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SHC-Gamer

Official Representative
www.KmartGamer.com (Blog is effective in all locations)

Sometimes, Kmartgamer offers are only featured on CAG. Usually just due to personal bandwidth on my end. Blog offers for this week will be posted tonight to alleveate any confusion.

Important: The offers this week are instant bogo's, not coupons due to previously discussed issues we are currnetly facing with our coupon program which will be fixed soon.



:ps3:1-18 Mass Effect - Buy Mass Effect 2 PS3 and get another $59.99 game 50% off (offer valid through 2/12)
  • Will be on sale for $44.99 the week of 1/30
:ps3:1-18 Little Big Planet 2 - Buy Little Big Planet 2 PS3 and get another $59.99 game 50% off (offer valid through 2/12)

Kmart Weekly Ad: (Circulars not effective in all stores, NYC and Offshore in particular)

The only noteworthy offer this week is:

  • :wii:Buy Donkey Kong Country Returns and get Epic Mickey for $19.99
Only other offer not MSRP:
  • :360::ps3:Save $10 WWE Raw 2011, more of a corproate pull together offer
Like I said previously, January sucks.

Note: Savings Coupon offers are valid in all stores

Coming Soon:



Update: Submitting Feb./Mar. offers as SYWR promotions. Will post as soon as they are approved. Coupons may have temporary fix before then, if so, we'll go back to them instead of SYWR's. At the end of Mar. the coupon issue will be fixed and we'll go back to normal.
  • :360::ps3:1-25 Dead Space 2 Free 1600 XBLA Points or $20 PSN for Free
    • We show positive instock on the cards but if you run into an issue just let me know and I'll work with you.
    • Offer valid from 1/25 through 1-29
    • In many cases the points/PSN cards are located in the Gift Card rack near the front of the store by mistake.
  • :360::ps3:1-25 Two Worlds II (PS3 Version Delayed by a few days, will not ship until Friday)
    • 1-30 through 2-5, Two Worlds II will be on sale for $39.99
    • CAG only special, will not be featured on the blog
  • :wii:2-6 Mario Sports Mix TBD
  • :360::ps3: 2-8 Test Drive Unlimited 2 TBD
  • :360::ps3: 2-15 Marvel vs. Capcom 3 TBD
  • :360::ps3: 2-15 Nascar 2011 TBD
  • :360::ps3::wii: 2-15 Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars TBD
  • :360::ps3: 2-22 Bulletstorm TBD
  • :360::ps3: 2-22 Driver: San Francisco TBD
  • :360::ps3::wii: 2-22 De Blob: The Underground TBD
*This list is not comprehensive of every promotion that may be coming and release dates are subject to change.

Customer Questions/Comments:

General Feedback, Promotional Ideas or Anything Else :cool:

SHC-Gamer - Josh Deane [email protected]

Important: If a coupon did not print or you did not receive the value of the promotion due to a store issue I will compensate the difference. I only need the following (Please copy and paste the format below for quicker service):


  • Name ____________________
  • Phone Number ____________________
  • Mailing Address ____________________
  • Receipt Number ____________________
  • Short description of incident (a novel, though enjoyed, is not required :) )
Gift cards issued usually take 7-10 days to arrive once confirmed.

CE or Specal Inventory Requests:
Email Stockboy at [email protected]


  • Game ____________________
  • Platform __________________
  • Store Address _____________
 
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[quote name='SHC-Gamer']I show it at less than $14.99 but ony 23 left in the chain.[/QUOTE]
Interesting. Thanks for checking for me, SHC. Now I guess I'll have to make a trek to one of my closest stores w/ the UPC and see if they have any left there.

Unless you could check that for me too.:D

Dickson City, PA Kmart

Thanks in advance.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']
Dickson City, PA Kmart
[/QUOTE]

Quick! Hoarders, flea market guys, slickdealers! IATCG made a rare, crucial slip by revealing his location! Go, go, go. ;)
 
I'm ordering LBP2:CE from Amazon b/c after all of my trade-ins and gift cards I think I'm paying about $2 (NY tax) and they gave me free release date shipping due to the delay - I pre-ordered it July 24.
Also, this is my first CE and I 'm getting it not b/c of the DLC but for the plush and bookends which will contribute nicely to my 6 yr. olds birthday present (Jan. 14th).
And finally my $20 Epic Mickey coupon expires Jan. 15. Probably just buy some junk and then I'm done.
 
