Obviously drawn to the potential revenue in the $1 billion dollar a year used video game market, Circuit City fails to realize that the main reason GameStop and EB can sell their used games at such ridiculously high prices is that they are pretty much synonymous with video games, whereas Circuit City is synonymous with...I dunno. Televisions perhaps? Overpriced electronics? Good luck with that, anyway. Michael Fahey

Circuit City Testing Used Game Sales [Next Generation]

After Gamestop delivered a swift punch in the gut to the PS3 pre-ordering crowd—many of whom camped out just to pre-order the thing based on alleged, yet conservative launch day store allocations—comes a shred of positive news about when they'll get their post launch PlayStations.

The company expects to cover existing reservations before the holidays, most likely helped by the fact that employees who pre-ordered a unit will not be able to purchase one until the second, unspecified shipment and the entire launch allocation will be sold through brick and mortar locations, not at Gamestop.com.

The wordy official message sent to Gamestop employees via the POS system today follows after the jump. Michael McWhertor

Sony notified us that our initial shipment of PS3 systems will not be what we expected. We will be able to fulfill approximately 60% of our reservations on launch day. While this is not an ideal situation, the following should ease some of the customer service issues:
- We anticipate enough systems to cover reservations well before Christmas.
- Employees must wait to purchase their reserved systems until the second shipment. Anyone violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. We feel it necessary to take a strong customer service viewpoint on this issue.
- Stores will fill launch-day reservations in the order that the systems were reserved. All stores should have this information on the tracking sheets that were provided via email.
- Customers that are willing to wait for the second shipment to pick up their reserve will be offered a free used game or DVD priced at $19.99 or less.
- Instead of utilizing the ARN system, stores will personally call all reservations customers.
- Stores will be provided two scripts to user - one for customers that will be receiving the units on launch day and one for customers whose reservations will be fulfilled by subsequent shipments.
- We will provide each store with launch-day allocations on each SKU and a tracking sheet to monitor customer calls and pick-up intentions.
- Due to the complexity of this release, we will not be providing an ARN call to support this launch.
- Customers should have received the "Thank You for Your Reservation" notification at the time of reservation. This explained that the deposit guaranteed a spot in line when the reserved system becomes available and does not guarantee receipt of a system at launch.

***System Available Script***
"Hi, this is ____ calling from (GameStop/EB Games). I am calling to let you know that our allocation of PS3 systems is not what we expected but, because you were one of the first people to reserve, we will have your system on launch day. We will be opening at ___. We will also be receiving additional units in time for Christmas. If you are willing to wait for a second shipment to pick up your PS3, I can offer you a free used game or DVD priced $20 or less. Could you let me know if you plan to purchase your PS3 on Friday, 11/17 or Saturday, 11/18?"

***System NOT Available Script***
"Hi, this is ____ calling from (GameStop/EB Games). Unfortunately, our allocation of PS3 systems is not what we expected and we will not be able to provide you with a system on launch day. We will be receiving additional units in time for Christmas and your are number ___ on the list to receive a unit. We are very sorry that we are not able to provide you with a system on launch day. We will call you as soon as your system arrives."

——-Q & A——-
Some questions you may have are:
Q: Will we hold PS3 systems past 48 hours (close-of-business Saturday)?
A: We would like all reservations customers to pick up shipments from the initial allocation by Saturday evening. If you have a unique issue that requires you to hold a system longer, please partner with your DM.

Q: Can employees get the free used game because they waited until the second shipment?
A: Yes, employees are eligible to receive the free used game.

Q: When can customers get their free used game on DVD?
A: They will get this when they purchase their PS3 system.

Q: If a customer would like to get a more expensive used game, can we discount it $19.99 and allow them to pay the difference?
A: No, the customer must select a $19.99 game.

Q: Can we provide a free $19.99 used game to those customers to whom we will not be able to provide a system on launch day?
A: No, these customers will not be eligible for the free used game.

Q: When will we get more PS3 systems?
A: We are hoping for weekly re-stocks through the holidays. At this time, we do not have these specifics. The good news is Sony is shipping systems weekly.

