Source: A scan of an internal Best Buy newsletter acquired by GoNintendo.

　　The official story: Best Buy and Nintendo could not be reached for comment as of press time.

　　What we heard: For people trying to hunt down a hard-to-find Wii, there are few things more frustrating than other Wii owners bragging about how they have one. Nintendo's new console has been in short supply since its launch on November 19, and retailers have been selling the consoles as soon as they get them in.

　　Or maybe that's what they want you to think. Nintendo fan site GoNintendo.com has posted what is allegedly a scan (click image to enlarge) of an internal Best Buy newsletter, which asks managers not to sell Wiis until December 17, even if the company has units in stock.

　　Best Buy corporate cites the following three reasons for retaining Wiis in the newsletter:

　　--"This is the last competitive weekend for holiday shopping, which encourages a large amount of traffic to our retail stores once customers realize the system is available."

　　--"Customers shopping for other products will have the ability and be encouraged to purchase the gaming console."

　　--"The system is more readily available then [sic] other competing gaming systems."

　　The scan also mentions some PlayStation 3 information, including "SCEA has made an announcement that no other units will be shipped in addition to the units already being manufactured." However, unlike the Wii, PS3s are to be immediately shelved and sold to customers.

　　For those gamers still waiting to get a Wii for the holidays, there is at least one bit of good news in the notice. Though quantities will differ for each store, the newsletter states that a "minimum of 40 consoles is guaranteed."

　　But when GameSpot contacted a Best Buy store-level employee, we were told that each store was required to have a minimum amount of consoles, as promised in advertisements, for December 17. If stock exceeded the promised number, then stores could sell the difference. The employee's store was also only committed to have 25 units ready for the weekend, not 40 as the memo said.

　　[UPDATE] Several readers have pointed out that this practice of holding stock of Wiis is being implemented not just at Best Buy, but at several other retailers as well.

　　Bogus or not bogus?: Bogus that all Best Buys aren't selling Wiis, but not bogus that some stores that aren't selling them may have some in stock.