Submitted by -Mezzo- 634d ago | opinion piece

Oh Wow, Amazon Really Hates Nintendo Consoles

Kotaku - For almost two years now, Amazon has not been selling Nintendo's gaming hardware first hand. You can buy a 3DS or Wii U from the massive online retailer, but it will be sold through a third party. Amazon won't sell Nintendo hardware themselves. And neither Nintendo nor Amazon will say why. (3DS, Nintendo, Nintendo DS, Wii, Wii U)

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guitarded77  +   634d ago
LoL... I would love to know what is going on between Amazon and Nintendo. I heard all kinds of crap like they're mad because Nintendo won't give them Wal-Mart's pricing, and/or Nintendo gives preference to retail outlets.
#1 (Edited 634d ago ) | Agree(24) | Disagree(2) | Report | Reply
dedicatedtogamers  +   634d ago | Well said
This article is pointless...

The reason why this stuff shows up the way it does is because of advertising. The ad for PS4 is also on Amazon's main page. Do you know why it's on the main page? Because Sony does something called "pays for advertising" and then a magical fairy takes the money and converts it into an online ad! Tah-dah! The mystery has been solved.

It would be completely normal for Sony to say "hey Amazon, I'm going to give you an extra $x and I would like you to please put this ad on competitor's pages", which is a very normal thing to do in advertisement. And then Amazon says "hey, Sony, Microsoft pays advertising already, so I'm sorry, we can't put it on their page". Then Sony says "hmmm, what about Nintendo?" Then Amazon replies "oh, look here! Apparently Nintendo does not seem to advertise with us. It's a blank area. I suppose we would happily let you advertise on Nintendo's page since they don't want to advertise at all on our website".

Sony (and Microsoft) partner with Amazon, because if you look at the console listings, there are Amazon-exclusive PS3 bundles and 360 bundles. These bundles are possible because Sony and Microsoft made an arrangement with Amazon. If no such bundles exist for Nintendo, it's not because Amazon is an anti-Nintendo meanie-head. It's because Nintendo didn't want to make a deal with Amazon. It's that simple. It doesn't surprise me they're behind the ball with an online retailer. Nintendo is always a decade behind when it comes to online anything.
#1.1 (Edited 634d ago ) | Agree(70) | Disagree(10) | Report | Reply
Elwenil  +   634d ago
Hmmm, when I go to Amazon there is an ad for a Kindle on the main page. You do realize that Amazon puts up ads and products based on your search history, don't you? Clear your cookie and you will probably get something completely different.

I'm not saying that various companies don't pay for advertising or special treatment from retailers as it's obvious that they do. All the same I don't think that explains Amazon's avoidance of selling Nintendo products. I also agree that the article is pointless as there are several of these "oddities" going on in the retail world and most of them we will never know the real reasons behind it.
Stroke666  +   634d ago
the thing is no other online retailer is doing this. its hard to believe sony would pay for amazon to do it but not cover their ground by doing it on some, if not all, other online retailers. just sounds fishy to me but oh well i got my wii u I'm good and nintendo will be fine
dedicatedtogamers  +   634d ago
@ Stroke666

Amazon is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, online distributors of videogames and videogame systems. It would make sense that Sony would pour their advertising dollars into Amazon while not giving as much to other lesser-known websites.
ZombieNinjaPanda  +   633d ago
Hijacking this comment. If you don't want to see Kotaku any longer report all kotaku articles you see as lame. Make sure to rate them as WTF and NO.
BISHOP-BRASIL  +   633d ago
I always tought it would be something the other way around. Amazon shows competitor products in every product page, be it on ads, what other people viewing this also viewed, what other people viewing this bought, etc... Maybe Nintendo have some kind of contract to not allow any retailer to have a competitor mention in their booth/page, which conflicts with Amazon settings (since even when you are an advertiser, like MS and Sony, a competitor may show up in "people who viewed this page bought that", I had seen this on games and accessories from both Sony and MS, sometimes showing stuff from Wii too), so they don't sell it to avoid legal problems.

