At £300 Wii U is not just competing against other gaming consoles but against Ipads, Mini Ipads, I phones, Android Tablets, Kindles, Android smartphones. Apart from Nintendo fans, most hardcore gamers will not jump ship from Xbox 360 or PS3. The casual gamer has other far cheaper choices and there is no compelling game for the Wii U as Wii Sports was for Wii.
Wii was new, simple to understand and an impulse buy at £179 at launch in 2006.
Most casual gamers don't understand what Wii-U is for and think its too expensive.
The hype for this launch has been almost non existent and there were virtually no pre-order offers.
Personally, I love Nintendo but they have screwed up the Wii-U launch. I have got enough points on my Nectar card to buy Wii-U but as a casual gamer (I am an ex-hardcore gamer) there's no game that interests me. I'll wait and see. Just like the 3DS saga, I expect a substantial price reduction in the Spring.
I have been to HMV, Game, Sainsburys ASDA and Morrisons, They all have Wii U consoles in stock. It's not a Sell out.