EB Games = Ripoff Artists

So, as those of you who read this pathetic blog know, I have this little game addiction. Today, was another chapter in this whole sad affair. I pre-ordered the newest expansion pack (much against my better judgement) at EB Games, since my last debacle with the whole online ordering had me a little bitter. Anyway, I get a call today that the game is in the store for pick up. I'm thinking this is great since today is the release date and I'll actually be able to have the game on that date. Well, I get to the store and after 5-10 minutes of searching the store, they can not find the game. They proceed to look up the shipping information and the game is still in transit and won't be in the store until tomorrow. I proceed to say "I can promise you this. I will never pre-order here again." So, infuriated with this situation I sent the following note to EB Games:

This is the third in a sad comedy of errors that I have experienced with the whole pre-ordering scam that your company is running. Today, I received a system generated call telling me that my game would be available for pick up in the store. Upon arrival at the store, I share with them that I am there to pick up the game and they begin to look for the game. Here's the funny part; the game wasn't there. Do you know why? I'll tell you why. Because your automated call center called me a day early and the game won't be available in the store until tomorrow. Once again, a classic example of the horrible process of pre-ordering games through your stores. I will never spend another dollar in your stores. The way I figure it, that comes to just roughly around $500+ dollars a year in games alone. Not a huge loss for you, I am sure. However, I am also an internet blogger and message board member and it is now my personal agenda to share my story with everyone I can. The service that is received in your stores since GameStop took over EB is horrendous. The brow beating that one takes to pre-order is inexcusable. If I want to just go and pick up a game, I shouldn't feel like I am a horrible person for not pre-ordering. Furthermore, I should not be subjects to threats of not being able to get a game at a game store if I choose to exercise the option of not pre-ordering. If I want to pre-order, I can do so online. If I want the convenience of picking up something on the spur of the moment, I go to a store. Hopefully, your company takes a serious look at this whole process and makes some changes so you don't lose more customers to this scam you are running.

Afterward, I went back to the online purchase center and bought the game through them which will be available to me tomorrow as well. And nothing will please me more than walking into EB Games with my pre-order receipt and actually walking out of the store with them giving me money on my very last trip into their establishment. I hope that more people take stances against shoddy customer service and scams like this that pressure you into something you really rather not do. I'm sorry if they need my $5 to sit in their bank account and draw interest for the period of time prior to the release dates of games but if they are that strapped for money, maybe they should improve their customer relations so people actually want to do business with them. I will gladly spend my money elsewhere and tell everyone I can about this situation.

And for those of you who are thinking it - yes, it is probably an addiction.