Of course I'm just guessing in the dark here... But hey, at least I'm not claiming to be a "gaming journalist".
zeee  +   633d ago
Kotaku is so pathetic! So very damn pathetic!
Ritsujun   633d ago | Trolling | show
Blaze929  +   634d ago
LOL, Kotaku
Seraphim  +   633d ago
I'd imagine it has something to do with pricing or supply. Oddly enough though there's are PAGES of Nintendo DS's "Fulfilled by Amazon" and you know what that means? They're probably making more off these listings than they would be offering Nintendo products directly. Either way who frekn cares. Amazon customers can still their Nintendo products and Prime customers can still get our free 2 day shipping.... pointless article.
Gamer1982  +   633d ago
Me so they probably have a deal with Sony to link to their products in this way its not about hate.. If not then they obviously want money. They make next to nothing off 3rd partys selling nintendo consoles on amazon. But if they sell a Sony product they make a LOT more.
#1.4 (Edited 633d ago ) | Agree(0) | Disagree(1) | Report | Reply
syanara  +   633d ago
arent the advertisements placed by a computer that dictates what is shown based on how many people are viewing certain pages, if Playstation consoles are getting the most views right now (which makes sense considering the recent PS4 announcements) then they wold probably come up all over the place versus Wii U which has not made any big announcements lately and still has a fuzzy marketing campaign
SpiralTear  +   634d ago
It does seem extremely suspicious that Amazon recommends other consoles on Nintendo hardware pages, but not vice versa.

However, very interesting that this article didn't tell us why this is happening. Also, Kotaku has a knack for stupid and misleading headlines as always.
Knushwood Butt  +   633d ago
Well, Kotaku sucks, but Amazon Japan sell Nintendo hardware directly:

GreenRanger  +   634d ago
Maybe Nintendo hates Amazon?!
LOL_WUT  +   634d ago
It could also be the other way around or maybe its due to the fact that it's not selling well. ;)
PygmelionHunter  +   634d ago
Tell us LOL_WUT. What is it that is not selling well? Oh, you mean the Wii U? That's pretty funny since Amazon has been flipping the bird at Nintendo's face since the last decade.

Theyellowflash30  +   634d ago
This is about the 3DS though, which is selling well. So your assessment is off.
PopRocks359  +   633d ago
The 3DS, which this article is actually about, is a best selling platform.

miDnIghtEr20C_SfF  +   634d ago
Says sold by Amazon on their very own picture they use.

sourav93  +   634d ago
Dlacy13g  +   634d ago
As I recall there was a big falling out between Amazon and Nintendo over returns on the 3DS if my memory serves me right. The original version had an issue with wiring between the clam-shell. Again if my memory serves me right reports were Nintendo stopped accepting returns on it but Amazon was still obligated to take them back via their own policy. Amazon couldn't get Nintendo to honor the returns so they started shipping them back to Nintendo under a different warranty claim. Or something along those lines. In a nut shell, their relationship became very volatile and I have no doubts Amazon and Nintendo are both a bit leery of the other.
delboy  +   633d ago
You're right, and your memory serves you well.
KillerPwned  +   634d ago
Another shit article from the guys that brought you more shit- kotaku.
chadwarden  +   633d ago
_QQ_  +   634d ago
Doesn't everyone nowadays?
Zechs34  +   634d ago
Kotaku yet again reporting on things that have been known since the 3DS first launched... SMH
Roper316  +   634d ago
Oh WOW N4G really hates Kotaku & the BS they spew
Hicken  +   634d ago
And yet we can't seem to get rid of them.
Roper316  +   634d ago
I hear that maybe 1 day ( crosses fingers )
BitbyDeath  +   633d ago
After digging through all the poop that is kotaku you sometimes do come across a golden nugget.

They are just rare.
secretcode  +   633d ago
Kotaku is merely a tabloid-esque website that thrives on sensationalism and bullshit.
SpiralTear  +   633d ago
Exactly, especially considering that the person who runs Kotaku and its sister sites openly said just that to a public journalist in an interview.

Puts the whole thing into perspective, yeah.
wishingW3L  +   634d ago
there's nothing wrong with this. Lots of people buy 3DS more than Vita so they put the advertisement there to boost the Vita which is selling worse.

