The Last Days of the Hastings / GoHastings Universe - Check the latest posts!

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BEFORE YOU ASK A QUESTION IN THIS THREAD, READ THE FAQ BELOW!

GoHastings.Com Promotional Deals and Codes

AMARILLO, Texas - Texas-based Hastings Entertainment Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Company officials say the reorganization filing includes its parent company, Draw Another Circle, and sister brands Movie Stop and SPImages.

A statement posted Monday on the Hastings website says the Chapter 11 process will help prepare the business for an intended sale, while providing protections and financing to continue operations. Further financial details weren’t released.

Hastings will no longer accept or honor deposits for movie purchases and will no longer rent games. Hastings gift cards expire July 13, 2016. The company’s buyback program has been suspended.
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Full List Of Online Coupon Codes

In-Store Sales / Discounts / Liquidation will vary from Online Sale / Coupon offerings

Check latest posts in thread for more specific updates

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Please read me before posting a question!

Click the "Show Spoiler" button below to see the FAQ
General
Question: What is Hastings / GoHastings.Com?
Answer:
Founded in 1968, Hastings Entertainment, Inc. is a leading multimedia entertainment retailer that combines the sale of new and used books, videos, video games and CDs, and trends and consumer electronics merchandise, with the rental of videos and video games in a superstore format. Currently there are 146 superstores. Hastings also operates www.goHastings.com, an e-commerce Internet Web site that makes available to customers new and used entertainment products and unique, contemporary gifts and toys.

Question: Gee, this is a really long FAQ. Doesn't Hasting have their own FAQ for customers?
Answer:
Hastings does have their own FAQ. You can read Hastings' official FAQ by clicking here. However, this FAQ goes into many details that Hastings' own FAQ does not. So be sure to read through all of this before asking a question!

NEW!
Question: How can I filter and sort Used Video Games to remove the out of stock items?
Answer:
Find the "Stock" dropdown menu option when browsing the used game selection and choose "In Stock." Games that have been purchased in the past day and are now out of stock may still appear.

NEW!
Question: Where can I find clearance video games and other clearance items?
Answer:
Clearance Video Games are in New condition; Plus $2.28 shipping per game
Click Here For Overall Video Game Clearance Items > Sort by Platform on the drop down menu
Click Here For Overall Clearance Items

Game / Item Condition
Question: What is the difference between "used" and "previously viewed" items on GoHastings.Com?
Answer:
"Used" games and movies are items that have been traded in to a Hastings retail location by a customer. "Previously viewed" games and movies are items that Hastings has rented out to customers at their retail locations but are now selling to the public.

When it comes to video games, most CAGs report no real difference between the two other than some ancillary stickers, but both "used" and "previously viewed" games are subject to being scratched, abused, or incomplete depending how well it was previously taken care of.

When it comes to movies, the "Previously Viewed" rental versions often lack features from the full retail versions and may come in different boxes, have different UPCs, have white barcode stickers around the center ring of the disc, etc.

You may encounter a situation where a customer has purchased a "previously used" item from Hastings, then traded it back into Hastings, thus making it a "used" item. This practiced is frowned upon by most customers, but Hastings has shown next to no incentive to change it. It mostly happens with movies.

Question: Do used and previously viewed video games come complete with the original case and manual?
Answer:
GoHastings.Com states as follows:

Due to the nature of used products; booklet inserts, digital movie downloads and manuals are not guaranteed in our used video games, movies and CDs.
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However, the vast majority of CAGs have reported that a large majority of their games do arrive complete. Incomplete games are more of an exception rather than the rule.

Question: Are used collector's editions and limited editions of games guaranteed to come with extras like bonus discs, statutes, and other items?
Answer:
No. Hopefully the used CE and LE games would at least come with all of the discs, but this is not guaranteed. And there is absolutely no guarantee other physical items or "swag" will be included for these used copies. However, CAGs have reported that they have purchased used CE and LE games and received all of the extras. If you order a used CE or LE and it does not come with the extras, just contact customer service and ask about a return/refund.

Question: What condition do "used" and "previously viewed" discs come in?
Answer:
Mosts CAGs seem to get games in good, playable condition if not better. However, there have been cases of receiving a game so scratched up that it would not load/play. These games can be returned to GoHastings.Com at no cost to the customer for a full refund.

NEW!
Question: Are New condition games factory sealed or gutted and re-sealed?
Answer:
As of mid-2013, Hastings retail stores have adopted a policy of gutting games then storing the game discs, manuals and DLC papers separately. This is so they do not have to lock up games or put security cases on games yet still allow the customer to physically handle the boxes in-store. When a new game is sold, Hasting will either re-seal the game or they will place the game in a bag that cannot be opened if you want to return the game as new.

