Tesco selling Nintendo 3DS for £158

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 15 February, 2011

UPDATE: Tesco changes its mind. Bah.

UPDATE 2: Tesco has changed its mind, it appears. At the bottom of its website it says, "20% off selected gaming consoles, excludes the Nintendo 3Ds."

Tesco's T&Cs, under section one, divulge this disappointing nugget: "If, by mistake, we have under priced an item, we will not be liable to supply that item to you at the stated price, provided that we notify you before we despatch the item to you. In those circumstances, we will notify the correct price to you so you can decide whether or not you wish to order the item at that price. If you decide not to order the item, we will give you a full refund on any amount already paid for that item in accordance with our refund policy in section 7 below."

Bah.

UPDATE 1: Eurogamer has just got off the phone with the Tesco press office, which said this is very much a real offer. Go nuts.

ORIGINAL STORY: Gargantuan supermarket Tesco is selling the Nintendo 3DS for £158 - £40 cheaper than anywhere else.

Tesco has the Aqua Blue model listed for £157.60, reduced from £197.

Order now, Tesco says, and it'll be delivered on 25th March – the day the Nintendo 3DS launches in Europe.

The price of the Nintendo 3DS has been a controversial topic since Nintendo announced it was up to shops to determine what they would sell it for.

Most went with £230 at the time, although £200 is the going rate at many shops.

Speaking to Eurogamer last month, Nintendo UK boss David Yarnton said: "It's still really good value. The fact it's a 3D entertainment device – you can't get anything that's 3D at that sort of price without having to wear glasses as well. Get that one in."

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (93) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Mkwone #1 1 year ago

    Now that's a good price.

  • BuffoonBassoon #2 1 year ago

    holy shit

  • mcmonkeyplc #3 1 year ago

    Errrm If they honour that price. I'm buying!

  • Trillion #4 1 year ago

    Will believe it when it's actually on sale.

  • Scopeh #5 1 year ago

    I knew the Supermarkets would undercut the game retailers. Waits for Sainsburys or Asda to undercut again.

  • Toothball #6 1 year ago

    Alarming. Surely other stores will have to respond in some way? As tempting as it is to relocate my pre-order, I think I'll hold out for some reactions.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #7 1 year ago

    I ordered a couple earlier - Lets see if its legit eh?

  • Xardan #8 1 year ago

    They have 20 % off all game consoles. Amazon have matched their prices now too. An xbox is 159 pounds and a ps3 160gb is 196.

  • asphaltcowboy #9 1 year ago

    Hehe, perhaps Nintendo are getting the pre-order numbers they were hoping for at £220?

  • shadowlp #10 1 year ago

    Could be a mistake on the listing guys, they have a 20% off all gaming stuff at the moment which is what theyve put that 3ds through as, but not the other, so im 99% sure its a mistake. If they honour the price, jump on that shizzle now!

  • mcreddie #11 1 year ago

    Fucking hell. Time to cancel my HMV order once again.

    *oh it really is only for the aqua blue. Ill keep my HMV order then. (paying £220 for cosmos black with splinter cell, the best deal I could find)
    Edited by mcreddie at 15/02/11 @ 11:31

  • Murton #12 1 year ago

    The games retailers aren't going to be happy. I honestly don't think it'll be long before they try to lobby Government again on loss leading.

    It does beg the question of just where the wholesale price lies in these products, maybe the high street is being unrealistic in its desired profit margins.

  • FortysixterUK #13 1 year ago

    Lol that guy in the fully zipped up anorak and with glasses.
    HE alone gives video games bad press.

    **sigh**
    Lol...I am going to hell.......
    Edited by FortysixterUK at 15/02/11 @ 11:26

  • customfirmware #14 1 year ago

    I'm definitely biting at that price.

  • altitude2k #15 1 year ago

    @Murton

    I don't really understand how Tesco could be accused of loss-leading when this deal is for an order on their website. If it draws you into their stores, then that's another matter - but this doesn't.

