[Update - Amazon comment added] Amazon.co.uk held its own during the Nintendo 3DS pre-order price battle and attracted consumers with a very competitive offer, but it appears to have stumbled when it comes to making timely deliveries.
"My estimate is still 25th but still stuck on dispatching soon and I am not getting reply from customer service," reads one comment on a very lengthy thread.
Understandably, customers aren't happy and many are lamenting the fact they haven't received the handheld in time for today's launch, despite ordering well in advance.
Another customer said: "Mine still says dispatching soon which it has done since last night but still says for delivery on the 25th . Games are scheduled for delivery today but I have nothing to play them on .... Absolutely disgusted."
One more said: "I've sent a complaint - this is really not acceptable when I've changed my plans today specifically because I was waiting for a delivery, and now it turns out I could very easily walk round to the supermarket and pick up a bundle at a similar or better price. Nice that the order is in "dispatching soon" status so I can't cancel it. Very very unhappy."
CVG experienced the delivery problem first hand - our own order was stuck in despatch limbo until early this morning. Although the unit in question is now on the way, it's looking unlikely that we'll get our hands on it until early next week.
3DS was the most pre-ordered games console in Amazon's history.
Contacted about this report, the company told us: "Thousands of customers have already received their Nintendo 3DS console and we will continue to make deliveries throughout the day."
Nintendo UK manager David Yarnton believes 3DS overcomes all of the hurdles that have stopped 3D technology being adopted by the mass market to date.
Comments
41 comments so far...
Sausage Warrior on 25 Mar '11 said:
I specifically didn't order from Amazon after what they did to me with the Xbox 360 launch, failing to mention they had no stock, so I had to search around for a few months to get one. And Play.com really haven't been impressing me lately either. So I ordered from The Hut, which using a code gave me a (at the time) really good price. The Hut dispatched my games nice and early, they arrived yesterday, but I've only just got an e-mail to say the 3DS itself has been dispatched. D'OH!
Miss_Wacy on 25 Mar '11 said:
i been reading the 3ds forums on amazon, people are going ape sh!t on there, people who orderd back in jan aint got theirs or it aint enterd dispatch, where as there is people who pre orderd on the 23rd and got thiers dispatched yesterday to arrive today
altitude2k on 25 Mar '11 said:
It's a console, I'm sure they'll get over it. A late delivery on a heart transplant...now that's worth worrying about.
El Mag on 25 Mar '11 said:
I dunno, i was pretty p**sed off when my kebab didn't show up until 3 hours after i ordered it last night. 45 minutes my arse, and they put garlic mayo on when i blatantly asked for chilli.
ensabahnur on 25 Mar '11 said:
And this is why i've stopped using Amazon for release day deliveries. I had to wait an extra 4 days to get my SharpShooter from them after they changed the due date on the day it was originally due, even after them promising a release day delivery if i chose first class. The last 3 games i've had from them have been at least a day late as well. Plus the staff are feckless idiots when you phone them up. Play.com are just as bad now as well.
I'm hoping Shop-to are a lot better after ordering Mortal Kombat from them.
gothchild on 25 Mar '11 said:
Jeez, glad mine's already on a delivery van apparantly...
slatters on 25 Mar '11 said:
Got mine from HMV at 10am with free next day delivery. Pretty made up with their service and cheapish bundles. I have heard of this with amazon before though. I understand how people are feeling, especially if you pre-ordered back in Jan.
Spudfella on 25 Mar '11 said:
Mine has been dispatched but my SSFIV3D has already arrived. Twiddling thumbs until then.
Reverandjames on 25 Mar '11 said:
Shop to are awesome! Got my 3DS yesterday which i wasn't expecting, with no quibble or fuss!
Roswee-son on 25 Mar '11 said:
Amazon are normally good for standard games as they turn up on the day before launch 9/10, play.com are just useless the websites show they have the games in stock by Monday Tuesday but due to their 3-5 days it's a complete an utter gamble that I've given up on. Www.gameplay.com are pretty good for standard games (turn up on Thursday's) but not great for the bigger items as it's normally Friday deliveries and by that point you can normally stroll on to a tesco for a midnight launch and get it either just cheap or pretty cheap if you buy it with points or gold memberships for live.
