What do you think of my plan to get 4 new games for $114?

Lazer77

Lazer77

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The games I want are
:360:Red Dead Redemption (5/18)
:360:UFC Undisputed 2010 (5/25)
:wii:Mario Galaxy 2 (5/23)
:360:Blur (5/25)

I want all four of these games, I considered skipping Blur for a few weeks because thats 3 new games within one week. I havent purchased a game since probably Fifa 10 in late December/early January. Really I hate blowing a lot of money on games, but there are a lot of good ones coming out soon. I don't like it, makes me feel so greedy, but with the way I figured out my plan, I feel like it might be worth it. My birthday is May 30th so maybe I can figure that into my plan as well. Chances are I won't fully enjoy these games for awhile, but in the fall I am moving away for grad school with my girlfriend, so I will have plenty of time, considering as of now I know absolutely nobody in that area.

So I found a master plan to get all four games for a total of $114 +tax. I am a Best Buy buyer, I absolutely hate Gamestop, but with their deals, I think I might resort to shopping there for this burst o f games. This is my plan:

1) :360:Red Dead Redemption: I will pick it up this Tuesday at Best Buy, I will spend a $50 gift card I got for graduation and a $15 Reward Zone coupon.
Grand total = $0 for 1 game

2) :360:UFC Undisputed 2010: I will go to Gamestop and pre-order it to get it at midnight (going with some friends). I will use a $36 gift card I have.
Grand total = $24 for 2 games

3) :wii:Super Mario Galaxy 2: Pre-order it from Gamestop online for full price. When you purchase Mario Galaxy 2, you get a $20 coupon code to be used online.
Grand total = $74 for 3 games

4) :360:Blur: Pre-order it from Gamestop online, using the $20 coupon code that I earned from Mario Galaxy 2. This will earn me an additional $10 coupon which I will not use it at this time anyway.
Grand total = $114 for 4 games



My girlfriend's parents have been asking me what I want for my birthday, and they are persistent enough to ask my girlfriend to secretly find out what I want. I always tell them not to get me anything, but they always do, there is no winning. My parents never go too big on my birthday anymore, which I don't mind, I don't really like to accept gifts from people. Its just my girlfriend's parents make it to the point where I don't have a choice, I have to accept it. Its honestly just something I do not like doing, taking money or things for something I didn't even really earn.

So my final total is either $114 for 4 brand new games or $74 for 4 brand new games.

What do you guys think about this plan? :?::p
 
I would skip on 2) and use the $36 gift card on 3) if possible. That way you'd spend $50 on two games, get the $20 coupon code, and possibly flip either Red Dead Redemption or Mario Galaxy 2 when you're done with them.
 
[quote name='Dendaman']Appease your gf's parents and have them get you all four. Your cash out of pocket = $0.[/QUOTE]

+1

Only way it will backfire will be if they do get all four, realize they shouldn't have, and then subsequently miss all of your next 3 birthdays. But who cares? You got four games! Hahaha.
 
[quote name='Indigo_Streetlight']I would skip on 2) and use the $36 gift card on 3) if possible. That way you'd spend $50 on two games, get the $20 coupon code, and possibly flip either Red Dead Redemption or Mario Galaxy 2 when you're done with them.[/QUOTE]

See I thought of that, but I have to pre-order Mario Galaxy 2 online in order to get the $20 coupon, and I just found out that you can't use gift cards on online pre-orders for whatever reason. Which I can't figure out why lol, oh well I think this is the best way to do it.

Another interesting promo I tried to work in there is the Gamestop 25% off of a purchase over $100, which is really limited time. But then I would basically make it more confusing and end up basically even.
 
Umm you are using $80+ in giftcards, so you are spending more like $200 for those games. Giftcard is equivalent to cash for all intents and purposes.
 
[quote name='Brian9824']Umm you are using $80+ in giftcards, so you are spending more like $200 for those games. Giftcard is equivalent to cash for all intents and purposes.[/QUOTE]

This. It's still money, just money that's already tied to a store.
 
Just get Mario. The rest are crap. I'll have to see if Blur is anything worth trying, but with Mod Mart Racers also coming out, who knows which is better.
 
Yeah they are the same as money, but the thing behind it is that I got them for graduation. So basically it as those people buying me a game but they didn't know which one. All you can buy at Gamestop is games, and a lot of the stuff I buy at Best Buy is games. So I have $86 in gifts from graduation in my eyes.
 
Dude, I'm going to go to GameStop tomorrow to buy $100 worth of gift cards, and then buy two games and say I paid $20 and start a thread about it.
 