Shipping
Question: Why are my items shipping individually? Why does GoHastings.Com include a shipping charge for each individual item ordered?
Answer:
Hastings does not have warehouses for fulfilling internet orders. All items are shipped from individual brick and mortar retail stores. If your order contains multiple items, your order may ship from multiple locations at different times if one location does not have all of the items you ordered. Because items could ship from more than one location, GoHastings.Com charges a per item shipping fee. Yes this can be frustrating, so its best to either get over it if you intend to shop at GoHastings.Com, or if you can't get over it, shop elsewhere. Like all "deals," include the shipping price per item into consideration for the total cost of the game being purchased.

UPDATED!
Question: How much is shipping per item?
Answer:
Video Games and PC software ship for $2.28 per item.

CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays ship for $1.29 per item.

Books have a per-order charge of $3.00 plus $0.99 shipping per book ordered.

Game Hardware, Electronics and Trends have a per-order charge of $1.99 plus $0.10 shipping per ounce for each item ordered.

Full shipping information, including expedited shipping prices, can be found HERE.

Occasionally, GoHastings.Com offers free or reduced shipping promotions.

Please note, books used to ship for $0.96 per order with no per item charge but Hastings discontinued that pricing scheme as of January 10, 2014. CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays used to ship for $0.96 per item, but Hastings raised that price to the current cost as of approximately May 25, 2014.

Question: How long does it take GoHastings.Com to ship my order?
Answer:
Standard Shipping:
Order processed within 48 Hours
Shipping time is 3-10 Days

Priority / Expedited Mail:
Order processed within 48 Hours
Shipping time is 2 - 3 Days

Question: What service does GoHastings.Com use to ship items?
Answer:
GoHastings.Com primarily ships items using the United States Postal Service (USPS). Video games ship via USPS First Class Mail. Books, movies and music ship via USPS Media Mail. Larger orders may ship via UPS.

Question: Will GoHastings.Com give me a tracking number for each shipment?
Answer:
Every shipment usually has a tracking number associated with it. If you did not see a tracking number in the shipping confirmation email, check your order history on GoHastings.Com.

Question: What will GoHastings.Com ship my items in?
Answer:
It will vary. Hastings might use a yellow paper mailer with bubble padding on the inside. They might use a white plastic envelope with bubble padding on the inside. They might use a stiffer paper/lighter cardboard envelope with no padding. Hastings will try to jam as many items into any of the above envelope options as possible, resulting in frequently damaged books, broken game/movie/CD cases, etc. On rare occasions, someone at Hastings will have the common sense to put larger or heavier items into a box for safer shipping, but even then they will neglect to use padding. Hastings used to ship items in a white plastic poly-bag with absolutely no padding or protection, but after numerous complaints, the company claims these are supposed to be phased out and no longer in use. They still pop up from time to time.

Order Cancellations / Out Of Stock Items
Question: Why was an item cancelled out of my order? Why is that item back in stock right now?
Answer:
GoHastings.Com fills their stock from their Hastings brick and mortar retail locations. Additionally, GoHastings.Com sells items on Amazon and eBay. Their online inventory system is antiquated and does not update stock instantaneously across physical store locations, GoHastings.Com, Amazon, and eBay. Therefore if someone bought the same item first in store/on Amazon/on eBay, their order will be fulfilled first and your item will be cancelled if there is not enough inventory to go around, even though you thought the item was in stock. Yes this sucks, but now you know about it so you can simply choose not to shop at GoHastings in the future if you can't deal with it. No need to endlessly complain about it in posts. Consider writing a letter to the president of Hastings, whose contact info can be found below this FAQ.

Because Hastings' physical store locations accept trade-ins for the used items that they sell, an item that was out of stock may quickly come back into stock if someone trades in the same item, or if someone returns the same item. However, as stated above, GoHastings.Com has an antiquated online system, and they will not be able to fulfill any items on your order once they have been canceled. You will have to re-order the item, at which time the promotion you initially ordered under may have expired. You can try to contact customer service to see if they will create a new order for you with the price point your originally ordered under.

Question: I just ordered something and now it shows as out of stock, either on my order history page or on the item's page. Will my order be canceled?
Answer:
Probably not, but it is still possible. GoHastings.Com updates its inventory count immediately when sales from the website are made. Therefore if they had one item, and you ordered it, it will now show up as out of stock on GoHastings.Com. However, if someone ordered it off Hastings' eBay or Amazon Marketplace listings first, they may fulfill that order first and cancel your order. Also, if someone walks into the store and purchases the item before it is pulled to ship to you, your order will be canceled. Additionally, store employees may not be able to locate the item and thus cancel your order for that reason. Hastings also has a problem on their website where items in your order history show as out of stock, sometimes regardless of the actual stock. Your best bet is to take a deep breath and not worry about it.

