Black Friday is supposed to be the ultimate capitalist holiday where we all buy our Christmas presents on sale. The NES Classic is the ultimate nostalgia gift, so you’d think the two would mix.
This year, not so much.
DON’T MISS: How to get a NES Classic without spending $300
Amidst all the Black Friday flyers, we have yet to see one deal on a NES Classic. That’s probably because finding the console for its $60 RRP is actually a fantastic deal: the Classic itself is out of stock everywhere, goes for around $200-$300 on eBay, and replicating the deal with a bunch of genuinely old hardware would cost you over $500.
In other words, Black Friday is the worst possible time to try and buy a NES Classic. It’s out of stock nearly everywhere online, and while you can find it in physical locations with a little luck and a lot of perseverance, trying to hunt down one console in a Target flooded with people sounds like an awful idea.
If you are determined to try and find a NES Classic this Black Friday (or really, any time before the holidays) we have a couple of tips here. The short version is: Walmart has been having periodic releases of stock at 1700 EST most days, which is worth keeping an eye on. Target has been drip-feeding consoles to select retail locations, which is one of the better ways of keeping track. You can also sign up for online stock-checking services, which will send you an email when a NES Classic is in stock online.
In a statement about the situation, Nintendo said:
“The Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition system is a hot item, and we are working hard to keep up with consumer demand. There will be a steady flow of additional systems through the holiday shopping season and into the new year. Please contact your local retailers to check product availability. A selection of participating retailers can be found at www.Nintendo.com/nes-classic.”
, we said that”the NES Classic Edition isn’t a perfect product, but it is a smart, affordable, attractive device that blows all of those other retro consoles you’ve seen lining store shelves at Target and Walmart out of the water. If you’re looking for a great gift for a gamer in your life (or a holiday treat for yourself), look no further.”