But I do find funny that most people rates down Kotaku articles every single day and they still have 3/3 stars....
#10 (Edited 634d ago ) | Agree(0) | Disagree(9) | Report | Reply
Campy da Camper  +   634d ago
That's because the Kotaku Defense Force follows their submissions and rates up the site. Ever wonder why the articles from this site are always submitted by the same few people?
SlapHappyJesus  +   634d ago
Another crap article from Kotaku. Less an interesting read and more a shining example of how they don't know the inner workings of that which they write about.
They got a couple more of us to visit their site though, eh?
In the end, that's all they are looking for.
Jek_Porkins  +   634d ago
Uhhh, just because they are advertising other peoples video games doesn't mean they hate Nintendo or are doing that on purpose. You get the same ads with PS and MS items as well.

Though I do agree that Nintendo and Amazon don't do business together, that doesn't mean that Amazon is childish or would act that way.
GraveLord  +   634d ago
They want you to buy a product shipped and sold by Amazon. That's why they're promoting Vita or 360/PS3. For some reason they don't sell Nintendo consoles directly. Probably a business disagreement. Or maybe its due to low sales. Who knows.
Kietz  +   634d ago
Doubt they would be recommending the Vita if that were the case.
Would have to think that it's because they don't sell Nintendo hardware directly.
secretcode  +   633d ago
Probably. Nintendo consoles just outright disappeared a while back. There's gotta be some bad blood between the two.
impet25  +   634d ago
No wonder I couldn't preorder wiiu on amazon b4 it came out. Dat makes alotta sense.
jaymart2k  +   634d ago
Just proves Amazon web designer is a Sony fanboy.

Makes it look that way by promoting a Sony product on a Nintendo page but not vise-versa.
ElitaStorm  +   634d ago
there is no HATE in business
rainslacker  +   634d ago
Not true. Sometimes love just has to have the right price tag.
just-joe  +   634d ago
Could be automated.
fatstarr  +   633d ago
Lmao, and yet the consoles still sell so well.

all these obstacles against Nintendo and they still do well.

smh the hate is definitely real for Nintendo.
ozstar  +   633d ago
Ehhh, just painful.

Kotaku again.
MultiConsoleGamer  +   633d ago
Fanbait spin piece making something out of nothing. Spread by little fanboy warriors who spend more time posting online than they do playing games. Posted by one of the worst sites on the Internet.

Am I the only person who remembers that amazon had a similar line about the PSP on their Nintendo DS page? I guess so.
#20 (Edited 633d ago ) | Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report | Reply
WeskerChildReborned  +   633d ago
Lol Amazon loves Playstation more than Nintendo.
lilbroRx  +   633d ago
So Amazon is just like N4G.
vitorizzo  +   633d ago
amazon called nintendo a poopy head
VR-4nic   633d ago | Bad language | show
crazysammy  +   633d ago
N4G should have had its April Fools joke be that every article that day was from Kotaku. They would have lost 75% of the readers, but it would have been funny... :)
azshorty2003  +   633d ago
I forgot about this feud. There must be some serious bad blood for it to last 2 years.

Normally companies can put some problems aside for the sake of business and profit, but I guess thats not the case here.
tweiuoisf   633d ago | Spam
Sideras  +   633d ago
Hahaha this is actually funny as hell. That being said I begrudge neither party, but I'd love to see more of this little conflict.
#27 (Edited 633d ago ) | Agree(1) | Disagree(0) | Report | Reply
Rageanitus  +   633d ago
It's not hate.... its just how much each company is willing to to EXPOSE their product.

Just like in a grocery store.... you notice some products are positioned at the lower shelf vs at eye level.....
RFornillos4  +   633d ago
i agree with Rageanitus.

although there is that standing "feud" of Nintendo and Amazon, on the marketing side, this kind of ad placement just makes sense. clearly Sony and Microsoft are paying Amazon for ad placement - and seeing that Nintendo has not been marketing the Wii U as needed - so it's natural to see related products being advertised on a 3DS and/or Wii U listing but not vice versa.

another possibility is that Sony and/or MS may have some contractual agreement with Amazon to not have their competitor's products displayed when showing their products.
SANDWICHMASTA  +   633d ago
ugh, why didn't I check for kotaku before I clicked. Seriously some of the worst journalism on the internet, and goddamn is that saying alot.

Just another case of taking something completely minor and grasping for straws then blowing it up into a sensationalist headline "AMAZON HATES NINTENDO!!!!111!!!!"

I really wish Kotaku was banned from n4g. It's not like they break any actual gaming news anyway
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