Amazon Trade-In FAQ 5.0

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handsomepete

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Welcome to the Official CAG Amazon.com Trade-In Thread

THIS IS NOT A FLIPPING THREAD. USEFUL CREDIT TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES WELCOME, BUT KEEP THE PROFIT MARGIN TALK / SNEAKY OR LYING SHENANIGANS OUT

Hey trade-in pals! SENDING THINGS IN DISC / CARTRIDGE ONLY / GENERIC CASE NO MANUAL / ANYTHING BUT COMPLETE COULD RESULT IN REJECTION. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS. YOU MIGHT GET ACCEPTED, YOU MIGHT NOT. NO ONE KNOWS. IF YOU CUT OUT A UPC OR DO ANYTHING TO TRICK THE FINE(?) FOLKS AT AFS EXPECT IT TO BE OPENED AND REJECTED. THERE ARE NO HARD AND FAST RULES. IF IT IS ACCEPTED, IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY ONLY BE CONSIDERED "ACCEPTABLE." RISK YOUR TIME AND EFFORT AT YOUR PERIL!

I'm getting an acceptance rate of about one per day; it makes me think some supervisor is standing around with a glass of absinthe next to a couple of dumptruck loads of games...while the one responsible for the glitch is made to scan each item and recite its TIV with tears in their eyes. - Indigo_Streetlight
Amazon.com Trade-in Home Page

------- FAQ BELOW - LEAVE ME ALONE PLEASE -------
Useful links:

-- BlueLobstah

-- CheapAssGamer

THANKS TO DISILLUSION386 and GI60 FOR POSTING AND MAINTAINING THE PREVIOUS AMAZON TRADE-IN FAQ THREADS

This thread’s primary purpose is to discuss Amazon.com’s video game trade-in program. Conspiracy theories about AFS smashing games before sending them back / stealing children / sneezing and touching public door handles / etc welcome, but try to avoid going nutso. PLEASE READ THE TRADE-IN DEAL DETAILS AND FAQ BEFORE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS.
Trade-In Procedure

1. SELECT ITEMS: Search for items to trade in. Your trade-in items must meet the product eligibility criteria.
2. SHIP GAMES FREE: Print a shipping label and packing slip, package your games, and ship them
3. GET A GIFT CARD: An Amazon.com Gift Card will be deposited into your account upon receipt of games

Shipping Instructions

1. Print this entire page. (Packing slip and shipping label once you have submitted a trade)
2. Cut out the shipping label and the packing slip.
3. Make sure your items are in good working condition and include the case and cover art.
4. Securely pack the items in a box or envelope and include the packing slip in the package.
5. Attach the shipping label squarely onto the outside of the package and add your return address.
6. Take it to your nearest UPS Store and mail it by (one week from submission of trade)
7. Or you can ship to:
note to self: look up new address
Trade-In Product Eligibility

Trade-in items must match the exact version displayed in the Amazon Trade-In Store, not be damaged, include original packaging (e.g. the manual, cover art, and case), and be postmarked no later than 7 days after submission. You will receive an e-mail confirmation and an Amazon.com Gift Card will be deposited into your account within 2 business days of item receipt and verification by the merchant. Items not accepted by the merchant will be returned to you approximately 14 days after receipt.
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GENERAL FAQ (Updated 12/26/2012)
Can I post a question on this thread?
Only if you can't find the answer from below. And please let me know if it needs to be added to FAQ.

Can I edit this FAQ? (updated 6/7/11)
You bet!

Since when did Amazon start doing trades?
The program began in 2009 and is handled by a third party merchant, previously known as NorAm International. Now known as AFS (Amazon Fulfillment Services).

What kind of shipping does Amazon provide us?
Free UPS ground ---- USPS is no longer available for free. There is now also an option to provide your own shipping.

Do I have to provide my own box or envelope?
Yes.

Do all my games in the same trade-in submission have to be shipped in the same box? (updated 3/9/11)
Not necessarily - people have sent in multiple boxes for the same trade-in submission successfully. It's even possible to send half at one time and the other half at the end of the valid shipping period. However, it's probably best to always ship everything at once.

