Is Scarcity a factor in Poor PS Vita Sales?

[EdHieron]

But, if there is a problem with finding them in stores, that is going to cut down on the number of impulse buys the console gets. Let's say, you're not that knowledgeable about games, but you've recently bought the Best Selling 8th Gen Console, the PS4, and you discover that you get free monthly games with Playstation Plus once you get everything hooked up online and you're connected to PSN, then you may have an impulse to buy a PS Vita when you go to your local store, but if you go there and find out they're out of stock or not carrying them then you're not going to satisfy your impulse to purchase one.

Also as poorly as Vita is selling, it's still routinely outselling the 360, the Wii Mini, and even the Wii U ( on weeks that Mario Kart 8 isn't released ), yet those consoles are readily available in most stores.

It's true that I live in a rural area so that may contribute to the rarity of Vitas in my general vicinity ( even though they're also sold out at walmart.com ( http://www.walmart.com/ip/PlayStation-Vita-Borderlands-2-Limited-Edition-Bundle/36009510 ), and Vitas are also unavailable in the one Lexington, Kentucky, the second largest city in my state, Walmart store that is located within 50 miles of my home

The complete list of Walmart stores carrying Playstation Vitas within 50 miles of my home according to Walmart.com. Note: In my area, you can also only find Vitas at the most remote and inaccessible Walmart stores.


Walmart store #1190—Berea
22.14 miles |
Out of stock


Walmart store #1113—London
22.7 miles |
Out of stock


Walmart store #545—Manchester ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T93egBMlvCo )
26.87 miles |
In stock


Walmart store #719—Richmond
26.98 miles |
Out of stock


Walmart store #1259—Corbin
32.02 miles |
Out of stock


Walmart store #702—Winchester
40.44 miles |
Out of stock

Walmart store #1189—Barbourville
41.01 miles |
In stock


Walmart store #825—Stanford
43.65 miles |
Out of stock


Walmart store #1140—Mount Sterling
44.53 miles |
In stock

Walmart store #693—Jackson
46.65 miles |
In stock


Walmart store #689—Somerset
48.19 miles |
Out of stock


Walmart store #2060—Lexington
48.75 miles |
Out of stock

Walmart store #1210—Nicholasville
49.11 miles |
Out of stock

Walmart store #1048—Williamsburg
49.53 miles |
Out of stock