mission impossible

The kids got a chance to try out the Nintendo Wii console at EA over their spring break, and now they're really keen to have one. So I spent a couple of hours this week in between other things calling around to try and figure out how to get a Wii.

I found out that it's more or less impossible to get one. The only store that would actually say they were definitely getting any consoles at all was Toys R Us. Apparently every other Saturday when their sale flyer comes out, they guarantee at least 20 consoles per store will be available.

This morning, on the advice of a Toys R Us employee, I arrived at the local mall at 7:15, more than two hours before opening time, to find around 40 people in line. I figured since I was there I'd join the queue but I didn't have much hope. Sure enough, at 7:40 an employee came out and handed out tickets, and there were only 21 consoles available.

I approached the people at the front of the line and asked them when they'd arrived. "About 4:30," the guy said. As I was leaving, I spoke to an older woman who hadn't been able to get a ticket. She reported that she arrived at the mall at 6 am, and found a lot of people waiting there. When the mall doors were opened, though, the younger and fitter people in line made a dash for Toys R Us and she was out of luck.

I'm starting to think that calling around to local stores every day would actually be easier than trying to get a Wii from Toys R Us.

Anyway, life continues without yet another gaming console, and I've got finals to study for... maybe the kids will forget about this and I can spend our money on something else.