My XBOX 360 Preorder

[pk500]

Yeah, Troll-Mart sucks for games. Many titles that are discounted at other stores still sell at full price at Sh*t-Mart. Yeah, I could bring the flyer and price match, but why bother?

I'd rather have my sack pubes singed by a blow torch than try to show a Crap-Mart cashier how a game should be price-matched based on the sale price in a competitor's flyer. Of course, that cashier will have to call the manager, who then will send me to the Customer Service counter, etc., etc., which is next to the snack bar where fat f*cks wearing expensive licensed sports apparel are feeding their kids cheese nachos and Icees for dinner while screaming at them to shut the hell up, etc.

I'll just go to the store that has the game cheaper in the first place, thank you.

Take care,
PK

[dbdynsty25]

Wow...

[10spro]

Has Microsoft officially given "precise" shipment numbers for the Xbox 360? Geez, that could lead to even higher priced game sets in a market that already seems to be on the verge of price gouging. That was my inner conscience talking, see I almost fell for it.

I mean 360 games for $60-70? Well, that will be the going price for certain 360 games, but for the more easy to digest "all hyped crowd", those high prices got to be due to the possible hardware shortage, no?

There's no doubt that the first 'next generation' video game machine would sell out this holiday season. A mixed cocktail of hard core DSP players and Santa's helpers virtually guarantee that demand for the machines will outstrip supply. It happens with every major holiday gaming hardware launch.

IMO it's all marketing hype, because after the 1st sold out week, come DEC, MS will release the millions of units from their Chinese factories. No way Microsoft is dumb enough to lose any time to the PS3. They already had to play catch up for all these years, they want to make sure everyone has a 360 and a good way to do that is to build up a faked pre Christmas shortage.

Now ,whether you decide to buy it at Walmart, EB, Gamestop, one thing for sure is that Ebay & rip off sellers are laughing all the way to the bank yet again.

[Diablo25]

This may explain some things.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051101-5510.html

[Airdog]

idiot employees and clientele

That's about all I had to read until I completely tuned out. Blanket statements are the dickens!


Thanks for the kind words,
Signed,
Idiot Wal-mart Worker working towards his Master's degree in English or B. Ed.

[pk500]

Rob:

There are exceptions to every rule, and you clearly are one of them ...

In all seriousness, not everyone who shops and works at a Wal-Mart is a moron. But the customer service I have received there has been wretched, and I see more white trash screaming at their snot-nosed kids at that store than any other store I visit.

Take care,
PK

[Airdog]

Rob:

There are exceptions to every rule, and you clearly are one of them ...

In all seriousness, not everyone who shops and works at a Wal-Mart is a moron. But the customer service I have received there has been wretched, and I see more white trash screaming at their snot-nosed kids at that store than any other store I visit.

Take care,
PK

While some of what you say is true you kinda said it in an offensive way (mostly to somebody who may work there, such as yourself). Don't worry, I run into many of the same people that you do in both the shoppers and the employees. I think you just got a little bit fired up and carried away.

Most of the people that are my age that work at my store, which make up probably about 20% of the workforce are in some form of school, be it secondary school or post-secondary. Then again, my store is located in Canada and in a nice area of the city.

Sorry bout your bad luck with Wal-mart but relax a bit, I guess

[GTHobbes]

idiot employees and clientele

Blanket statements are the dickens!


Thanks for the kind words,
Signed,
Idiot Wal-mart Worker working towards his Master's degree in English or B. Ed.

Good lesson for us all, IMO.

[anchester]

Rob:

There are exceptions to every rule, and you clearly are one of them ...

In all seriousness, not everyone who shops and works at a Wal-Mart is a moron. But the customer service I have received there has been wretched, and I see more white trash screaming at their snot-nosed kids at that store than any other store I visit.