  • Mark1412 #16 1 year ago

    Shame its Aqua-blue but at the price I too am biting.

  • daz_john_smith #17 1 year ago

    £157.60 is the pick up in store price, I believe it's £162.60 with delivery
    Edited by daz_john_smith at 15/02/11 @ 11:35

  • onezeonx #18 1 year ago

    Could they have interviewed any more nerds in the video!?

  • ChronoMizaki #19 1 year ago

    Jumped on it like a Panther on a Baby Zebra as the Baby realised it made a mistake, but it was too late because it became a tasty dinner.

    In other words, best fucking deal ever. Shame it's Blue. I wanted Cosmo Black. But I ain't complaining.

  • mcmonkeyplc #20 1 year ago

    Order placed.

  • coderkind #21 1 year ago

    If they stick the black one up at the same price I'll order. The blue one puts me off.

  • LazyDan #22 1 year ago

    I don't think this is as low as it'll go either. Someone'll do it for £149 before the thing launches at this rate - either by itself or as part of a bundle.

    I still don't know what to do :( I need to pre-order soon, but can I pre-order and pick up at a midnight launch?! More to the point where the hell do I pre-order!

  • Pac #23 1 year ago

    It's legit. £162 including delivery. It's Blue but who cares. Pilot wings here we come.

  • Timotei #24 1 year ago

    @FluffyTucker

    You and me both.

  • wizlon #25 1 year ago

    £5 for delivery... they can forget it!

  • LazyDan #26 1 year ago

    @coderkind - it looked a lot less gaudy in person. The lighting they use in those promo shots does it no favours.

  • midnight_walker #27 1 year ago

    Tesco are notorious for cancelling orders that they don't want to fulfil. I don't trust them.

  • GamesConnoisseur #28 1 year ago

    Now you talking!

    I would consider this but for the thing... its so blue! I mean its so obviously not black and thus so noticeable to my wife so would say, 'so what have you gone and done now?!'

  • StolenGlory #29 1 year ago

    I smell mis-price.

    Enjoy your order cancellation letters and your free £5 voucher for your 'Disappointment'.

  • charming_fox #30 1 year ago

    /\ You have a wife?!

  • DreadedWalrus #31 1 year ago

    wat.

    I mean, I went from being a first-day purchase to being a "wait and see" when the whole region-locked is-it-or-isn't-it fiasco kicked off, but this is possibly worth a punt anyway at this price, seriously.

  • neilka #32 1 year ago

    Beware that Tesco Direct take your money when you place your order rather than when they send it out to you.

  • Herze #33 1 year ago

    damn, they only deliver in uk... :(

  • Shadders #34 1 year ago

    Ordered 6. Ebay profits! YAY!

  • coderkind #35 1 year ago

    Thanks for the info @LazyDan.

  • Shadders #36 1 year ago

    @neilka

    The T&Cs say they charge when the item is despatched.

    [link url=http://www.tesco.com/termsandconditions/termsconditionsGeneral.htm
    ]http://www.tesco.com/termsandconditions/...[/link]

    "Payment is taken at the point of despatch for goods and in the event that the payment card has expired we will be unable to take payment and fulfil your order."
    Edited by Shadders at 15/02/11 @ 11:44

  • CallousB #37 1 year ago

    Clearly a misprice. They included it in the 20% off deal by mistake. I doubt they will honour it.

    They are hardly going to sell a pre-order for £15 less than cost.

  • DreadedWalrus #38 1 year ago

    UPDATE: Eurogamer has just got off the phone with the Tesco press office, which said this is very much a real offer. Go nuts

    Excellent! Bought.

  • daz_john_smith #39 1 year ago

    @Shadders
    Wrong site, wrong T&C's

    http://direct.tesco.com/help/directtermsandconditions.aspx

    "If you buy an item from the Tesco Direct Catalogue on the phone, in-store or online you will be charged for an item at the time you place your order."

