Cancelling my EBgames.com PSP preorder...here's why.

[little_krampy]

I placed my order online with in hours of EB posting the PSP bundle on their site. And this is the thanks I get for being one of the first in line:


This e-mail concerns your PSP bundle order from EBgames.com and requires a response. Please read carefully.
Dear EBgames.com customer,

Thank you for pre-ordering your PSP Bundle from EBgames.com. The bundle you have purchased includes:

Sony PSP Value Pack, which includes the PSP hardware, 32 MB Memory Stick Duo, headphones with remote control, battery pack and AC adaptor, soft case and cleaning cloth, movie/music/game UMD sampler disc and, for the first one million PSP Value Packs produced by Sony, a UMD video release of the feature film Spider-Man 2
Your choice of any four games and accessories listed below
Carefully follow these steps to tell us which games and/or accessories you would like.

Select any four items from the list below. You must choose at least four, but if you select more we will add them to your bundle. If an item is not listed below, it is not expected to be available at launch and therefore is not available for this offer.

Reply to this e-mail with the item numbers of the products you want in your bundle. For example, if you would like to include FIFA Soccer, Ridge Racer, Lumines and the PSP Mobile Kit, you would reply to this e-mail by leaving the subject line as it is and entering the item numbers 6, 9, 12 and 20 in the body of the e-mail. If you do not include at least four items in your selection list we will be unable to process your order.

Choose four products from the following list:
Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower (Rated T) $39.99
Twisted Metal: Head On (Rated T) $39.99
Wipeout Pure (Rated E) $39.99
Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade (Rated T) $49.99
Gretzky NHL (Rated E) $39.99
FIFA Soccer (Rated E) $49.99
World Tour Soccer (Rated E) $39.99
NBA (Rated E) $39.99
Ridge Racer (Rated E) $39.99
Tiger Woods PGA Tour (Rated E) $49.99
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix (Rating Pending) $49.99
Lumines (Rating Pending) $39.99
NFL Street 2 Unleashed (Rated E) $49.99
Spider-Man 2 (Rated T) $49.99
Dynasty Warriors (Rated T) $49.99
Ape Escape: On the Loose (Rated E) $39.99
Rengoku: The Tower of Purgatory (Rated M) $49.99
Metal Gear Acid (Rating Pending) $49.99
Need for Speed Underground Rivals (Rated E) $49.99
PSP Mobile Kit $39.99
Sandisk Memory Stick Pro Duo 128MB $39.99
Sandisk Memory Stick Pro Due 256MB $54.99
PSP Charger Case $59.99
Pro Gamer’s Case $29.99
Sound Stage for PSP $49.99
The software and accessory products listed above are scheduled to be available at launch, but release dates are subject to change.

In replying to this e-mail, you authorize EBgames.com to charge the credit card used to place this order for the total amount of your selections. To estimate your total charge, add the price of the PSP Value Pack ($249.99) to the price of all selected items plus shipping (varies depending on the service level you originally selected), tax (varies by jurisdiction) and our oversized item shipping surcharge ($5.00).

You may cancel your order at any time up until ten days prior to the PSP launch, which is March 24, 2005. To expedite processing, your credit card will be charged ten days before the PSP launch.

Please respond to this e-mail within 72 hours. If, after 72 hours, we have not received your reply, your order will be canceled. Receipt of this e-mail does not guarantee system availability nor does it guarantee that your order will be fulfilled with our initial shipment.

Individual elements of this bundle may not be returned for a refund and will be eligible for exchange only within the scope of our return policy.

Once we have your order in the system we will send you an e-mail confirming your games and accessories choices and the final price of your bundle. You should expect this confirmation within seven business days of replying to this e-mail.

If you have questions or concerns please give us a call at 877-432-9675 (8 a.m. to midnight, Eastern Standard Time) or send a separate e-mail to help@ebgames.com.

Best Regards,

EBgames.com Customer Service Team
------------------------------------------------------------------

That's not good enough. Either yes you're getting a PSP on 3-24 or I'm sorry you're in line to get a PSP at a later date (then give some details). This maybe you will maybe you won't is BS. Here I am...playing EB's game (and a lot of other places too) of preorder the system along with $200 worth of games and accessories and they can't give me a stinking answer. Oh well, I'm actually not even mad...I just like bashing EB for their horrible customer service. The fact that EBgames.com even has a customer service team is a joke, because they provide no service what so ever to their customers. Alright, that's all I have to say.

[GizmoGC]

Yeah, that does suck. I didn't pre-order from them for that reason. If they can't guarantee a launchday, whats the point? Im sure its possible to find one by going store to store that day.

