Screw Gamestop Pre Order Question

[Battlesmurf]

So- I'm a sucker for Swag. I pre-ordered Mirror's Edge day one because of that stupid pre-order bag. I get a confirmation in the mail that my order shipped. I click it- it says the pre-order items were canceled (i.e. not shipping with the game). To purchase the game from Gamestop- I paid GS tax/handling/shipping ($10-12 ish). If I'd have known I was not getting the Pre-Order goodies I would not have even bothered and waited to get it used.

So- long story short (too late?). I know it's a long shot- but what are my chances of refusing delivery of the package (sending the game back) and doing a charge back at the credit card company?

[Koa Zo]

So- long story short (too late?). I know it's a long shot- but what are my chances of refusing delivery of the package (sending the game back) and doing a charge back at the credit card company?

Don't know for sure, but I sure hope that would work out for you.

That is complete bullshit to ship you something other than what you paid them for (the pre-order special) without first contacting you for approval.
to hell with Gamestop/EB.

[Battlesmurf]

Thanks.

Yeah- I think it's BS. I've got a friend or two on the inside- I'm going to get in touch and see what I can find out. If I was a betting man- I'd say Gamestop knows how many Pre-Order items they're getting- and I bet they continue to sell more than they are allotted. If I don't get a good outcome from all of this- I'm going to really advocate against Gamestop- Amazon is cheaper anyways.

[brokenhalo]

well, it's not much different from picking up your pre-orders in-store then. at least you can't see the associate holding your pre-order trinket behind their back while laughing at you. "we ran out" just means they are keeping them all to sell on ebay.

[TriggerHeartExelica]

Thats absolute BS because I know for a fact alot of times they keep pre-order stuff laying around. I'd contact Gamestop's corporate offices and tell them you want your pre-order stuff or you are going to make them wish they hadn't screwed with you.

[Ganelon]

You need to contact them. I encountered the same situation with my Order of Ecclesia soundtrack. Email was no use. I called about 5 times and waited about an hour until I got an actual person and he politely copied me down to send any soundtracks they had left. 3 days later, I had one in my mail.

And yes, GameStop pulls this BS all the time, including leaving pre-order items online months after they've run out and months after they've already been contacted by a customer that the item has run out. I've been lambasting GameStop for engaging in this sort of dishonest practice for years now. That said, sometimes they have a good pre-order item that you have to chance. Worse comes to worse, they let you return games in these cases and I think all shipping is actually covered (at least it used to be).

[I'm Alec]

Thats absolute BS because I know for a fact alot of times they keep pre-order stuff laying around. I'd contact Gamestop's corporate offices and tell them you want your pre-order stuff or you are going to make them wish they hadn't screwed with you.

Don't do it!

They'll break your fingers!

It might be called a GameStop, but they don't play games and the will stop you.

[kozo]

It might be called a GameStop, but they don't play games and the will stop you.

Line of the day.

[Battlesmurf]

Phone: 1-800-883-8895

This number seems worthless for getting ahold of them (it's their customer service line). Been trying on and off since yesterday- but I've been unable to talk to anybody and it only picks up every 20th or so call- every other one is the busy signal.

Corporate office time I think. Thanks for the suggestions!

[undamned]

If I don't get a good outcome from all of this- I'm going to really advocate against Gamestop

No need to wait. Do it now!
-ud

[TriggerHeartExelica]

Thats absolute BS because I know for a fact alot of times they keep pre-order stuff laying around. I'd contact Gamestop's corporate offices and tell them you want your pre-order stuff or you are going to make them wish they hadn't screwed with you.

Don't do it!

They'll break your fingers!

It might be called a GameStop, but they don't play games and the will stop you.

I dont play games either. I've gotten into it with multiple Gamestop employees and I don't back down . Im a wonderful mix of crazy and bitchy that they don't dare mess with anymore.

[Koa Zo]

I dont play games either. I've gotten into it with multiple Gamestop employees and I don't back down . Im a wonderful mix of crazy and bitchy that they don't dare mess with anymore.

One of the last times I ever set foot in a Gamestop (maybe 3-4 years ago) they threatened to call the cops on me because I swore at the clerk.
me:
"Just sell me the fucking game I want to buy!! What is so hard about that?"
manager:
"Sir, this is a family store. We will call the police if you use profanity again."