Sale Pricing
NEW!
Question: How can I tell if one promotion or discount is better than a different commonly offered promotion or discount?
Answer:
The following guides are only for video games since they take into consideration the $2.28 per game shipping price. You will have to do your own math for music/movies, books, trends/electronics and other shipping sales.

Remember, stock and prices fluctuate constantly and may not be the same by the next sale.

The math in the Buy 2 Get 1 For $1 deal assumes you choose three equally priced games to maximize your potential savings.

Free Shipping:
Vs. 96¢ Per Item Shipping: Use free shipping, obviously
Vs. 20% Off: Use free shipping with items $11.40 and less
Vs. 25% Off: Use free shipping with items $9.12 and less
Vs. Buy 2 Used Games, Get 1 For $1: Use free shipping with items $7.84 and less
Vs. 30% Off: Use free shipping with items $7.60 and less
Vs. 33% Off: Use free shipping with items $6.91 and less
Vs. 40% Off: Use free shipping with items $5.70 and less

96 Cent Shipping:
Vs. Free Shipping: Wait for Free Shipping, obviously
Vs. 20% Off: Use 96¢ shipping with items $6.60 and less
Vs. 25% Off: Use 96¢ shipping with items $5.28 and less
Vs. Buy 2 Used Games, Get 1 For $1: Use 96¢ shipping with items $4.96 and less
Vs. 30% Off: Use 96¢ shipping with items $4.40 and less
Vs. 33% Off: Use 96¢ shipping with items $4.00 and less
Vs. 40% Off: Use 96¢ shipping with items $3.30 and less

20% Off:
Vs. Free Shipping: For items over $11.40, use 20% Off
Vs. 96 Cent Shipping: For items over $6.60, use 20% Off
Vs. Buy 2 Used Games, Get 1 For $1: For items under $2.50, use 20% Off

25% Off:
Vs. Free Shipping: For items over $9.12, use 25% Off
Vs. 96 Cent Shipping: For items over $5.28, use 20% Off
Vs. Buy 2 Used Games, Get 1 For $1: For items under $4.00, use 25% Off

30% Off:
Vs. Free Shipping: For items over $7.60, use 30% Off
Vs. 96 Cent Shipping: For items over $4.40, use 30% Off
Vs. Buy 2 Used Games, Get 1 For $1: For items under $10, use 30% Off

Buy 2 Get 1 For $1:
Vs. Free Shipping: Use free shipping with items $7.84 and less
Vs. $0.96 Shipping: Use 96¢ shipping with items $4.96 and less

33% Off:
Vs. Free Shipping: For items over $6.91, use 33% Off
Vs. 96 Cent Shipping: For items over $4.00, use 33% Off

40% Off:
Vs. Free Shipping: For items over $5.70, use 40% Off
Vs. 96 Cent Shipping: For items over $3.30, use 40% Off

Question: GoHastings.Com totally raised their prices prior to the sale! OMGWTFBBQSauce! Should I call the police / attorney general / president of the United States?
Answer:
GoHastings.Com claims to not raise their prices prior to sales. Their pricing is based on algorithms that consider things like supply, demand, competitor pricing, market rates, etc. If a game was $10 before the sale and $15 24 hours into the sale, chances are there were only a couple of copies of the game and someone bought one when the sale started, thus affecting the supply and demand. You are not the only one monitoring a Wish List on GoHastings.Com. However, there have been some clearly documented instances of raising prices right before a sale, especially with books rather than games.

Promotional Deal Codes
Question: Why is the promotional code not applying to my order?
Answer:
Certain M-rated games carry the disclaimer that "This item is only available for purchase by customers age 17 and older." If you have such a game in your cart, be sure to check the box by the "Check Out" button that says "I am at least 17 years of age" before clicking the "Apply Promotion Code" button to apply the promotional code.

Additionally, some promotional codes only apply to select qualifying titles. Be sure that your order only contains such titles. Occasionally the GoHastings.Com programmers miss something and games that are supposed to qualify do not work with the promotional code. If this is the case, please contact GoHastings.Com. Contact information can be found below this FAQ.

Question: Can I use more than one promotional code at the same time? Can I stack promotional codes?
Answer:
No, you can only apply one promotional code per order. This prevents code stacking. If there are two promotional codes valid at the same time that you would like to use, you must place two or more separate orders.