[quote name='Lazer77']Yeah they are the same as money, but the thing behind it is that I got them for graduation. So basically it as those people buying me a game but they didn't know which one. All you can buy at Gamestop is games, and a lot of the stuff I buy at Best Buy is games. So I have $86 in gifts from graduation in my eyes.[/QUOTE]

So, it's still money that you're paying. So, you should factor that in. So, you're paying $200 for four games. So.

@elessar123: That's it! It'll end everyone's financial problems!
 
[quote name='Brian9824']This is why people go broke because they have no concept of money lol.[/QUOTE]

How? I didn't pay for these gift cards, I got them for graduating college 3 weeks ago. I set them on my table, and I haven't touched them or looked at them since. The only thing you can buy at Gamestop is games, and at Best Buy the only thing I ever buy is games and the occasional movie (I buy car audio stuff here and there, but I have a friend who owns a car audio shop, and I get it much cheaper there), so really I got two gift cards that are intended to be spent on games. I didn't go out and buy the gift cards for myself.

Let alone, I started my new part time job back in February. I do roughly 15 hours a week or less (sometimes it gets a little busier), and I pull in a weekly $300-$500 from this part time college job for like I said, 15 hours of work. I haven't purchased a game since the first little bit of January. I am moving out again in August, and I have more than enough money saved up.

Seriously all I have spent my money on lately was new shoes, and some new clothes here and there. The shoes ran me $90, but as far as the clothes, I wear nice clothes, but I shop smart. I don't buy the newest things that are overpriced.

So really, I am very good with my money. Its just if these gift cards were given to me as a gift, its no money out of my pocket.
 
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I just picked up Lost Planet 2 for $60 + tax which came out to about $65.08. I gave the girl $70 and she messed up with the change and gave me back $5.92 instead of $4.92. So, I got that one game for only $64.08 !!!!!
 
Too bad you couldn't get in on the 35% off promos that worked on preorders a couple weeks ago. That would have kicked this plan's ass.
 
[quote name='psychobuck']I just picked up Lost Planet 2 for $60 + tax which came out to about $65.08. I gave the girl $70 and she messed up with the change and gave me back $5.92 instead of $4.92. So, I got that one game for only $64.08 !!!!![/QUOTE]

Well since you're trying to be a dick, LOL @ you bought Lost Planet 2.
 
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[quote name='Lazer77']Well since you're trying to be a dick, LOL @ you buying Lost Planet 2.[/QUOTE]

lol sorry, couldnt resist. my real thought was that your gift cards are money so youre really not getting any sort of deal but someone already made that point...
 
Still, your master plan revolves around paying MSRP for 3 games. The sum total of your gift cards is ~ $100, and they'll still be worth ~ $100 in three months, when each of those games is $20 dollars cheaper. Only game I'd recommend buying right now is Mario Galaxy 2, as that's the only real deal. Unless you completely run out of games to play, you should wait on the other three, as their prices will only go down.
 
Actually, the above is great advice. Buy Super Mario Galaxy 2 from Gamestop or Amazon, get $20 coupon towards next purchase. That's the only game that probably won't drop for a long time, and it becomes a worthwhile first day buy cause of the $20 coupons.

Here's what you don't get. Just because you didn't pay for the gift cards, someone did, and they're still worth money. For example, you could sell it on ebay for about 95% of the value, which is where your logic goes wrong. Maybe you are good with your money, I don't know. But it's really no difference as whoever gave you the gift cards gave you cash, and you're using that money to buy games. Sure, it's might not seem like it's out of pocket, but on the store side of things, you paid MSRP.

Your example is similar to the example around tax time where people get their rebates and go to Vegas, cause they think it's money they never had.
 
Why do you need them all now? I play through one game at a time. When I finish it I move on to the next. By the time I get to the next game it is usually not full MSRP anymore and is easier to find deals on. WTF are you going to do with 4 new games sitting around?
 
you say you hate GameStop, but you're making 3 of the 4 purchases there. what gives?

your girlfriend's parents are buying you video games? do not accept this, what are you 12 or 14? a tie or dress shirt would be a better image in your gf's parent's view. you need to grow up or project a grown-up image to continue dating their daughter.

remember: women > video games.
 
[quote name='Mospeada_21']your girlfriend's parents are buying you video games? do not accept this, what are you 12 or 14? a tie or dress shirt would be a better image in your gf's parent's view. you need to grow up or project a grown-up image to continue dating their daughter.[/QUOTE]


I've been married for 10 years and have 2 kids. My in-laws (also parents, siblings, etc) buy me video games for xmas/bday.

I love getting video games as gifts because guess what? It's something I like to do!

Do yourself a favor and stfu.
 
Why the hell does the use of gift cards to purchase games at full retail price warrant a topic!? Jeez.

