Wii U Console, GamePad Repair Costs Revealed

by Andy Goergen - December 5, 2012 - 8:43 A.M.
Total Comments: 16

Do you want your hardware repaired out of warranty? Here's your invoice.

 

The Wii U repair costs have been revealed to be $175 for the console itself, and $85 for the GamePad, according to Nintendo World Report staff members who have had their systems in for repair. The $175 cost for the Wii U Console was specific to the Deluxe model. 

Since the GamePad is not for sale at retail at this time, aside from being bundled with the console itself, one can only speculate what the price will be to customers. The $85 component cost being printed (and then reversed due to warranty) on repair invoices point to a retail price starting at $99 and then going upwards from there.

Obviously, All Wii U systems are under warranty for at least a year unless an owner breaks that warranty. These costs will be more meaningful as the system ages past its first year.

that's one pricey controller, so the Wii U warranty also covers the gamepad?

reasonable, its a great device

this probably the biggest concern I have with the console. I'm very protective of the controller right now because if anything happens to it, I have no way of getting another one right now. My worry that it would cost around 80 dollars retail when they did come out... I evidently underestimated how much they would cost...

I can confirm that it is $85 because I had a dead pixel on my gamepad screen and sent it in for repair, they replaced it.

$85 seems like a bargain honestly, aren't new xbox 360 wireless controllers $60 (maybe they used to be) even if they are $50, that's only $35 more to add a beautiful touchreen in the middle.  btw I do not think they will even be that cheap if they do sell the gamepads by themselves at some point.

Nintendo has already confirmed that WiiU will eventually support a two-Gamepad experience. I hope that when they do show that new 1st party game that requires two Gamepads (E3 perhaps) that they plan to bundle it with the controller, hopefully for $99 by then.

That way it will be similar to WiiFit in that consumers felt like they were spending $90 for the "WiiFit experience" rather than just a pricey peripheral.

I think they said the wii u would support two gamepads because people flipped out about it when they initially said it would support only one, but that's a ton of stress on a system having to steam to two controllers.  No way it would work with a Call of Duty BO2 for example, the way it does with one controller.

well considering pro controller in aus costs $68.

I will not be surprised if the gamepad is $100 minimum.

Of course not, but two people just using them for play-calling in Madden, for example, is a likely scenario. And whatever game Nintendo comes up with for two Gamepads would probably not be something graphics-intensive. There are many types of family/boardgame/gameshow type experiences to be had with this type of setup.

Yes, but those controllers cost about half that or even less to make. Controllers and accessories are very high margin items for publishers and retailers.