Question: What time do promotions normally begin / end?
Answer:
GoHastings.Com operates based on the Central Time Zone. Weekly promotions usually start on Sunday and usually last the whole week. Various other promotions may have different start times and durations. Promotions usually begin at midnight Central time. However, sometimes the new promotions take a while to go "live" on the website, so always double check your order that the correct discounted price is shown.

Order Problems and Contacting Customer Service
(Including Returns/Replacements for Wrong Item or Damaged/Defective Item)
Question: I am trying to place an order and have entered my correct shipping address, billing address and credit card info. The check out page says there is a problem with my information and I need to correct it, but nothing is incorrect. What is going on?!
Answer:
This is a random error that seems to affect some people and not others. There is no known cause for it. People have reported it occurring with different credit card companies (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, etc.). Some people think it has to do with what web browser you use, so perhaps try a different one. Some people have reported they can't place orders from computers or IP numbers located out of the state where their billing or shipping address is located. The bottom line is there is no fix for this problem from the customer's end. Your only attempt to get it resolved will be to CALL Customer Service. Contact details for Customer Service can be found below this FAQ.

Question: GoHastings.Com sent me a defective game or the wrong game. How do I return it? Can they send me a replacement/correct item?
Answer:
Contact customer service to initiate the return process. Customer service contact information is located in this post, below the FAQ. GoHastings.Com will not charge you to ship the game back, and they will give you a full refund, including what you paid initially for shipping. In some instances, they will simply refund the cost of the item and let you keep the defective or wrong item for free. GoHastings.Com will not normally send you a replacement item if you received a defective or incorrect item. They will usually tell you that you must place a new order, at which time the promotion you initially ordered under may have expired. You can try to contact customer service to see if they will create a new order for you with the price point you originally ordered under.

Question: Something went wrong with my order. How do I contact customer service?
Answer:
Customer service contact information is located in this post, below the FAQ.

Question: Should I call or email customer service?
Answer:
CAGs have reported mixed experiences with both calling and emailing Hastings Customer Service. It is up to your preference. If you are contacting them regarding credit card issues, it may be best to call rather than put highly sensitive information in an email. If you call during business hours, your issue may be resolved right then over the phone. You might also have to wait on hold for a long period of time during peak hours. If you email, you may have to wait up to 48 hours to get a response, especially if you email over the weekend. Often the email replies fail to understand your entire issue with your order. Customer Service contact information is located in this post, below the FAQ.

Question: What is GoHastings.Com return policy?
Answer:
The GoHastings.Com website states their return policy is as follows:

All items purchased through gohastings.com may be returned for a full refund of the purchase price, if they meet the following criteria:

  • All new items are in original unopened packaging.
  • Return of product is within 30 days of shipping date.
  • Returned product(s) must be in the original packaging and include any manuals, cabling and accessories in saleable condition.
  • Video Game Systems that are found defective within the 30 day window must make a return using the manufacturer's warranty.
Shipping and handling charges are not refundable.
Note: Products purchased through goHastings.com may not be returned to a physical store location for refund.
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However, this can be confusing considering used items, such as games, come in opened packaging. Normally GoHastings has no problem with returns for defective or incorrect used game shipments that are promptly requested. At the very least, if a game item was found to be defective within 30 days of the shipping date, you would have a good argument toward customer service that you should be able to return the game item. Abusing the return policy to replace your own broken items with items from GoHastings inventory wouldn't be a good idea.

Miscellaneous
Question: Does GoHastings.Com collect sales tax?
Answer:
According to GoHastings.Com:

Currently goHastings.com only charges sales tax in states where we have a physical presence. Sales taxes are calculated during the ordering process and will show tax charged for the delivery destination, based on current tax rates. Shipping charges may also be subject to tax in certain states.
Currently sales tax is automatically applied in the following states:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Arizona
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • Oklahoma
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • Wyoming
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Question: Where are Hastings brick and mortar retail stores located?
Answer:
Click here to find the location nearest you.

Question: Are the online prices the same in store? Are the online specials valid in store?
Answer:
Generally speaking, no. For used items and for some new items, GoHastings.Com uses algorithms where prices can change multiple times in one day. Hastings retail locations have their own set prices. See your local store for more information. Additionally, online special sales and promotions are not valid in store. Sometimes Hastings runs the same pricing online and in store for certain items.

Question: Are the brick and mortar retail location advertisements valid online?
Answer:
Generally the prices in the retail location advertisements are not valid on GoHastings.Com. Sometimes Hastings runs the same pricing online and in store for certain items.