——-Notifying Customers———
Customers should be contacted in the order that they are reserved. All calls must be made by end-of-day on Wednesday 11/15. Each store will be provided a tracking sheet to document phone calls made to reservation customers.

Beginning with the first customer on your list, use the below script. This script will be used until your allocation has been met. As stated above, we are requiring that employees wait to pick up their system until a subsequent shipment.

Q: Will customers be able to purchase this on GameStop.com at launch?
A: No, our entire launch allocation is going to the field to fulfill reservations.

Q: If a store is able to provide a system to all customers wishing to purchase and they still have some left, can those be sold to employees?
A: No, in cases such as these, the systems should be transferred to a stores that has not bee able to fulfill all reservations. This is also the case if a stores has 20-GB units that are not wanted by reservation customers.

Q: Will customers that will not have the choice of picking up on launch day get the free $19.99 game?
A: No. We will, however, allow employees to take advantage of this offer since we are not allowing them to purchase on launch day.

Q: Wy are stores getting 20 GB units even if they didn't reserve any?
A: We are shipping out all units that we have available, so some stores may get more of the 20 GB systems that were not reserved.

News is coming in from cities such as New Orleans, LA, Cleveland, OH and Timonium, MD about delayed Gears of War shipments to their local EB/Gamestops. Other states have also reported in about the missing shipments including Florida, Alabama, Virginia and North Carolina. EB/Gamestop is pointing the finger of blame directly at FedEx who apparently left a huge shipment at their hub in Memphis, TN.

EB/Gamestop has even gone so far as to send their customers automated phone messages stating a "shipping issue" and warning people to call their local store before making an unnecessary trip. They assure that they will have the game in stock tomorrow.

Personally, I think Mr. Cliffy B. needs to climb on his Segway or skateboard or whatever the cool kids are riding these days, and hand deliver those copies himself. Flynn De Marco

I'm a manager at a EB/Gamestop location and recently we recieved this great little scare notice to pass around the store. Basically it's been sent in response to all of the news about the PS3/Wii Preorders, as well as to scare employees off from buying PS3's and selling them online.

You can click here to see it full sized, but the gist of the internal communication is that employees should obey corporate communication guidelines and keep manager hearsay and company policies offline. Meaning, sending in memos like this and having us post them will most likely get you canned.

With EB/Gamestop employees generally being game enthusiasts, its not uncommon to see them posting all manner of info on message boards, often raising the nerd ire of their fellow posters. This more often than not means bad press for the company and their oft-considered slimy policies.

More rumor-mongering after the jump.

And in addition to a story about bootleg games that you posted a week or so ago. Recently we received a shipment from the home office of "resurfaced" dvds, which contained MANY bootleg movies that were taken in on trade, and reshipped out. When we contacted upper management regarding the selling of bootleg DVDs, we were given the same response of when bootleg Game Boy Advance games were taken by accident by an employee, "Does it look real? Well then you might as well [sell] it."

That's depressing, if true, and the exact reason I will absolutely never buy a pre-owned Game Boy Advance or Nintendo DS game on eBay or at my local specialist shop. Buyer beware, kids. Make sure you ask to inspect your games and discs before handing over your hard earned allowance and/or salary. Michael McWhertor

Gamestop Knowingly Selling Counterfeit Games? [Kotaku]

Amidst the kerfuffle relating to the irritating announcement from Hawaiian GameStops that $50 worth of traded-in merchandise would get you a Wii preorder, (the program is since rumored to be discontinued due to that creaking noise you hear, which is the entire internet balling its grimy fists in rage), there comes some new light in the form of an intrepid Tipster who endeavored to get the straight poop.

This is her story.

Although they aren't starting them now, here's the information I've got so far. (At least pertaining to my local store, located in Morgantown, WV.)

1. They aren't taking Wii pre-orders YET, but ARE taking pre-orders for Wii launch games (IE Zelda:Twilight Princess). That's $5 minimum down.

