Tired of Out-of-Stock Game Sales?

Mospeada_21

Mospeada_21

CAGiversary!
Feedback
23 (100%)
Here's an idea. If we put this into practice, we as consumers may win, and more of us will be able to get copies of those great games with low prices.

Let's say store A (Toys R Us) has a sale.
1. Please do not run to Toys R Us and pick up a copy right away.
2. Instead, go to store B (Best Buy), or store C (Circuit City.)
2b. Or store D, E, or F. Target, Fry's Electronics, or CompUSA.
3. Price Match or use their low price guarantees.
4. CC has the plus 10% difference.

Anyone see where we're going? If we deplete the stores, that will price match, of their over-priced inventory first. Then we avoid stripping the store with the sale item, so it can be used for price-matching. That way, more copies can be purchased, for a larger number of gamers, through this method at the lower price. This will systematically force active competitors to the same price-level; and stiff-arm the non-competitors (Wal-Mart, or any other stores that do not price match.)

Non-competitors will eventually have to have some type of clearance sale. Viola! Now they are store A, and the cycle starts all over, and we benefit some more.

Just a thought, it might work. :)

Moderator: Please read forum rules and descriptions before posting. Topic moved.
 
Would be a big plus if people didn't fill up shopping carts with games.

Or buy 10 copies of a game for Ebay.

Isn't the CAG community all about helping everyone getting the best deal? Help out everyone else and let them get a chance to get in on the deal and don't be a prick and buy out the entire stock of a game just so you can Ebay it for a few bucks.

(not you Mospeada, just saying)
 
I've never been able to pricematch without the store calling to verify stock. You'll never get every CAG to follow your plan, which means these games will continue to sell out quickly. That's why, when I want to pick up a game on sale, I will rush straight down to the store that has it on sale and pick up my copy.
 
Pretty nice idea, but unfortunately will not work because there will always be some profiteering Ebayers around :p . They will snatch up everything cheap and valuable they can.

So here is my suggestion, buy a pile of games and put them on Ebay yourself for a low buy-it now price. This way we will eventually get rid (or atleast make it harder) for the people that try to sell Rez, Marvel vs Capcom, and Gitaroo Man on Ebay for ridiculous $80 :p. No one wants to pay more, if there is a cheaper alternative around.

It is not that all these games are so valuable, it is because of a couple of profiteerers on Ebay are driving up the prices (since their expensive copies are the only ones to be found). Also a lot of them use sneaky tactics like chill bidding on their own auctions..
 
If a game is in-stock or not has nothing to do w/ it,and if the store you go to claims they pricematch,by law they cannot alter the rules like that.If a game is ADVERTISED say at CC for 10.99 and you go to EB to pricematch because there are no CC"s in your area,they can't refuse you that price just because CC was sold out of copies of that particular game.They have to pricematch it according to the ads and to the date in which those sale items end.
 
There's also the situation that I've noticed, where stores use their "low price guarantee" or "price match" policy as just an advertisement, or good PR. When it comes time to actually USE that policy, you get nothing but trouble and headaches, which is why I rarely shop at CC or BB in the first place...unless of course they ARE the "Store A" that you keep referring to. I don't fill my basket with games, I just pick up copies for myself or maybe one friend. These reasons are why I will continue to "run to Store A" when I hear about a good deal...so that I might actually GET the game I want, at the right price, without all the hassle.
 
oh and for the thread creator......

I always get my games at EB because it's the closest and easiest place for me to reach to buy my games,so all I ever do is pricematch there.I really can't comprehend why not many people even bother to pricematch.I never hear anyone ask to do it in EB for one thing.
 
Most EB's don't pricematch. Mine will pricematch the KB Toys next door but thats all. The other one I've been to doesn't even do that.
 
[quote name='Sancho']If a game is in-stock or not has nothing to do w/ it,and if the store you go to claims they pricematch,by law they cannot alter the rules like that.If a game is ADVERTISED say at CC for 10.99 and you go to EB to pricematch because there are no CC"s in your area,they can't refuse you that price just because CC was sold out of copies of that particular game.They have to pricematch it according to the ads and to the date in which those sale items end.[/quote]

1. ?
2. ???
3. ?????

Have you ever bothered to check these offers in details?
Stores don't owe you anything. It's nice of them to pricematch, but that's it. Do you know about some obscure law that forces stores to price match items which are not actually available at other stores?
 
[quote name='Sancho']If a game is in-stock or not has nothing to do w/ it,and if the store you go to claims they pricematch,by law they cannot alter the rules like that.If a game is ADVERTISED say at CC for 10.99 and you go to EB to pricematch because there are no CC"s in your area,they can't refuse you that price just because CC was sold out of copies of that particular game.They have to pricematch it according to the ads and to the date in which those sale items end.[/quote]If you read all the fine print, most policies DO state that the item at the competitor's store has to be in stock. They don't hype that part in the commercials of course, but if you read the actual policy, that little proviso is usually in there somewhere.