Customer Service Contact Information
Customer Service Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday 9 am through 9 pm CST
Toll Free Phone Number: (877)-HASTINGS (427-8464)
Fax: (806) 467-8330

Email: service[at]gohastings.com
PM the GoHastings Representative on CAG: gohastings (John) [Not active since October 2013]

Regular Mail:
Hastings Internet, Inc.
3601 Plains Blvd.
Amarillo, TX 79102

Comments to the President:
John Marmaduke, President & CEO RIP In Peace

Alan Van Ongevalle, President & COO
Hastings Entertainment, Inc.
PO Box 35350
Amarillo, TX 79120-5350



GoHastings.Com / Hastings Entertainment Online Information
Website: http://www.gohastings.com
Retail Store Weekly Ad: http://www.gohastings.com/custserv/custserv.jsp?pageName=StoreAd
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gohastings?sk=wall
Twitter: @gohastings
Google+: https://plus.google.com/107834874893127887270/posts
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/gohastings/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/gohastings
Is the GoHastings.Com server down for everyone or just me?: Click here to check

 
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Upvote 0 Downvote
Nothing for me. Which is a bummer. 

Side note: If I had $1 for every time that someone posted a question that was specifically answered in the first post, I would have about $4,430 (because about half this thread is like that).

 
redreflect said:
Nothing for me. Which is a bummer.

Side note: If I had $1 for every time that someone posted a question that was specifically answered in the first post, I would have about $4,430 (because about half this thread is like that).
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Do you know if games come complete?

 
Why do they charge so much for shipping? Can't they ship all the games together at once?  :whistle2:

On a serious note I was able to find a few things with the code.  One of the better codes as of late. Still sucks that they crippled the used books appeal by jacking up the shipping costs for books.

 
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redreflect said:
Nothing for me. Which is a bummer.

Side note: If I had $1 for every time that someone posted a question that was specifically answered in the first post, I would have about $4,430 (because about half this thread is like that).
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If I had a dollar for every time someone posted, "Nothing for me." I would have a billion dollars. Plus, no one gives a shit there is nothing for you.
 
SERENITYNOW coupon is dead as of 10:27PM PST. I was still putting things in my cart when the discount disappeared. Tried to remove/add it again, says invalid now.

Awesome.

 
One way of looking at it is that you get an extra hour if you're living on the east coast. West coast, you gotta order by 10 pm. 

 
elessar123 said:
They operate in CST. That's past midnight.
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Yeah, I figured that would be the case.

AFRO insomniac said:
One way of looking at it is that you get an extra hour if you're living on the east coast. West coast, you gotta order by 10 pm.
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Will have to remember that in the future.

My fault for assuming their website would operate like most and have cutoffs to account for the West Coast, but oh well I'll get em' next time.

 
Hastings is being sold off to another company, pending shareholder approval. It looks like they'll continue to operate the stores though, but who knows what changes they will bring.

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2014/03/comics-a-m-neca-to-acquire-hastings-in-21-4-million-deal/

Hastings Entertainment, which operates a chain of 149 stores that sells books, comics, video games and more, has announced a $21.4 million agreement to merge with two companies owned by Joel Weinshanker, president and sole shareholder of Wizkids parent National Entertainment Collectibles Association; Weinshanker already holds 12 percent of Hastings’ outstanding shares.

“NECA is a significant supplier of movie, book and video game merchandise and collectibles to the Hastings superstores, and we’ve had a close and growing business relationship with Mr. Weinshanker over the last decade,” John H. Marmaduke, Hastings’ chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “Mr. Weinshanker, through his affiliation with the estates of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali, and his company’s management of Graceland, is one of the leading drivers of the lifestyle industry, and we believe Hastings’ business will continue to benefit from our relationship with him and NECA.” Marmaduke will retire with a $1.5 million cash payout once the merger is approved. The announcement was followed by press releases from two New York City law firms that say they’re investigating the plan on behalf of Hastings shareholders.
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http://lubbockonline.com/business/2014-03-18/hastings-ceo-retire-15m-cash-payout-after-merger

Hastings CEO to retire with $1.5M cash payout after merger Posted: March 18, 2014 - 7:58pm | Updated: March 19, 2014 - 12:18am By KAREN SMITH WELCH AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS

AMARILLO — Hastings Entertainment’s pending $21.4 million buyout includes an exit plan for a founding family member who has led the Amarillo company for nearly 40 years. Documents Hastings filed Tuesday, March 18, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reveal the retailer’s chairman and CEO, John Marmaduke, would voluntarily retire and depart with a $1.5 million one-time cash payment once the proposed merger goes through. Hastings on Monday announced it has entered an agreement, subject to shareholder approval, to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Draw Another Circle, a Delaware limited liability company. The deal would convert Hastings, publicly traded since 1998, into a private business, Hastings Chief Financial Officer Dan Crow said Monday. Stockholders would be paid $3 cash per share in the transaction, Crow said.

