Nintendo May Have Handled Switch 2 Preorders Differently in Japan and the U.S. Due to Varying Perceptions of Fairness, Japanese Study Suggests
Nintendo May Have Handled Switch 2 Preorders Differently in Japan and the U.S. Due to Varying Perceptions of Fairness, Japanese Study Suggests
by Turbostrider27
21 Comments
Nice_Database_9684
Very interesting. Should probably work like this everywhere, given that it’s basically a lottery trying to get one early anyway.
CycloneMonkey
Logically, I know that a lottery system is quite fair and that Nintendo is likely not fudging with lottery entries to ensure certain people get chosen.
But I would have been irrationally pissed if I had to enter a lottery to pre-order the Switch 2 from Best Buy and not get chosen (especially after not getting chosen for the in-person event pre-launch and then not getting the email from Nintendo to purchase direct from them until well after launch day).
TheRadishBros
That’s fair, to be honest. I consider “first come first served” to be fairer than a lottery, but I can absolutely see how some would consider a lottery to be fairer, especially when you account for cultural differences.
SmashingEmeraldz
I already have one so I’m not saying this based on being salty that I didn’t get one, but I think it should be based on your Nintendo Account. You should be more likely to get an invite if you had previous systems, the longer you’ve had an online subscription, and the more playtime you have online.
Dogspasting
I’ve had my Nintendo account since the early 3DS days and I was apart of the first wave of Nintendo Switch 2 invites. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some favor towards me for being a Nintendo veteran
redsterXVI
It’s one of those days where I think I should have become a researcher. Like, no way, you ~~think~~ suggest?! I would never have guessed! It’s almost like such lottery systems are commonplace in Japan while they’re not in the West.
shionemi
Despite having met the conditions for the lottery, it’s still all down to chances. I didn’t get it 4 times and now waiting for the result of the 5th lottery. Even after the result we still need to wait 1 more month for the production. If I didn’t get it this time I’m done, I will probably just import.
chaos_bait
Could anyone from Japan tell me how to track the stock of Switch 2 pro controller? I mean besides checking the webpage constantly?
One of my friends will be visiting from Japan in two weeks and I have requested him to buy the Pro controller but he said it’s showing out of stock everywhere.
I understand the limited availability of Switch 2 there but very surprised to see it’s the same for the new controller as well.
mattyr428
I just changed my main account from US to JP region and was able to apply for the lottery with no issues. Got lucky and won in the first round. Did anyone even try to change the region of their primary account to apply?
Gomez-16
Charging 100$ more for non japanese switch seems fair.
acewing905
It’s funny that they’re bringing up examples of other Japanese lottery systems like concert ticket sales. That stuff was some of the most vile, exploitative business practices I have ever seen. Fortunately it doesn’t seem like Nintendo’s approach was as bad
SSj_CODii
Given the rise of bots, I’d definitely be in favor of pre orders going to a lottery system. I was fortunate that I live in the mountain time zone so midnight was only 10pm for me so I was able to stay up for hours dealing with the BS until i finally got an order in through Walmart but im not sure its the right way to go. Give me a window to sign up for the lottery, make joining the lottery easy, and just let fate decide
Stoibs
Hearing all about the console’s availability is absolutely wild on a region-per region basis.
The pre-orders went live right after the Direct all the way back in April here in Australia, and no store has ever ran out of Stock since then.
Meanwhile there was actual lotteries and/or you needed to sign up through your Nintendo account and have NSO for 1 year to be eligible in other countries???
It’s been nuts to watch online.
Karate_Cat
Japanese lottery system is very prevalant and expected in that society. I was there for four years and entered countless lotteries for things like pre orders, and concert tickets. It’s the norm.
f2pmyass
Dudes taking stats at face value cause Nintendo doing a whole lottery system 💀
Already seeing Random videos with titles of “SWITCH 2 -50% SALES” And then the comments eating it up talking about “I knew it” 💀
seraph741
They do the same thing with their Playtest Program. I was just reading through the details yesterday and it clearly spells out this difference for Japan vs US.
Panda_hat
Preorders in the UK used the interesting strategy of ‘totally fucked, bungled and incompetent’ by just releasing totally randomly, ignoring any dates or announcements, and being a mad scramble of luck and happening to be paying attention at the right time.
Thoraxekicksazz
I was away when I got my official Nintendo Switch 2 order email. The offer was expired by 12 hour when I finally had access to my email again. I tried contacting Nintendo to either get my offer extended or get put back in the queue for another email. They couldn’t do anything to help and I am now locked out from signing up again. The site just says my offer expired. It’s like rubbing salt in a wound.
