[quote name='karkyco']The ad for next week says "save $10 on any Mario game" or something to that effect.
As for this current deal with the gift card being slightly better, well, yes and no. remember, you're not getting the $25 gift card applied against the initial purchase, thus you are $85 worth of goods for $60 (plus tax) - basically 30% off. So if you only purchase 2 this week, you've spent $60 and saved 30%. Next week, you only have to purchase 1 copy, $20, and thus save 33.3%
Even if you manage to chain multiples of this promo (remember, the gift card is supposedly inactive until 6 hours after purchase), the maximum savings rate approaches 42% or $17.50 a piece, (not accounting for state sales tax)...but it would take an enormous amount of purchases to get it even under $18 a piece. Unless you can somehow get the store to apply the $25 gift card to the initial purchase (highly doubtful) which would actually be the best discount rate at $17.50 a piece, then the best use of this deal is to combine this week's $25 gift card with next week's $20 sale price.
I.e.:
Just purchasing the games this week:
Round 1: Purchase 2 copies for $60, get a $25 gift card. Cost per unit is $30 a piece. Savings is 29.5% ($25/$85).
Round 2: Purchase 2 more copies using the first $25 gift card. Total cost now is $95. Cost per unit is now $23.75, and you should get another $25 gift card.
Round 3 etc.: Rinse and repeat, total cost is now $130 for 6 copies + $25 GC, $21.67 each...$165 for 8 copies/$20.63 a piece, $200 for 10 copies/$20 a piece, etc. 18 copies drops the cost below $19. So the more you buy, the more you save.
Instead of the hassle and trouble of that, you can get 37.5% savings on two transactions - the first being the buy 2 regular price get $25 gift card, then using the $25 gift card to purchase 2 more this Sunday. Total out of pocket cost will be $75 for 4 copies, $18.75 a piece, savings of 37.5%[/QUOTE]
Nice thorough explanation. Technically, I suppose you're right about the % saved on this game only, but I always count free gift cards against the purchase price. If you are buying more from TRU anyway, with this deal, you could get these 2 games + $25 game for $60. Next week, you would spend $65 for the same 3 games.