Can I put separate trades in to a single box? (updated 6/7/11)
Sure, and they'll likely be accepted just fine. However, it isn't recommended since you would only have proof that you sent one of the trades (whichever mailing label you used). So it can be pretty risky.

Can I send in sealed games?
Yes. They won't reject games that still have the original shrink wrap.

Can I add Delivery Confirmation and Insurance to my shipment?
UPS Ground already provides you with tracking information, and I imagine you could get some sort of insurance added at a UPS store or location if you were so inclined.

I don't trust UPS ground. Can I pay for postage myself? What's the address?
Yes. You're more than welcome to do so. Just use the address on the amazon provided shipping label and make sure to get some sort of tracking.

When do I have to send my games once I have submitted my trade order?
You have 1 week (7 days) to send your games. There have been reports of submitting trades up to 15 - 20 days late, but that is definitely ymmv and not in the written rules. Send on time for the best chance at success!

Crap, I have one day to go before my shipment deadline, but the website states that my deadline has already passed. How do I print out a shipping label and packing slip? (Updated 9/9/13)
Load up any existing order (if you don't have any, check your browser's history or just submit a new one to use the link), and substitute the transaction ID for the trade-in order you need at the end of the URL.

Some step by step directions:
1. Go to your trade-in page on Amazon and find the Trade-In ID of the transaction:

Trade-In Placed:

August 24, 2013

  • Total Amount Submitted: $35.00
  • Amount Paid: $0.00
2. Copy the entire Trade-In ID (i.e. TRN-1234567-1234567) to your clipboard by highlighting it and hitting Ctrl+C or right click -> copy with your mouse

3. Paste the Trade-In ID to the end of this link:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/tradein/multicondition-your-account/print-label/ref=trdrt_ya_yaprnt?ie=UTF8&orderID=

So it should look like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/tradein/multicondition-your-account/print-label/ref=trdrt_ya_yaprnt?ie=UTF8&orderID=TRN-1234567-1234567

The Print Shipping Label screen for that trade should now come up.

How long does the whole trade-in process usually take?
From the time you send in your games, it may take up to 14 business days for the package to arrive. Most people usually receive their credit (Amazon GiftCard) in 3 to 5 business days, however.

How long does the "processing" status usually take? (Updated 10/11/12)
Usually a day or two with little delay at all. It may take multiple days or even weeks if it's an usual item/hardware.

My games were received on Friday (based on Delivery Confirmation), will I have to wait until Monday to receive credit?
People have received credit on a Saturday.

I do not have the manual, cover art, or original case for a game I want to trade in. Will they accept it? (updated 6/9/11)
While the details specifically state that original packaging is necessary, people have reported in the past that their trades were accepted despite missing some of these. This is extremely YMMV, however since some were also rejected by missing manual or cover art. On the other hand, older gen games; such as SNES, N64, and GB cartridges, normally get accepted without the original box and manual, but still YMMV.

It should be noted that with the new condition requirements (see later in the FAQ), you may be able to send an item in missing some or all of the required items (manual / cover art / case) and still have it accepted in "Acceptable" condition.

I do not have the manual, accessories, original box, original included game, etc for a console or accessory I want to trade in. Will they accept it? (updated 3/9/11)
The current wisdom is "probably not" - it's pretty YMMV but AFS seems stricter than they should be on this. Your chances seem to be better for them accepting a console or accessory without the box / manual / etc if it's older generation or rare. You're more than welcome to give it a shot though if you're feeling lucky - just pack it well and include as much as you can! Don't expect greater than 'acceptable' condition though.

My game is really beat up, what are the chances they’ll accept it?
This is YMMV. Some people have reported in the past that they sent in games in bad shape that were still accepted. Your best bet is still to trade in games in mint condition. Minor scratches are expected as these are used games.

My game came with DLC codes and I used them. Will my game be accepted? (Updated 12/28/11)
It is expected that included DLC codes have already been redeemed, so you should be fine. It is a kindness however if you have no use for it to not redeem it and let the next lucky soul who buys it from awd or wherever have a crack at it. Up to you!

My cover art (PLATINUM HITS) differs from the pic on amazon, will my trade be accepted?
It all depends on the UPC so just turn your game around, type in the UPC into the amazon search box. If the game comes up, then it's accepted regardless of cover art. Click on that result to submit your trade.