[blackjaw]

eh, i have one guarentee on launch day...if anyone wants it, let me know

[mbstuff]

I recommend sears. Nobody ever goes to sears on console launch days, and when I was getting a PS2, 3 people were in line when the store opened. Better yet, it opens later than other stores like wal-mart or target, so you can make it your backup store to pick up a psp.

Assuming there's huge demand and lines at the stores on March 24.

[whoknows]

Thats funny, the Sears near me was PACKED during PS2 launch, and they sold every single system they had in about half an hour.

[GizmoGC]

Yeah, but would Sears even stock the PSP, on launch? Some stores tend to get stuff in days later...However, I will remember Sears if Wal-Mart/Target/Best Buy fall through...

However, I don't see a huge demand for something that's $250. The DS at $150 is almost an impulse buy, while this is $250, plus games $10-$20 more...

[little_krampy]

Well, I never put all my eggs in one basket. I have one paid off at Gamestop and FYE, which ever one I get first I keep. The other one I'll transfer back to store credit.

Sears is good for some high demand things. I also found that the Target's in my area seem to always have new releases that have been sold out everywhere else. I think the shelf-life of the PSP will be very short for the first several months though.

[danny90044]

well the sears near me had a huge line but i just cut a shitload of people they complained but dint realy do anything so just go cut in a line and get one

[mbstuff]

Thats funny, the Sears near me was PACKED during PS2 launch, and they sold every single system they had in about half an hour.

Maybe it's just my Sears then... There's a bestbuy, target, and a mall within a block of each other, and target and bestbuy both opened early during the ps2 release, while Sears opened at their regular time with all the other stores at the mall. Huge crowds and lines at both target and bestbuy, nobody at sears. I just think it goes a little under the radar of most folks because they don't do early openings for product launches. They also get less stock than a store like bestbuy, but it doesn't hurt to try them since they do open later.

[TheUnsane1]

I got mine preordered if I didn't near by is the craziest mall area that could exist tho. In the same mall are 3 EB games, 3 FYE, a gamestop, a KB, a Sears, a Sam Goody, across the parking lot is a Best Buy, and a Toys R Us, on top of all that there is a Circuit City and EB in a shopping center less then 5 minutes away and 5 minutes farther is another shopping center with another EB and MicroCentre. I might head up there with a friend who didn't get first shippment PO in time.

:EDIT: BTW that mall made the TRU sale only a little easy money......

[RedvsBlue]

I got mine preordered if I didn't near by is the craziest mall area that could exist tho. In the same mall are 3 EB games, 3 FYE, a gamestop, a KB, a Sears, a Sam Goody, across the parking lot is a Best Buy, and a Toys R Us, on top of all that there is a Circuit City and EB in a shopping center less then 5 minutes away and 5 minutes farther is another shopping center with another EB and MicroCentre. I might head up there with a friend who didn't get first shippment PO in time.

:EDIT: BTW that mall made the TRU sale only a little easy money......

Geez, not even Mall of America has that many different electronics stores.

[TheUnsane1]

For whatever reason when the two malls merged and became one they kept most of the stores. If they weren't in an upper class area I don't know how the mall could even survive. Mall Stores (http://www.kingofprussiamall.com/shopping_info/directory.shtml?CurrCat=223#) the other eb is listed if you change it to E in the all stores as EBX and it seems the GameStop may not exist anymore.

[qwikstreet]

I still dont see the original posters problem. The only mention of not available on launch from that email (same one I got) is saying anything notr on that list is not expected for launch and that is why its not listed. For instance the only game I wanted...Mercury.

[ransom456]

I still dont see the original posters problem. The only mention of not available on launch from that email (same one I got) is saying anything notr on that list is not expected for launch and that is why its not listed. For instance the only game I wanted...Mercury.

Receipt of this e-mail does not guarantee system availability nor does it guarantee that your order will be fulfilled with our initial shipment.

[javeryh]

I still dont see the original posters problem. The only mention of not available on launch from that email (same one I got) is saying anything notr on that list is not expected for launch and that is why its not listed. For instance the only game I wanted...Mercury.

Receipt of this e-mail does not guarantee system availability nor does it guarantee that your order will be fulfilled with our initial shipment.

So what? At worst you have to wait until the second shipment? I still don't see the big deal.

[eldad9]

EB _can't_ guarantee availability. Who's to say if Sony's actually going to deliver?

Would you absolutely positively guarantee that you're going to trade with me a game you don't have yet but are supposed to receive from this guy in a few days?

[CheapyD]

I can understand the OPs concern, but I am pretty sure that no store will be able to guarantee launch availability.