[quote name='salty tbone']Quick! Hoarders, flea market guys, slickdealers! IATCG made a rare, crucial slip by revealing his location! Go, go, go. ;)[/QUOTE]
Meh. With the soccer moms buying up everything clearance at Target and Kmart/Sears flatlined on even offering it at all I don't even care at this point. I'm gonna go back to waiting till games get MSRP price drops and just pick them up wherever once they reach the lowest point they will that way.

I have about 30 games as it is right now for PS3, coupled with about 10-12 I haven't finished for the original Xbox and stacks of old PS1 shit I bought from Gamestop when they were clearing them out. So I'm good for games to play until about 2014 or so.:razz:
 
[quote name='SHC-Gamer']Not sure, I need to check first on this one.[/QUOTE]
Does this impact all coupons, or only the ones that hadn't previously been announced?

You said in December that you'd run out of money to run deals- was that basically because you'd gone all out in November, or should we expect to see these deals putter-out mid year? :)
 
[quote name='nbballard']Does this impact all coupons, or only the ones that hadn't previously been announced?

You said in December that you'd run out of money to run deals- was that basically because you'd gone all out in November, or should we expect to see these deals putter-out mid year? :)[/QUOTE]
Hi! Good question. This is definitely not a budget issue on new release offers. If everythng was working as it should I could keep on doing what we have done without issue. There is a variable that has come through thouh that is putting us in Apollo 13 mode. When coupon redemptions are more than the units sold that generated the coupon you have an issue.
 
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[quote name='SHC-Gamer']Hi! Good question. This is definitely not a buget issue on new release offers. If everythng was working as it should I could keep on doing what we have done without issue. There is a variable that has come through thouh that is putting us in Apollo 13 mode. When coupon redemptions are more than the units sold that generated the coupon you have an issue.[/QUOTE]
Is that key for "our higher-ups no longer see the benefit, even though it's plain as day to anyone else" or ?
 
[quote name='Altanis']Is that key for "our higher-ups no longer see the benefit, even though it's plain as day to anyone else" or ?[/QUOTE]
leadership definitely still sees the value.

However, if you sell 100 copies of a game and generate 100 coupons, and yet 200 coupons were redeemed from that game no financial analysis in the world can say that was a positive outcome.
 
That's very true. So it's mostly an issue of you still having to combat coupon fraud? Or is it a matter of, say someone buying $200 worth of stuff and using $190 in coupons?

I think you're talking more about the first scenario, but.
 
I thought you locked that all down with the SYWR stuff.

I haven't bought anything recently (Mario All-Stars)- is that still a disaster for everyone? I never had a problem with the card credits (but I was only impacted by 2 of them).
 
[quote name='Scorch']looks like our days of good deals are coming to an end.[/QUOTE]
Nope, gonna figure it out.
 
[quote name='Altanis']That's very true. So it's mostly an issue of you still having to combat coupon fraud? Or is it a matter of, say someone buying $200 worth of stuff and using $190 in coupons?

I think you're talking more about the first scenario, but.[/QUOTE]
Stacking is not problem at all.
 
Uh oh. If I'm reading between the lines it looks like you are dealing with some fraud issues. That really sucks that people would make fake coupons (if that is the issue at hand). When you first started doing the coupon promotion I suggested to the CSR at my store that they make some sort of notation if on the receipt if a game was purchased because their was a look of garbage being posted on Deal Sites where we people were bragging about buying the games, getting coupons, and returning the games. That might be the reason behind what you've found.

I purchased two copies of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm at Kmart and when I got home I noticed one was damaged (the box was damaged). I went back to the store to just exchange it for another one. After a 30 min hassle and a bunch of manager overrides she agreed to do it. After returning the original and reringing the new copy ANOTHER coupon printed. She gave it to me and I told her it was a mistake, as I never returned the original coupon so I shouldn't be given a second one....

I spend a lot of $$$ at Kmart and do really well with most of the deals because I live in a small market so their is no reason for me to abuse the promotions.... however I'm sure their are many out there that do.