I have a game from a limited edition bundle, will they accept it?
If the game’s cover art has a UPC barcode, they will most likely accept it. If your game's cover states "Not for Resale" and does not have a UPC barcode, the game will most likely get rejected. Some people have had their games accepted in the past, but this is very YMMV.

The UPC barcode is not intact on my game's cover art, will that be accepted? (updated 3/9/11)
This is YMMV, but probably not. The UPC is all powerful within the walls of AFS..

I sent in my games, all of which were in pristine condition with the original packaging, but they said that one game is damaged and is now being returned.
Always pack your games well. Put a lot of newspaper around your games in the box to secure them and to prevent any damages from haphazard box cutting. People in the past have requested their entire trade-in order if it’s obvious the damage wasn’t their fault, and Amazon ended up accepting the rejected game. This is YMMV as well.

Can I trade in multiple copies of the same game?
Yes. Once you click “Trade in” for a particular game, you may change the quantities. Once you submit, you can no longer change quantities on that trade-in batch.

How many multiple copies of the same game can I trade-in (updated 1/11/11)?
Maximum of 2 copies within 3 a month period.

I locked in X copies of a game but I now only have Y available to send. Can I just send in Y without being penalized? (updated 3/9/11)
Yes, you can always just send in a portion of your trade-in order and they'll just credit you for whatever they receive. However, the quantities you submitted for will stay locked in that instance (I think) so if you, for example, submitted for 2 copies and only sent 1, you may not be able to trade any more copies of that game for 3 months (see previous question).

Will the Trade-in of the Day TIV stay for 24 hours?
It's been reported that there is a limit (maximum # of copies) that will get the promoted TIV so lock yours.

So if I find a good flip, I can just send 2 copies of that game and not worry about Amazon accusing me of stolen merchandise?
Technically yes, but do keep in mind that other CAGs might want to participate in the current deal, and trading in a large number of the same game will definitely lower the TIV of said game. Let’s be nice to other people. This is probably moot for most folks now with the per account / address trade-in limit.

Wow, these TIVs suck (updated 3/9/11)!
Really? Hrm. While that may be true, they're often better than other comparable places. Your options of what to do with your used games are greater now than they've ever been, so feel free to shop your trades around or just sell them off on glyde/ebay/whatever. Also, not a question.

What the fuck? The TIV of a game I just bought for this deal tanked! What do I do?
The TIVs on Amazon fluctuate depending on the number of trades that are submitted, and we really can’t do anything about it. The best course of action for trading in games is to lock in your trade if you already have the games or are absolutely sure that you can obtain them. You can always cancel the trade submission if you end up not finding the games.
LOCK = SUBMIT YOUR TRADE, Don't just put it in the cart.

Can I edit a submitted trade?
Nope - once upon a time you could modify trade in quantities of submitted trades, but that ability has been removed.

Can I use my credit on items that are not video game-related?
Yes. This is the other perk for trading in games at Amazon since you're not limited to just video games.

Can I use my credit on items sold by third-party merchants on Amazon?
According to the fine print of the Amazon gift card use, some merchants are excluded. Your best bet is to try it on the checkout page of your order.

Strategy guides? I can trade in game/strategy guides? Whaaaaa?
Go to the Textbook Buyback section (http://www.amazon.com/Textbooks-Trad...ode=2205237011[/URL]). You can either search on the title of a strategy guide you have to see if they'll accept it, or search for guides. The two best search strings to start with are 'prima guides' and 'bradygames'. Might try 'doublejump' if you want to trade in some of those. (Thanks eugaet)

I locked in some hilariously overvalued trade for some weird rare game/accessory/etc that I can pick up for cheap cheap cheap. They didn't accept it. What should I do? (updated 3/9/11)
The truth is that AFS can reject things for any reason they see fit. While some people have managed to get silly things like a $200 credit for some cheerleading game (or for a PS2 - just ask io!), it's sooooooo YMMV that often it's not worth the effort. EXPECT REJECTION ON THINGS THAT ARE CLEARLY MISVALUED. That said, as long as you're willing to risk it, go for it!