[guessed]

I still dont see the original posters problem. The only mention of not available on launch from that email (same one I got) is saying anything notr on that list is not expected for launch and that is why its not listed. For instance the only game I wanted...Mercury.

Receipt of this e-mail does not guarantee system availability nor does it guarantee that your order will be fulfilled with our initial shipment.

So what? At worst you have to wait until the second shipment? I still don't see the big deal.

I believe his complaint is that in order to preorder from EB, he had to agree to get their bundle, with a bunch of other stuff he might not have bought otherwise. He decided it was still worth it to pay for that other stuff if it meant he could get in on the initial shipment, but now it seems there is a chance he might not. He feels that he has jumped through their hoops, but that he may not get the carrot (the carrot being the system at launch), to mix metaphors. That is my understanding, anyway.

As far as your not seeing the big deal, I can understand that to some people (myself included), waiting is not that big a deal, but to others, they have to get these things ASAP.

[qwikstreet]

I still dont see the original posters problem. The only mention of not available on launch from that email (same one I got) is saying anything notr on that list is not expected for launch and that is why its not listed. For instance the only game I wanted...Mercury.

Receipt of this e-mail does not guarantee system availability nor does it guarantee that your order will be fulfilled with our initial shipment.ok i missed that but i think its just a safety net fot those who preordered last week. i highly doubt those of us who did ut in jan will be denied.

[greydemise]

I still dont see the original posters problem. The only mention of not available on launch from that email (same one I got) is saying anything notr on that list is not expected for launch and that is why its not listed. For instance the only game I wanted...Mercury.

Receipt of this e-mail does not guarantee system availability nor does it guarantee that your order will be fulfilled with our initial shipment.

So what? At worst you have to wait until the second shipment? I still don't see the big deal.

sry i gotta agree also :\..i mean, do u REALLY need 2 have it on the 1st day..i mean..im sure a few days wait isnt gonna kill u, but hey watever makes u happy, i thought it was a pretty sweet deal :[

[javeryh]

I still dont see the original posters problem. The only mention of not available on launch from that email (same one I got) is saying anything notr on that list is not expected for launch and that is why its not listed. For instance the only game I wanted...Mercury.

Receipt of this e-mail does not guarantee system availability nor does it guarantee that your order will be fulfilled with our initial shipment.

So what? At worst you have to wait until the second shipment? I still don't see the big deal.

I believe his complaint is that in order to preorder from EB, he had to agree to get their bundle, with a bunch of other stuff he might not have bought otherwise. He decided it was still worth it to pay for that other stuff if it meant he could get in on the initial shipment, but now it seems there is a chance he might not. He feels that he has jumped through their hoops, but that he may not get the carrot (the carrot being the system at launch), to mix metaphors. That is my understanding, anyway.

As far as your not seeing the big deal, I can understand that to some people (myself included), waiting is not that big a deal, but to others, they have to get these things ASAP.

OK, I can see how the OP would be a little frustrated but I think canceling the pre-order is overreacting a little. Now he definitely won't get it on launch day. Also, Sony has given no indication that you will ever be able to buy the PSP as a stand-alone product. It may well be until Christmas or beyond until that happens.

[simplygriff]

Something else that I noticed that sucks about that deal is they don't let you put your accessory money towards even a 512 MB memory Stick much less a 1GB. I would be very ill if I had kept my pre-order with eb.com. A new memory stick is the only accessory I am going to buy. My pre-order is at an EB B&M with no bundle in the "2nd shipment" but I plan on hitting up some of the other retail stores on 3-24 if I dont' get a call from EB by the day before.
-G

[ChoiceStriker]

Just to play devil's advocate here, I think the OP's dissatisfaction with EB may be a matter of semantics.

Please respond to this e-mail within 72 hours. If, after 72 hours, we have not received your reply, your order will be canceled. RECEIPT OF THIS E-MAIL (emphasis ed.) does not guarantee system availability nor does it guarantee that your order will be fulfilled with our initial shipment.

I interpreted that to mean that simply receiving the e-mail posted by the OP did not mean the transaction had been completed. The way I understood it, and I could be wrong, was that the pre-order would only be confirmed if the OP mailed back to confirm which four games he wanted to receive. Depending on the OP's choice of games, this may affect the total charged to his credit card.

I think there's a big difference there if anybody mistook the phrase "this e-mail" to mean the OP's reply to the e-mail posted above. That's just my take on the situation.

[GizmoGC]

I thinks its due to the fact that he was one of the first to pre-order from the site, but still isn't guaranteed one at launch.