UK retailers bemoan Wii price rise
Console cost set to go up
Nintendo admitted yesterday that they are reluctantly going to raise the price they charge British retailers for the Wii by in the region of 18 GBP, owing to the depreciation of the Pound.
Today, UK retailers have responded to Nintendo's move, stating that the price will completely destroy their profit margin. This will either put the squeeze on retailers, or force them to pass on the rise, which in turn could hurt sales.
"It's very disappointing because we believed that after two years the Wii machine would get cheaper rather than more expensive - I've heard that this is the first time in history that the price has gone up for a machine after two years," ShopTo.net's Igor Cipolletta told GI.biz.
Once the price rise is passed on, retailers believe sales could be harmed, and while festive sales are still likely to see shortages, summer numbers could be down as a result. Nintendo have put no date on their price rise.
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