  • Phishfood #40 1 year ago

    HOLY SHIIIIIT!!!

  • StolenGlory #41 1 year ago

    @Shadders

    Oh you ordered six. Niiiice.

    That means that five other people who were on the fence about buying it due to the price point, likely won't be able to in the near term because you are a galaxy swallowing cunt that is only in it for the wonga.

    Good job.

    Edited by StolenGlory at 15/02/11 @ 11:53

  • nickal47 #42 1 year ago

    Tempting but the blue one looks shit imo

  • JoeGBallad #43 1 year ago

    Wait, after update 2, the price is still £158. I'm confused. This could mean the difference between me buying a UK 3DS or a US 3DS.

    Why the neg? The US are getting it cheaper than us, but not cheaper than this.
    Edited by JoeGBallad at 15/02/11 @ 11:59

  • midnight_walker #44 1 year ago

    UPDATE 2: Tesco has changed its mind, it appears. At the bottom of its website it says, "20% off selected gaming consoles, excludes the Nintendo 3Ds."

    lollerskates

  • wizlon #45 1 year ago

    Err.. so it's off then... time to cancel the preorder, good job I hadn't cancelled my preorder with Zavvi.

  • Shadders #46 1 year ago

    @daz_john_smith

    The link I posted is from literally right above the "Confirm Order" button.

  • JoeGBallad #47 1 year ago

    No if you goto the website the price is still £158 for the blue one. What's going on?

  • MiniAmin #48 1 year ago

    Meh, this isn't the first time Tesco Direct have had some misleading prices...

  • LazyDan #49 1 year ago

    The price is still the same... I'm confused. The 3DS may not be part of their 20% off offer, but they might be setting it at that price anyway?

    EDIT: Oh boo, just saw the extended update 2. Wankers - move along, lets not give more free attention to Tesco.
    Edited by LazyDan at 15/02/11 @ 12:03

  • nickal47 #50 1 year ago

    Im confused - I didnt think this had anything to do with the 20% off offer, this is just how much they are selling it for?!?!?
    Edited by nickal47 at 15/02/11 @ 12:05

  • JoeGBallad #51 1 year ago

    Ok Update 2.5 makes it all clear. Too good to be true it seems, and if you pay the price now you'll have to wait around for a refund if you don't fancy paying more when they (inevitably) ask you to.

    Not going to go into the questionable legality of that here, but bollocks anyway. Got my hopes up for a minute there.

  • chrisjm #52 1 year ago

    for some reason im still not tempted :-/

  • CallousB #53 1 year ago

    As this is a misprice..I'd suggest ordering from Tesco entertainment via topcashback.co.uk.

    They give 8.08% cashback on all tesco entertainment orders. So you can get the Black or Blue 3DS for £181 ish.

  • DreadedWalrus #54 1 year ago

    If, by mistake, we have under priced an item[...]

    Well according to Update 1 this wasn't a mistake. It was deliberate, but they've changed their minds. I bet that won't stop them not honouring the preorders, though.

  • kinky_mong #55 1 year ago

    In future EG it might be worth doing the research and ringing the store before you run the article.

  • Cataferal #56 1 year ago

    Kinky-Mong - They did, and Tesco said it was legitimate. They only changed their minds half an hour ago, and I appreciate Eurogamer keeping me upto-date.

  • Caimbeul #57 1 year ago

    i have my order confirmation for £157 + £5 delivery (£162). they can honour it or give me my money back. simple.

  • Scopeh #58 1 year ago

    lollerskates. Owell made my boring tuesday morning go that bit faster.

  • MikkyX #59 1 year ago

    Normally these things would be reversed under E&OE or some bullshit (see £400 tellys for £40 and so on) but if Tesco's PR have legitimised the offer by telling EG it was good to go does that change the rules?

