Toys”R”Us Offering “Bend Over” Bundle - Wii Plus 10 Games At Full Price

by Chad Lakkis on December 31, 2007 at 8:07 pm

Toys”R”Us has just gone above and beyond the call of corporate greed, in an effort to take advantage of every consumer interested in purchasing the popular Nintendo Wii console.

The retailer is offering what is perhaps the worst next-gen console “bundle” in the history of gaming: a Nintendo Wii and 10 games (no first party titles and all but one or two are total crap), all for the low, low bargain price of $700 (exactly what you would pay if you purchased everything individually).

“This Bundle includes: Wii Console, Spider-Man: Friend or Foe, Transformers: The Game, Bee Movie Game, Crash of the Titans 07, Dewey’s Adventure, Zak & Wiki: Quest for Barbaro’s Treasure, Raving Rabbids 2, Geometry Wars: Galaxies, Petz Dogz 2, and Soulcaliber Legends”

People buy the Value Meal at McDonald’s because they are essentially getting the fries for free. You sign up for the bundle from your local internet, phone, and cable providers, because it ultimately saves you money.

In general, consumers think they are saving money when they purchase a bundle, because that’s the way it usually works. Toys”R”Us is utilizing that mindset in an effort to trick consumers into helping them clear merchandise at a feverish pace.

Toys”R”Us is not bundling, they are banking — banking on the fact that consumers want the Wii console, and will be willing to buy all the crap sitting in their warehouse as well just to get it. No Mario, no Zelda, no Metriod — just pure greed from a retailer who is clearly banking on your dedication and devotion.

They firmly believe that you will do everything humanly possible to find a Wii for your child or loved one, and see no harm in screwing you in the process. As a parent and a consumer, you need to stand your ground and say no, or retailers like Toys”R”Us will continue to stockpile highly demanded merchandise and force consumers to buy items they normally would not.

This blatant act of pure evil preys on both unsuspecting and desperate consumers alike. The sad part is that this bundle is actually (according to the site) one of their best-sellers, and also (according to the comments left by consumers who purchased it via their site) nothing short of a ripoff.

Good system, bad bundle.
“Okay the Wii itself is fun, for a while at least. It has a few notable titles, although the games included in this bundle are rather low quality…your much better off buying the system by itself.”
- h4rdc0r3 from MI

Horrible Value
“All the games that come with it except for Zack and Wiki and and Geometry Wars are a bunch of horrible games no one wants. And this bundle is just a way to try to get rid of stuff that isn’t selling.

If you don’t like mediocre games, don’t buy this bundle, just buy a regular Wii.”
- blargh from New York, NY

Console fun; games - not so much
“I purchased this product because I couldn’t find another Wii available anywhere. The biggest downside is the games that come with it. I know other stores with online sites allow buyers to select from a list of games to include with the bundle. If that were the case, I would be more apt to recommend it. As it is, though, I wouldn’t suggest it…”
- Game Lovin’ Grad from Pittsburgh, PA

Note the next quote from user “Disappointed“, as he believes that the overpriced and poorly packaged bundles are being forced on consumers by Nintendo.

Tacky
“I have only played on the wii at a friends house. I would like to buy a system. I am disappointed with nintendo’s decision to limit the amount of systems in the stores, and force people to buy an overpriced bundle package. I will be patient, but the longer I wait the more I am considering the XBOX 360…”
- Disappointed from USA

Update: I have seen comments floating around about certain games in the bundle being unfairly called “crap”, and I apologize if I offended fans of one or all of the games being offered in this bundle.

That said, I am still disappointed in the retailers decision to force consumers to pony up $700 all at once to purchase the console plus ten games (regardless of the titles), with no discount, and no choice being given to the consumer regarding the games they will be forced to purchase.

If you are interested in knowing the scores for the games included in this bundle, check out Andrew’s breakdown here.

