First of all, there won't be any ambassador program, because this isn't really a price drop. The bottom line is, the Wii U is going to cost $299 starting September 20, and everyone who bought a Deluxe SKU for $349 prior to that date absoultely had the option of buying the Basic SKU at the new price. Deluxe purchasers chose to pay $349 for the console. So to make this clear: the Wii U is not getting a price drop. It has been available at this "new" price since launch. The Deluxe SKU is getting a price drop, and the Basic SKU is being discontinued, meaning there is no Basic or Deluxe any more; there is only the Wii U. And the Wii U costs $299, which is no less than it cost a month ago or six months ago.

Second, they have a few reasons to announce this new price model a few weeks before it takes effect. I remember reading in a thread about the Vita price drop that some locations actually didn't get the memo, and are still selling it at pre-dropped prices. By announcing the drop ahead of time, Nintendo gives every retailer enough time to plan for the drop, so that they can have a unified drop around the world. This also enables them to have a unified marketing push attached to the Wind Waker HD bundle (and the digital version of the game), and give customers who were on the fence about the Wii U who might be interested in Wind Waker (you know, the entire Zelda fanbase) a chance to say "WELP -- that's it. Time to start saving up."

Does this even need to be asked? How could it conceivable be a wrong move? It's called hype. You announce something like this to build up hype, and to build interest. A lot of people are going to want that Zelda bundle, and a lot more will be more enthusiastic towards Wii U period considering it's now the $100 cheaper than PS4 that it needs to be to succeed.

Besides, what real purpose would it serve to wait until right beforehand to announce? Look at all the talking this stirred up on the internet. That's what they wanted, and that's what they needed: people talking about Wii U again.

This isn't the sort of info you only share in a ND video. This is the kind of major announcement that needs to reach far into the media sphere. That's why.

One week before would have been sufficient, not three weeks.  The hype won't last forever, by the time the price drop actually happens the hype is gonna die off, people that would have bought the Wii U off impulse are no longer gonna because of the three week wait.  

Under pressure - that burns a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets
Um ba ba be
Um ba ba be
De day da
Ee day da - that's o.k.

It worked for the 3DS in 2011. They strongly believe it will work for the WiiU. It's funny how this almost mimicks the 3DS pricedrop. We'll soon see if it works again.

SNES, Saturn, PS1, N64, DC, XB, GC, DS, PSP, PS3, 3DS and now Wii U all had price drops within one year. Not sure I would necessarily deem them desperate based off of a price cut.

I'm not saying its not gonna work, it will no doubt increase Wii U sales, but I think there was a better way to execute it.  

I think they just wanted to keep it in line with the Zelda bundle but its still silly. Nearly every retailers has a 30-day price guarantee, starting today you could actually get that price. Just go in, buy the normal 32GB set and keep your receipt. On the 20th, get your refund of $50 plus tax.

In reality, retailers will likely start advertising the price drop and offering it well before the 20th.

Sorry man, but no dice. They made the right move. They needed more hype going into the fall/holiday season. This helped create it.