Another online option is one of these new ‘Wii only’ webstores that have cropped up in the last few weeks. I’m not going to post any of the site names here because I have no idea how reputable they are. If you go this route expect to pay at least $550 for a Wii package – the bundles from these stores generally include more items than the basic bundle but far fewer than the package price would imply. The markups are generally comparable to eBay – expect to pay about $150 over retail. Shop carefully, pay with PayPal or a credit card that provides purchase protection and try to choose a website that includes a phone number for customer service. 

My next suggestion actually came from the guys at the Radio Shack near my house. Try Craigslist. The systems are selling for slightly less – $350 to $375. Choose a local seller, insist on picking the item up in person and if you’re not satisfied you can simply walk away.  

If you absolutely cannot bear to pay more than retail – and who can blame you? – then you probably are going to have to wait a bit. Barnes & Noble is now accepting pre-orders on several Wii bundles that are expected to ship on 1/31/2008. 

The Wii systema are theoretically carried at Best Buy, K-Mart, Sears, Target and a ton of the other ‘big box’ retailers. Most of these stores will not accept pre-orders and the bricks and mortar outlets do not maintain waiting lists. Check with your local store just to be sure. Radio Shack also carries Wii and many stores are keeping a waiting list. Another tip from my pals over there is that each time a store gets a bundle for release, they can’t sell it until Sunday. All the new Wii releases occur on Sundays – if you are ever going to get supremely lucky it will be first thing on a Sunday morning.

If you were hoping to gift a Wii system to your kids this holiday season, one ’sorry you can’t have it right now option’ is a special Wii gift card, available at Target in denominations from $25 up to $1000.  

So that’s everything I know about the Wii shortage – hope it’s helpful. The games, accessories, controllers and other add-ons are abundantly available – which makes the system shortage even more annoying.

Ho Ho Humbug!

They are located in Denmark and are an authorized retailer of Georg Jensen.  At any given time they have as many as a couple of hundred pieces of Jensen jewelry for sale.  Some are posted for auction.  Others are ‘buy it now’.  Depending on the piece, you can save between 20% to 40%, sometimes more.  They also generally have a nice selection of vintage pieces.  If you’re looking for a specific piece, drop them an e-mail.  They’ve had things I wanted in stock even though they had not yet posted them into their eBay store.  They have no other website.  The eBay store is their only on-line outlet.  Check it out.  You’ll thank me later. 

1. Do your research first. Know what the logos, tags, trims and stitching look like on the items you plan to buy.
2. Buy from sellers who are rated highly by other buyers.
3. Look for a guarantee of authenticity. Most reputable sellers will back this up with a return policy.
4. Avoid sellers from the Philippines, Hong Kong and other countries where counterfeiting is rampant.
5. Look for products that are new with tags (NWT).
6. Pay with a credit card or payment service.

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We’re here every day scouring the web and reporting on how to get the best deals on the best stuff from the best sources the web has to offer. Don’t miss out. Visit us often. Get more for less. That’s what we’re all about.

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Brenda’s been having a blast these days, placing a few cast-off ‘objets’ for auction on the internet.  One item (a collectible soap dispenser that had been in a box in the basement for years) actually sold for more than twice what she had been hoping to get – and three times her reserve price.  She says it’s easy and fun.