Perhaps you can go back to offering SYWR points because it can be traced and tagged to an account more easily? If you could ever get better CSR agents in the SYWR program I'd suggest doing it but my experience with COD BO and the Red Nintendo Wii deal was not a positive one. Most points posted however I had to wait about six weeks for one of the transactions...

Regardless I hope you figure this out. I don't post on here a lot but you've been really helpful in the past and I really hope you can figure this out!

Good luck!
 
[quote name='SHC-Gamer']Nope, gonna figure it out.[/QUOTE]

That's good to hear. Being a full time college student, these deals have allowed me to get almost all of the fall's new releases at a mere fraction of what I'd have normally spent at places like GS or Amazon. I look forward to the upcoming deals. I hope a LBP2 CE is sent my way, but I do have one ordered from Amazon. I bet we're going to start seeing rewards being linked to specific accounts and physical gaming coupons done away with altogether. That'd be fine if they'd ever send me my SYWR card that I signed up for the week Black Ops came out.

Any word on the Marvel vs Capcom 3 CE?
 
Josh mentioned he can't say what the details are, but I'd imagine that the Starcraft abuse and some of the pre-SYWR card stuff finally hit some of the sales metrics.

If the problem has been fixed with the SYWR system, then we should be good to go.

Any word on the Marvel vs Capcom 3 CE?
I'd be in for one in memphis (PS3 please, Andrew!)... They announced today that they are closing the SEARs over by my K-mart. I hope the K-mart isn't going anywhere anytime soon...
 
[quote name='SHC-Gamer']leadership definitely still sees the value.

However, if you sell 100 copies of a game and generate 100 coupons, and yet 200 coupons were redeemed from that game no financial analysis in the world can say that was a positive outcome.[/QUOTE]
A few years ago, SHC had to kill an entire Sears BF/Christmas Season Coupon book because it had been leaked on FW and/or SD. They were amazing coupons, but were to be mailed exclusively to some of their best customers who had earned the bonus coupon book.

I'm all for great deals, but not at the expense of the company itself. Some people will never get it through their puny, self-serving brains that exploitation ultimately kills deals.

On the flip side, a bunch of my coupons went unused. Not because I didn't want to use them, but they all expired while I've been laid up with a spinal injury and couldn't go out to use them.
 
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[quote name='lumpy']I feel ya bro.. I lost my card the week before Black Ops came out in mid November. Around November 20 I called and they said they were mailing me a replacement. Here I am 7 weeks later without a card. The points system sucks anyway considering you spend 60 dollars on a game and you get 600 points which is like 60 cents.[/QUOTE]


Sorry I'm kinda late to comment on that, but call customer service WHILE INSIDE A STORE and tell them you never received the card, they then can have you activate a new card, and transfer your credits to the one you JUST activated. Took me ~25mins, and the cust. rep transferred it over, no problems, etc. I ordered my card like 2 months ago and never got it either. Josh made good on the deal I wanted anyways since they were out of stock, and I was having this issue. No complaints here. :applause:
 
And some people give me a hard time when I yell at people who commit fraud. This is what happens when you look the other way: ultimately you pay the price too.
 
I've also seen where I bought a game, using my SYWR card and got the gaming coupons at the register but also received digital copies of the gaming coupons in an email. Since just trying to get the employees to take the coupons on actual receipt paper is hard enough, I never used the digital versions. But, I got twice the number of gaming coupons I should have gotten by simply doing nothing at all. This was at a Kmart in Daytona Florida when I was on vacation. I even bought non-gaming related merchandise at the front registers and got both the actual receipt and digital copy in an email.

Maybe that helps a bit, I dunno.
 
Hey Josh, I had contacted you a few times about an admitted reseller in Ohio. He mainly went to the stores in the Columbus area and would go from Dayton to Cambridge. He'd buy 50 games from every store every week with 150 coupons. Like you said, the math doesn't add up. Store in the area stopped helping him, leading him to go to other stores.