I believe the reasoning behind that is so little rinky dink local shops can't get all sneaky and advertise an item at a ridiculous sale price AFTER they sell out. Think about it, let's say some local shopkeep wanted to screw BestBuy. This small shop wasn't getting any copies of Halo 2... but he went ahead and released an ad claiming a sale price of $14.99. People show up at his store and lo and behold, the game is sold out. But anyone in that area could take the ad over to Best Buy. Now if Best Buy was "legally obligated" to match this price just because it was in an ad, they would in fact be pretty screwed. But thanks to that "in stock" proviso, they don't have to honor the fraudulent ad.

So, in short, it can be a pain... but I understand why they do it that way.

Oh, and about the OP's idea... it's good in theory. But a problem is that many of the really crazy sales reported here aren't advertised! The BestBuy, Circuit City, and TRU clearance sales were all big events here, but you really weren't able to pricematch in any of those situations, unfortunately.
 
[quote name='Sancho']If a game is in-stock or not has nothing to do w/ it,and if the store you go to claims they pricematch,by law they cannot alter the rules like that.If a game is ADVERTISED say at CC for 10.99 and you go to EB to pricematch because there are no CC"s in your area,they can't refuse you that price just because CC was sold out of copies of that particular game.They have to pricematch it according to the ads and to the date in which those sale items end.[/quote]

Untrue. The terms of the price match policy almost always stipulate that the item must be in stock at the competitor store. However, they will rarely check with the other store unless it is a huge difference. Most also will not honor % off sales, gift card giveaways, or BOGO, but you may get a dumb ass employee who'll let you get away with it.
 
Here's an idea. Let's start banning members who rush off to post the deals they find here on sites full of ebay resellers like fatwallet.

That always pissed me off.
 
In my experience if I have a printed ad with a price (like a flyer from the paper) stores that PM will PM just from that paper without calling to verify stock. (I've never had them call anyway.)

I've never tried to PM without a printed ad, but I assume they would always call in that case. I mean if they didn't call to verify what you were saying it would be a basic 'name your own price' scenario. To me this seems like a big crapshoot that whoever answers the phone at the store with the sale is actually competent enough to get the right price and communicate this to the guy calling for you. And I think some stores might insist you do have a printed ad to do a PM anyway.

I wish more stores would PM to print outs of websites, that would be sweet.
 
[quote name='wubb']In my experience if I have a printed ad with a price (like a flyer from the paper) stores that PM will PM just from that paper without calling to verify stock. (I've never had them call anyway.)

I've never tried to PM without a printed ad, but I assume they would always call in that case. I mean if they didn't call to verify what you were saying it would be a basic 'name your own price' scenario. To me this seems like a big crapshoot that whoever answers the phone at the store with the sale is actually competent enough to get the right price and communicate this to the guy calling for you. And I think some stores might insist you do have a printed ad to do a PM anyway.

I wish more stores would PM to print outs of websites, that would be sweet.[/quote]

The CC's in my area will PM from the print ad and not often call, then PM to price - 10% difference.

The BB's in my area will always call and heaven forfend the most local store doesn't have it, most times, they don't do squat. If they do, they only PM, no PM - 10% difference, if it's at time of purchase. To get PM - 10%, I have to do it on a second transaction. Which they spell out on a HUGE freakin' sign next to Customer Service.

All of the major chains don't do PM's versus someone like Sam's, Costco or BJ's, since they're membership clubs and wholesalers, whole different type of store.

Same goes for Internet sites, since they're not B&M. And the pissy thing is that if it's an online price for a B&M vendor, BB and CC (especially BB) won't normally accept it for a PM, since it's not for a B&M store. Even if the website price is the EXACT same price as the B&M store.

Damn, we need Priceline to start selling video games. :twisted:
 
No offsnse but I will shop where ever I please and buy as much as my wallet will allow me. Now to step down from my hearless bastard throne, I do and am happy to shop for anyone in the Jacksonville area, for any deal, and have done it for many friends, family and CAGgers alike.
 
[quote name='shrike4242']The BB's in my area will always call and heaven forfend the most local store doesn't have it, most times, they don't do squat. If they do, they only PM, no PM - 10% difference, if it's at time of purchase. To get PM - 10%, I have to do it on a second transaction. Which they spell out on a HUGE freakin' sign next to Customer Service.
[/quote]

Yep, much easier to PM at CC. They just give you the 10% without having to jump through a lot of hoops. Though I have had to insist I'm entitled to the extra 10% at CC in the past and even read/explain their policy to them when I check out. (But at least it is on a big sign behind CS and clearly indicates they do it at the time of purchase.)

I have PMed at Best Buy + used the GGC coupon (using a flyer from EBgames) and they didn't call to verify stock (no +10% though). But I've only tried this one time so I don't know if it's a fluke or not.
 
A lot of stores won't pricematch on clearance items, which is where a lot of the cheap games are from so this method wouldn't work for that but for regular advetised sales it would work.
 
The whole "calling to verify if it's in stock" thing, I have a feeling most cashiers ignore that if the ad is from a national, well-known, large chain. Or if the price drop is REALLY huge. But with an ad from some local hole in the ground, they will probably follow procedure and call.

I got VERY lucky a while ago though... When GameStop had that typo in their catalog that priced the GBA/e-reader bundles at $40, GameStop denied me, but I was able to just price match it at CC. They were selling them for twice as much at CC, so the girl REALLY should have called GS (who would have promptly informed her that the ad was a typo). But thankfully she didn't, and I was able to buy two bundles for half off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top