Hoping to assuage customers angry over having their games opened and rifled through prior to purchase, GameStop is offering everyone that purchased the regular edition of Deus Ex: Human Revolution for the PC a $50 gift card and a Buy Two, Get One Free used game purchase, according to a leaked memo. All better now?
Even the most hardcore GameStop devotees found it hard to support the retailer earlier this week, when it was discovered the company had ordered employees open up copies of Deus Ex: Human Revolution for the PC prior to sale, removing the coupon for OnLive, a streaming game service that will soon be in direct competition with GameStop's own streaming service. According to the retailer, publisher Square Enix included the coupons without consulting GameStop, and the company could not suffer promoting the competition through the sale of Human Revolution.
The fallout led to a recall later that same day, with Square Enix agreeing to take back unsold copies of Deus Ex and shouldering some of the blame for the whole sordid affair.
Now GameStop wants to make things right. According to an internal email that has since been verified with retail locations, anyone that purchased a copy of the regular PC edition of Deus Ex: Human Revolution from GameStop is entitled to a $50 gift card, as well as an offer to buy two used games and get one free. Customers that purchased the game via the online store are included, and both they and members of the retailers Power Up Rewards card program will be notified via e-mail of the offer.
Is this enough to placate jaded customers, or has GameStop dug themselves too deep a hole?
Update: Reader Kate sent us the text from the apology email. Thanks, Kate!
Dear GameStop customer,
Earlier this week, GameStop removed a competitor's coupon from standard edition PC versions of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, a recent release by Square Enix. We were not aware that the product box would contain this competitor's offer. We regret the events surrounding this title release and that our customers were put in the middle of this issue between GameStop and Square Enix, the publisher of this game. And for this, we are truly sorry.
For your inconvenience, we would like to offer you a free $50 GameStop gift card and a Buy 2 Get 1 Free pre-owned purchase. We want to earn back your trust and confidence in the GameStop experience. Please bring in this email and your store receipt or order confirmation from GameStop.com and present it to a Game Advisor.
Sincerely,
Paul Raines
CEO, GameStop
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