There's a few options to keep the coupons going. I'd suggest one-use codes tied to the SYWR card. That way people are only getting the coupons they've earned. I love the digital receipts sent to my email (I have a tendency to lose the printed coupons), but could see how those could vastly be abused, especially with reusable country-wide numbers. I also really like the SYWR promo with Black Ops...helps me save more :)

As long as you're not taking a hit, you'll still be getting deals from distributors because you're helping their bottom line sales figures. Should be better to have coupons and deals from distributors rather than no deals whatsoever. I'd have to imagine the coupons bring in a lot of legitimate shoppers that wouldn't otherwise be there...it'd be up to the managers to deal with the scammers.

And as gamers, can't beat $40 new releases :)
 
It's taught I believe at most Kmarts (or at least, every cashier I've ever had has selected it) that when a SYWR card is scanned, to select "Print & Email" for how the system should send the receipt to the customer.

I would rather just getting a physical copy. It's nice to have a digital copy, but when it's a PITA to get regular coupons accepted I'm not even going to think about trying to get a digital coupon to pass.

This is likely the problem though, or very similar. There are people that are using both the digital copy and the physical copy of the coupons, and not even thinking twice about how they are negatively impacting the deals they get.
 
hmm seems we definitely have a problem on our hands... but i always thought since the coupon was printed with the k-mart logo on the back of the paper that it would be obvious to spot a fake. getting an awesome deal is one thing but to defraud using fake coupons is just the same thing as stealing...

p.s. happy 2011 everyone!! this month is going to be awesome and also my birthday on the 27th.. it would be cool josh if we could get bonus points or something for our birthday month, seeing as all my gifts will come from k-mart this month lol
 
[quote name='Altanis']It's taught I believe at most Kmarts (or at least, every cashier I've ever had has selected it) that when a SYWR card is scanned, to select "Print & Email" for how the system should send the receipt to the customer.

I would rather just getting a physical copy. It's nice to have a digital copy, but when it's a PITA to get regular coupons accepted I'm not even going to think about trying to get a digital coupon to pass.

This is likely the problem though, or very similar. There are people that are using both the digital copy and the physical copy of the coupons, and not even thinking twice about how they are negatively impacting the deals they get.[/QUOTE]

That's more likely to be the problem than what I mentioned.. I didn't realize that the Email/Printed reciept thing was working that way.. that's no good.

I remember a lot of stores not being willing to take the printed coupons a while back.
 
[quote name='SHC-Gamer']Hi! Good question. This is definitely not a buget issue on new release offers. If everythng was working as it should I could keep on doing what we have done without issue. There is a variable that has come through thouh that is putting us in Apollo 13 mode. When coupon redemptions are more than the units sold that generated the coupon you have an issue.[/QUOTE]
Yikes. Best of luck in resolving that. It may be Apollo 13 at the moment, but lest we forget, they all got back home ok when NASA refused to give up. Hope you guys find a suitable solution to the problem.

You may be unable to answer these, but I am curious: the week in which a SYWR card was required (inadvertently, as I recall) to get the second DKCR coupon, did that see any impact on reducing redemption rate for that second coupon? If it did, then maybe tying coupons to specific SYWR accounts would be the way to go.

I assume because of how coupons have worked previously that generating one-time use codes is as yet not possible, or perhaps not yet allowed through your back end. But that too could be a solution. And of course, there is the Toys R Us approach of giving away a gift card, but you've stated before IIRC that such a limitless redemption period would reduce the amount given away. That would be unfortunate, but it would, at least, solve this problem temporarily, at least until a more permanent solution could be implemented.

I know I'm probably falling on deaf ears or going to be ignored, but I figured some encouragement and what few ideas I can give would be the least I can do. :bouncy: You've got support here, so good luck with it.
 
Do the coupons actually get returned anywhere? From the text, IIRC, it says not to send them back (though I don't have any left to check). I ask because one time I used a coupon and the guy at the counter just crumpled it up and threw it in the trash. Since they aren't unique bar codes, it would be easy for someone to just use the coupon again, no? That doesn't seem quite right. Unique bar codes might be an easy way to prevent abuse like this.
 
