Walmart will not let you buy things.
Last night I went to the Northside Walmart to pick up a second Wii controller. Word on the internet-slash-street had been Walmart would put Wii software and accessories on the shelves on the 16th. To alleviate stress during the Wii Launch I thought I would pick up my second controller ahead of time.
I got to the store and BOOM the Wiimote sat glistening in its plastic packaging. A little white rectangle of joy. Since the Wiimote is an accessory it was set on a shelf in the electronics department — not behind the glass shelves.
Here is the conversation I had when trying to actually buy my Wiimote.
**Cash Registers beeps and flashes “Item not salable”**
Cashier: We can’t sell this yet.
Me: Uhh it was on the shelf?
C: Sorry you can’t buy it yet.
Me: Umm it had a price tag and it was on the shelf.
C: Oh, those are just for display.
WTF? So know that some items in Walmart actually aren’t for sale even though they may appear to be, they are just for display.
Technorati Tags: technology, video games, wtf
i hate wal-mart
— RVAkid | @
Next they’ll have a bunch of open parking spaces in the front of their store, and then not let you park in them.
oh, wait…
— jamie | @
i would have asked to see the manager. then explained that if something is not for sale it should not be advertised as such by being placed on a shelf.
— chewy | @
I would like to hijack this post to find an answer to a question. I ended up with a Wii (super sweet) but have been unable to get it connected to the WiiConnect24 system.
I have received an error message saying Nintendo’s system is down (or something to that effect) and their website to search error codes is not working for me. Has anyone else had trouble getting this to work? Or maybe the better question is, Max did you ever get the Wii? Have you had this problem?
— BK | @
i had trouble at first getting the system update it does when you 1st setup the wireless connection. it kept timing out. but it gave me just a wierd number for the error code.
eventually i got it to work later in the day. i figured everyone that bought a wii was trying to dl the stuff at the same time from nintendo and they were just having network issues server-side. so all i can say is try again later.
they should distribute their stuff with the bittorrent protocol. seems like an ideal use for it. save themselves some trouble and everyone else some time.
— midas | @
Thanks Midas, that sounds like the same problem I was having. I am concerned that it never resolved yesterday, but perhaps you were connecting to a different server and it will be fixed now. I haven’t tried it yet today, but I will keep at it!
Bittorrent would be ideal, you’re right. But that’s how haxorz get music and movies, companies are forbidden to support it.
— BK | @
yeah but it is awesome when they do. lots of oss guys use it, like for linux distros and stuff. red hat i think?
yeah even when i did get on it was crazy slow, and i actually got booted out of the store due to the same issue. so either we are both hosed for some other unknown reason or nintendo needs to buy a new server farm. they could build it out of old xboxes!
— midas | @
I read a story on cnn (i think) about this error earlier today, just as midas suggests they said it was due to a large number of people hitting the servers at once.
— nic | @
Dang! I want a Mii Parade so bad!
Sigh, one day I’ll get this to work… still not working today.
— BK | @
I got the update fine the first day. I do *not* have a Mii Parade, but I think that is because I have no friends (yet).
Also I read forecast channel is set to come alive Dec. 20th, and News Channel in January sometime. I wish they were live RIGHT NOW.
Also BK, post your wii number so I can add you as a friend.
— MaxPower | @
yeah mine worked fine and smoothly today, no network issues.
did you ever find out what the error code meant? maybe you have a configuration issue. i don’t think nintendo’s wifi stuff supports certain wireless security schemes.
— midas | @
I think I am using old WEP and it works fine. Is anyone using WAP?
— MaxPower | @
I’m rocking WEP as well. I have entered the error code on Nintendo’s website and it does not register as a valid code. Totally sucky.
I’ve been through my configuration settings several times to check channel, IP address, MAC filtering, etc but to no avail. It is registering my router, and my router registers it as an attached device; however somewhere after that there is a disconnect.
Max, I am at work right now but i will get you my Wii number tonight. I expect yours (and Midas’s) as well. If they are not supplied, I will have to send my Mii on a rampage on both your Wiis tearing your photo channel to shreds and dominating you in Wii Bowling. Nobody wants that.
— BK | @
what’s the error code?
— midas | @
1284 8422 9878 1575 — that is me.
— MaxPower | @
The mystery thickens. Now when I enter my error code it gives me this message:
Wii Connect 24 Errors
If you are receiving the following error message:
“There is a problem with the Wii Connect 24 service. Please try again later”
…we ask that you call as at (800) 255-3700 to resolve this issue.
I will keep you updated once I call the number.
Also, my Wii # is 3712 6335 3124 8153
— BK | @
I hope you don’t have this:
http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/wii/wiiconnect-bricks-wii-216036.php
— RMSzero | @
That is my problem. I have a new Wii being sent to me as we speak due to a 110213 error. Something to do with the update, i’m told.
Unlike that guy in the story I will not lose my data because you can transfer it using an SD card.
Anyway, I will probably have an update Wii # in the next 5-10 days.
I should mention also that Chris from Nintendo is a nice guy. Thanks Chris!
— BK | @
Oh man that sucks buddy. I am sorry to hear it.
— MaxPower | @
I bet it’s extra hard to be a nice guy when everyone yells at you. That’s good that Nintendo has at least one person over there that is a nice guy.
— RMSzero | @
Also: sorry about your thing. I hope the new nintendo comes soon!
— RMSzero | @
Thanks guys! Luckily I will still be able to play and save games in the mean time, so it is not a total tragedy.
But it’s ok, my love for Nintendo runs far too deep for something this small to disuade me.
— BK | @
my wiimote went nutz today. i turned it on pressed A. went to the mii channel and it stopped working. like the blue lights just flashed. i tried syncing it again. but no luck. then i took the batteries out. put them back. nothing. then i just waved it around and hit A a bunch and it worked.
weird.
— chewy | @
crazy wireless. it prolly couldnt find the console or something.
wireless is hard.
— midas | @
You could have gotten interference from something. My wireless keyboard and mouse sometimes just quit working and then start working again. It happens when contractors across the street talk to each other on their radios.
— MaxPower | @
yeah it’s the same frequency band as microwave ovens also. sometimes when i’m doing my online class (connected thru wireless), the audio will bork up if maura starts the microwave.
— midas | @
Oh my god, i finally got my new Wii and my new power supply, which also exploded :( and I now have a Wii number. Add me.
7063189595316190
and Midas, you better post/email me your number as well or we’re through.
— BK | @