Alright, so I've been interested in getting a Vita lately, both for trophies and because I like some of the stuff out there. Games like Blazblue are getting tougher to find with a deal, so I figured I'd strike sooner than later. I found a deal on Craiglist - $220 for a Wi-fi Vita with soft case, screen protector, a 32GB card, a 4GB card, and Uncharted: Golden Abyss. The 32GB card was the kicker for me, actually. I have to decide if I want to bother playing Uncharted or just selling it. The guy renewed it as I was browsing the site at 3AM, so I texted him and actually got a quick response. So I went and met him today and got it.

That's my deal for the Vita, but now here's the rest of the story.

Since I had a ton of credit, a 10% coupon for Gamestop from the Gamestock promo, and another 10% off from PUR Pro which I upgraded to last night, I was fixated on getting games used, from Gamestop. I was looking for Blazblue CSE, which showed In Stock in one on the way back from the Vita guy (not Low Stock, mind you, fully IN STOCK), so I figured I'd stop by and grab it, and be on my merry way home.

Gamestop #1
I stopped in, didn't see the game on the display, so I waited in line to ask a guy. He looks everywhere, and can't find it. He ends up grabbing another clerk (I now have 2 of the 3 working on me and the line is long as hell, and the other one is being chatty and slow) and they ransack the store to no avail - according to the system they had 3! The other guy discovers he's the one that processed that inventory and it must have been a typo on his part, and they never had it. They check and find 2 other Gamestops that have the game, and both are back towards the Vita guy and farther than I wanted to go, but I wanted the game...
(Moral of the story, never trust website's inventory...)

Gamestop #2
First I called the 2 Gamestops to confirm. Both had it, one had case (but no manual), the other had no case (don't comment on this, I'm getting to it). Just for fun I stopped in a second Gamestop a mile away from #1 to see if they had any other games I'd want. I got to talking with the rep who I told my story too, and he INSISTED on calling store #1 even though I said there was no point. I guess it was for his own satisfaction. Anyway, he mentioned that Vita games don't come with manuals (!!!), so I decided screw it, I'll just go drive to the other store (#3) and get it. I call them and have it put on hold for me.

Gamestop #3
Now I'm way out of my way (not WAY out, like 10 miles away, but medium traffic and annoying). They've got 2 clerks, and one of them is downed with a stuck computer. While I'm browsing I stumble upon Shinobido for 24.99 (so $20 after 10%+10% off, sure why not) and grab that. I get to the counter, and the guy is completely unable to process the 10% coupon. Now both lines are at a halt (damn I'm good). In the interest of helping them out, I offer to make the purchase anyway, and try a return/rebuy at a different Gamestop.

Gamestop #4
Ok, now I'm back near home finally. I was debating trying other ones on the way, but it's too damn hot out (over 100 F the whole time) so I didn't bother. I explain my situation to the guy, and he tries it, and also is unable to process the coupon. I comment 'I'll pay the extra 10% if you give me one of your big display boxes for Persona 4 Arena', and the guy looks at me oddly, then goes over to a cabinet. He notes they have no spare boxes for Persona, but he lists off a few others (RE6, Dishonored, Far Cry, etc). I say I'd take the RE6 one, and he pulls it out and hands it to me. Score!
(and then he recommends I try calling or something for the coupon, so I just go back home)

Gamestop #5
After calling and discovering they can't do anything and it must be a manager override (which isn't going to happen easily), I go to a 5th Gamestop, where they try and fail again to process the coupon, and tell me they would try to call Corporate for me but they're closed. So I'm headed back here tomorrow.

Net driving distance so far, about 60 miles... I generally dislike driving, so bleh.

Edit: I didn't do my research before, but I guess Shinobido is already 20 on Amazon. Debating returning it, but maybe I'll just hang on to it for now.

Edit 2: I went back the next day, they called Corporate, who said they knew the coupon was good, but due to a glitch in the system it didn't work, and approved the clerk to give a manual 10% off. Works for me.

Pictures (the RE6 box is 15 x 11.5 x 2.5, it's rather big):