What's all this item condition nonsense? And how can I get screwed over by it? (updated 6/9/11)
We're still kinda sussing out the details surrounding the new item condition portion of Amazon Trade-Ins, but it looks like there's a couple things to consider:
Good Condition eligibility (games):
- The video game, original manufacturer packaging and all original elements are included, but shows wear from normal use
- Game still plays perfectly
- Disc may have light scratches and other elements may have minor damage
- Item may have been personalized (marked or identified)

Acceptable eligibility (games):
- Game still plays perfectly
- Item may have been personalized (marked or identified)
- Item may be missing or have irreparable damage to one or all of the following: case, manual, artwork, bundled accessories, UPC

Note that a game will almost certainly not be accepted if it meets any of these conditions:
- Game does not play perfectly
- Disc is cracked
- Marked Not for Resale (or is otherwise marked not for sale)

Consoles/accessories have some slightly different criteria, but the idea is the same.

Did it seriously just ask me if I wanted my game / other item returned if they refuse to give me credit for it? (updated 6/9/11)
Yes, that just happened.

Unless you're purposefully sending them things you deem to be trash, please remember to choose the option that has them return your item to you during the checkout phase.

Who is AFS? (updated 9/14/13)
Amazon Fulfillment Services (previously known as NorAm). Dunno if they changed names, were bought up by Amazon, or what. Not too interested anyhow.

Why does my package jump back and forth between states? (updated 9/14/13)
Look at a map of the involved cities and it'll make sense. Something to do with UPS hubs and proximity to the state border/cities.

Post away!

 
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Cool, I'm glad it worked out for you. I'll try that the next time I see that problem. :)

I kind of wish I thought of calling CS before placing my 2-copy order, but I was worried it would be close to selling out by the time I got through to a CS rep (I haven't exactly had the best experience with BBY CS reps). Oh well.
Yeah, it's posted on SD now. Might just pay the $4 out of pocket and use the certificate on something else.

 
I say do it. Flips like these don't show up every day...
Yeah, had $2 in my PayPal account so worked out to like $2.20 cash. Would have grabbed a second one but don't have the free cash to throw around converting it to Amazon credit. Not bad still since the $4.31 on the GC was the profit from shuffling GS credit with Survival Instinct to buy MLB 13.

 
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Haven't used amazon in a while,is this pay me now option safe?
Yeah until they deny the trade-in due to "Wrong SKU (i.e. we don't want to pay out on this high TIV)" and charge your credit card for the amount you were initially given in credit.

But I don't think anyone will have that problem with this item

 
Haven't used amazon in a while,is this pay me now option safe?
I wouldn't use it. Since Amazon (well, AFS through Amazon) has the right to reject any item for any reason whatsoever, if you choose that option and your item gets rejected when you didn't expect it to be, Amazon can access your credit card.

 
I'm just doing an in-store pickup with my CC, and then I'll just tell them to rering it up in-store. They can't cancel it immediately, but it'll time out on its own.

 
this isn't game related but Dr. Who season 5 BD is 19.99 at best buy, store pickup only. search bb dot com  1471695

amazon B003EV6DBW  trade in is 30.29 atm

unfortunately I don't have a BB near me.

 
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Are you freaking kidding me!?  Already sold out.  And I didn't miss it by that much.  Oh well, I got one for store pickup at a store I have to go and get one of the used games from that 1-day sale from anyway.  But most of the other stores around me don't even have it now.

Kind of a waste to trade this in for $18 though guys...  Just sayin'.

And it is only $8.02 now anyway which shows that it was pretty heavily abused because Amazon prices don't change so quickly unless a lot of trades are locked in.  I was hoping maybe to dump the used copy I got at Blockbuster there and replace it with the new one from Best Buy.  Oh well - guess I will try to sell it quick before everyone lists their new ones for bargain-basement prices on eBay :roll:.

 
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this isn't game related but Dr. Who season 5 BD is 19.99 at best buy, store pickup only. search bb dot com 1471695

amazon B003EV6DBW trade in is 30.29 atm

unfortunately I don't have a BB near me.
Thanks. None of the stores in my state has it in stock, if that makes you feel better. :)

And how do people come across these things? It's not even listed on bb's website anywhere under the deals section...