Marmaduke’s father, Sam Marmaduke, founded Hastings in 1968 as a retailing division of Western Merchandisers, a wholesaler of books and music. Within six years, Hastings incorporated, and within eight years John Marmaduke assumed the CEO post.

Crow also would take a cash buyout of $750,000, but he would work as an independent consultant for the company until Feb. 15, according to agreements filed with the SEC. John Marmaduke and Crow did not immediately return calls for comment Tuesday. Crow said Monday company leaders are bound by a confidentiality agreement signed as part of the merger agreement. “In a merger transaction, which in this case is essentially a buyout of Hastings, it’s not unusual at all to see the top officers leave the company,” said Gary Sanders, a West Texas A&M University business law and accounting instructor and lawyer who specializes in corporate law. “Generally, the new owners of the company will want to install their own top management.” Documents Hastings filed show the resulting subsidiary would retain Hastings’ current president and chief operating officer, Alan Van Ongevalle, and vice president and divisional merchandise manager, Philip McConnell. Details of Van Ongevalle and McConnell’s employment, including their compensation, would be negotiated once the transaction is complete, the SEC documents said. Van Ongevalle came to power at Hastings in a February 2012 restructuring that dismissed 14 mid- and top-level executives.

Hastings has been struggling to reinvent itself as it has been left behind in a digital revolution. The company put all its focus on remaking stores to emphasize products more profitable than books, music and video, its original pillars. The retailer raked in $548 million in revenues in 2006 but was pulling in $463 million by 2012, an Amarillo Globe-News analysis showed. The company’s peak workforce of 7,000 employees has been reduced by 2,000 positions.

Draw Another Circle is a Delaware company formed by Joel Weinshanker, president and sole shareholder of National Entertainment Collectibles Association, based in New Jersey. Weinshanker did not immediately return a phone call for comment Tuesday. NECA, a supplier for Hastings, designs, markets and distributes licensed entertainment merchandise for a variety of brands. Through his companies’ affiliations with family estates, Weinshanker controls licensing and merchandise rights for Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad Ali and Elvis Presley and operates the Graceland tourist attraction.

Draw Another Circle’s buyout of Hastings would close in the second quarter, if approved by shareholders. A timeline for the vote has not been announced by Hastings. Owners of at least two-thirds of Hastings’ shares must approve the buyout, according to Hastings. “As long as they get a two-thirds majority vote, even those who vote ‘no’ will be required to sell their shares,” Sanders said. “Those who vote no who are dissatisfied with the price could sue, but as a practical matter, those suits get settled.” The retailer’s board of directors has recommended the deal, and Marmaduke has pledged his 32 percent stake in the company in favor of the merger, Hastings said Monday. NECA’s 12 percent brings the portion of shares in favor of the merger to 44 percent, a Hastings news release said.

The $3-per-share buyout offer for stockholders is about 57 percent more than Hastings’ stock closed at on Friday, the release said. Hastings stock price closed at $2.99 Tuesday, buoyed by the buyout news, according to NASDAQ. In the past 52 weeks, shares have traded at a high of $5.45 and a low of $1.47, NASDAQ data shows. Hastings headquarters would remain in Amarillo, Crow said Monday. [email protected]
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From the rumblings I've heard, Marmaduke has been stagnating the company for years. But I think his incompetency, which trickles down, has also enabled us consumers to get some ridiculous deals. I wonder if that is going to come to an end.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/12532299/1/law-firms-investigate-hastings-hast-merger.html

Law Firms Investigate Hastings (HAST) Merger BY Tony Owusu 03/17/14 - 02:33 PM EDT

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Two law firms are saying not-so-fast to Hastings' (HAST_) Board of Directors following the announcement of an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Draw Another Circle and Hendrix Acquisition Group. Both Draw Another Circle and Hendrix are wholly owned by Joel Weinshanker. Weinshanker is also the president and sole shareholder of National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA), which already owns 12% of Hastings' outstanding shares. Both law firms Brodsky & Smith and Tripp Levy sent out press reports Monday announcing that they were investigating the merger on behalf of shareholders. According to the the Agreement and Plan of Merger, Hendrix Acquisition would merge with Hastings with Hastings surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Draw Another Circle. Under the Merger Plan, Hastings' common stock shareholders will earn the right to receive $3.00 per share they own.