I probably will tho haha
Either get Down to tesco for midnight launches if you really want it the moment it's available or game and gamestations, I ordered my 3DS Through shopto. There prices are normally pretty good (not really on the 3DS) but had it not been for a useless courier driver I would have ha the system at home around 15:30 yesterday (24th) even though the order was dispatched by half 9, 45 minutes from my house 6 hours later they say they tried to deliver, TNT are useless and so it shopto's website but generally at the moment for online orders shopto seem to be the best.
I just hope all those amazon people get theirs soon but more importantly I get one of those awesome t-shirts for registering my system anybody else got there's and registered for the t-shirt (have they emailed to confirm or anything) I really want a t-shirt the AR is just too good) anyone hear anything about the t-shirts please get back to me guys enjoy your systems, don't go cross eyed
AJDarkstar on 25 Mar '11 said:
Ordered mine from Tesco, got it yesterday.
Black Mantis on 25 Mar '11 said:
I've mentioned it many times, but Amazon are getting worse for delivering new products in my recent experiences. Totally fine if it's been out for a while, but when I've pre-ordered stuff, it's usually late.
christophalus on 25 Mar '11 said:
Play.com delivered mine yesterday, a day early
Made me realise what a chump you have to be to queue up at stupid o'clock outside game/hmv!
gbenlcfc on 25 Mar '11 said:
Amazon are massively over rated. I'll be sticking with Play.com. Never let me down on anything, not once.
milky_joe on 25 Mar '11 said:
I'm not really surprised, every time I've ordered new hardware with a game online, the game has always turned up on release day and the hardware comes a day later, despite being dispatched at the same time (supposedly) with the same delivery methods...
Wozzakl on 25 Mar '11 said:
Zavvi haven't even despatched mine. Only put my order in two months ago...
gfanuk on 25 Mar '11 said:
Mine came yesterday afternoon from Zavvi. Got an email that morning telling me there hour delivery slot and sure enough it turned up. Regisitered for the AR T-shirt but haven't had an email or anything. Face Raiders is awesome, and the AR games are surprisingly impressive
*EDIT*
Sorry Wozzakl I was posting when you did. Looks like I'm rubbing it in. Hope yours turns up soon
ricflair on 25 Mar '11 said:
Zavvi/The Hut have got increasingly bad over the last six months. The only one with really good reliable delivery is shopto. Deliveries from Play and Amazon aren't much better in my experience, but Play stuff does seem to come for release day at least, but usual deliveries are slow for me. I guess it's posting it from the Channel Islands.
photoboy on 25 Mar '11 said:
Play.com did a good job, I got mine a day early. Didn't have to queue up and risk getting mugged by chavs either.
Spudfella on 25 Mar '11 said:
I've learned a valuable lesson, never pre-order hardware with Amazon. It's the first console I've ever bought at launch and I don't have it on release day, p**s poor service.
sjholland87 on 25 Mar '11 said:
Game didn't send mine
And to make things worse, I now can't cancel it and get one from sainsbury's for £175... Thanks
sjholland87 on 25 Mar '11 said:
I never seem to have that problem... Maybe you should just man up eh?
Although, the rest of that post did make sense. I prefer to go to bed and wake up in the morning knowing it will be there waiting for me even if I have to go to a shop to get it... Midnight launches are for lonely lonely people!
gothchild on 25 Mar '11 said:
My unit has apparently been on the delivery van since 8:30 and hasn't arrived yet. Clearly a great courier Amazon has picked too...
Killerkeiron1234 on 25 Mar '11 said:
I'm one of these peaple who to wait and it looks i won't hav untill the very least monday
g_marrs on 25 Mar '11 said:
Tesco Direct have messed it up as well. They're contacting the courier to find out where the missing 3DSs have gotten to. Still, they refunded me £30 for my hassle so I can wait for an extra £30 off.
alan666 on 25 Mar '11 said:
my 3DS came yesterday morning from Game Gears, also Pilot Wings from Amazon, & Crysis 2 arrived from Game, but nothing i had ordered from Zavvi arrived, so i cancelled my order from them.
YCshinobi on 25 Mar '11 said:
I preordered from Amazon and I did get mine today, But I feel for those people who didn't get it, they dispatched mine late last night but I did worry until then. It's a shame because from my experience with them they have been very good with getting stuff to you on time.
emperor ing on 25 Mar '11 said:
Sorry to hear that people aren't getting their 3DSs. Amazon are pretty bad for release day deliveries, as they usually post them ON release day, while other major retailers post them BEFORE release day. I only use Amazon when I have to. Haven't bought a 3DS just yet, but will do when there's better games out.
gothchild on 25 Mar '11 said:
Mine was brought to the wrong address two hours ago... Fail.
lumothesinner on 25 Mar '11 said:
For all those waiting for amazon to dispatch your order - it could be worse.