BTW, I have to take a shit, so check out my master plan. I'm going to go to Target and use their restroom, and guess what!? I don't have to pay the water bill!!! Am I genius or what?
 
[quote name='Cmosfm']BTW, I have to take a shit, so check out my master plan. I'm going to go to Target and use their restroom, and guess what!? I don't have to pay the water bill!!! Am I genius or what?[/QUOTE]


Holy shit! I did a little research and this trick work anywhere that isn't your place with a bathroom ! DEAL OF THE SENTYOURY!!!!!!
 
and the message board tweakers come crawling from the woodwork.

crackhead reactions aside, i think the general consensus is that the gift cards aren't going to depreciate in value, but the games are. i would do one game at a time, whichever one gives you the best deal new. the "deals" they give you usually arent as valuable as waiting a couple months for the game to be worth half what it was, especially if you buy used. you probably could stretch all that gift cardage out for quite a few games, especially trading them on here.

that being said this is america, spend your money however you want. just my two non-asshole cents.
 
[quote name='Mospeada_21']you say you hate GameStop, but you're making 3 of the 4 purchases there. what gives?

your girlfriend's parents are buying you video games? do not accept this, what are you 12 or 14? a tie or dress shirt would be a better image in your gf's parent's view. you need to grow up or project a grown-up image to continue dating their daughter.

remember: women > video games.[/QUOTE]

Aren't you just a little gentleman.
 
[quote name='Lazer77']Yeah they are the same as money, but the thing behind it is that I got them for graduation. So basically it as those people buying me a game but they didn't know which one. All you can buy at Gamestop is games, and a lot of the stuff I buy at Best Buy is games. So I have $86 in gifts from graduation in my eyes.[/QUOTE]

Well since this "plan" is linked to graduation I suppose it was formulated on your first day of kindergarten. :razz:

Way to set a goal! :applause:
 
[quote name='Cmosfm']Why the hell does the use of gift cards to purchase games at full retail price warrant a topic!? Jeez.

BTW, I have to take a shit, so check out my master plan. I'm going to go to Target and use their restroom, and guess what!? I don't have to pay the water bill!!! Am I genius or what?[/QUOTE]

I laughed so fucking hard. It's true though. It's not really about that either. It seems like lately this site has been everyone's personal blog.
 
There are a bunch of little shit talkers on this board.

Those people bought me gift cards to get me something, they didnt give me cash. If they gave me cash that is different, then it would actually be cash out of my pocket. Since they got me gift cards, its not cash out of my pocket, its just store credit funded by someone else as a gift.

And if you read carefully, i mentioned that i hate buying this many games at once. But i figured since i will eventually get all of these and there are a bunch of good deals going on, i might as well. I have made so much money in recent times and i barely bought anything for myself, why not?
 
[quote name='Lazer77']There are a bunch of little shit talkers on this board.

Those people bought me gift cards to get me something, they didnt give me cash. If they gave me cash that is different, then it would actually be cash out of my pocket. Since they got me gift cards, its not cash out of my pocket, its just store credit funded by someone else as a gift.

And if you read carefully, i mentioned that i hate buying this many games at once. But i figured since i will eventually get all of these and there are a bunch of good deals going on, i might as well. I have made so much money in recent times and i barely bought anything for myself, why not?[/QUOTE]

I think everyone gets that you didn't pay anything for the gift cards. What they're trying to say is that the plan you have revolves around using the gift cards for 3 msrp priced games and a $20 credit you get from one for another. I'm not sure what you want the community to say. There's no real deals other than the $20 credit you get from Mario that you're using on another game...so I guess it's cool you get to use the gift cards for what you want to get.

Other than that, there's not much anyone can say other than what a few have said about buying Mario to get the $20 credit now as that is the only one with an actual deal attached to it. Then waiting on the others, because as you said you probably won't get to fully enjoy them until fall, they likely will have received price drops or sales between now and then and your gift cards will still be worth the same amount and you will ultimately get more out of your gift cards if you wait until you have time to play them.
 
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[quote name='Lazer77']The games I want are
:360:Red Dead Redemption (5/18)
:360:UFC Undisputed 2010 (5/25)
:wii:Mario Galaxy 2 (5/23)
:360:Blur (5/25)


Personally, I would just take it one game at a time, and by the time you're done enjoying one game, the next one will probably be cheaper, and so on, and so forth. But this is America, and by god, you can by four new games at the same time if you want to.
 
I would've purchased Mario Galaxy for the 20 dollar credit. Played the shit out of that. Then go from there. Use that 20 dollar off to get like red dead after that. By the time you want the other two, either you won't want them anymore or they'll be around 30.

I can guarantee UFC and Blur won't stick anywhere near their MSRP personally.
 