Hastings' Board approved the merger Monday morning and has advised shareholders to follow suit. CEO and Chairman John Marmaduke had this to say about the merger, "NECA is a significant supplier of movie, book and video game merchandise and collectibles to the Hastings superstores, and we've had a close and growing business relationship with Mr. Weinshanker over the last decade. Mr. Weinshanker, through his affiliation with the estates of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali, and his company's management of Graceland, is one of the leading drivers of the lifestyle industry, and we believe Hastings' business will continue to benefit from our relationship with him and NECA." Lawyers representing shareholders at Brodsky & Smith counter, "The investigation concerns possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law by the Board of Directors of Hastings for not acting in the Company's shareholders' best interests in connection with the sale process as an entity owned or controlled by Weinshanker currently owns approximately 12% of Hastings common stock. The transaction may undervalue the Company as an analyst has set a $5.00 per share price target on Hastings stock and Hastings stock traded at $4.20 as recently as June 17, 2013." Hastings was up 58.0% Monday of news of the merger, trading at $3.01

TheStreet Ratings team rates HASTINGS ENTERTAINMENT INC as a Sell with a ratings score of D+. TheStreet Ratings Team has this to say about their recommendation: "We rate HASTINGS ENTERTAINMENT INC (HAST) a SELL. This is driven by a number of negative factors, which we believe should have a greater impact than any strengths, and could make it more difficult for investors to achieve positive results compared to most of the stocks we cover. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself and generally high debt management risk." Highlights from the analysis by TheStreet Ratings Team goes as follows: HAST's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90 is somewhat low overall, but it is high when compared to the industry average, implying that the management of the debt levels should be evaluated further. Even though the debt-to-equity ratio shows mixed results, the company's quick ratio of 0.04 is very low and demonstrates very weak liquidity. HAST has underperformed the S&P 500 Index, declining 19.27% from its price level of one year ago. The fact that the stock is now selling for less than others in its industry in relation to its current earnings is not reason enough to justify a buy rating at this time. Current return on equity exceeded its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a clear sign of strength within the company. Compared to other companies in the Specialty Retail industry and the overall market, HASTINGS ENTERTAINMENT INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500. 40.02% is the gross profit margin for HASTINGS ENTERTAINMENT INC which we consider to be strong. Regardless of HAST's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, HAST's net profit margin of -6.55% significantly underperformed when compared to the industry average. Regardless of the drop in revenue, the company managed to outperform against the industry average of 7.3%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 6.6%. The declining revenue has not hurt the company's bottom line, with increasing earnings per share. You can view the full analysis from the report here: HAST Ratings Report
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The official press release: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=109628&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1909273&highlight=

 
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Thanks for that kodave! 

This could be really, REALLY bad considering how much business I do with them.  Some of their prices and shipping have certainly changed, but I would still really like to continue doing it much further into the future.

Let's see what happens.

 
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Ugh, bought the limited edition Project X Zone for 3DS, arrived with none of the extras, and they are now out of stock.  Return was super easy, but still disappointed.

 
NSpectreGarrus said:
Ugh, bought the limited edition Project X Zone for 3DS, arrived with none of the extras, and they are now out of stock. Return was super easy, but still disappointed.
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Unfortunately as the first post will tell you, extra swag is never guaranteed so it's always a gamble with SE/LE type stuff.

 
The 40% off sale was pretty successful here. Got the Harry Potter Blu-ray collection for ~$30 plus a few other cheap movies. Everything arrived today in great condition.

News of the merger/sale is unsettling. Probably good for the company but bad for me.

 
kodave said:
Unfortunately as the first post will tell you, extra swag is never guaranteed so it's always a gamble with SE/LE type stuff.
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Game LEs, anyway. I have ordered 3 anime LEs and have gotten the entire series instead of just the first part each time.
 
After reading the Hastings sale quote, I FINALLY, after all these years, understand why Kodave had that "because you eat money, that's why" Marmaduke comic strip in the OP all this time (seems to be gone now, though).

 
Kerig said:
After reading the Hastings sale quote, I FINALLY, after all these years, understand why Kodave had that "because you eat money, that's why" Marmaduke comic strip in the OP all this time (seems to be gone now, though).
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Finally, some appreciation for that.

I fixed the image in the first post. Now we can all enjoy (John) Marmaduke eating money.

 
First post updated

Remember, the code can be glitchy for the first hour or so. Double check what they bill you because it can change after you hit submit if the code is glitching out.