  • MojoDex #60 1 year ago

    i just rang tesco and they told me that the 157.60 will be honoured. if that changes i'll be sur to let you all know.

  • slippysloppy #61 1 year ago

    So basically Eurogamer phoned up Tesco, alerted them to the bargain and they changed their mind. Wow, thanks Eurogamer

  • StolenGlory #62 1 year ago

    "So basically Eurogamer phoned up Tesco, alerted them to the bargain and they changed their mind. Wow, thanks Eurogamer"

    No, they did you a favour jackass.

    Because Tesco would only cancel your order at the 11th hour by which point there would be no 3DS stock available regardless, leaving you quite well shafted.

    Some people...

  • Opti #63 1 year ago

    they've just told me my order will also be honoured...

  • DreadedWalrus #64 1 year ago

    slippysloppy: If EG hadn't called, then they probably would have noticed the sudden onrush of sales of £158 3DSs anyway. At least this way the Tesco rep has gone on record saying it's deliberate, and now they've gone and changed their minds on it. If not for the call in which the deal was confirmed as genuine, they could have just claimed it was an accident.

    Like I say, it probably won't make them honour the deal (though MojoDex says he's made a phone call that says they will - could EG make another call to see if this is the case for everyone?), but it's nice to have it on record like that.

  • loveless #65 1 year ago

    If, by mistake, we have under priced an item[...]


    Bullcrap is it a mistake - they know they've grabbed headlines and baited people to switch / make pre-orders with this deal. They better honour the pricing.

  • callum9999 #66 1 year ago

    DreadedWalrus - They still can say it was a mistake (why wouldn't it be? As much as people say otherwise, angering a bunch of people isn't good business practise - whether it makes headlines on niche websites or not...). The customer service department doesn't set the prices, so they probably just assumed it was included in the 20% offer when it actually isn't.

    As to people saying it's "questionable legality" - it's not. Full stop. A contract is not made until Tesco dispatch the goods, so they have no obligation to sell it to you at that price until it's posted. The ONLY way it applies to online orders is Tesco can't send it to you then ask you to send it back or pay them more money - once you have it in your possession, the price cannot be changed.

    Same principle in shops, they can correct mis-prices on shelf labels, but can't charge any more once they've accepted your money (though in reality, many will honour it anyway unless it's completely ridiculous).

  • Opti #67 1 year ago

    0845 600 4411

  • skowhegan Verified Staff Writer, Eurogamer Network #68 1 year ago

    @Opti cheers

  • optimusprym8 #69 1 year ago

    phoning some muppet in a Tesco's call centre probably isn't going to get a straight answer either way

  • gooner77 #70 1 year ago

    They really are cheeky cunts @Tesco. Thats why I never order online from them

  • jablonski #71 1 year ago

    Don't blame EG, blame the landslide of pikeys scum on Hot Deals who jump all over these deals - usually for ebay.

  • Grunk #72 1 year ago

    Hmm, just tried to check out, and item has apparently gone out of stock.

    Oh well.

  • jamhead #73 1 year ago

    Well, I thought I would give it a go speculatively, but they now say they are out of stock, but only when you proceeed to checkout (you can still add to basket, it seems). Or maybe I just hit it just as they were running out...

    Anyway, the 'deal' real or not, is no longer there either way.

  • Opti #74 1 year ago

    The guy I spoke to said they had been made aware of the confusion and were being told to confirm that the price would be honoured.

    I guess we will find out soon enough.

  • winter #75 1 year ago

    hmmm, mines showing as "at warehouse - despatching soon"

    see if they honour it.

  • Cataferal #76 1 year ago

    My order status went from "Awaiting payment confirmation" to "At warehouse - dispatching soon" an hour ago, and I've had no calls or emails stating to the contrary so far.

    It's possible the the exploitative people who ordered 2 or more 3DS's are the primary target for these cancellations.

    I'll keep you guys informed.

  • Jontacular #77 1 year ago

    Worth noting that the product page itself is still saying £157, well over an hour after the most recent update on this news story.