2. IF you pre-order a Wii game, you will recieve an automated call they day that they will start taking Wii pre-orders.

3. Wii pre-orders will not be delegated by the bundle you buy, but rather a "first come, first serve" basis.

4. Wii pre-orders are $50, and this does NOT have to be in trade-in credit.

5. If you trade in any old games/DVDs towards your Wii, you will get an additional 30% credit.

Thank you, Sarah. Hopefully this will end the confusion. And the fists. Eliza Gauger

In an extremely irritating live recording of a call from what sounds like a radio show to the EB GameStop customer support phone center, some galoot harangues a hapless phonemonkey about Hawaii's $50 trade-in policy. Which, while kinda outrageous, does not warrant the ill treatment of some $8-per-hour shmuck.

I once worked at a mail-order birthday party supply company in the phone center. They didn't let us read, draw, or surf. We were to sit, stare at our screens, and wait for calls. Nothing else was allowed.

Since then, I have realized the pointlessness of interrogating these poor, caged beasts. Eliza Gauger

Hear, and be Annoyed [AllGames, via Digg]

I particularly sympathize with this commentary on Rush

The Rush series makes its way onto the PSP, with Wi-Fi support and an exclusive PSP stunt arena.

You know, the first time I saw this game title I immediately tried to figure out if I'd play as Geddy Lee or Neil Peart first. I was daydreaming about how sweet it would be to play an ACTUAL game of Big Money, make someone actually Stick It Out, living in the Limelight or just be the bad ass Tom Sawyer. I was wrong, it's a racing game.

He also has an issue with Every Extend Extra, betraying him as an ignorant clod who doesn't recognize it as the sequel to a brilliant PC puzzle game/SHMUP. But the remainder of the list mitigates the clod factor to a good extent. Florian Eckhardt

Magical Misery Tour [Lamethrower]

Destructoid has posted some rather interesting advice on securing yourself a Wii or PS3 at launch.

As I was chatting up the manager while he was going through my stuff, I ask when they'll be taking preorders for the PS3 and the Wii. He says he didn't know, but if I was to reserve a game or two, he'd put my name on a list of people he'll be calling first when they do find out the specifics for the PS3. I preorded five games and he puts me in the top 3 of the wait list. Preordering the games were $5 each and I can always get my money back on it if I wanted too. The second they get info on when they can let people preorder the machine, he'll be giving me a call. I can't say for sure if every EB will be like this, or how reliable the guy will be, but hey, go give it a shot.

That's not bad advice, and it's relatively low risk. Of course, the more people we all clue in, the less chance it'll work! Florian Eckhardt

How To Guarantee Yourself A PS3 or Wii... Maybe [Destructoid]

Down in Australian, when not brainwashing small children into liking Vegemite, the Ozzies are gearing up for the Wii. Oz Nintendo site Vooks reports that EB Games is ramping up Wii pre-order (no biggie) and in-store advertising (ah, it's starting). Vooks reader rygr explains:

I went to EB Games in Melbourne Central yesterday and found them extremely busy reworking the store just as the news article a few days ago said. I took this photo of a Wii poster they will eventually put up. Its huge. On the control pad it says something similar to 'join the line and pre-order now.'

Personally, I haven't seen any of this kind of stuff here in Japan for either the Wii or the PlayStation 3. What about you rug rats out in Kotakuland? Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Vooks] via Go Nintendo

We recieved official word today from the GameStop tactical planning group that GameStop and EB Games locations will not be taking preorders until Early October for the Playstation 3. Obviously, I can't post links as it is all internal at this point, but other employees could back me up if they've seen this.

It seems that they are going all out against a repeat of the 360 preorder issue, which of course GameStop and EB was blamed for... even though Microsoft had promised ten times what each store actually launched with. This seems to be the most fail-safe way, but I wonder how long any kind of "call list" might be by October. There are at least fifty people on our store's alone in May.

Makes perfect sense, given that there won't be more than a million consoles available at launch, worldwide. Better start practice swinging a bicycle chain into the meaty flesh of a ripe pumpkin, as that is an accurate simulacrum of what you're going to have to do to some dude's face if you want a PS3 on launch day. November's PS3 riots are going to make The Road Warrior look like The Wizard of Oz.

PS3 Pre-orders at GS/EB [Evil Avatar]