As the novel coronavirus continues to bottleneck global supply chains, finding a Nintendo Switch at a reasonable price has become a nearly-impossible task.
Quarantine induced boredom has people searching for new ways to keep themselves entertained. Some people are baking bread and some are sewing masks. But an increasingly large group of people are “panic-buying” the Switch so they don’t miss out on Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
As a result, the shelves of major retailers have been empty for weeks. Even pricy Nintendo Switch bundles are sold out. Astronomically priced third-party options are available, but even those are disappearing quickly. If you want a Switch right now, you may get stuck paying close to $600 for a new console.
With shipping out of Japan completely halted, it’s difficult to say exactly when the US will be able to restock. Most estimates claim that those who are looking to buy a Switch for something closer to the console’s retail price will likely have to wait until June or July at the earliest. Nintendo’s Ring Fit Adventure is also temporarily sold out.
Nintendo America recognizes the issue and is doing everything in its power to solve for increasing demand and dwindling supply. In a statement made to GameSpot, Nintendo explained that “Switch hardware is selling out at various retail locations in the U.S., but more systems are on the way. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
If you’re desperate to get your hands on a Switch, there are a few options still available, as long as you’re willing to shell out far more than the standard $300 asking price. At the cheapest, new consoles are selling for $500 on Amazon from third-party sellers. Bundles are also available at a few major retailers for closer to $600. Refurbished and pre-owned consoles are also on sale for around $450 on eBay.
If waiting until the Switch gets restocked is out of the question, a Switch Lite might be a better decision. Retailers recently restocked the Lite, which can be purchased for the original retail price of $200 from Amazon, BestBuy, and Target. Some of the more popular colors are already starting to sell out, but bundles will likely still be available once supplies are exhausted.
With no scheduled date for new US shipments, many Americans will be forced to go Switchless for at least another month.
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