Source: toysrus.com

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Comments »

Craig
on January 1, 2008 10:38 am

This is a complete rip-off. No one would buy the games included in the bundle individually. Toys R Us is just trying to capitalize on the Wii shortage, and it’s despicable.

To Disappointed from USA: the 360 is a wonderful system and I highly recommend it. If you can’t find a Wii, the 360 is a fine substitute.
Tre
on January 1, 2008 10:57 am

Where’s Nintendo and what are they going to do about this? I thought Nintendo were going to penalize retailers that tried to sell these outrages bundles that’s being forced on the consumer.
Dan
on January 1, 2008 10:58 am

When I worked at Toys R Us last Christmas we weren’t allowed to sell the Wii console by itself, you HAD to buy it as a bundle, that or nothing. I seem to remember the bundles starting at £250 (~$500) so people we going in and spending a LOT more than they’d first intended (when they were in stock that is)
Matt
on January 1, 2008 11:13 am

Reggie is going to be pissed at TRU
Jimme
on January 1, 2008 11:50 am

caveat emptor and shut up. do you complain when the 10pack of cheese is not less expensive than buying 10 of the normal size? i bet you would if you paid enough attention…
jared
on January 1, 2008 12:39 pm

“do you complain when the 10pack of cheese is not less expensive than buying 10 of the normal size?”

no, because i choose to buy the 10pack for convenience, but i also have the option to buy singles as intended by the manufacturer

if the Wii was meant to be sold in a bundle, Nintendo would have made it a package deal like many other consoles b4 it. had it been intended

no one wants games/3rd party accessories
Anon
on January 1, 2008 12:48 pm

This is extremely simple. Just buy the bundle, and return all of the games to WalMart. They don’t want a receipt.
Mellonjollie
on January 1, 2008 12:49 pm

The bundle wouldn’t work if customers didn’t buy it. The customer that wants a Wii that bad and is willing to pay $700 for it all is an idiot.

Chad Lakkis really doesn’t know how business works it seems. Look up “supply and demand” please.

Most people I know that shop at Toys’R'Us have kids. They don’t care if the Wii comes with crappy games, they just want to get their kid a system with some games. Any hardcore gamer would scoff at the TRU “deal” and dismiss it.

Don’t call Toys’R'US an evil corporation because they capitalize on one of the basic laws of economics and on stupid parents.
Andrew
on January 1, 2008 1:04 pm

Ha. way to cash in on the wiis your greedy *bleeps*, but do you really think nintendo will really keep sending you wiis at this rate? the flood of emails nintendo will get makes me think not. beware of digg and kotaku and friends. beware of the flood.
John
on January 1, 2008 1:14 pm

That’s not despicable, that’s capitalism. Don’t like it? Don’t buy - you don’t *HAVE* to have a Wii. If it’s worth $700 to you, then go for it. If not, do without…nobody’s forcing you to do business with Toys R Us.
pronouncedlimp
on January 1, 2008 1:19 pm

OK, it’s a poor deal. So, don’t buy it. If nobody goes for the deal, it was a bad move by T-R-U; if people do buy it, it was because people judged that the product was worth the price. It’s not corporate greed, it’s capitalism, fool. It’s not like T-R-U is the only store with Wii . . . shop somewhere else and quit whining!!
Chad Lakkis
on January 1, 2008 1:34 pm

Mellonjollie,

I am well aware of the principals of supply and demand. I am also aware of the fact that the Wii has a fixed price (relative to each respective market) set by Nintendo and that the company’s President (Reggie Fils-Aime) clearly stated that he does not want retailers creating bundles like the bundle Toys”R”Us is “offering” consumers.

When asked in a recent interview about the bundles being created by retailers Reggie Fils-Aime stated the following:

“Retailers have already been given feedback that we are not big fans of that. We think it masks some of the price advantage we have versus our competition and, frankly, the consumer should decide what they want,”

In closing, I have every right to state my opinion regarding these practices (look up freedom of speech).