This transpired as I was attempting to buy a "new" (opened with stickers all over) original release Resident Evil 4, and they insisted on selling me either a used players-choice copy or a completely trashed incomplete L.E. tin.
Typically I would have just walked out, but it was the only non-yellow label version at any store, and I was curious how far they would take it.
This story would go on for 1/2 an hour if I really related it well... as it was, it required at least 20 minutes for them to finally sell me the game I brought to the counter.

[I'm Alec]

Thats absolute BS because I know for a fact alot of times they keep pre-order stuff laying around. I'd contact Gamestop's corporate offices and tell them you want your pre-order stuff or you are going to make them wish they hadn't screwed with you.

Don't do it!

They'll break your fingers!

It might be called a GameStop, but they don't play games and the will stop you.

I dont play games either. I've gotten into it with multiple Gamestop employees and I don't back down . Im a wonderful mix of crazy and bitchy that they don't dare mess with anymore.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't doubt you for a second. Infact, thats a good idea. My comment was more of an inside joke between me and battlesmurf regarding a gamestop story I had told him months ago.

I tried to pick up a Metal Gear Solid 4 on release day without a preorder. The employee standing infront of a shelf full of metal gears, told me "next time you want something before its released, pre-order it with us ok." I say ok. Then she goes "do you pinky swear?" I'm not really a pre-order person but she was cute so I figured what the hell. Then with our pinkies locked she says, "ok, now if you don't place a pre-order, I'll break your finger." Retrospectively, I should have flirted back, but this was a few days after a friend of mine actually did have a finger broken by a girlfriend, so her comment scarred the shit out of me. Left the crazy bitch to deal with the booger eaters in her store all day. Coincidentally, I haven't bought anything there since (or come to think of it, that day either).

[PC Engine Fan X!]

One day I went into my local Gamestop to inquire if they had the cool pre-order R-Type Command freebie. The guy at the front counter said that they had a few in stock. I told him that I'll take it. The next question out of the Gamestop associate's mouth was: Did you pre-order R-Type Command? I said no and I'll take copy of it to go as well. So I fork over $43.99 + tax for the PSP game and get the R-Type Command freebie as asked for. ^_~

Sorry to hear about your pre-order swag horror story, Battlesmurf. If you could get ahold of someone at the corporate office at Gamestop, I'm sure this mess could be resolved very quickly and easily. If Gamestop/EB want(s) to lose customer(s), then countinue to act the way they always been is a surefire way.

You'd definitely get better service if you were to patronize an independant video game store -- they depend on serving their customers well just to stay in business...without them, it's time to close the doors for good.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Ed Oscuro]

A real preorder horror story (as I remember it) was the fiasco surrounding the release of Castlevania: Whatever on The DS Second Coming (ahh yeah that one). I still haven't played the damn thing. There were tons of people going nuts because not enough of the preorder bundles were shipping, and of course I got mine no sweat. Probably could have tossed it on eBay and rebought later for a large profit, but didn't feel like speculating...

[bay]

Gamestop sucks. We all know this.

I walked in the other night to pick up little big planet, i asked for a new copy.

"we have this one that was opened cause we put the case up on the shelf"

i say "so you don't have any sealed?"
they say "no."
i go "ok, i'll just go buy it somewhere else."
they go "what?" like i'm speaking madness.
i say "i'll just go buy it somewhere else." and walk out with the guy just staring at me.

i goto best buy, get one of the 20 copies on the shelf, rock out on some rockband2 where this kid wouldn't stop playing paramore, and go home and play.

last night i decided that gamestop wasn't even worth my time, tho more convenient on the drive home, i goto target, get mirrors edge and go home to try out my new 5.1 headset and proceed to get motion sickness from the game.... that hasn't happened since doom.

[undamned]

"we have this one that was opened cause we put the case up on the shelf"

So true. I experienced the same thing when trying to buy a new game for my friend's birthday present. It's like trying to explain to an ebay seller what "mint" means when you get a trashed game after reading "mint" in the description.
-ud

[TriggerHeartExelica]

Gamestop sucks. We all know this.

I walked in the other night to pick up little big planet, i asked for a new copy.