 
Are you freaking kidding me!? Already sold out. And I didn't miss it by that much. Oh well, I got one for store pickup at a store I have to go and get one of the used games from that 1-day sale from anyway. But most of the other stores around me don't even have it now.

Kind of a waste to trade this in for $18 though guys... Just sayin'.
Yea, if Mario All Star is any indication people will be like why did I trade it in for $18.

 
Are you freaking kidding me!? Already sold out. And I didn't miss it by that much. Oh well, I got one for store pickup at a store I have to go and get one of the used games from that 1-day sale from anyway. But most of the other stores around me don't even have it now.

Kind of a waste to trade this in for $18 though guys... Just sayin'.
for what it's worth it seems like lately bby has held back shipping stock for these deals until around 9am central. certainly might not be the case this time but something to keep an eye out for.

 
Thanks. None of the stores in my state has it in stock, if that makes you feel better. :)

And how do people come across these things? It's not even listed on bb's website anywhere under the deals section...
Yeah, none of that Dr. Who BD in a 2 state area (covering 100's of miles) around me either ;).

Yea, if Mario All Star is any indication people will be like why did I trade it in for $18.
If it was for the used copies I'd say go for it. I'm not sure if this will be a Mario All-Stars but it is worth more than $18 now.

for what it's worth it seems like lately bby has held back shipping stock for these deals until around 9am central. certainly might not be the case this time but something to keep an eye out for.
Yeah - as always right smack in the middle of when I am deep asleep. I'm sure I'll wake up to see tons of successful orders by early-bird East Coasters and I'll have missed it yet again.

 
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Are you freaking kidding me!? Already sold out. And I didn't miss it by that much. Oh well, I got one for store pickup at a store I have to go and get one of the used games from that 1-day sale from anyway. But most of the other stores around me don't even have it now.

Kind of a waste to trade this in for $18 though guys... Just sayin'.

And it is only $8.02 now anyway which shows that it was pretty heavily abused because Amazon prices don't change so quickly unless a lot of trades are locked in. I was hoping maybe to dump the used copy I got at Blockbuster there and replace it with the new one from Best Buy. Oh well - guess I will try to sell it quick before everyone lists their new ones for bargain-basement prices on eBay :roll:.
It was posted on Slickdeals within a few minutes of when it was posted here which is probably why we got any at all.

 
It was posted on Slickdeals within a few minutes of when it was posted here which is probably why we got any at all.
Yeah, I read that. Oh well, at least I decided to check CAG one more time before playing 999 or I would have missed it entirely. As long as my store pickup order gets fulfilled I'll be happy. But the one store that claims to have it is notorious for not finding stuff in the mornings when I order at night so we'll see about that...

 
Are you freaking kidding me!? Already sold out. And I didn't miss it by that much. Oh well, I got one for store pickup at a store I have to go and get one of the used games from that 1-day sale from anyway. But most of the other stores around me don't even have it now.

Kind of a waste to trade this in for $18 though guys... Just sayin'.

And it is only $8.02 now anyway which shows that it was pretty heavily abused because Amazon prices don't change so quickly unless a lot of trades are locked in. I was hoping maybe to dump the used copy I got at Blockbuster there and replace it with the new one from Best Buy. Oh well - guess I will try to sell it quick before everyone lists their new ones for bargain-basement prices on eBay :roll:.
Are you suggesting that this is going to be a repeat of the Defiance CE trade ins since the TiV plummeted?

 
Are you suggesting that this is going to be a repeat of the Defiance CE trade ins since the TiV plummeted?
No, not at all - I am saying that quite unlike that case, this game is worth more then even the "inflated" trade value ($18), especially if it is new. But if you are all about the quick flip, then go for it. Amazon will most likely make a decent amount off that $18 trade-in value so I doubt they would get rejected in this case.

 
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No, not at all - I am saying that quite unlike that case, this game is worth way more then the trade value ($18), especially if it is new. But if you are all about the quick flip, then go for it. Amazon will most likely make a decent amount off that $18 trade-in value so I doubt they would get rejected in this case.
Yeah, I just checked eBay prices and it's pretty high. However, I see some cheap, new listings on Amazon.

