Ok, so if I want to get my hands on a Wii U my best choice is to get a refurbished one from Nintendo online shop? ... Don't you guys think that we'll see more wii u systems on the holidays? :/ I would really rather get a brand new one, but it's just impossible here.
I mean, there's no freaking way i'll pay this for a new console at walmart for example:
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As I said earlier, the production of Wii U units has officially ended, which means that there won't be more of those systems anymore. If you want to get 100% brand new console, you'll have no other choice than to invest more than they were originally priced for.
In the aftermarket, brand-new consoles (as in never unboxed) are almost always priced higher than their original MSRP. The gouged-up price is often based on said product's rarity and demand.
Since you're not willing to afford a brand-new Wii U at those admittedly ludicrous prices, you're better off finding used Wii U. Patience and resourcefulness will help you a lot on tracking used Wii U that are considered in good condition or almost just as brand-new. There's going to be a lot of researches involved before you finally get one, be it walking around your closest stores or browsing in shopping websites.
If that sounds too much work for you, then there's always the Nintendo Store. According to many people who ordered a refurbished Wii U, there's a high chance the hardware will be in great condition, if not excellent. Some of them might even be the unsold Wii U units that came from the retailers.
To be honest, i don't like the Switch, it looks super cheaply made. I bet that thing costed like 50 bucks or less to make and to get it for $300 is ridiculous. And the WiiU i know it's not the best console either but what i like are the exclusive games. Not going to buy a console for a single game right now.
I'm certainly not trying to convince you to buy a Nintendo Switch ASAP, but I'd like you to define what aspect(s) of the console you deem as "cheap".
The only thing that I've found low-quality was the stand, which can easily be snapped out if you aren't handling it with care. If tabletop mode isn't something you would regularly use, then this shouldn't be a deciding factor towards your purchase.