Take care,
PK

white trash yes.....the majority of walmart patrons....harldly

[10spro]

For those guys that live in Canada here's the latest pre-order special on BB & Future Shop, must be done online only.
For $699 CAD, you get the premium 360, a wireless controller, Project Gotham Cty and a Live 12 month subscription, this weekend only at BestBuy.

Future Shop is offering the hardware plus Perfect Zero, a wireless controller and a play & charge kit for $649 CAD, and is online only.
I am still hoping for anyone to come up with a package that would include NHL 2K6 and the rest of the stuff, come on, we are in Canada after all.

[laurenskye]

Hey my wife works at a Wal-mart. Of course she's in the Pharmacy so she doesn't fall into the "Walmart category"...I think.

[matthewk]

Walmart stores near me are just dirty, dingy crowded and depressing places. Cheap? Sure, but you get what you pay for in terms of service/expertise and shopping environment.

Precisely why I hate them. I'll pay the extra buck per bag for water softener so I can avoid the crowds, idiot employees and clientele and support a neat, tidy hardware store owned by a local person who provides excellent service and actually knows something about his products when a question is asked.

Plus on many items, the price difference isn't that great between Wal-Mart and other big box stores. New video games at Best Buy or EB are $49.99. They're $49.82 at Wal-Mart. Whoopdee-f*cking-doo.

Take care,
PK

Just how much assistance does one need to pick up water softener?

I guess I'm just a white trash idiot because I shop there.

[slyguy]

I just found out that i'm not getting the first shipment EB manager said i will have one before Christmas.He said he was only getting 23 units in which he was supposed to have 50 and i'm like #40.He also said he is expecting a new shipment every week after the 22nd.This sucks looks like im camping out on the 22nd

[Gurantsu]

Our Wal-Mart is a mess, I try to avoid it like the plague. I hate to say it, but it follows PK's description to the letter. People screaming, kids screaming, dirty, blank stares from employees... too much chaos for me. Plus it has like 80 registers, but only 3 are ever open.

Strange thing is, I usually have a pleasent shopping experience in Sam's Club. Go figure!

[Leebo33]

Just how much assistance does one need to pick up water softener?

LOL. I think the toughest question I've needed to ask a Wal-Mart associate is "where is the bathroom?" or "can I get a refund?"

I guess I'm white trash too. If I can save money I will shop there. However, they rarely have better deals than I can get elsewhere so I usually just go to Target or Costco, which is closer.

[Sport73]

Has everyone who is NOT getting their pre-order on the 22nd been called/contacted by EB? If I haven't received a call is that an indication that I'm OK?

I'm concerned, but I would hate to stop by the store and give them an excuse to bump me by bringing it up.

[Gurantsu]

Has everyone who is NOT getting their pre-order on the 22nd been called/contacted by EB?

I haven't heard anything yet. I'll be stopping by at lunch today so I'm going to ask about it. I should be OK, I preordered even before they knew there was going to be 2 different systems.

[pk500]

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

OK, for the record: I HATE shopping at Wal-Mart. I could care less about the company's business practices, but I hate the conditions, lack of customer service and general disorganization of Wal-Marts.

I also have found many -- not all -- of the employees to be either unhelpful or unknowledgable of their store and products, and I find many -- not all -- of the customers to be rude, obnoxious, lacking in personal hygiene and physical fitness, and showing general disdain for their kids and fellow shoppers.

This is my personal experience with Wal-Mart, not an indictment of the entire chain of stores.

Back to our regular programming and back to my much more comfortable state of being as politically incorrect as I damn well want.

(Big exhale) F*CK WAL-MART!

Take care,
PK

[James_E]

For those guys that live in Canada here's the latest pre-order special on BB & Future Shop, must be done online only.
For $699 CAD, you get the premium 360, a wireless controller, Project Gotham Cty and a Live 12 month subscription, this weekend only at BestBuy.

Future Shop is offering the hardware plus Perfect Zero, a wireless controller and a play & charge kit for $649 CAD, and is online only.
I am still hoping for anyone to come up with a package that would include NHL 2K6 and the rest of the stuff, come on, we are in Canada after all.

