The Walmart Trials: Double Dash!! Dilemma

[Querjek]

So, a guy walks into a Walmart a month before Double Dash!! comes out (Now to be referred to as DD!!) and sees a thing that lets you reserve your copy for $10 down (To be later taken off of the games' price). He pays for this, and leaves, happy that he has reserve his copy that will have the bonus disc, as it says so on the preorder slip.

Fast forward, one month. November 18th. The day which this game was promised to be had in the store. The preorder slip said that the game would be availible for pickup on November 18th, 2003. He poses the electronics guy, "Do you guys have Mario Kart?" He responds, "Nope, sorry, we don't get our Nintendo shipment until Thursday" So the customer leaves the store.

Two days later, November 20th. The game was said to be there. The customer goes to the games section, and not only sees the normal version of DD!! in the case, but also sees the demo disc running on the store GCN. So, he brings the preorder slip with the receipt (Both required to verify the preorder) to the desk. The worker gets a copy from the case and brings it over. "That's not the version I preorder. It does not have the bonus disc. I checked on the internet, and the copy I preorder will have a red banner across the front, verifying that it is the preorder version." But the worker knows nothing of which the customer spoke of. Enraged, he stormed to the customer service desk. Through 30 minutes of calls, the vice (Whatever you call the second-in-command) manager brongs a copy up to the front and opens it... to reveal no bonus disc. The customer already knew this, but figured that the store should lose some value on something to prove a point. So the customer left his card with the vice manager, who will call his Nintendo rep tomorrow to sort this out. Not only was I lied to (To be picked up on the 18th!?), but I was offered no compensation for Walmart's own fault. What do I do?

[sisko]

Don't shop at Walmart.

Order it online at EB.

[Querjek]

Don't shop at Walmart.

Order it online at EB.
I would, but now it's gotten to the point that Walmart owes me something for my trouble.

[Drexel923]

Don't shop at Walmart.

LOL

I'm sorry, but he does have a good point there. I'll only pre-order at Gamestop or EB since they only deal with games and pre-orders are a big part of their business. They are less likely to screw things up, even though they do have they're fair share of idiots. The best you can do now is wait to see what happens with the rep...I'm sure everything will be fine.

[Achika]

Honestly, I'm not sure if this is Walmart's fault. I say this because:

I was at Toys R Us on tuesday and a lady who had reserved DD!! was at the counter ready to pick it up. The sales people were trying to figure out how the bonus disk was packaged. They were looking all over for the bonus discs, they even opened a copy to put in their demo unit later to make sure bonus discs weren't packaged inside the case for DD!! They couldn't find any anywhere, not in the back or even when they emptied out the box that they rec'd the DD!! games in. When I had left about 10 minutes into them looking, they still hadn't found it. :o

[Querjek]

Don't shop at Walmart.

LOL

I'm sorry, but he does have a good point there.

As soon as I can drive to another store, I will, but the only real store in this town is Walmart :( (Stupid corporate America! You killed my Kmart! It would have had it in stock, too)!

[Slipdeath]

same exact f#$^c thing happened to me

f$%$#^ you walmart!! :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

[sisko]

Just for my own kicks and giggles...

The disc IS bundled inside the DD case, right?

[Mayhem]

It should be, yes. Seems there's a lot of ordinary release copies floating about and not many double packs :o

[Goblin]

So the customer left his card with the vice manager, who will call his Nintendo rep tomorrow to sort this out. Not only was I lied to (To be picked up on the 18th!?), but I was offered no compensation for Walmart's own fault. What do I do?

I've never done this with Walmart, but when I've had similiar customer service issues (and complaining to the local manager does no good) I file a complaint with their corporate office. Most websites have a feedback button, and just make sure you document who you spoke with and give as much detail as possible. Now if its like my experiences you will get an autoreply set to your email, thanking you and saying they will look into it and get back to you. (Save this.)

Now no one will ever get back to you, so you wait 10-14 days. Then you send another email (or websubmission) referencing the first tracking/case number saying how you expected someone to get back you by now. Say how you have been a loyal customer for years and wanted to give them a final opportunity to rectify the situation. And then if you don't hear from them, then obviously they don't care about you as a customer and you will take your business elsewhere. (It also helps to specifically reference their competitor especially if you have a Target down the road.)

I play it like a game, if they respond cool restitution, if they don't I just forget it. But I tell you the squeeky wheel does get the grease, in the past I've got a $25 gift card from Toys R Us, $50 from Circuit City, concert tickets from Ticketmaster, and various other things over the years. The key is to be clear, concise, and professional so they know you are not trying to scam them. If you took the time to write and have documentation, they begin to wonder how many others like you are out there. You'll get something, just be patient and persistent.