I am completely new to the gaming coupons, I bought a wii on December and now I have a $50 gaming coupon to burn. I was thinking on getting one game and a Nunchuk, but I want to confirm it does work on accessories. Thanks for your help.:lol:
 
[quote name='Quadriflax']Do the coupons actually get returned anywhere? From the text, IIRC, it says not to send them back (though I don't have any left to check). I ask because one time I used a coupon and the guy at the counter just crumpled it up and threw it in the trash. Since they aren't unique bar codes, it would be easy for someone to just use the coupon again, no? That doesn't seem quite right. Unique bar codes might be an easy way to prevent abuse like this.[/QUOTE]
I believe they are to be collected and deposited into a slot underneath the register, to prevent what you've just described. They just aren't to be sent to, IIRC, "the clearinghouse." I can't pretend to know what that means, but my best guess is that's related to manufacturer coupons, which are most likely sent so that the store is reimbursed.
 
[quote name='tatys00']I am completely new to the gaming coupons, I bought a wii on December and now I have a $50 gaming coupon to burn. I was thinking on getting one game and a Nunchuk, but I want to confirm it does work on accessories. Thanks for your help.:lol:[/QUOTE]

As long as the coupon says "Gaming Coupon" you can use it on anything gaming related. A controller and game would be acceptable. WII points would also be acceptable. The only stipulation is the total amount of everything you want to buy has to be higher than the value of the coupon you want to use, before taxes. Hope this helps!
 
[quote name='JustYourAverageJoe']And of course, there is the Toys R Us approach of giving away a gift card, but you've stated before IIRC that such a limitless redemption period would reduce the amount given away. That would be unfortunate, but it would, at least, solve this problem temporarily, at least until a more permanent solution could be implemented.[/QUOTE]

If the redemption period is a big issue, couldn't they be issued with an expiration date similar to the coupons? Maybe gaming only gift cards if the publishers don't want to work with you if you're giving out credits that can be used on anything in the store?
 
[quote name='SHC-Gamer']leadership definitely still sees the value.

However, if you sell 100 copies of a game and generate 100 coupons, and yet 200 coupons were redeemed from that game no financial analysis in the world can say that was a positive outcome.[/QUOTE]

I wonder if the one promo, I believe it was Nintendo related, had a huge impact on some of those numbers. Like people that bought Epic Mickey preorder cases that week and got two coupons out of it.
 
[quote name='Killbomb']If the redemption period is a big issue, couldn't they be issued with an expiration date similar to the coupons? Maybe gaming only gift cards if the publishers don't want to work with you if you're giving out credits that can be used on anything in the store?[/QUOTE]
I believe most states now have laws barring gift cards from expiring, as part of consumer protection. And because such laws can vary so wildly from state to state, I don't see that happening, unfortunately. Otherwise, it would make perfect sense in this context.

I've been trying to think of anything that could function similarly but without falling into the problems SHC has hinted at needing to avoid (no expiration, usable in any department, etc.), and it's certainly difficult to come up with a solution. Best I can think of would be giving away a $20 point card for XBL/PSN instead of a coupon, but that has a more limited appeal I'd imagine, and isn't conducive to repeat business.

It's a doozy, all right.
 
[quote name='JustYourAverageJoe']I believe most states now have laws barring gift cards from expiring, as part of consumer protection. And because such laws can vary so wildly from state to state, I don't see that happening, unfortunately. Otherwise, it would make perfect sense in this context.

I've been trying to think of anything that could function similarly but without falling into the problems SHC has hinted at needing to avoid (no expiration, usable in any department, etc.), and it's certainly difficult to come up with a solution. Best I can think of would be giving away a $20 point card for XBL/PSN instead of a coupon, but that has a more limited appeal I'd imagine, and isn't conducive to repeat business.

It's a doozy, all right.[/QUOTE]

Well, TRU often issues gift cards that have an expiration date. Perhaps the minimum amount of time the law requires the gift card to be good is longer than Josh is allowed to give.

The $20 cards would be nice the first time or two but I don't spend enough on DLC to keep me coming back. Really hope this gets worked out because, sorry to say, K-Mart will lose my business because the service is just too unpredictable for me to consider paying MSRP for anything there.
 
I dunno if this has been answered but what's the word on the Epic Edition of Bulletstorm, also on Dragon Age II signature edition? It's my understanding that if you don't preorder dragon age by the 11th you don't get the extra content.
 
My two cents on the coupon issue:

Everyone seems to be jumping to the conclusion of people making extra or fraudulent coupons. With the scrutiny I have received trying to use legitimate coupons, I find this hard to believe.

