ponyfool
Well-known member
After a long debate with input from several forums including this one, when our PS2 died about 6 weeks ago, my wife and I were unsure what game system to get. Our first thought was the PS3 since the originals were backwards compatible and it had a Blu-Ray disc. But, they were very expensive. After receiving all the input, we decided on a Wii. But, just as we made that decision, we saw that Fry's had a sale on the PS2, so we just bought a new PS2 for under $100.
Fast forward to this week when the wife and I realize we don't have a good "Santa" gift for the kids. We revisit the idea of a PS3 or a Wii. I really wanted a PS3 for the Blu-Ray, but the practical side of me was aiming for the Wii. So, my wife is at Costco the other day when they are selling their PS3 bundle for $515. I'm thinking to myself, "no way I'm spending that much on a game system" at the same time I'm thinking, "that's only $16 more than many stand alone Blu-Ray players and it has a game system too!" We debate it and again come to the conclusion we should get the Wii. We set out to find a Wii, but it isn't happening. Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's, Target, etc are all out of them.
Yesterday, we reluctantly head to Costco to buy the PS3 since we can't find a Wii. We decided to forgo getting each other a second gift to pay for it. While I'm there, staring at the stacks of PS3 bundles they have reading exactly what comes in it to see if some of the ads had a better deal elsewhere when a Costco employee walks up and places a Wii bundle on top of the PS3 stack. I immediately pick it up and start reading what it comes with when three other customers see me grab it and start asking where I got it. I told them "that employee" (pointing to the guy walking away) just put it out there. They run up to him and he says a manager found it hidden in the back. He assumed an employee was either hiding it to buy it later or hiding it to steal it. When it was found, the manager immediately told the employee to put it on display. I was just the lucky one to be there when it was put on display.
I start walking around Costco trying to find my wife to tell her and get verification that this is what we want. I'm reading what comes with it (2 controllers, 2 nun-chuks, 2 games including Sports, etc) and the price ($344). I have no fewer than a dozen customers approach me asking where I got it. When I told them it was the last one I started getting offers. I haven't even paid for it yet. I tell them I have to talk to my wife.
I'm followed through the store when I get to my wife. We start talking and they remain quiet. She's looking at me like I'm some kind of David Koresh cult leader because of the people that followed me. She says, "That looks good, let's just get that." That's when the bidding war started. This guy says, "I'll give you $400 for it." Followed by a lady saying, "I'll give you $450." My wife's eyes light up and she tells me, "You shouldn't let them tempt me." With that, I head for the checkout because I know she'll give in.
I buy it and am waiting for her by the food court. I had an offer of $525 and I politely refused. She comes through the checkout with people following her asking her if she's willing to part with it. I interrupt and ask the rhetorical question, "Are these really that hard to get." A chorus of answers, like "we've been looking everywhere." Anyhow, when the "bidding" got to $600 my wife was silently screaming at me to "Sell, Sell!" We get outside and I tell her, "If we sell this right now, we still have to buy a Santa gift. That means fighting these crowds." That was her Achilles heel because I know how much she hates crowds and we were able to keep it.
We get home and she checks Craigslist and sees them for $500 and tells me maybe we should have sold it. I tell her to think of the kids and their first day back at school when they say Santa brought them a Wii. After getting ridiculed for believing in Santa, they'll be envied for getting a game some two years after it was introduced that no one else is apparently able to get in the Portland area.
So, it's wrapped in Santa paper awaiting delivery on Monday night/Tuesday morning.
Score!
Fast forward to this week when the wife and I realize we don't have a good "Santa" gift for the kids. We revisit the idea of a PS3 or a Wii. I really wanted a PS3 for the Blu-Ray, but the practical side of me was aiming for the Wii. So, my wife is at Costco the other day when they are selling their PS3 bundle for $515. I'm thinking to myself, "no way I'm spending that much on a game system" at the same time I'm thinking, "that's only $16 more than many stand alone Blu-Ray players and it has a game system too!" We debate it and again come to the conclusion we should get the Wii. We set out to find a Wii, but it isn't happening. Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's, Target, etc are all out of them.
Yesterday, we reluctantly head to Costco to buy the PS3 since we can't find a Wii. We decided to forgo getting each other a second gift to pay for it. While I'm there, staring at the stacks of PS3 bundles they have reading exactly what comes in it to see if some of the ads had a better deal elsewhere when a Costco employee walks up and places a Wii bundle on top of the PS3 stack. I immediately pick it up and start reading what it comes with when three other customers see me grab it and start asking where I got it. I told them "that employee" (pointing to the guy walking away) just put it out there. They run up to him and he says a manager found it hidden in the back. He assumed an employee was either hiding it to buy it later or hiding it to steal it. When it was found, the manager immediately told the employee to put it on display. I was just the lucky one to be there when it was put on display.
I start walking around Costco trying to find my wife to tell her and get verification that this is what we want. I'm reading what comes with it (2 controllers, 2 nun-chuks, 2 games including Sports, etc) and the price ($344). I have no fewer than a dozen customers approach me asking where I got it. When I told them it was the last one I started getting offers. I haven't even paid for it yet. I tell them I have to talk to my wife.
I'm followed through the store when I get to my wife. We start talking and they remain quiet. She's looking at me like I'm some kind of David Koresh cult leader because of the people that followed me. She says, "That looks good, let's just get that." That's when the bidding war started. This guy says, "I'll give you $400 for it." Followed by a lady saying, "I'll give you $450." My wife's eyes light up and she tells me, "You shouldn't let them tempt me." With that, I head for the checkout because I know she'll give in.
I buy it and am waiting for her by the food court. I had an offer of $525 and I politely refused. She comes through the checkout with people following her asking her if she's willing to part with it. I interrupt and ask the rhetorical question, "Are these really that hard to get." A chorus of answers, like "we've been looking everywhere." Anyhow, when the "bidding" got to $600 my wife was silently screaming at me to "Sell, Sell!" We get outside and I tell her, "If we sell this right now, we still have to buy a Santa gift. That means fighting these crowds." That was her Achilles heel because I know how much she hates crowds and we were able to keep it.
We get home and she checks Craigslist and sees them for $500 and tells me maybe we should have sold it. I tell her to think of the kids and their first day back at school when they say Santa brought them a Wii. After getting ridiculed for believing in Santa, they'll be envied for getting a game some two years after it was introduced that no one else is apparently able to get in the Portland area.
So, it's wrapped in Santa paper awaiting delivery on Monday night/Tuesday morning.
Score!
Merry Christmas.
