When the NES Classic Edition launched in November 2016 I was super excited to get one. But I never did… stock was so limited and demand so high that the NES Classic Edition became a scalpers dream. I didn’t want to spend $200 CAD (~$157 USD) on an $80 (~$60 USD) product so I ended up empty handed.
More recently the SNES Classic Edition has launched and again it entirely disappeared before many of us could find one for ourselves. And again ebay, local classifieds and game swaps were the only places to find them but at greatly inflated prices. I felt like I was going to miss out yet again on what appears to be an amazing product. My wife even waited in line at a local brick and mortar shop in the hopes of getting one of the few they just received to surprise me with but she could not. In an age of simplified shopping it’s frustrating to fail so hard.
I was starting to think that Nintendo just wasn’t interested in meeting demand. I feel like the hype is more valuable to Nintendo than the money earned from these products.
So I caved. And I am a bit embarrassed to say I that helped legitimize the flipping trend by participating. On my local classified it was very easy to find the SNES Classic Edition for between $160 and $200 CAD. They are everywhere! So I found a seller that was actually walking distance from me and selling his brand new SNES Classic Edition for $180 CAD (~$140 USD). I sent an offer of $160 (~$125 USD) and said I could pick-up right away. He agreed.
We chatted for a little while and I asked how he got it. He said he pre-ordered two from Bestbuy with the intention of keeping one and selling the other. He told me the pre-orders were sold out in just minutes.
In Canada the retail price for the SNES Classic Edition is $100 CAD (~$78 USD). With tax that’s a total of $113 meaning that I paid a $47 CAD (~$37 USD) premium to get one. Not terrible but I still feel a little dirty.
So, how is the SNES Classic Edition? I don’t know yet. The wife has snatched it from me promising that I’ll get it back this December 25th. She finds it hard to buy for me and this year she wants to give me something that I’ll really like! *I was allowed to borrow it for the photo shoot.
What’s your experience with the NES and SNES Classic Edition? Were you able to find one? Did you have to take a hit to score it? How does it look and play on your HD TV? I would love to hear from anyone who wants to share.
Regarding the NES Classic Edition. There is hope. Nintendo is promising new stock this coming Summer 2018. Be ready!
Fun story, I was lucky to find one ( the only one ) at a Pharmaprix store at 8:30 am, while I was shopping for something else. The lady at the cash said they sell them instantly like hot cakes.
Not sure if they ever got anymore since. But congrats!
Ah, Luis, you did it right! I’m really glad to hear you got one for the proper retail price. That is excellent.
I only just discovered the news by chance that Nintendo plans to release more NES Classics next year so I’m hoping they’ll do the same with the SNES Classis too.
Every retro gamer deserves to get both of these beauties. *I say that even though I haven’t yet had a chance to use one. They’re amazing, right? 🙂
I’m calling BS on your story. Or at least that you have no will-power what-so-ever! It was supposed to be a Christmas gift from your wife! What happened to that idea?!
She tried really hard to find both the NES and SNES classic. She really did. But she couldn’t (I couldn’t too for a long time). So when I managed to find it I handed it over to her so that she could give it to me for xmas. See, it all works out.