Link to Reggie interview and comments on retailer bundles

Chad-
a
on January 1, 2008 1:36 pm

zack and wiki is an amazing game, one of those diamonds buried in the rough
jennifer
on January 1, 2008 1:39 pm

This is why they are going out of business. This one of the most horrible things a corporation can do. Im glad that we own two wii’s in my house, and would never need this package.
john
on January 1, 2008 1:45 pm

I bought the Walmart bundle earlier this year and I’m very happy with it. I got to pick the games I wanted - Super Paper Mario, Zelda, Wii Play and Brain Age, and got another wiimote and nunchuk and an sd card.

I still would have rather just gotten the Wii, an extra remote and Zelda to start, but at least it was all good stuff and not $300 worth of trash like this bundle has.
Keith
on January 1, 2008 2:33 pm

We live in a free market (well it is suppose to be free).

Buyer Beware
Adam
on January 1, 2008 2:37 pm

Bad, but when I read the headline on Digg, I was expecting much worse. I’m surprised the bundle isn’t all those godawful DSI games; they could’ve called it the “Nintendo Wii M&M Kart Racing Product Placement Fun Bundle.” Seriously though, how can the Wii remain so insanely popular when there’s so much shit surrounding it?
C G
on January 1, 2008 3:12 pm

If you want to complain to Nintendo about this bundle, (as Nintendo itself has disapproved of bundling) then you can contact them here:

Corporate Communications / PR Department: 425.882.2040

For legal inquiry or concern call 1-800-255-3700 or e-mail at: noalegal@noa.nintendo.com

General Comments or Complaints: http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/webform.jsp
Roly Reyes
on January 1, 2008 3:49 pm

I’m probably just gonna buy the Wii late in the cycle, use it as a Nintendo player along with the odd third-party game like Zack & Wiki, and forget that any of the Disney, Nickelodeon stuff ever existed.
Joolie
on January 1, 2008 3:55 pm

I saw that bundle, along with the one from Wal-Mart (comprably priced, except with the ability to select from a grouping of games) and was disgusted.

I would have probably waited to buy a Wii until the production numbers were back up (therefore sending the price back to its more reasonable baseline), but because of these blatant price-driving tactics, I decided to get an Xbox 360 instead.

I haven’t been disappointed with that decision at all.
Alex
on January 1, 2008 4:50 pm

What’s funny is that this is only about 60GBP more than the British retail price for the system.
Andrea Ross
on January 1, 2008 6:06 pm

Perhaps we should look at a better ranking system for these games - Metacritic - which aggregates the scores from a wide range of publications (ratings out of 100):

Spiderman: Friend or Foe – 59
Transformers: The Game – 55
Bee Movie Game – 64
Crash of the Titans 07 – 70
Dewey’s Adventure – 67
Zak and Wiki – 87
Raving Rabbids 2 – 68
Geometry Wars: Galaxies – 80
Petz Dogz 2 - No rating (!)
Soulcaliber Legends - 53

So, two good games, seven mediocre ones, with an average score of 67 (Petz Dogz not included). IMHO it’s not a rip-off, but like with anything, the purchaser should use discretion when buying and decided whether they really want all that.

It reminds me of when my dad bought us kids an Atari 2600 back in 1983, with seven bonus games (one being, yes, ET!). It was supposed to have been a bargain (something like $399 Australian), but as a seven year old who had never even heard of the ET nightmare, I didn’t care a bit! We had a video game system, and that was cool :-D
Darren
on January 1, 2008 6:37 pm

This affected my family this Christmas, we had a budget of $500 for our Son’s main gift and he wanted a Wii - no problem as the Wii and a few games can be purchased for that. My wife however did a lot of gift shopping at TRU (we have 2 girls as well) and of course the Wii was outside our budget. We ended up with an xbox 360 instead.

As for this being capitalism, well it’s short-sighted capitalism. Nintendo lost out on a sale of a console and I read somewhere that it is the game royalties that bring in more revenue over the life of a console versus the initial sale of console its self? If so Nintendo lose in the long run and TRU is screwing them as well as the customer.

