Gamestop PS3 and Wii Preorder: 1 week only, $50 payable ONLY in trade-ins?

[PKBMax]

If this is true it's perhaps the biggest scumbag move I've ever seen at retail.

Anyone who goes along with this is crazy.

[George]

lol - and then it gets worse when they call people up a week or less beforehand to tell them they can't honor their reservation until a few months later..and then refuse to refund the down payment.

[Glitch]

Ugh.

It's like a kick to the nuts.

[PKBMax]

More unconfirmed "facts" from a CheapAssGamer post:

Some people have been asking about preordering the Wii. Right now there are two confirmed locations about where one can jump on the boat early.

1. EB & Gamestop (Thanks to HACK for the Heads Up!!! You rock for all the info)
Status: Starts September 18th till September 25th (One Week Only!)
Conditions:

GameStop is NOT ACCEPTING cash, or store credit for your down payment on a pre-order. You HAVE to trade in games or accessories when you pre-order. It must total $50 or more, and it will all go towards your system pre-order. Any money you put down after $50 can be credit, cash, or whatever else GameStop/EB accepts. This applies for both the Wii and the PS3.

Any promotions on game trade-ins active during your pre-order transaction can be used toward this pre-order stuff. That means that you can take advantage of the "trade 3 games and get $10 extra" offer currently being held at GameStop/EB.

You are GUARANTEED to get a Wii, but the date you get it IS NOT GUARANTEED (he specifically told me that you are not guaranteed to get your system on launch or anytime during the Christmas season).

Stores are going to give out launch systems based on chronological pre-order order. That means if you are the first one to pre-order/reserve your Wii, you will be the first one to get a Wii on launch day.

Reservations are limited to 1 per household.

If you want to know what exactly the text says at the bottom of the flyer, here it is: "Cash or Store Credit will not be accepted. Reservations of the PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii are limited to one (1) reservation/purchase per household."

And the text near the GameStop logo at the bottom: "All trades must be in working condition and are subject to manager approval. As GameStop cannot control production and shipping issues by the manufacturer, the reservation deposit will only gurantee a spot in line when the PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii becomes available. The reservation deposit does not guarantee reciept of a system available to purchase by Christmas."

Here are a few questions I asked when the employee was giving me the info:

Q: Why is the pre-order process being done this way?
A: GameStop/EB is trying to be more cautious and is trying to plan out the pre-order process better. This is an attempt at a different way of handling pre-orders. They say that they take in a large amount of pre-order money and when products launch, many people don't actually pick up their pre-order. That means GameStop/EB has to continually keep track of these unclaimed pre-orders, and that incurs costs. Its a way to keep down costs, and at the same time, its a way for you to actually keep your money in case you do not pick up your system (because your pre-order money is converted basically into store credit).

Q: Will you have lots of Wii accessories (controllers, etc.) on hand for launch.
A: Yes.

Q: Will you open at midnight?
A: It depends. Some stores may, and others might not. My particular store is trying to open at midnight, but its slightly more difficult since its located in a closed mall.

[Videodrone]

Holy F**K! I read this on gamefaqs and didn't believe it, but it may be true after all. That had better a "call-to-action" to get people to ask questions. If they don't take cash, I may never shop at a GS again.

[Jeremy]

Best Buy +1

[Videodrone]

More unconfirmed "facts" from a CheapAssGamer post:

Well the way they are presented sound pretty legit. Looks like I may be stopping into GS tomorrow and cancelling all my outstanding game pre-orders in "support of this".

[George]

Nintendo World with the mouth breathing fun seekers for me.

[PKBMax]

Well the way they are presented sound pretty legit. Looks like I may be stopping into GS tomorrow and cancelling all my outstanding game pre-orders in "support of this".

Yeah it sounds legit, and the flyer looks legit, but they are still unconfirmed "facts."

[Videodrone]

Yeah it sounds legit, and the flyer looks legit, but they are still unconfirmed "facts."

Well if it is, I'll take my business elsewhere. I have given quite a bit of money to GS/EB over the last 15+ years, not to mention bought my last five system from them. Being a extremely loyal customer, if my cash is not good enough for them f'em.