"we have this one that was opened cause we put the case up on the shelf"

i say "so you don't have any sealed?"
they say "no."
i go "ok, i'll just go buy it somewhere else."
they go "what?" like i'm speaking madness.
i say "i'll just go buy it somewhere else." and walk out with the guy just staring at me.

i goto best buy, get one of the 20 copies on the shelf, rock out on some rockband2 where this kid wouldn't stop playing paramore, and go home and play.

last night i decided that gamestop wasn't even worth my time, tho more convenient on the drive home, i goto target, get mirrors edge and go home to try out my new 5.1 headset and proceed to get motion sickness from the game.... that hasn't happened since doom.

If you argue with them about it generally they give a 10-15% discount on opened new titles. They did that to us before on a pre-order and my husband argued with them until they finally agreed to discount it. I've heard from various employees they are allowed to do this for new opened copies only.

[Battlesmurf]

Well- fuck these guys. I'm giving them another day or two to take care of things. I might've already passed my window for a return.

So- I got the following email on the 13th- cool. The next day- I receive the game- no pre-order goodies. I email 3-4 email- I get a response today (the 20th) which I think is almost outside the window for returns. I'll post that email after this one-

From: Gamestop Customer Service <help@gamestop.com>
Dear Customer,

Thank you for contacting GameStop.com concerning your Mirror's Edge premium item.

Due to a system error we were forced to cancel the premium item from this order. Rest assured we did actually ship this free bonus item even though your order history may show otherwise.

Also, if you are seeing two different premium items on your order with one cancelled this is part of the same issue. We were forced to cancel the premium item and simply reapplied the bag to your order.

If you have any further questions please reply to this e-mail.

Best Regards,

Edward Customer Service Agent

So the email I receive today-

Dear Valued Customer,

While there was an error with the Mirror's Edge Messenger Bag, this item was a while supplies last item. A request has been issued to our Premiums Department in order to see if a bag can be issued to you. This is not a guarantee, as we are dependent upon the manufacturers to supply us with enough to send with each order. If we receive a short supply, Gamestop.com will attempt to contact the manufacturer to supply us with more. Should the manufacturer not send us any more there is little Gamestop.com can do.

We apologize for any inconvenience should you not receive a bag.

Thank you for contacting Gamestop/EBGames.com

So- he's ignored where I said that want a return if I cannot get the pre-order item. He's also said nothing about the fact that the pre-order item was marked as "pending" along with the game right up until the game shipped then marked as "canceled" as I was not notified at all. Not only that- but on the 13th- the same guy told me that it had been shipped and was all that other stuff was error. Now- 'yeah there was an error- but you're not getting your shit or a refund'.

So- I get stuck with a game I have not been willing to open (just in case I need to return it) and I'm supposed to accept this? Screw this crap-if Gamestop doesn't fix this I'm canceling all of my pre-orders with them and going to go exclusively with Amazon. The customer service with them is better anyways.

[antron]

Gamestop sucks. We all know this.

I walked in the other night to pick up little big planet, i asked for a new copy.

"we have this one that was opened cause we put the case up on the shelf"

i say "so you don't have any sealed?"
they say "no."
i go "ok, i'll just go buy it somewhere else."
they go "what?" like i'm speaking madness.
i say "i'll just go buy it somewhere else." and walk out with the guy just staring at me.

i've done this, but I didn't realize it until after he rang it up. I made him ring that shit back down.

also, ive heard that they open them up to let the employees play them. and they sell that shit as new?

[Battlesmurf]

I've known a few employees at the local shop. They're allowed to "rent" the games- as in bring them home overnight and play them as long as they bring them back the next day or soon.

[themachinist]

I buy my gaming stuff off forums mostly. And amazon.
I never really bought stuff from gamestop much but I remember when I was buying Raiden III some time ago I took the display case to the dude at the register and he said they had it "new" and I was like ok, I'll buy it. Then he took the CD out of a sleeve that was in a drawer and put it in the display case that I had just handed to him... so I was like, "Wait a minute..." and I didn't buy it.

[RackGaki]

The display case was always a hang-up of mine as well. "New" = "Unopened." They can't seem to understand that.

I actually dislike that they no longer accept preorders of games like King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga and Ultimate Shooting Collection. So that means that each store will likely receive only one copy of the game, and it will be opened.

I used to preorder games like this quite often; it allowed that store to receive more copies, and hopefully encouraged larger print runs from the manufacturer.