Nintendo DS Shipping Update: Latest Shipping Schedules and Sneak Peek at Black Nintendo DS System !

News From Lik Sang [br][br] Shipping Update (November 27):[br][br]For many of you (including all of us here at Lik Sang) this was the longest week of 2004 so far. It has been 5 days (and 9 quadrillion emails) since the last shipping update, and after this slow week we expect to make much more progress during next week with the Japanese system launch.[br][br]Despite the fact that the NDS is sold out in the USA, we have been able to secure another shipment and a few more customers will receive a shipping notification still today.[br][br]Summary of this update:[br][br]• Super Mario 64 DS (US) shortage, read this if you want to avoid another delay[br]• Most remaining Special Pre-Orders shipping between December 1 to December 10[br]• Most orders received after November 13 shipping December 15 to December 25[br]• New orders temporarily suspended and re-opening after system shortage is over[br]• Shipping of games orders (US + JPN) starting next Wednesday[br]• Delayed email processing, please do not send emails currently[br]• Sneak Peek at Black Nintendo DS Version (no, we are not taking pre-orders!)[br][br]Super Mario 64 DS (US) Shortage, select Japanese Version as Second Choice[br][br]Not only did American retailers and distributors sell out the complete first Nintendo DS stock, also Super Mario 64 DS has been sold through with all the consoles. While Lik Sang expects another shipment of the US versions by next week, we recommend that you set the Japanese version as alternative in your order at the My Account page. While many of you have correctly set the Japanese system as alternative, not many have done this for the game and therefore this will most probably result in another delay or in a partial shipment, if not updated quickly.[br][br]The Japanese version of Super Mario 64 DS will be $10 more expensive than the US version (due to the much higher yen price in Japan), but should enable us to ship your system in case no US versions are available.[br][br]In order to set the alternative version, head over to your My Account page, select your order and save your new selection.[br][br]Please note that Lik Sang will still ship the US version if it happens to be in stock at the day your system is available.[br][br]Most Remaining Special Pre-Orders Shipping between December 1 to December 10[br][br]After the huge initial shortage in the US, there is some good news to announce. All remaining (confirmed) Special Pre-Orders are scheduled to ship out between December 1 and December 10. Lik Sang has confirmed shipments coming in and more stock of NDS systems allocated by now. The Japanese launch units are also expected to arrive in the same time frame after all.[br][br]If you have a pending order, please check your mailbox for an email informing you about the status of your order. All customers have been informed to avoid more delays due to the huge NDS related email traffic in Lik Sang’s mailboxes.[br][br]Orders received after November 13 shipping December 15 to December 25, late orders in January 2005[br][br]All of you who have not used Lik Sang’s Special Pre-Orders which were accepted with a “No Money Down” value of $0, will have to be patient. Orders received after November 13 are scheduled to ship between December 15 and December 25, while no guarantees can be made. Orders placed in the past few days, after the system launch, will even have to wait until January 2005.[br][br]Because it is Lik Sang’s target to ship as many systems as possible, you can rest assured that everything is done to get every single NDS that Nintendo makes available goes on an airplane same day. At this point we all can only hope that Nintendo hears our prayers and shifts into a higher gear for the manufacturing process.[br][br]All of you, who placed a pre-order after November 13 or even after release date, will find an email in their inboxes with further detail and a confirmation of the expected shipping date.[br][br]Please be patient, we are doing everything possible to speed this up.[br][br]New Orders Temporarily Suspended and Re-Opening after System Shortage is Over [br][br]As of today, November 27, Lik Sang has suspended taking any new (pre-)orders for the Nintendo DS system until further notice. Ordering will most probably be possible again after the huge global shortage of systems is over, and when Nintendo was able to ship more units to the market. This might take until January 2005.[br][br]Please feel free to sign up Lik Sang’s Product Alert, so that we can send you an email when the systems are in stock and ready to ship.[br][br]This does NOT affect any orders already received. For orders already received, please check your inbox for an email with detailed order status information.[br][br]Please note that all dealers in the USA are currently back-ordered, and EB even lists a new shipping date of January 31, 2005.[br][br]Shipping of Games Orders (US + JPN) Starting next Wednesday[br][br]If you have already placed an order for games or accessories only, you will have noticed that these orders where not processed this week. Shipping of US games, Japanese games, as well as accessories for the Nintendo DS console officially starts next Wednesday (December 1) .[br][br]Please note that due to the system and games shortages, some orders might still get delayed and will take a while to ship. Please watch shipping statuses carefully, as schedule changes are expected for such a huge system release.[br][br]Please note that this also includes some orders for games and accessories from customers who are also still waiting for their system to ship. These orders have been put on hold, and will ship in the same time frame as your system is being dispatched.[br][br]Delayed Email Processing:[br][br]Despite all the begging in Monday’s NDS Shipping Update, you guys have sent us 9 quadrillion emails asking for confirmation if your order is fine, if your NDS will ship soon, or if the UK battery chargers will work on your US or Japanese unit as well.[br][br]This has unfortunately slowed our colleagues from the customer support down, and despite all the effort, replying such emails on a case by case basis in a timely manner has become something not even remotely possible.[br][br]Some of you might not yet have received a reply to their email. We hope that this shipping update already clears some of your questions.[br][br]Sneak Peek at Black Nintendo DS Version[br][br]Here is a first sneak peek at the black Nintendo DS version. Nintendo first intended to release the Nintendo DS worldwide in different color variations, but decided to go with the silver one only for maximum production efficiency.