I decided to make an interesting research about 3DS stock and this is easy with Japan,because of the media create,generally the Japanese trackers of which their data are very easily accessible unlike europeans/americans and nintendo's data that are also easily accessible!I saw that the old models in Japan has more stock than the new models even after six months of the release of the popular new ones,which makes me think that  this causes New 3ds/xl undershipping and cuts the pontential of New3ds/xl...Something similar must be valid for the west!

I recently read a interview of Iwata claiming that New 3ds/xl stock is low in the west,which in my opinion must be a result of its undershipping and it's popularity and Japan situation confirms that! Prices difference among the old models and the new ones isn't very big,so the old models have gotten into oblivion,and end up with a huge dead stock and consequently need a brave price drop in order that stock to be cleared out and expanding the instalbase!Nintendo then might be afraid that  wannabe 3DS owners people won't buy the new ones,but the new ones are far better and have/will have some exclusive so and can also have a lower price after,so no significant change. Plus that the people who would buy the price-slashed old ones could buy the new ones later especially when these will get a price drop too and that the new ones are mainly made for the existing 3DS owners.not just the late/new adopters...

3DS manufacturing cost is 90$ for the original and 100$ for the xl version!So the original 3DS must fall from 169$(New 3ds cost 179$) to 119$ and that would affect the price of 2DS,you can't have 2ds at a higher price,so 99$ for 2DS,and 3DS xl should go from 189$(199$ New 3ds xl cost)to 139$,I don't know how this could imply money bleeding,because I don't think that it implies that!I consider greedy selling them at  a price  fairly near to the new models....

Here's the data as of March 31th!

3DS stock in Japan 500.039

Of which original 3DS-193.244

Of which 3DS XL-117.960

OLD 3DS FAMILY-311.204(Old 3ds/xl currently sells combined,2k-3k in Japan,so it would take a lot till this stock depletes!

Of which New 3ds-77.133

Of which New 3ds xl -111.702

NEW 3DS FAMILY -188.835 

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1021522

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/historical_data/index.html I educed the numbers by comparison of the data that these two links include!

A few of my local retailers (Walmart/Target) have more stock of 3DS XL than they do of New 3DS XL.

You didn't say!Do you agree with me or disagree?:P:P:PP:P:P

yep older models need a price cut, I agree.

I thought both models would coexist, one as a cheap alternative and the other one as the "deluxe" version, but there's not enough price difference between them. Nintendo should really make a pricecut, or at the very least, make interesting bundles to incentive sales. I'm sure they could even get free of stock on games too, like PilotWings, StarFox 64, Pokemon Rumble Blast, Mario Tennis and Golf, old Lego games with the 2DS for children.., those games don't sell that well anymore, and I'm sure Nintendo would love to get rid of the space for the new games incoming.

Well Nintendo hasnt shipped the original 3DS to the Americas in over a year so I'm not sure if there are any of those left and I have been seeing a lot of discounts on the 3DS XL, my local Target has it at $174.99, Walmart had it at that price for awhile and has done another discount to $159.99.

Very possible, and who knows maybe we get a pricedrop at E3. I have one question though. You mention dropping the 2ds to 99$, what are manufactoring costs on 2ds? If normal 3ds is around 90$, shouldn't 2ds be at least around 80$ to manufacture, since they're essecially the same machine? I know they cut costs by having just one larger touchscrern and no 3d, but I'd be interested in how large their price margin actually is with that thing.

2DS gives you the sense that it costs 80$ to manufacture? I think it must be between 55$-65$!It's not only the things  that you mentioned which cut costs,it's also the material by which is made...It doesn't have the same quality with the material of the original 3DS!

However,don't focus to price cuts height but just to price cut!:P I may exaggerated!

Good suggestions!Well,only 10$ difference between New 3ds-3ds & New 3ds xl- 3ds xl respectively!WTF?Also there might be shop deals but I refer to something major and official...

What I recommended it's very tempting in my opinion!

Japan doesn't have the 2DS with the low range budget..

If dropping the 3DS/XL down, it would compete with the 2DS and make it useless?

Imo, I think the prices is fine the way they are,
2DS = Low
3DS/Xl = Mid
n3DS(XL) = high