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Getting the newest games console has always been hard, and the Nintendo Wii is no exception with ‘Out of stock’ signs adorning many games hardware outlets.  In addition to unrelenting demand, would be buyers are facing constraints from an unlikely source.  If you can’t get a Nintendo product this year: blame Somalian pirates.

Not content stealing folks using Torrents, but sword in mouth, eye-patched, rum-swilling pirates.  Thought today’s crews cary RPGs and fast boats to seize your electronics as their booty.

Recently, the numbers of ships coming victim to piracy is rising rapidly, causing many to worry in the retail world. Much of the piracy is focused in the narrows of the the Suez Canal as it cuts cross Egypt from the east coast of Africa to the Mediterranean Sea and is used extensively for shipping all types of goods.  However companies are advised to consider diverting shipments around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the pirates, which would result in a 3 week delay, meaning no Wii for you.

“Despite all the publicity over piracy it will really hit home when consumers in the West find they haven’t got their Nintendo gifts this Christmas,” said Sam Dawson of the International Transport Workers’ Federation).

Various navies are doing their best to fight this.  The British navy killed two pirates this week and seizures are continuing.  It is becoming increasingly hard with the growing numbers of pirates: numbers have risen from one every couple of weeks to four a day.  This is a problem, and the results will be felt by retailers in the upcoming weeks and months.

Some of you smart ones will have noticed that this will not effect America, and your right (boats from Asia sail east to the USA).  However Europe is also a massive market for American products which often use this route.  So, this could be a bad for Christmas and gadget loving Europeans , cargo shippers, European retailers and manufacturers, however it is very good for 10 Somalians who are proud owners of 1,000 stolen Nintendo Wiis.

Source [Yahoo]