 
Yeah, I just checked eBay prices and it's pretty high. However, I see some cheap, new listings on Amazon.
It is sure to go down in the short term depending on how much stock of this Best Buy had. Maybe their quick online sellout meant they didn't have all that much anyway.

 
I got in for two, but I am trying to decide if I want to actually keep them both (One sealed one to play) or flip one to pay for the other... decisions decisions... (Already have a trade in of two locked into AMZ).

 
I got in for two, but I am trying to decide if I want to actually keep them both (One sealed one to play) or flip one to pay for the other... decisions decisions... (Already have a trade in of two locked into AMZ).
Gamestop trade-in value was $8 as of last report (7/14). Not great ($12.80 after bonus) but if I can get a sealed one tomorrow I may dump my used copy (that I got from Blockbuster) there as it isn't in the greatest shape (it is just the case, soundtrack, and game and didn't have whatever else this collection comes with - a slip cover and an art book or something?). It will be hard to sell with the coming flood of new copies on eBay and Amazon marketplace.

 
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Aaaaaaaannnnnnnndddd backordered... August 2nd-13th probably putting it pretty questionable for an Amazon flip.

 
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Gamestop trade-in value was $8 as of last report (7/14). Not great ($12.80 after bonus) but if I can get a sealed one tomorrow I may dump my used copy (that I got from Blockbuster) there as it isn't in the greatest shape (it is just the case, soundtrack, and game and didn't have whatever else this collection comes with - a slip cover and an art book or something?). It will be hard to sell with the coming flood of new copies on eBay and Amazon marketplace.
Well I had the $18 TiV locked in when it first went on sale, so I am set with that.

 
this isn't game related but Dr. Who season 5 BD is 19.99 at best buy, store pickup only. search bb dot com 1471695

amazon B003EV6DBW trade in is 30.29 atm

unfortunately I don't have a BB near me.
:D Awesome find! Got 2 copies ordered for store pickup near me. I hope this goes better than Defiance fiasco.

 
:D Awesome find! Got 2 copies ordered for store pickup near me. I hope this goes better than Defiance fiasco.
If you happen to have 2 DVDs lying around, you could trade them towards those Blu-rays to snag them for $14.99 each through the Upgrade & Save promo going on now. I don't know if they'll let you do that since you already ordered them for in-store pickup, but I just thought I'd let you know.

 
If you happen to have 2 DVDs lying around, you could trade them towards those Blu-rays to snag them for $14.99 each through the Upgrade & Save promo going on now. I don't know if they'll let you do that since you already ordered them for in-store pickup, but I just thought I'd let you know.
Completely forgot about that. Thanks for the heads up! I will see what I can do when I go pick up the Blu-rays.

 
Completely forgot about that. Thanks for the heads up! I will see what I can do when I go pick up the Blu-rays.
No problem. I'm also stopping at a BBY that has S5 available (I can do in-store pickup which indicates there's at least 3 copies, so hopefully there will be at least 2 copies still there when I arrive).

As a heads-up, if they don't let you get them for cheaper with the DVDs (a possibility since BBY.com handles in-store pickup orders), look to see if they have 2 more copies lying around and get those for $14.99 each if you can. IIRC, you can't return in-store pickup orders until at least 24 hours have passed since pickup, so you wouldn't be able to return-and-rebuy to get the $5 discount on each.

 
No problem. I'm also stopping at a BBY that has S5 available (I can do in-store pickup which indicates there's at least 3 copies, so hopefully there will be at least 2 copies still there when I arrive).

As a heads-up, if they don't let you get them for cheaper with the DVDs (a possibility since BBY.com handles in-store pickup orders), look to see if they have 2 more copies lying around and get those for $14.99 each if you can. IIRC, you can't return in-store pickup orders until at least 24 hours have passed since pickup, so you wouldn't be able to return-and-rebuy to get the $5 discount on each.
That is what I plan on doing now. Headed that way now. Thanks for the info.

 
So my Stubbs the Zombie shows delivered last Wed, but never went to processing state.  What can be done in this situation?   EDF has been in processing for 5 days now.  

Also ordered Doctor Who from a BBY 20 miles away.   I had a sealed copy here that I got from their last sale.  So I mailed my copy and I'll go pick up my store copy next weekend. :D   

 
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