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Forums - Gaming - Nintendo of America Comments on Lack of Charger with New 3DS XL in North America

The initial decision was terrible, and the justification equally terrible.

All 3DS units, across all regions, should come with an AC adapter. Video game systems should always come packaged with a means to power the system.

Yes, many consumers already have one or more chargers around the house -- I have five, for example -- but that doesn't excuse the trampling of a very basic consumer right.



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MDMAlliance said:
cheshirescat said:
MDMAlliance said:
Burek said:
Is it even legal to include a device without a charger? Aren't there any consumer protection laws in the US? They sell you a device that you will be unable to use unless you buy extra equipment.

I've never heard of a smartphone maker saying "We don't include a charger, people already have some USB cables lying around their house." This is the most consumer-unfriendly move, and it is beyond my comprehension that someone can even attempt to defend Nintendo.


I think it does happen, actually. Also, haven't you ever heard of "batteries not included" on products that require batteries?


Yeah, but this is more of a "the port you actually put the batteries in sold separately" sort of deal.

That's not at all the same thing. The comparison I made is closest, since it's roughly the same thing. In fact, "batteries not included" is worse simply for the fact that cheap ones are not rechargeable.  You can use the 3DS without the charger since the battery is actually charged a little in the box.  You will just need to buy the charger to use it after its initial charge dies.  

Anyway, think about the process for each.  Let's say you buy an RC toy.  It requires batteries, but the box says the batteries are not included.  That means that you cannot use the device unless you buy batteries separately.  

Now go with the New 3DS XL. The box will, no doubt, have on the box somewhere "AC adapter not included." That means that you cannot go past the initial charge without buying the charger separately. 

Price of a pack of batteries: Varies, but tends to be $4+

Price of an AC adapter that works on the 3DS: $10 new on Nintendo's store page, $5 refirbished, $5 3rd party, $2 ebay

Very similar processes.  If you imply that the "port" is sold separately, the equivalent for the 3DS would more likely be "buttons sold separately - self install."  


There are just a few problems with your assertions, one being that batteries are a universal product, there are many variations to be certain and fall under several brand names and generic types, however, any given size of battery has several possible applications--in some cases, such as AA batteries, there are literally thousands of products that use them, regardless of brand.  On top of that batteries can be bought virtually anywhere, grocery stores, pharmacies, department stores, tech stores, fabricators, gas stations, stores devoted entirely to batteries, I saw a freaking liquor store selling basic batteries before, the pont being that as long as you live anywhere near a 7-11 you will have 24 hour 365 day a year access to batteries.  Not to mention it is a pretty common practice for a household to have a bag or drawer set aside specifically for the storage of batteries.  Now I know there are some people out there who are just swimming in ds apapters because they've bought every version of every ds in every possible color because their parents didn't love them and they have to fill that gaping void somehow, but I think (or at least would like to believe) that they are an exception rather than the rule.

 

Now take the new 3ds which is powered by a rechargeable battery, can the battery be charged with a universal product, such as a micro-usb?  No, it uses a proprietary device, meaning a device with the sole function of charging a nintendo ds system.  Now there are knock-offs, there always are, and there may be some universal adapter that connects to a micro-usb so that it can charge a 3ds, I'm not sure, but the problem with that is if you do so you will void your new 3ds' warranty.  Do you see where I am going with this?  If that rc car you mention breaks and I send it to the manufacturer for repairs they aren't going to tell me I'm screwed because I used energizer batteries but the warranty only recognizes duracell.

 

The problem here isn't with the cost of an adapter, or the ease of finding one, it's the simple fact that in order for the damn thing to function within the confines of the warranty you will need one specific device that only nintendo makes and sells (except of course for those people who only plan to use it for a few hours on that initial charge, then they're just hunky dory).  For them to not include this with the package is absolutely ridiculous and just because they've gotten away with it in other markets is not an excuse for a shitty practice. 



cheshirescat said:

There are just a few problems with your assertions, one being that batteries are a universal product, there are many variations to be certain and fall under several brand names and generic types, however, any given size of battery has several possible applications--in some cases, such as AA batteries, there are literally thousands of products that use them, regardless of brand.  On top of that batteries can be bought virtually anywhere, grocery stores, pharmacies, department stores, tech stores, fabricators, gas stations, stores devoted entirely to batteries, I saw a freaking liquor store selling basic batteries before, the pont being that as long as you live anywhere near a 7-11 you will have 24 hour 365 day a year access to batteries.  Not to mention it is a pretty common practice for a household to have a bag or drawer set aside specifically for the storage of batteries.  Now I know there are some people out there who are just swimming in ds apapters because they've bought every version of every ds in every possible color because their parents didn't love them and they have to fill that gaping void somehow, but I think (or at least would like to believe) that they are an exception rather than the rule.

