First pirates, now Nintendo DS counterfeiters. This is serious stuff. Government entities are warning about a scourge of counterfeit Nintendo DS and DS Lite consoles. It’s not just that people would be buying an inferior, perhaps non-working product that’s completely illegal. You could get the shock of your life. The consoles come with a power adaptor that, according to Nintendo, has not been tested, and could pose a fire hazard or other risks.
Hundreds of fake consoles were seized this week in the United Kingdom, and officials expect counterfeit imports will hit the U.S. as well. The consoles show up priced at about half the usual retail value, often on Asian Web sites.
I see a lot of posts on money-saving messages boards, especially from moms looking for holiday gifts, hoping to find a DS Lite deeply discounted. Or, they can’t find the one they want in stores and get desperate. The fact is, Nintendo sets the price at $129 and discounts are few and far between. The best deals can usually be found when the console is bundled with a game and/or carrying case. Rarely, a console will go on sale at reputable retail stores or online for as little as $110 or $105, or, in the case of the Pink Ribbon Nintendo DS on Cyber Monday, $99.95. But if you see a new console priced lower than that, consider the source and remember the adage: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Tags: Nintendo DS