The Nintendo 3DS XL — effectively a super-sized successor to the original 3DS — goes on sale in Australia this Thursday (August 23). The official list price is $249.95, but can you do better by shopping around?
A look around the major Australian retailers suggests you can score a few extra options with pre-orders, but there isn’t massive price competition three days out from release. Here’s what we found, ranked in rough order of value:
- Big W is bundling the console with Super Monkey Ball 3D for $248.
- Dick Smith has the console on its own for $239. For $249 you can get a bundle with either Rayman Origins or a remote-controlled Mario Kart miniature. Both deals are online only, and there’s a $9.95 shipping charge.
- Mwave has the console on its own for $245. Delivery is $11.50, but you can pick it up at the Sydney warehouse for free.
- Target has a $259 bundle with two games: Rayman Origins plus your choice of Combat of the Giant Dinosaurs or Ghost Recon Shadow Wars.
- Games 101 has the console on its own for $242.95, but you have to pay $5.95 for postage, which brings it to $247.90. (The postage is flat-rate, so if you order other titles it works out cheaper.) You can also buy a 3DS XL bundled with Super Mario 3D Land for $288.95 (plus postage).
- EB Games is charging $248 (you can pick up in store on the day). The price drops to $129 if you trade in an iPhone or iPad, but that’s a frankly insane move; chances are you could sell either device yourself on eBay or Gumtree for more than $120.
- JB Hi-Fi is charging $248 for the console (plus 99 cents for shipping if you order for delivery).
Spotted a better deal elsewhere? Tell us in the comments. (And yes, I realise that uber-enthusiasts will have already imported one.)
JB have it for $249 with Super Monkey Ball and Accessories Pack. They also pricematch mosts console bundles upon request.
The big question is who's doing a 3DS trade in deal that allows for system transfer. I talked to a guy at EB and he says maybe they could hypothetically let someone do a transfer in store using their wifi or bring it back the next day for a reimbursement. This isn't a confirmation though, he was just throwing ideas around.
I had this per-ordered from JB hi fi and was kinda disappointed when i saw this article,
rechecked online and its dropped to $229
@dan, that bundle is for the normal DS, not the XL
Sad time to be out of a job (recently). OH WELL. I must find employment soon and pick this up.
I can confirm that the $249 bundle will apply to the 3DS XL as well as the 3DS. Also, if you pre-ordered at JB, you'll still only pay $229 for the console. They go off the price when you purchase/pick-up, not the price when you pre-ordered.
Whoops, that was directed at Magick, not Pan. My mistake.
just traded my 3Ds for 3DsXL and supermario bro's 2 goldcoin ed at EB games today $149 is what i had to pay its a very good deal trade my old used 3Ds for brandnew 3DsXL and supermario bro's 2 goldcoin ed only $149 bucks its a nobrainer =]