[quote name='cobaltD'][quote name='Lazer77']The games I want are
:360:Red Dead Redemption (5/18)
:360:UFC Undisputed 2010 (5/25)
:wii:Mario Galaxy 2 (5/23)
:360:Blur (5/25)


Personally, I would just take it one game at a time, and by the time you're done enjoying one game, the next one will probably be cheaper, and so on, and so forth. But this is America, and by god, you can by four new games at the same time if you want to.[/QUOTE]

Yeah thats how i typically am as well. Unless its a super deal where i can buy two at once, then i will do it. But when i asked say, at Blockbuster, to rent an additional game for half price, i know not to do that. That and really, UFC will be played 90% of the time locally with friends, Blur will be played 90% of the time with friends on Xbox Live, and the other two will be the single player games i will probably enjoy one at a time.
 
Lazer77, you are not getting the point.

Two gifts:

Uncle gives you $60

Aunt gives you a $60 Best Buy Gift card.

Which has more monetary value? Neither. If you buy a game for $60, you are out $60. If you buy a game for $60 best buy gift card, you are out $60 best buy gift card.

Because they are equivalent in monetary value you, you are out $60.

End of story.
 
[quote name='Lazer77']And if you read carefully, i mentioned that i hate buying this many games at once. But i figured since i will eventually get all of these and there are a bunch of good deals going on, i might as well. I have made so much money in recent times and i barely bought anything for myself, why not?[/QUOTE]

The thing people are getting at is, these ARENT deals. You're twisting the logic to make it sound like a deal. See, here's what I read:

Red Dead Redemption: This isn't a deal. This is buying a full-price game. You're only doing it becuase you have a gift card burning in your pocket- and unless your state lets gift cards expire or collect fees, why not just wait until another purchase you'd normally make? Unless you were planning on paying out-of-pocket for it anyway, you'll ultimately be out more since you won't have the GC for the next typical best Buy visit.

UFC: excactly the same as above, you're buying just to use your credit up. If you wouldn't pay out-of-pocket for it tomorrow anyway, that's $24 you're spending on a game you don't want yet just 'becuase'.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 & Blur: These are the only deals you have going, since you're getting something extra for buying them now.

How about this- buy Mario (with the credit), apply Mario credit to Blur, apply Blur credit to one of the other two, and save your BB gift card until their next set of coupons goes around. Even if you do must it now, my scenario puts you at $104 total since you'll make the most out your bonus credit.

Remember, unless you'll never stop in the store otherwise, a gift card should be counted as 'money'... money earmarked for something specific, sure, but call it money anyway.
 
Uncle gives me $60 which i can use for anything. Videogames, gas, alcohol, food, etc. Basically it increases the money i have to my name.

Aunt gives me a $60 gift card to a videogame store. I cant buy gas, alcohol, food, or anything BUT videogames. I am not going to count that $60 to the money i have to my name.
 
But a Video Game store would take either the $60 cash or the $60 gift card and apply the same amount towards your purchase. It's flawed logic to think using gift cards on something that was MSRP makes that purchase a "deal".

Allow me to ask a very simple question - The grand total of your purchase is around $210 or so. If your relatives gave you cash instead of gift cards, would you still be buying those games?

If you would, have fun, go hog wild and buy them. If you wouldn't, wait until they hit a price point you would spend the cash on, and use the gift cards then.
 
[quote name='Lazer77']
Aunt gives me a $60 gift card to a videogame store. I cant buy gas, alcohol, food, or anything BUT videogames. I am not going to count that $60 to the money i have to my name.[/QUOTE]

I'm guessing you don't live on your own, have to pay for groceries, bills, etc.
 
As of now i dont, im home for the summer.

And if they gave me cash, chances are i would not be making these purchases, no. But what am i supposed to use a gift card for?
 
[quote name='Lazer77']As of now i dont, im home for the summer.

And if they gave me cash, chances are i would not be making these purchases, no. But what am i supposed to use a gift card for?[/QUOTE]

Ah, you're starting to get it. Then you could always sell the gift cards, or save them till you're going to spend money on something at said stores.
 
[quote name='JUDOHAWK']I would've purchased Mario Galaxy for the 20 dollar credit. Played the shit out of that. Then go from there. Use that 20 dollar off to get like red dead after that. By the time you want the other two, either you won't want them anymore or they'll be around 30.

I can guarantee UFC and Blur won't stick anywhere near their MSRP personally.[/QUOTE]

This.

Gift cards also aren't as good as money and that's ludicrous. You can't pay bills with a Gamestop or Best Buy gift card. It's even less so worth money when you didn't pay for them. They're more like coupons in that sense.
 
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