Sold out: The story of the New 3DS XL, Amiibos, and Nintendo

Game publisher Nintendo is known for Mario and Zelda, but it’s also gaining a reputation as a serial under-supplier of its retail goods.

These days, it’s a bad idea to wait around if you’re interested in something with the Nintendo label on it. A number of the company’s hottest products are difficult to find in stores or online. Others are impossible to get anywhere except on eBay — and then only if you’re willing to pay a premium price. It’s easy to look at this situation and assume Nintendo is leaving money on the table, and it probably is. And this is a company that cannot afford to leave money on the table: It has struggled in recent years thanks to a Wii U that is not selling well. It scraped its way to a profit over the last two quarters, but Nintendo still needs ever dollar it can get its hands on.