Following reductions over the last couple of weeks elsewhere, HMV have today discounted their Sony hardware, bringing their PS3 and Vita bundle prices in line with what other retailers are offering.
The price cuts have led me down a rather curious path with regards to HMV and their policies though. Let me explain.
It’s no secret that, short of the spattering of neon pink Beats headphones, next to all ‘tech’ has disappeared from HMV shelves in recent months. This move, back to the retailer’s core audience of music and video was, as I’m sure you’re mostly aware, brought about by the company’s financial troubles, which led to numerous store closures earlier in the year.
So then, last night, when a local HMV tweeted some rather tempting deals for Sony’s handheld, I enquired as to the reasoning behind the price cut, asking if it was a mark-down, or indeed another case of technology being removed from the stores.
The reply I then received, however, was mind-boggling.
You see, I frequent the branch in question, and had noticed that within the last few weeks all traces of Nintendo’s Wii U had disappeared – instead being replaced by the much higher mark-up of current movie release merchandise, and One Direction mugs (in both a literal, and figurative sense). I’d accepted the consoles fate, assuming HMV’s Wii U presence had gone the same way as ASDA’s.
@adamguest1985 the consoles are still available they aren't represented on the shopfloor. next time your in we'll be happy to help :)
— HMV Nuneaton (@hmvNuneaton601) September 13, 2013
Apparently not so. HMV are still selling Wii U consoles, but only if you ask for one. The troubled retailer are hedging their bets that consumers looking for this particular item, are going to wade through the stacks of unofficial X-Factor biographies, and queue up empty-handed this Christmas – for “help” – rather than walking three minutes down the street to GAME or even Argos, both of which clearly have the product for sale.
Let’s be clear – this isn’t Cliff’s back catalogue, or a black and white western on VHS. Nor is it a Furby, bottle of bleach, or Henry the Hoover. It’s a product for which you carry stock, and should be openly promoting. There’s an entire aisle dedicated to PS3 and 360 titles, and even a handful of 3DS bits and bobs – but not a sniffle with regards to Wii U hardware. Nothing, not even a shelf edge label alerting me, the paying customer, that you stock Wii U. My brain hurts.
HMV appear to have mistaken Club Nintendo for Fight Club. What’s the rule again?
While this bizarre little jaunt into sales and marketing policies perhaps gives us an idea as to why the Wii U isn’t selling particularly well, it almost certainly gives us a clear insight as to why HMV had to ditch their tech makeover before it was really off the ground.
Dear confused retailers:
As gamers, many of us love a digital quest – but generally we would prefer our purchases to be more like opening a loot-chest, and less like embarking on an encrypted secret intel based mini-game.
Thanks.
beeje13
Taht’s strange, but I’m guessing they must make more money off of the merchandise or they wouldn’t have made this decision.
Andrewww
Given that shop floor space is usually quite expensive, it doesn’t seem too weird to me reserving it for products that actually sell.
Never cared much about Nintendo, as it’s just not my thing, but come November and even I’ll be worried for them.
Twilord
Seems a little late to be worried about them. Current estimates but them just outside of the standard game drought for a console’s early life.
Wind-Waker seems to be ready to sell out, and Mario probably will as well. Even if they’re not perfect system seller they’re bound to be one hell of a booster shot.
Most of my friends are likely to get them after the price-cut… granted Nintendo announcing it so early was a major screw-up, unless they’re trying to grab headlines when it causes a renewed surge in sales.
Andrewww
Don’t get me wrong: I never cared much about them as long as they keep going. Even if I can proudly say I never touched a Mario game in my life, and probably never will, I do appreciate diversity in the market, even if some Nintendo execs sometimes make it hard to sympathise with them. I was purely referring to latest sales numbers, failing their own projections by far. In this sense: enjoy Mario and prosper… ;o)
Twilord
I can’t seem to reply to your reply so I am gonna reply to your original message again.
You’re proud to have missed out on one of the fundamental building blocks of the industry? Seriously? I am not even a fan of GTA and I still hate the fact I haven’t played the first one.
Then again I am a GUI-designer and doing a course to become a 3d game-designer so maybe I have a special view-point.
That said I am tempted as hell to find your email and send you a Wii-U with Mario when it comes out (and Wind-Waker and Pikmin, ofcourse).
Andrewww
Seems like we’re also job-wise on opposite sides, I’m in the usability business… ;o)
But, isn’t Mario and all the Nintendo stuff as flat as it could possibly be, so what do you want with 3d…? Heading for a platform change…? ;o)
Ok, I’ll stop now.
On a more serious note: a colleague of mine actually got a Wii U. Do I really have to try this stuff at some point…?
And, sorry to put it that way, but what would be the least childish game experience one can have exclusively in the Nintendo realm, that you’d recommend?
cc_star
Shopfloor space has to earn its keep
If something ain’t moving, shrink the space available to it, move it to the back of the shop… if it still ain’t earning… get rid.
Plenty of things are selling well enough, so space taken up by something that isn’t selling actually costs you money – And what business is going to do that
Will get even worse when the other consoles come out too as 360 & especially PS3 is going from strength to strength and nextgen will have all the marketing and all the attention
Starman
HMV does have a good tradition of questionable decisions, looks like they’re proudly continuing it.
Btw I’m impressed you got a reply off them, my local hmv’s twitter ignores all queries.
OneShotWook
Not really news,just last week i picked up the minidisc version of ok computer and a vhs copy of emmanuelle.Hmv staff are a treasure mine for the hardcore.
Gamoc
It’s business. They’re not selling so they’re not displaying them.
Adam Guest
They’re not even trying though – that’s my concern. They’re sitting on expensive stock and are seemingly happy to do so. Very odd.
Keeping their back catalog of music or films ‘under the counter’ so to speak is fine, but only because people will expect to ask for missing music in a /music/ shop. With regards to other tertiary products, like the Wii, 99.9% of customers are just going to assume they don’t sell them and walk on, this leaving HMV with the depreciating consoles forever. All they need is something as simple as a display case, or a poster etc.
flatspikes
Perhaps a small sign in the games section could give people a clue? My local asda still has a little box showing the Vita despite removing all games.
Tarbun84
I was quite surprised by the lack of Vita stock in supermarkets until I realised how perfect the PS store is for the Vita. I have only bought a few physical games for the vita
CrawFail
I basically only ever go in to take notes of films and games to buy on eBay or Amazon. That’s if I go in at all because I know I can get what they’re selling for much MUCH cheaper elsewhere.
Very bizarre way to conduct business with the Wii U though. They’ve bought the consoles off the supplier so you’d think they’d want rid of them ASAP before the inevitable price crunch when the console goes the way of Sega’s last couple of hardware releases.
Twilord
I doubt Nintendo will ever go like Sega… I’ll make a bet with you now even!
Microsoft will leave the industry before Nintendo goes software only…
(I used to say the same thing about Sony, but honestly Sony have nearly reached a point where they’re as interdependent on the industry as Nintendo are.)
matthangzhou
They had wii u’s on sale when I was in Manc today.
Along with sorcery £2.99 new or £19.99 pre-owned. Go figure.
a inferior race
In supermarkets they charge for shelf space. Hmv might be doing a similar thing and Nintendo aren’t willing to pay.
Adam Guest
Which would make sense if the store wasn’t already holding costly stock.