 

Now take the new 3ds which is powered by a rechargeable battery, can the battery be charged with a universal product, such as a micro-usb?  No, it uses a proprietary device, meaning a device with the sole function of charging a nintendo ds system.  Now there are knock-offs, there always are, and there may be some universal adapter that connects to a micro-usb so that it can charge a 3ds, I'm not sure, but the problem with that is if you do so you will void your new 3ds' warranty.  Do you see where I am going with this?  If that rc car you mention breaks and I send it to the manufacturer for repairs they aren't going to tell me I'm screwed because I used energizer batteries but the warranty only recognizes duracell.

 

The problem here isn't with the cost of an adapter, or the ease of finding one, it's the simple fact that in order for the damn thing to function within the confines of the warranty you will need one specific device that only nintendo makes and sells (except of course for those people who only plan to use it for a few hours on that initial charge, then they're just hunky dory).  For them to not include this with the package is absolutely ridiculous and just because they've gotten away with it in other markets is not an excuse for a shitty practice. 

I think that a large portion of things that require batteries, but do not include them, are ones that require the D Cell battery type, which isn't nearly as common as the AA battery.  Also, it doesn't matter what many other devices use, it's the fact that it exists that is the point.  The problem with your claim is that it is not even close to being comparable to the 3DS situation.  The example I gave is obviously not perfect, but it's better than your example.

As for the warranty thing, in what instance would the battery you used for the RC device actually have been responsible for any damage that ACTUALLY would have the manufacturer cover the repairs?  It's probably not much different with the situation with the 3rd party 3DS AC Adapter.  Both have some form of potential to doing damage to the hardware, but I doubt either one would cover it in the warranty, since the blame would likely be put on the product you used that didn't come from them. (Such as X or Y brand of battery)

I do not know this for sure, but I imagine that the place where you purchase the 3DS itself would have the adapter to begin with.  



"New Nintendo 3DS XL uses the same AC adapter as any Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo DSi system. Rather than raise cost of New Nintendo 3DS XL by charging consumers for a component they may already own, we are giving them the option to only buy if they need an AC adapter."

 

I think Nintendo needs to look up the definition of option and choice again... They've been using them in situations which I don't think apply. All products that have a REQUIRED component that is needed for that item to consistently work should have it included within the initial purchase. It's like selling an Xbox One or Playstation 4 without a controller, because some consumers "might" already have that component.



Current gaming platforms - Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, New 3DS, PC

PenguinZ said:

"New Nintendo 3DS XL uses the same AC adapter as any Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo DSi system. Rather than raise cost of New Nintendo 3DS XL by charging consumers for a component they may already own, we are giving them the option to only buy if they need an AC adapter."

 

I think Nintendo needs to look up the definition of option and choice again... They've been using them in situations which I don't think apply. All products that have a REQUIRED component that is needed for that item to consistently work should have it included within the initial purchase. It's like selling an Xbox One or Playstation 4 without a controller, because some consumers "might" already have that component.


The word choice is strange, since it sounds like they are saying that there are models that have it included.

But , as I said somewhere else already, while the "controller" comparison is pretty close, it's not the same due to the heavy price difference between the AC Adapter and a console controller.



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MDMAlliance said:
ohmylanta1003 said:
MDMAlliance said:
IIIIITHE1IIIII said:
Disgusting move by Nintendo. Forcing people to buy entire 3DS/DSi systems along with the new XL model just to get a charger can be seen as nothing more than an attempt to make us double dip their hardware.


No doubt this is in the same vein as their decision to not design memorable spine art for their video game boxes. Needless to say, their once renowned Nintendo magic is clearly starting to run out.

Are you implying that Nintendo does not sell their chargers stand-alone?  Because they do, and if you look it up online, they are not any more than $10.  You can find a 3rd party charger for $5, and a second-hand charger for around $2 on ebay (free shipping).


Clearly a joke. LOL. Seemed pretty obvious to me.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law

But that's how obvious the joke was. He doesn't need to state that it was. Did you see the two points he brought up? And think about them? In all honesty, I've never seen a more obvious joke on VGChartz than this one. I'll give you that sometimes it's difficult to tell on the internet. But c'mon son.



I bet the Wii U would sell more than 15M LTD by the end of 2015. He bet it would sell less. I lost.

ohmylanta1003 said:
MDMAlliance said:
ohmylanta1003 said:

Clearly a joke. LOL. Seemed pretty obvious to me.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law

But that's how obvious the joke was. He doesn't need to state that it was. Did you see the two points he brought up? And think about them? In all honesty, I've never seen a more obvious joke on VGChartz than this one. I'll give you that sometimes it's difficult to tell on the internet. But c'mon son.

Console wars get pretty stupid sometimes. Some people have literally made even more extreme points and meant it in regards to topics like these.