Well considering how the economy is in the USA, people are not as desperate to buy an over prices eBay WiiU just on day 1 of launch.
They are willing to wait an extra month or whatever to get their WiiU at regular retail price.
Hell I paid $1000 at retail for my PS3 in AUS, I am not doing that again considering I had to return the original one. I will wait for the PS4 price drop.