While playing the “just one more episode” game with Netflix last night, I noticed a tweet from a former coworker: Best Buy, it seemed, had opened up pre-orders for the SNES Classic. Nintendo’s followup to the much sought-after NES-themed nostalgia box was sure to sell out quickly. But the hard part was getting Best Buy to take my money, and it turns out I was far from the only one with issues.
@BestBuy @BestBuySupport got an snes preorder, took credit card info,said 👌🏻 to ship,checked out and said no shipping avail then snes gone
— sean layton (@Mauiwowi23) August 22, 2017
Back in November, pre-sales for the NES Classic managed to crash Amazon. And earlier this year, some Nintendo Switch purchases were missing tracking codes. The SNES Classic even went up (briefly) on Walmart’s website due to a “technical glitch” in July. Fortunately, Best Buy’s SNES Classic pre-sale didn’t have these issues. Unfortunately, the store’s website instead refused to ship to the addresses of many potential buyers and spat back errors claiming no stores within 250 miles were available for pickup orders.
After being told my home address was a no-go and trying to put in pickup orders for Best Buy locations in Manhattan, Queens, or Brooklyn at least a dozen times, I tried the Gizmodo offices. 2 West 17th was declined, but 114 5th avenue was accepted, despite these being two entrances to the same building.
About an hour after ordering, Best Buy sent me a confirmation email. Many others, it appears, were not so lucky:
@Wario64 got snes in my cart but says it won't ship to any address I've put in. pic.twitter.com/gVNHJAO6fu
— dailfonic (@CBDAIL) August 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/embed/status/899885485492916224
UPDATE: Kept clicking "shipping" & got it through; "Proceed to Checkout" appeared, but forced re-login > 30 sec., cart loaded & dumped SNES.
— * IDENTITY MODULE CORRUPTED * (@thephunkyjedi) August 22, 2017
Damn it! I got so close to snagging that SNES Classic pre order! Got to the shipping page and it wouldn't go through. 😫👾🎮
— Ra (@RawhRowh) August 22, 2017
Fuck #bestbuy. I had the SNES classic in my cart and got to the shipping screen a dozen times over a fifteen minute period. FU bestbuy
— ed grant (@teddyohohio) August 22, 2017
@BestBuySupport I'm very disappointed that I can't order the SNES Classic on your website. I have it in my cart but it says no shipping.
— Rewilson (@RewilsonHI) August 22, 2017
Looks like #SNESClassic is out of stock. Had 1 in cart @BestBuy and it would not ship nor let me pick up within 250 miles. Now sold out.
— Randy Phillips (@wisehokie) August 22, 2017
A little progress has happened with the #SNESClassic as I can get past the check out page, only to find out no store has it within 250 miles
— Kitt 🌟 Stargazer (@StargazerStars) August 22, 2017
Someone help me i have a snes classic in my cart but i cant ship to my house for some reson and no store within 250 miles has it HELP ME PLZ
— Jell King (@TheIcedMilk) August 22, 2017
R U KIDDING @BESTBUY I WAS CHECKING OUT FOR PRE-ORDER SNES CLASSIC AND IT TOLD ME IT COULDN'T BE SHIPPED AND NO STORE WITHIN 250 MILES. LIES
— Merpina (@meercattt) August 22, 2017
No SNES classic preorders 250 mi for houston. Fuuuck you best buy
— Fiyah Liger 🦁🐯🎤🎶💜🦊🖤 (@Fiyah_Liger) August 22, 2017
Looks like SNES Classics are still available at best buy… jyst 250 miles away from Leesburg VA.
Seriously? Lame as hell best buy pic.twitter.com/8eZ3XEM4ce
— ✋🏾 Fat Hand 🤚🏾 (@TheReal_EmTeeAy) August 22, 2017
so i wanted to get one of those SNES classic things–but every single store, what have it, refuse to ship to apartments suddenly. -_-
— TokuStoat.bsky.social (@TokuStoat) August 22, 2017
Snes Classic. I can't check out, they're on Best buy, other people are able to check out though. My store has many switches
— Wild™ (@WildSmiled) August 22, 2017
We’ve reached out to Best Buy for comment about what went wrong with their pre-sale and will update if we hear back.
