Aibu to buy an outdated second hand wii console

[Imustbemad00]

So I know Iabu talking about Xmas, but it’s my child’s birthday first if that helps.
My almost 6 year old is asking for a Nintendo switch for birthday/Xmas. In he past (with older child) I wouldn’t of thought twice and would of got it even if it meant getting in debt or going without. My situation is now a bit different and I can probably just about afford it (not easily though) but I just feel the almost £300 price tag is ridiculous. My child would use and enjoy it but I worry about the addiction to gaming, I already have trouble getting them off the iPad.
It’s also just an obscene amount of money for one present for a young child, and I’d never only just get one present so it’s going to be expensive overall. As I said in the past I’d of bought it, I guess I’m jist getting more sensible with age!

So my Aibu is, would it be awful to buy a second hand wii from eBay, if I can get one in original box, my child probably wouldn’t care and would still enjoy it but I worry about embarrassment at school as several others have the latest Nintendo switch. Is it not a bit embarrassing to buy the discontinued wii console? Will I look like I’m struggling to get my kids what they would like so am resorting to the wii (nothing wrong with not being able to afford the latest tech, but I guess where I’ve struggled for so long I’m self conscious about this)

We have a Wii that is played nearly every day, though we've had it from the day of first release.There is a wide choice of games available, particularly through eBay or CEx.
I don't think a switch has enough games yet, and we haven't yet bought one (we have about 8 or 9 consoles btw) but we will once they have more games available and are cheaper.
I wouldn't buy a six yo a console of any kind though- they're family presents, as far as I'm concerned.

I'd hold off getting a console. The switch is expensive if you're on a budget, there's still not that many games...really, in the grand scheme of things. I wouldn't buy a switch for a 6 year old even if I had that kind of money to throw around on gifts. It's a great console but I think of it as a 'grown up kids' console. Or an adult nerd's console. (I'm saying that as an adult nerd who owns a switch!)

The wii is pretty outdated and is probably lacking support. The controllers are pretty expensive and eat batteries like nobodies business. And if you leave them with batteries in you risk corrosion and battery leakage...I have no idea why but that happened with ours. We didn't play it for a while and when we went back to the controllers, which were stored in a box along with the games, the batteries had leaked and the terminals had corroded. I would not recommend the wii at all. I enjoyed it, and it has good games, but it also has many many flaws.

I don't know much about the wiiu but when I was researching prior to buying a switch, I'm sure I read that the wiiu is no longer supported - so no software updates and not likely many more games. But I could be wrong, so that's worth researching yourself. I think it was a bit of a flop though.

The xbox would always be my console of choice, in terms of affordability and longevity, but there's not the games range for a kid so young. I'd really hold off buying a console until he's older.

We don't have kids, but we do game a lot and have a switch, a wii, an xbox one and a two grand gaming pc. Kids don't appreciate games, it's a nerdy adults world! :P I'd highly recommend the switch - it is a superb console and the ability to go from handheld to docked to a tv in a second is perfect BUT the price tag is very steep and for a kid so young, I don't think it's worth it.

My son has only asked for a switch because it’s the only console he has heard of, mostly due to adverts. I’m sure if other options were offered he would be happy with them. He doesn’t specifically want a switch because it’s the ‘latest’ or ‘coolest’.
If we got a switch I probably wouldn’t let him use it as a handheld in case it got dropped.

I’m aware a wii might not last long but for the money I don’t expect it to last forever.

I think I might just put the console idea off for another year. He’s still young, and I’m worried about him not wanting to play with toys anymore.

My older child probably wouldn’t be interested in it at all. And I may play it with my youngest occasionally bit ultimately it would be a present for a 6 year old.

I think he would mainly want to play Mario games, Harry Potter games ect. He’s not exactly a gaming nerd lol. He’s experience mostly consists of angry birds, sonic and Harry Potter and batman Lego games on the tablet.

YANBU. My son had a new xbox once but he usually gets given hand me down consoles by my brothers when they upgrade. Then the games for the old consoles are cheaper too, so it's better all round. My friend has a really old wii and it's still going strong, the DCs love playing on it when we visit.

If he was asking for a DVD player, would you buy him a vcr? If you don't want to buy him a console, then don't buy him a console. I have a Wii, Wii U and a Switch and have loved them all but I wouldn't thank you for a 12 year old console these days.

@anexcellentusername but you are not 5
If DVD players were £300 and all he wanted to do was watch films (not specifically new films) then yes I would consider it.
At 5/6, my child at least, has no concept of which ones are older or newer. We are not a gaming family, we have no pc, he’s not accustomed to these things. He’s jist seen adverts and heard about a console that lets you play games on a tv and it looks fun to him. It’s that simple.

My DS (6) uses my old Wii on a daily basis, as do half the kids who live on my street. They all love Mario Kart and have multiple controllers to play (we picked one up for 99p in the charity shop only yesterday).
I can't comment on whether he'd be disappointed but they're certainly still lot of fun. Wii sport and Wii play are also one of their favourites.
We are getting DS a DS XL for Christmas as we simply cannot afford a switch and we've said he's a bit too young for a switch, 'maybe next year'

We are a gaming household and I'd get a Wii this year and upgrade him to an Xbox One or PS4 in a couple of years time. (They will be cheaper by then as PS5/the next Xbox will be out or imminent) When boys are around 8, they often start moving from Nintendo to Microsoft/Sony

Seems false economy to buy something he doesnt want to save on something he does.

I would just save the money to put towards the switch or buy something else entirly.

DS15 and DS13 have played loads on old our wii this summer. We considered selling it but it really wasn't worth it. I wouldn't buy an old console though if it isn't what he wants. How about EBay or local fb selling group for cheap second hand?

Could be a false economy I suppose, but it’s not about saving for the switch. It’s more about the fact I’m unsure about spending so much money on such a young child, who’s doesn’t really care and would be just as happy with a wii.
Plenty of people have confirmed their children are happy playing with the wii.

We have a wii (bought brand new many moons ago) and an xbox. The wii is by far the most popular with friends when they come round the ability to play games together such as dancing and sports. You can also get lego games on ebay cheap

The xbox though gets more play day to day

YANBU but I’d go to CEX rather than eBay

Handheld retro consoles seem to be the thing with my older son who is 12, he’s just bought a gameboy advance

My six year old asked for a Switch, I got a Wii to see if he would actually use it. He barely does use it so I can cope with wasting 40. Plus I do love a bit of Wii bowling

I think this post confirms what I think about adults caring more, including myself, than the kids about having the latest.
My worry is that I’d be judged for buying him a wii in real life.
I honestly don’t want people to think I’d be palming him off with an old wii if he was desperate for a switch. But as I’ve said, he’s too young to care. He just likes the idea of something that can be played on tv as it’s a new concept for him. He’s never seen either in real life.