  • LetsGo #78 1 year ago

    Well that was fun.... not!

    I've been charged 197 (despite a confirmation email of my order at the lower price) as that's Tesco direct policy but they are refunding me as I said I no longer want the pre order from them.

    It's cheeky, I bet they get some people who won't brother canceling their pre order.
    Edited by LetsGo at 15/02/11 @ 13:21

  • zedzee #79 1 year ago

    Well, the 3DS is an upgrade to the DS models, really. A camera or two, a controversial 3D system that doesn't seem to have been medically tested properly and oh, more of the same old Nintendo franchises.

    I really don't get Nintendo. They have the currently best-selling handheld yet they choose to go in a direction that no one really wanted or needed and not focussed on coming up with a real update.

  • ChronoMizaki #80 1 year ago

    [link url=http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/8240/proof2sl.png
    ]http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/8240/...[/link]

    Basically, it's confirmed that I'm paying the price that I ordered from and they cannot decline it under the Trade Descriptions Act of 1968.

    In other words, even if Tesco withdraw it and try to change it somehow, the proof of purchase is still there and by law, cannot retract that offer if the order has already taken place. Pretty much, thanks for the bargain, tesco. And if you try to refuse it, I have got the papers to prove it!

  • Lusterpurge #81 1 year ago

    They did this on purpose, little fuckers. Tesco probably just wants to troll everyone.

  • JoeGBallad #82 1 year ago

    @71 sorry pal, but if a company charges me for something, actually takes the money out my account, THEN asks for more before they give me what I bought, that IS questionably legal. I'm not saying it is illegal, I'm saying it fucking well should be.

  • scouserfuller9 #83 1 year ago

    I've always thought a mistake is only a mistake if you learn nothing from it. Obviously doesn't apply to Tesco if those who had ordered one in time don't get it at that price. They can make the same type of mistakes over andover again yet still get away with it!

    I've been working at Tesco for nine years now and have to admit over time more and more mistakes are made by the new bosses who have come in so seeing something like this happen doesn't surprise me in the slightest and expect plenty more similar mistakes to come!?

  • Matfink #84 1 year ago

    Tesco are the cheekiest *slyest* fookers around. I regularly visit their stores just to buy their loss-leaders and nothing else.

  • L0cky #85 1 year ago

    This is a staff announcement. Can scouserfuller please attend the manager's office.

    Thank you.

  • scouserfuller9 #86 1 year ago

    I think this story has put so much pressure on me I now have no choice but to resign :-(

  • midnight_walker #87 1 year ago

    @ChronoMizaki

    Yes, but what are you going to do about it? Are you going to report them for it, take them to court and demand a 3DS for £157, or, like everyone else, are you just going to shrug your shoulders and forget about it?

  • ChronoMizaki #88 1 year ago

    @midnight_walker:

    If they refuse, despite the evidence I have, I can take it to a small claims court. Besides, I haven't got anything better to do and I'm getting a cheap 3DS in the process.

  • Moonprince #89 1 year ago

    Called me (came up as blocked number so didn't answer) and said something along the lines of error, will not honour etc. (voice mail)

    Received email also that mentioned issues with my bank account. Which of course is bs. There's more than enough funds.
    Mate also received the same email.
    Edited by Moonprince at 15/02/11 @ 14:41

  • Opti #90 1 year ago

    Tescoes just called me to confirm they are cancelling my order...

  • rprince #91 1 year ago

    The press always ruin things like this, by phoning the company and letting them know their mistake. If we'd all agreed to keep this under out hats, that price could have stuck for weeks, instead of hours!

  • slippysloppy #92 1 year ago

    @StolenMorningGlory Fuck me you're a cock.

  • winter #93 1 year ago

    has anyone else's been cancelled yet?

    my order is still at warehouse - despatching soon.

    thought i'd have received a cancellation email / call by now tbh.