Good luck.

[Griking]

Don't shop at Walmart.

Order it online at EB.
I would, but now it's gotten to the point that Walmart owes me something for my trouble.

I work in retial myself and hate this attitude. Walmart OWES you nothing more than a refund for the game if you do not want to purchase it. Nothing more and nothing less. As the previous person said, if you don't like the policy then shop somewheres else.

[Half Japanese]

Wal Mart is so fucking pathetic now. It's greed gone berserk. I remember when I worked at Kmart people used to say "I'll go to Wal Mart!" when something was a bit more expensive or they had to wait for a price check or something. FINE GO TO WALMART YOU BUFFOON, BUT DON'T CRY WHEN EVERYONE ELSE GOES OUT OF BUSINESS AND THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT 'LOW PRICES' ANYMORE. People piss me off. Maybe that's why I hate most of them. I could care less if WalMart went out of business tomorrow.

[omnedon]

I work in retial myself and hate this attitude. Walmart OWES you nothing more than a refund for the game if you do not want to purchase it. Nothing more and nothing less. As the previous person said, if you don't like the policy then shop somewheres else.


I managed in retail for over 11 years (and worked my way up prior to that), and that attitude you hate so much is to be expected when customers get crap service jammed down their throats.

You said it best yourself. When I don't get my concerns satisfied (and in this case a refund WOULD NOT cut it- why take pre-orders if you can't do the deal!?) I DO take my business elsewhere.

Places come and go, and it's this sort of bullsh*t that eventually makes businesses change or go away. There were number one retailers before wal mart, and there will be again after Wal mart.

[Dangerboy]

Working in retail, I thought I might add this in as well:

1. Yes, it's clearly stated on the case if it's the Bonus Disc version or not.

2. While the Walmart situation is a rather oddball to begin with (I never understood TRUs, WM, BBs, etc taking video game pre-orders...) I think Nintendo may have been at fault for their decision to make it a pack in, rather than the seperate entity. I can also understand where the Walmart peeps were confused; Rebel Strike's Preview and the Zelda Pre-Order Bonus were seperate entities. If no one informs the clerks of said change, how are they to know.

Incidentally, I work at an EB, and we were shorted by about 9 copies of the Demo version for our pre-orders. Thankfully, I was able to snag some overstocked ones from a fellow store, so that we wouldn't have to face the customers empty handed.

Personally, I think the whole free demo / pre-ordering thing is as retarded as the fricking 'gold' cartridges were for the N64 Zeldas. Just give everybody everything in one nice happy bundle and let's get the game on.

God, back in the day you used to get Encyclopedias for free packed in ;)

Jason

[hezeuschrist]

Personally, I think the whole free demo / pre-ordering thing is as retarded as the fricking 'gold' cartridges were for the N64 Zeldas. Just give everybody everything in one nice happy bundle and let's get the game on.

A-fucking-men. While I enjoy the fruits of pre-order bonuses, 99% of games aren't worth paying full price for on release day anymore, and I have an endless supply of games to keep me held over until the price drops. The last one I got was the Zelda Wind Waker one, before that it was the gold Ocarina, before that some ridiculous crap for Final Fantasy VII, a t-shirt or something. Simply not worth it, just make people pay little amounts for the little stuff, or give it to everyone.

[esquire]

Working in retail, I thought I might add this in as well:

1. Yes, it's clearly stated on the case if it's the Bonus Disc version or not.

2. While the Walmart situation is a rather oddball to begin with (I never understood TRUs, WM, BBs, etc taking video game pre-orders...) I think Nintendo may have been at fault for their decision to make it a pack in, rather than the seperate entity. I can also understand where the Walmart peeps were confused; Rebel Strike's Preview and the Zelda Pre-Order Bonus were seperate entities. If no one informs the clerks of said change, how are they to know.

Incidentally, I work at an EB, and we were shorted by about 9 copies of the Demo version for our pre-orders. Thankfully, I was able to snag some overstocked ones from a fellow store, so that we wouldn't have to face the customers empty handed.

Personally, I think the whole free demo / pre-ordering thing is as retarded as the fricking 'gold' cartridges were for the N64 Zeldas. Just give everybody everything in one nice happy bundle and let's get the game on.

God, back in the day you used to get Encyclopedias for free packed in ;)

Jason

The whole point of preordering from the store's point of view is that it makes them money. Think about it. If Walmart takes $10 per person on preorders, they are sitting on that money making interest for 30-60-90 days. Now multiply that times the number of preorders. Easy money!