 
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Green Card200 said:
Thanks placed an order for 2 Radiant Historias. Hopefully they come complete. I think I heard a few people say they got them complete.
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Mine was complete except the soundtrack. Not sure if it's a reprint or just separated from its soundtrack counterpart. Got it for a damn good price too only $16! Glad to see getting a great game for even better price!

 
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Brachabre said:
Mine was complete except the soundtrack. Not sure if it's a reprint or just separated from its soundtrack counterpart. Got it for a damn good price too only $16! Glad to see getting a great game for even better price!
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It's basically the same thing if it doesn't have the soundtrack with it, even if it was an original release copy. ;D

I do have great luck with my DS/3DS games coming complete from Hastings all the time, so pretty confidence when ordering those particular handheld games, even with the older ones to arrive complete. ^__^

 
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Hmmm.....  The 3 Used Books for $21 offer is not working on the collector edition guides I put in my cart.  They are both under $29.99 (used) but about $35 new.  The last book, a no-frills regular edition, is eligible....but that's not the book I wanted....  Unfortunate.

 
Brachabre said:
Mine was complete except the soundtrack. Not sure if it's a reprint or just separated from its soundtrack counterpart. Got it for a damn good price too only $16! Glad to see getting a great game for even better price!
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Yeah it comes out to the same price but I had to get two. I guess I could have waited for the next half off sale but I figured I would just sell the extra copy and order it now.

 
Bizzquik said:
Hmmm..... The 3 Used Books for $21 offer is not working on the collector edition guides I put in my cart. They are both under $29.99 (used) but about $35 new. The last book, a no-frills regular edition, is eligible....but that's not the book I wanted.... Unfortunate.
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They have to be qualifying items. Go to the coupon page and click the link there to see qualifying items in the 3 for $21 deal.

 
Fair warning to everyone - I've seen the price of just about every CD and major DVD in my wish list radically jump up as of this morning.

I didn't see it coming that fast or I would have bought a lot more items earlier, but the jump is so bad that unless they come down in price in time I can't see myself buying much from them - 40% off or not.  The jumps are that high.

This was not the start to the morning I wanted.  :(

 
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rockykai said:
Fair warning to everyone - I've seen the price of just about every CD and major DVD in my wish list radically jump up as of this morning.

I didn't see it coming that fast or I would have bought a lot more items earlier, but the jump is so bad that unless they come down in price in time I can't see myself buying much from them - 40% off or not. The jumps are that high.

This was not the start to the morning I wanted. :(
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Perhaps they are preparing for a massive 70% off sale? *fingers crossed* ;)
 
I honestly think this price increase is some kind of glitch. A lot of things are priced exactly the same. I guess we'll know more the next time the system does it's nightly update.

 
Finally decided to order some DS games. I noticed Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 dropped from $24.99 at the start of the sale, to $9.99, so I ordered that along with Dragon Quest IX.

Also got two Radiant Historias...not that I really wanted two but it did seem the best option.

 
rockykai said:
I would say so!

I would be happier if it was a glitch though especially since $1.24 items going over $5 is really weird.
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All of their new items when it comes to books are absolute full price when normally there was some discount. I think something is screwed up unless they've gone off their rocker.

 
Neuropod said:
Finally decided to order some DS games. I noticed Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 dropped from $24.99 at the start of the sale, to $9.99, so I ordered that along with Dragon Quest IX.

Also got two Radiant Historias...not that I really wanted two but it did seem the best option.
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On that note Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 is $9.99.

 
kodave said:
All of their new items when it comes to books are absolute full price when normally there was some discount. I think something is screwed up unless they've gone off their rocker.
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It might be time to check on a rocker for them I guess :cry:

It's still kind-of possible that it's the work of a hacker too so I'm keeping my eyes open in case there is news.

 
rockykai said:
It might be time to check on a rocker for them I guess :cry:

It's still kind-of possible that it's the work of a hacker too so I'm keeping my eyes open in case there is news.
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It isn't hackers. Why would hackers raise prices?

According to the latest on Facebook, Hastings is acting like the price increases are normal "marketplace prices" despite several complaints.

 
kodave said:
It isn't hackers. Why would hackers raise prices?

According to the latest on Facebook, Hastings is acting like the price increases are normal "marketplace prices" despite several complaints.
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Yeah, you're right on that account. Thanks!

I also cannot fathom how some of the increases are normal by any means. Most of the anime DVD/Blu-Ray I had on my list didn't change (but some did like Cowboy Bebop: The Movie going from $3 to $13), but almost every music CD I had went up dramatically.

Don't get me wrong - I would still pay more to do business with Hastings than somewhere else. I just bought a PV Blu-Ray from them as I typed this. However, SecondSpin and Half.com prices look fantastic right now in comparison.

 
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