Both FS and BB (in Canada) are sold out already.

[fsquid]

K-Mart sucks, gotta watch Wapner.

[Jackdog]

I shop at Walmart. Am I brown trash??

My parents are on fixed incomes and they love Walmart and Sam's Club.

The stores in the Tri-City area are clean and the employees are pleasent. We must be lucky.I really don't give a $hit about the other shoppers. Unless they start hitting me with whips and tell me to pick cotton I could care less what they look like. I don't enjoy shopping at all,but if my wife's happy then I am happy.

I gotta give Walmart props for the way they helped the victims of Katrina. That was pretty cool.

All that being said, this has got to be the most I've ever thought about Walmart. Thanks PK!

[laurenskye]

What in the world does Walmart sell that you would need to ask help with? Do a little research on the net. I always no exactly what I'm going to get before I step in any store.

[pk500]

What in the world does Walmart sell that you would need to ask help with? Do a little research on the net. I always no exactly what I'm going to get before I step in any store.

Hmm ... maybe:

"Where do I find this in the store?"
"Do you have this in a different size?"
"Do you know when another shipment of this will arrive?"
"Do you have any more of these in the warehouse that aren't on display?"
"What's your return policy on this item?"

Even simple questions like that are troubling or seem to be a hassle for the Wal-Mart employees I deal with.

I shop at Wal-Mart occasionally. The prices are damn good on some items, and price wins for me every time if it's a significant savings. But that doesn't mean I have to like it one bit.

Take care,
PK

[sportdan30]

I was at Wal-Mart last night. No hassles and great prices. An 8-pack of microwaveable popcorn for two dollars. A three pack at my local grocery store would have cost $1.80. Milk is a good .60 to .70 cents cheaper. I even picked up some twinkies for $2.50.

The only thing that concerns about Wal-Mart, and I suppose you could say it happens at Target, K-Mart, etc. is the origin of the clothes in the mens and womens department. The majority of the clothes that are stocked at these discount stores come from oversees where there are absolutely horrid working conditions and low low wages paid to the laborers. I'm talking fifteen cents an hour. I watched a Dateline special a few months ago and it was eye opening to say the least.

[ScoopBrady]

What in the world does Walmart sell that you would need to ask help with? Do a little research on the net. I always no exactly what I'm going to get before I step in any store.

Hmm ... maybe:

"Where do I find this in the store?"
"Do you have this in a different size?"
"Do you know when another shipment of this will arrive?"
"Do you have any more of these in the warehouse that aren't on display?"
"What's your return policy on this item?"

Even simple questions like that are troubling or seem to be a hassle for the Wal-Mart employees I deal with.

I shop at Wal-Mart occasionally. The prices are damn good on some items, and price wins for me every time if it's a significant savings. But that doesn't mean I have to like it one bit.

Take care,
PK

I can't really comment too much on Wal-Mart as I've only been there 2 times in my life (none are really convenient to get to from my house) and those 2 times were to look for the 360 kiosk. What I do know is each store will inevitably differ. I always read threads bashing Gamestop or EB locations with generalizations. I have encountered Gamestops and EBs that fit right in with those generalizations but the ones I frequent often do not.

I used to have 2 EB's that I would frequent (one close to my house and one on my way home from work) and both were great stores. Recently the one that is on my way home from work has turned into the typical EB cliche. The cool guys that were running the store seem to be gone and now a hot chick is in their place. One would think that's a good thing but it's not. She's the type of EB employee/manager? that pushes game warrantys and game guides. Knowing your clientele is essential in retail. I don't go to that location anymore as a result. I understand it's part of her job but she needs to be able to differentiate regular customers who don't fall far game warrantys or game guides from those that do.

I would imagine there are Wal-Marts in the area that are run much better than the one(s) PK has frequented.