What.A.Day...
I paid $60 for Sleeping Dogs alone before this sale even began. Once reports came in that people were price matching all over the freakin' USA, I felt like I was one of the few who were denied a price match on this deal. The injustice of the whole thing just didn't sit right with me and I vowed I would never give up on this deal.
I asked for some tips in this thread about how to approach sales associates and for some generally useful advice. Let me just say: THANK YOU! A little bit of research and hard work can save a lot of $$$.
The story:
Lately I have become an aficionado of store-specific game covers. Amazon frustrated me to the point of no end by
ing up all of my new games that I didn't even care about what I would save on sales tax. All of my games would come beat-to-shit inside of bubble envelopes. I would end up spending time, gas and frustration buying the games from a store like Best Buy and returning the crappy copy from Amazon anyway. Why not just save myself the frustration and buy the game directly from the store? So,
you, Amazon, for not using cardboard dvd mailers anymore for whatever reason!
And
Sony for making flimsy ass, toilet-paper-thin artwork with big, gaping holes in the blu-ray case! Anyway, I wanted to secure my copy of Sleeping Dogs from Best Buy because the Wal-Mart cover was just atrocious. A few days later, Toys 'R' Us starts the entire two games for $60. 90% of CAGs report successful price matches at Best Buys and Wal-Marts while I got denied at my own store.
's sake...
I let Labor Day pass and decided to go on the hunt once again. Last time I visited a specific Best Buy kind in a remote location, they had a pretty good selection of older games so I figured they would have the BB limited copy of Darksiders 2.
I also learned about the 100% trade-in promotion plus 10% unlocked bonus and decided to turn some turds in to gold. I took three games I won't mention right now with me and headed on my way.
Straight off the bat I surveyed the stock. The BB LE Darksiders were inside a cardboard stand-up, not in the aisle. So far, so good. Then I get to the Sleeping Dogs placeholder and... *gasp* EMPTY! Damn. I drove like 30+ miles for an opportunity to even price match and I'm already smelling disaster. I went to the bathroom and did my business while devising a plan.
I wanted to make sure I had other business transactions to take care of in that particular store so I didn't come off as a total beggar, as advised by the CAGs, so I started off with my trade-ins.
Out:
1x Toy Story 3 PS3 for $5
1x Lost Planet PS3 for $4
1x Terminator Salvation for $5
Which became $29.40 with 100% trade-in and 10%. Not a bad deal for a bunch of garbage. There was a specific HD collection I wanted that included three better games. I also had a $5 credit for pre-ordering Assassin's Creed III that I didn't want. I already got the steelbook but planned on losing the credit by just not picking up the game when it eventually came in anyway. I was able to put that credit toward the game I wanted and only had to pay $5 plus tax to get it.
In:
1x Metal Gear Solid 2 HD
1x Metal Gear Solid 3 HD
1x Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker HD
So, the risky part came next. I asked the guy if they had anymore Sleeping Dogs in the back. He checked the computer and it said they had a lot in stock, but none were on the floor. I can only count the amount of times I've asked if something were in the back, only to be told what they had out is what was available. Anyway, the guy went to the back and returned with a GSP copy of Sleeping Dogs.
So I finally broke the ice on this. I mentioned to him that I already purchased the game, but I wanted to see if he could price match some games for me from Toys 'R' Us. I said they were
$30 each, instead of two for sixty. Then he asked about the physical ad. I pulled it from my back pocket and gave it to him. Then came the dreaded radio thing on his shirt. I was pretty much like... this is it... the manager or whoever isn't going to approve it. I was pretty much ready to walk out with half of a victory, but then he came running back saying it was approved. I was like... (literally)
"Thanks for tryi...
WHAT?" OK. I wasn't going to argue it. I got the DS2 from the stand-up and SD and went to pay. He then called some guy in a salmon-colored t-shirt to do an override. This particular guy didn't seem too happy about it, saying how Best Buy gets screwed in this type of deal but he OK'd it since whoever on the radio said it was OK. This guy would not have done it. I don't think he put up too much of a fight since he was helping someone else and was in a rush.
When have the stars ever aligned so much for me?
The guy who was my cashier was really awesome too. He kept commenting about how what a great deal it was and how he even price matched his 3DS XL at his own store using Fry's prices. I'm definitely going back to the store and the same guy, even if it's a bit out of the way. Just an awesome, awesome experience. I somehow doubt many more of these PM's will occur, but so long as I got to be the one and only. Felt good to return the other copy of SD I had to the other store for full
ing price. So I've finally gotten in on this deal and I'm pretty happy about it. Thanks, CAG. Wouldn't be possible without ya'.
Angel of Death Darksiders II and 
George St. Pierre pack Sleeping Dogs.