PandaBroth
The Japanese culture loves raffles. I think this works like those stores raffles where you win something if you pick the right marble from the randomizer.
TheReturningMan
Didn’t need a study to tell you that, but nice to know one exists I guess.
Secret_Divide_3030
It’s weird to read the suggestion that Nintendo could have used dynamic pricing instead a lottery or first come, first served. That would have been one big PR nightmare.
21 Comments
Very interesting. Should probably work like this everywhere, given that it’s basically a lottery trying to get one early anyway.
Logically, I know that a lottery system is quite fair and that Nintendo is likely not fudging with lottery entries to ensure certain people get chosen.
But I would have been irrationally pissed if I had to enter a lottery to pre-order the Switch 2 from Best Buy and not get chosen (especially after not getting chosen for the in-person event pre-launch and then not getting the email from Nintendo to purchase direct from them until well after launch day).
That’s fair, to be honest. I consider “first come first served” to be fairer than a lottery, but I can absolutely see how some would consider a lottery to be fairer, especially when you account for cultural differences.
I already have one so I’m not saying this based on being salty that I didn’t get one, but I think it should be based on your Nintendo Account. You should be more likely to get an invite if you had previous systems, the longer you’ve had an online subscription, and the more playtime you have online.
I’ve had my Nintendo account since the early 3DS days and I was apart of the first wave of Nintendo Switch 2 invites. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some favor towards me for being a Nintendo veteran
It’s one of those days where I think I should have become a researcher. Like, no way, you ~~think~~ suggest?! I would never have guessed! It’s almost like such lottery systems are commonplace in Japan while they’re not in the West.
Despite having met the conditions for the lottery, it’s still all down to chances. I didn’t get it 4 times and now waiting for the result of the 5th lottery. Even after the result we still need to wait 1 more month for the production. If I didn’t get it this time I’m done, I will probably just import.
Could anyone from Japan tell me how to track the stock of Switch 2 pro controller? I mean besides checking the webpage constantly?
One of my friends will be visiting from Japan in two weeks and I have requested him to buy the Pro controller but he said it’s showing out of stock everywhere.
I understand the limited availability of Switch 2 there but very surprised to see it’s the same for the new controller as well.
I just changed my main account from US to JP region and was able to apply for the lottery with no issues. Got lucky and won in the first round. Did anyone even try to change the region of their primary account to apply?
Charging 100$ more for non japanese switch seems fair.
It’s funny that they’re bringing up examples of other Japanese lottery systems like concert ticket sales. That stuff was some of the most vile, exploitative business practices I have ever seen. Fortunately it doesn’t seem like Nintendo’s approach was as bad
Given the rise of bots, I’d definitely be in favor of pre orders going to a lottery system. I was fortunate that I live in the mountain time zone so midnight was only 10pm for me so I was able to stay up for hours dealing with the BS until i finally got an order in through Walmart but im not sure its the right way to go. Give me a window to sign up for the lottery, make joining the lottery easy, and just let fate decide
Hearing all about the console’s availability is absolutely wild on a region-per region basis.
The pre-orders went live right after the Direct all the way back in April here in Australia, and no store has ever ran out of Stock since then.
Meanwhile there was actual lotteries and/or you needed to sign up through your Nintendo account and have NSO for 1 year to be eligible in other countries???
It’s been nuts to watch online.
Japanese lottery system is very prevalant and expected in that society. I was there for four years and entered countless lotteries for things like pre orders, and concert tickets. It’s the norm.
Dudes taking stats at face value cause Nintendo doing a whole lottery system 💀
Already seeing Random videos with titles of “SWITCH 2 -50% SALES” And then the comments eating it up talking about “I knew it” 💀
They do the same thing with their Playtest Program. I was just reading through the details yesterday and it clearly spells out this difference for Japan vs US.
Preorders in the UK used the interesting strategy of ‘totally fucked, bungled and incompetent’ by just releasing totally randomly, ignoring any dates or announcements, and being a mad scramble of luck and happening to be paying attention at the right time.
I was away when I got my official Nintendo Switch 2 order email. The offer was expired by 12 hour when I finally had access to my email again. I tried contacting Nintendo to either get my offer extended or get put back in the queue for another email. They couldn’t do anything to help and I am now locked out from signing up again. The site just says my offer expired. It’s like rubbing salt in a wound.
The Japanese culture loves raffles. I think this works like those stores raffles where you win something if you pick the right marble from the randomizer.
Didn’t need a study to tell you that, but nice to know one exists I guess.
It’s weird to read the suggestion that Nintendo could have used dynamic pricing instead a lottery or first come, first served. That would have been one big PR nightmare.