Local GameStop stores offer last chance to buy Nintendo NES Classic Edition before Christmas

Gaming fans in Western Washington are getting a last chance to buy a Nintendo NES Classic – one of the most-sought items of the holiday season – with days to go before Christmas.

The $60 retro gaming console is sold out virtually everywhere, except for on eBay where it’s selling for nearly three times the price.

Dedicated gaming fans on the hunt know that the NES hits shelves in bursts at a variety of brick-and-mortar and online stores from Toys-R-Us to Urban Outfitters, but the item sells out in seconds.

Gaming publication Polygon writes that GameStop expects a small number of units to be in their physical stores this week nationwide.

“GameStop has again received another limited shipment of Nintendo NES Classics,” the notice obtained by Polygon said. “Only available in store, not online. GameStop recommends that customers call their local stores to determine local quantities.”

KIRO 7 News called local Gamestops and asked if the replica would be found at local stores in Western Washington. Here’s what we found.

Capitol Hill location: Employees expect stock on Friday.

Northgate Mall location: Employees not sure of shipment.

Pacific Place location: The store already received 3 consoles, and they are already sold. It does not expect more consoles at this location.

Gig Harbor location: Employees said they will get an unspecified number of consoles before Friday. An employee said that each day there have been four people waiting outside the store to get a console.

Amazon Prime Now is also offering last-chance sales of the console, again, but the offer excludes Seattle.

#NESClassicEdition is back on Prime Now in Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Baltimore, Virginia Beach, D.C., Richmond, NY pic.twitter.com/v8cxroyV9D
— Amazon (@amazon) December 21, 2016

Chances are getting slim on finding a console before Christmas – in store and online alike.

But if you are looking to get a retro console before Christmas, you could always try the real thing. Shoppers can look for a legit retro console at Game Gurus in North Seattle, where shelves are filled with everything from the real NES to Sega.

Nintendo said it’ll continue to produce new units and hopes to make a “steady flow” of consoles available through early 2017.

Brent Shelton, a deal expert with FatWallet.com and the Black Friday website BfAds.net, gave advice on how to be competitive when trying to buy a console online:

"A few things interested shoppers can do to stay on the insider news for these super hot toys that are sold out in stores and avoid the exorbitant re-seller prices is to follow inventory tracking sites, like Zoolert and Stock Informer," Shelton said.

Deal-hunting forums on FatWallet.com and BfAds.net also allow shoppers to “keep their ear to the ground” for new shipments, he said.

"I advise to set topic alerts with any of these, so you get quick notification on any news," Shelton said. "They can also follow Facebook groups like the Hatchimals BST (Buy Sell Trade) or Nintendo Classic Mini NES, and Reddit is a great candidate if you have the time to scour their hundreds of subtopics."