours of stores opening after they arrive. Part of the reason for this is that Nintendo is just simply unable to keep up with the demand. The other other reason is a bit more sinister: several retailers, most notably EB Games and Gamestop, have designated a percentage of their Wii consoles to be sold only as part of a "bundle," in which a customer must pay a premium over the console's MSRP, and in return recieves a few extra games and accessories, usually equal to the regular combined price of all the items, and presumably to force customers to buy games they otherwise would not just to get the console. Obviously, this is seen as a devious practice to customers who are unable to afford anything more than the console itself, expecially with demand so high(you can't find the console any other way), but is it illegal? What can be done about it?

Answer 1

You can always sell the extra game you don't want on eBay or sell it to someone who really wants the games.

Answer 2

No, it's not illegal. It's an attempt by retailers to advertise that they have Wiis in stock without running out of Wiis in an hour. The bundle costs as much as or less than the price of buying all the items in the bundle separately.

If retailers were putting all the stuff into a bundle AND marking up the price, THEN it would be illegal. But a retailer can sell their merchandise however they want. It's a little like going to Sam's Club and only being able to buy a $6.00 ENORMOUS jar of mayonnaise. You may think that $6.00 for a jar of mayo is a rip-off, but in reality you're paying less than you'd pay if you bought the same quantity of mayo in a bunch of smaller jars. Does that make sense?

Hope you like extra mayonnaise, er, games.

Answer 3

Nope it is not illegal, sorry.

They can sell them as part of a bundle package if they choose. And they don't seem to be having any trouble selling the higher priced bundles either - they are just as hard to find as a Wii not in a bundle.

But most likely you will buy other games for your Wii arn't you?
What is the problem with purchasing them in a bundle (typically you do save a little bit - $10-20) they usually throw in an extra remote, and a few games....just find one packaged with the games you want.

Walmart sells the bundle packages online as well as the solo Wii units, you just need to catch them when they are in stock...AND if you purchase the bundle package you get to pick and choose EXACTLY what is in the package - choice of an extra accessory (remote, nunchuck, wireless sensor bar...or whatever), as well as pretty much any games you want....

But nothing can be done about these companies selling the Wii in a package deal sorry.

You'll just have to be patient and dilligent in your search for a Wii (find their Wii page and bookmark it for quick reference and check them daily - it will only take you 5 min.) or pony up the dough to buy the bundle if you find one....hopefully with the games you planned on purchasing anyway ;)

Happy shopping.

Hope that helps