Amazon have said mine is dispatched but sent it via first class royal mail without tracking...surprisingly it hasnt shown up.
There is the unlikely event its just late but seeing as my game from amazon turned up its most likely lost in the mail I have to wait until they realize this and admit it before i get a new one sent to me...probably a week later.
Screw you amazon
jarvis66 on 25 Mar '11 said:
Muppets, That's why i preordered mine from Gamestation and paid a deposit. Went down at midnight last night, collected it and the 4 games I preordered, no problems. That's why I didn't order online, I wanted to make sure I got it on the day. And it was worth paying over the odds.
Cazy008 on 25 Mar '11 said:
MINE CAME FROM AMAZON TODAY!
...THE LAUNCH GAMES SUCK, ENT GOT NO GAMES FOR IT 
. lol.
narratorjuan on 25 Mar '11 said:
My 3DS arrived this morning from Amazon.
The only ever problem I've ever had with them games-wise was with GTA IV. I pre-ordered it nearly eighteen months in advance, and in the meantime my debit card expired. As the release neared I checked and updated my card details. For some reason Amazon put me to the back of the queue and said they couldn't guarantee me a copy on day of release, even though I was making sure they'd get my money. As it was so late in the day I had to search around the sites, all of which were sold out. Luckily, I stumbled across a forum which said GAME still had special editions left and I managed to get mine on the day.
I think Amazon were probably over-whelmed by the demand and clearly mistakes were made.
kimoak on 25 Mar '11 said:
You are in a similar boat as me. I was told it was despatched on Wednesday with an estimated delivery date of yesterday. I paid first class postage to ensure it got to me and I still haven't received it. I am blaming Royal Mail right now.
I have never had any problems with Amazon myself. Not a happy chappie right now. I have a lot to do tomorrow so I don't know if I will be in the house if and when my parcel arrives. Starting to worry that it is now lost.
Tuclanif on 25 Mar '11 said:
Regardless what some people say, it's not funny when you've been waiting weeks, possibly months only for a company to screw up delivery, more so if you've booked a day of work. Amazon are bad on delivery estimates, I use them a lot but wouldn't consider them for anything I desired on a certain day, not even paying for next day works. I think its down to the sheer size of the company and amount of orders they have to deal with. On another note Game prices differ in store than they do online, gave me some crap when i went in, wasn't really paying attention to any excuse for being the most expensive I've seen 3DS's priced @, promptly got my deposit back, walked over to asda and brough my 3ds with street fighter and pilotwings for £55 less. Tesco's would have been a little more expensive with the taxi ride
yuzi87 on 26 Mar '11 said:
Every game and console i have ever pre-ordered (around 30 items) from Shopto.net has arrived the morning before release i can't fault them
They only take your money when they dispatch the item as well
Wozzakl on 26 Mar '11 said:
My Zavvi order was delivered this morning -- a day late's not too bad I suppose.
Games I order from Play tend to come early the next week rather than the Friday.
agentxnofx on 26 Mar '11 said:
amazon is dropping the ball on a lot of new releases lately. they'll have one date for shipping, then turn around and change their listing after you've already paid and give you a new date that is far off from the original. it's happened to me twice lately, and the product I ordered on the 9th of this month that was supposed to arrive two weeks ago is now set to arrive at the end of next month.
also, don't bother calling in either, because their support is useless.
The_Jaster on 26 Mar '11 said:
Get Ghost Recon: Shadows its the best of the launch games IMO Also probably the most overlooked game too sadly.
BUY IT.
Anyway, aren't Amazon generally bad for deliveries, I know most of my stuff has been late when I order from them, collecting from a shop like Gamestation is a much better Idea.
kimoak on 27 Mar '11 said:
I almost got Ghost Recon yesterday but got Pilotwings instead. Hwo much of a X-Com/Julian Gollop vibe does it have? I am seriously thinking of getting it as I am a big fan of turn based strategy's like X-Com and laser squad.
The_Jaster on 27 Mar '11 said:
Oh tough question seeing as I have never played X-com/Laser Squad, this might give you your answer. Clicky