If you need an extra Wii MotionPlus peripheral, don't go to Gamestop.
The video game retailer is selling the MotionPlus, an add-on that boosts the precision of the Wii Remote, for $5 more than the competition. Gamestop's Web site lists the standalone peripheral at $25, compared to an MSRP of $20. Amazon, Best Buy and others are selling the MotionPlus at the lower price.
Games that are bundled with the MotionPlus cost the same at Gamestop as everywhere else. For example, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 costs $60 with the peripheral. An extra MotionPlus is useful for games with simultaneous play, such as Grand Slam Tennis, Virtua Tennis 2009 or the upcoming Wii Sports Resort.
This isn't the only instance where Gamestop charges a premium for Wii peripherals. The Wii Zapper with Link's Crossbow Training costs $25 and a standalone Wii Wheel for Mario Kart and other racing games costs $15 -- both $5 above MSRP -- though Best Buy also charges a premium on these two items. Amazon sells them for $5 less.
People throw around the phrase "price gouging," but that's not accurate because there's no scarcity. This is more a case of ripping off unsuspecting consumers -- you know, the clueless parent who wanders into a GameStop and doesn't know the MSRP. GameStop has every right to charge a premium, shameful as it may be, but you can also take your business elsewhere.