We also will not be using TRU as much in the future, my wife thought that the bundle was Nintendo’s doing and that prices would be the same elsewhere.
Dan Landis
on January 1, 2008 7:15 pm

Screw Toys ‘R Us and their playful backwards “R”. Actually, I think that “R” may be an indicator of their backwards way of thinking… or that they are just a bunch of idiots.
Jim
on January 1, 2008 9:03 pm

“That’s not despicable, that’s capitalism. ”

Sure it’s capitalism, but there’s a wide range of capitalism practices. One is to provide a good product for a fair price and make a profit. This is the good kind of capitalism.

The other end of the spectrum is to trick consumers into thinking they are getting a deal, or force a bundle down their throats due to low supplies. This is the bad kind of capitalism. It’s based on thinking of customers as prey and not caring about repeat business.

The first kind tends to build the business. The second kind just tears it apart. I don’t know about you, John, but conning customers or destroying any goodwill I’ve built up isn’t something I’d want to do if I managed a store.
t00lb0x
on January 1, 2008 9:06 pm

It’s like saying “I got this really awesome George Foreman grill for as a gift, but all i have to cook on it is the nasty salsbury steak we were served as kids in high school.”
MikeD
on January 1, 2008 9:44 pm

“In general, consumers think they are saving money when they purchase a bundle, because that’s the way it usually works. Toys”R”Us is utilizing that mindset in an effort to trick consumers into helping them clear merchandise at a feverish pace.”

Shame on consumers who don’t know how to (or won’t) add and/or do research.

Thank you TRU for teaching Americans an object lesson in critical thinking and basic math skills, and making them pay through the nose when they fail the test…
Draknodred
on January 1, 2008 10:08 pm

More like 8 terrible games and 2 great games (Zack and Wiki and Geometry Wars Galaxies)
Mellonjollie
on January 1, 2008 10:11 pm

You have every right to speak your mind Chad.
No debates there.
Chad Lakkis
on January 1, 2008 11:05 pm

*UPDATE*

I have seen comments floating around about certain games in the bundle being unfairly called “crap”, and I apologize if I offended fans of one or all of the games being offered in this bundle.

That said, I am still disappointed in the retailers decision to force consumers to pony up $700 all at once to purchase the console plus ten games (regardless of the titles), with no discount, and no choice being given to the consumer regarding the games they will be forced to purchase.

Chad-
bill gates
on January 1, 2008 11:39 pm

what would michael jackson do?
Jack
on January 2, 2008 8:29 am

Well, I got a 360 in September, If I would get a Wii, it’d be for Zelda and Metroid, still have N64 in my room. Got the 360 in a bundle pack at Wal-Mart for $289 with GRAW and NFS:Carbon, all-in-all it was worth the cash. Anyway, this bundle is just stupidly ridiculous, a jackass move for Toys’R'us
Adam
on January 3, 2008 11:22 pm

bill gates
on January 1, 2008 11:39 pm

what would michael jackson do?

Buy a Wii to let little boys touch his “controller”
Phoenix
on January 4, 2008 10:32 am

Very simply, people should buy the “bundle” and return the games they don’t want. When retailers do this (I actually worked for TRU once upon a time) they don’t have an actual bundle product number, so each item is listed on the receipt individually. Since there’s no discount involved for purchasing all the items together, legally they have to accept returns on individual items because they are sold as individual items.
meepmoopmeep
on January 5, 2008 9:51 pm

what a friggin shame.. i hope this hits every newspaper & news station in North America. preying on the desperate consumer like this is just pure evil
KJ
on January 7, 2008 10:04 pm

simple, dont shop at toys’r'us
Randy Michigan
on January 19, 2008 10:57 am

Thanks for the great post. I am considering purchasing a Wii and this is great to know! Keep up the great work! I’m using way too many exclamation marks!

Randy

Michigan
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on October 14, 2008 11:48 pm

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