They’re already selling out, but many stores actually had some SNES Classics in stock when the doors opened.
The GameStop on Brooklyn’s Fulton Street.
« I could use a nap and some breakfast. »
For the Fulton Street GameStop, communication was the name of the game. A poster in the door listed how many SNES units (and wireless controllers) were in stock, and a staffer outside the locked door handed out reservation numbers. Once the magic number was hit, he made sure that everyone knew the initial stock was spoken for.
By 10:10 a.m., the initial lucky 19 were in line at the counter, and the sign was updated to « Sold Out. »
Just a few blocks away at the Court Street GameStop, the store was swamped with customers picking up their preorders. That store only had an additional four units, which were long gone by 10:30. At both locations, the staff couldn’t provide details on when they’d have additional SNES Classic units — only that they did expect to have restocked supplies in the future.
Full disclosure: The bulk of the CNET staff in our New York office — just 2 blocks away — emptied out just minutes later.
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As the sun rose in California, the situation was about to repeat itself on the West Coast. We spotted a few people waiting in line at the San Leandro GameStop as the clock ticked down to its 10 a.m. PT opening. But unlike the New York locations, there didn’t appear to be a sign in the window with the stock levels, nor were there staffers evident when we checked in around 8:30 a.m. PT. Note that someone did come out about 15 mins later, handed out tickets (9), and put up an inventory sign.
This is a developing story. Check back soon for additional updates.