Moreover, it serves as a free marketing tool. They know how many units they will have to order at a minimum just to satisfy the preorders. I assume then they have some type of formula to figure out the stock that will be needed for each store.

[Griking]

Wal Mart is so fucking pathetic now. It's greed gone berserk. I remember when I worked at Kmart people used to say "I'll go to Wal Mart!" when something was a bit more expensive or they had to wait for a price check or something. FINE GO TO WALMART YOU BUFFOON, BUT DON'T CRY WHEN EVERYONE ELSE GOES OUT OF BUSINESS AND THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT 'LOW PRICES' ANYMORE. People piss me off. Maybe that's why I hate most of them. I could care less if WalMart went out of business tomorrow.


Was K-Mart any better? From what I can remember, they basically did the same thing as WalMart but just didn't do it as good.

[nesuser2]

same thing happened to me at sam goody(only place local), they delayed me until wednesday. they even told me after i paid for the preorder that they couldn't guarantee it's arrival until feb. 1st. so when i went in(early) to pick it up. the clerk(my friend) hands me my copy and gets ready to tell me the total. and while i was waiting for help......i went over and saw that they were selling DD with the bonus. so when he handed me the copy, i said.....no bonus? *dumb look* so i went and grabbed the real preorder copy on the shelf and he rung that up....... :roll: lucky me......

[Querjek]

Don't shop at Walmart.

Order it online at EB.
I would, but now it's gotten to the point that Walmart owes me something for my trouble.

I work in retial myself and hate this attitude. Walmart OWES you nothing more than a refund for the game if you do not want to purchase it. Nothing more and nothing less. As the previous person said, if you don't like the policy then shop somewheres else.

So then the 3 trips I've had to go across town when I was told it would be there were for nothing?



Wal Mart is so fucking pathetic now. It's greed gone berserk. I remember when I worked at Kmart people used to say "I'll go to Wal Mart!" when something was a bit more expensive or they had to wait for a price check or something. FINE GO TO WALMART YOU BUFFOON, BUT DON'T CRY WHEN EVERYONE ELSE GOES OUT OF BUSINESS AND THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT 'LOW PRICES' ANYMORE. People piss me off. Maybe that's why I hate most of them. I could care less if WalMart went out of business tomorrow.


Was K-Mart any better? From what I can remember, they basically did the same thing as WalMart but just didn't do it as good.

Actually, they were. They always got games on Tuesdays, and it was a small store, and the staff sorta klnew what it was doing.

[spoon]

Ok, here is what you do. I used to work at a Wal-Mart, I even ran the Customer Service Desk a few times. Throw a fit, they should give you a gift card. After this go home and call corporate. They should also send you a gift card and an apology letter. Wal-mart doesn't give a shit about their employes, but, they sure care about their customers.

As they always told us "The customers make our Paycheck."
And as I would always reply "Well, if we weren't here to get treated like shit, it wouldn't matter if there were two million customers in the store that needed help. No help equals no sales." Oh well, Wal-Mart can't be the number one retailer forever. Beats working at Meijer.

Bitch my freind, bitch. This also happened to me when I reserved Zelda OOT for the N64. I go the grey version instead of the Gold I was promised.

[GrandAmChandler]

hmm I wonder how many double disk packages were made? VERY interesting for rarity purposes in the future.

[captain nintendo]

This exactly why I pre order only from Game stop.
Of course one time I did pre-order a game and was cheated out of it
because of some oversight. ( it was robotech special edition )
so now when this happens in any situation. me and my friends say,
crap dude you were just roboteched.

[Nature Boy]

I'm not going to slam Wal-Mart or anything, but I, like most people here, do avoid them and other chains like them when it comes to preordering. They're just not capable of handling it well in my estimation.

I don't consider TRU to be in that category though. In fact, I've had better experiences with them over EB. Mind you this is specific to the EB and TRU that I frequent, but preordering my 'Cube and PS2 through TRU was probably the wisest move I made (trying to get them from EB would've been nuts).

I personally like the bonuses and I see them as a smart move - I wish Sony and Microsoft (and other game publishers) would adopt it. Why wouldn't you want free stuff? I wouldn't have even *considered* preordering DD!! if they didn't offer an incentive. I didn't get it anyway (because I personally don't have a desire to collect demo discs), but I *almost* did to get the Zelda bonus disc (I decided I'd just subscribe to Nintendo Power instead).

If you get upset because you normally like to buy preordered games and this flies in the face of that, well, that's exactly why they're doing it.

[Mayhem]

Just to compound the matter here, the US import copy of MKDD I received today was the double disk version with BOTH present in the case...

[kai123]

I was curious how many of these were made too. Not very many if I had to guess.