My first thought was the buy/return and keep coupon. Seems the more likely scenario. Just wondering how that would show up in the numbers.

As for a cure, I would say with a bit of clean-up, the SYWR points system would work just as well as the coupons. For the honest customer, 25,000 bonus SYWR points is as good or better than a $25 coupon. No expiration, won't get lost in the couch, etc...

I just hate to see these deals go away completely. My kids had a great christmas, thanks to Kmart.

Belgarath the Ancient One
 
[quote name='salty tbone']Quick! Hoarders, flea market guys, slickdealers! IATCG made a rare, crucial slip by revealing his location! Go, go, go. ;)[/QUOTE]


Its a TRAP!!!!!!
 
[quote name='BelgarathTAO']My two cents on the coupon issue:

Everyone seems to be jumping to the conclusion of people making extra or fraudulent coupons. With the scrutiny I have received trying to use legitimate coupons, I find this hard to believe.

My first thought was the buy/return and keep coupon. Seems the more likely scenario. Just wondering how that would show up in the numbers.

As for a cure, I would say with a bit of clean-up, the SYWR points system would work just as well as the coupons. For the honest customer, 25,000 bonus SYWR points is as good or better than a $25 coupon. No expiration, won't get lost in the couch, etc...

I just hate to see these deals go away completely. My kids had a great christmas, thanks to Kmart.

Belgarath the Ancient One[/QUOTE]


Admittedly, I would love to see the coupons transition to points but I just don't think it would jive with what Josh is trying to accomplish. The lack of an expiration would end up reducing the $ value of the deals and Kmart wouldn't be able to keep the redemptions inside the video game department. I feel the latter has to occur in order to measure the success of Josh's/Kmart's work but also highlight potential abuses like what appears to be happening now.
 
[quote name='SHC-Gamer']leadership definitely still sees the value.

However, if you sell 100 copies of a game and generate 100 coupons, and yet 200 coupons were redeemed from that game no financial analysis in the world can say that was a positive outcome.[/QUOTE]

The paper coupons are flawed. I've always thought some shady people probably just stuck them in a copier and made 10 of them. Or just returned games after purchase.

For these promos to continue this needs to be zero tolerance thing, not a "well I hope people don't scam us" thing.

Go all SYWR or made the barcodes unique and tied to a receipt ID that voids the coupon's barcode when the item is returned.

I'm ashamed that this kind of thing is happening when kmart is making an effort to attract CAGs. Super depressing.

Do return numbers for this unnamed title at least paint a picture of where all those unpurchased games with redeemed coupons go?
 
I can't believe what happened at my local Kmart today.

I had a $20 gaming coupon that was set to expire this week and I didn't want to waste it. I was going to get a PS3 Bluray remote for $5 after coupon since I couldn't find anything else worth getting.

I asked the electronics person working there if the coupon can be used on accessories. (I was told "No, games only" to this on another gaming coupon I had last August.)
He said yes, anything related to games can be used.

Then I asked if I can use it on a PSN card (Again, I was told "No" to this on August)
He said yes.

I said "Alright, get me the $50 PSN card since I don't think I can get the $20 PSN card for free"

He replied "You can get the $20 PSN card for free. It's $20 and the coupon is for anything $20 or over for gaming. I'll try it out for you if it still works."

So we went to the register and, sure enough, I got the $20 PSN card for free. :D

Receipt proof:
savings.jpg


This also ends my coupon train, which went like this:
$50 Fallout New Vegas on release day ($60 + $5 preorder case - $15 preorder coupon)
$40 Rock Band 3 on release day ($60 - $20 coupon from Fallout New Vegas)
$30 NBA Jam on second week of release ($50 - $20 coupon from Rock Band 3)
free $20 PSN card from $20 coupon from NBA Jam.

Thanks for the deals Kmartgamer!



Also, the same store still have the preorder cases for Fallout New Vegas on sale. I asked why they still had them. The worker said whoever send them didn't ask for them back.
I bought one anyway.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Amazon's Warehouse Deals could've scored you a $28-29 copy of :ps3:Fallout: New Vegas recently and most of those games have been on there as well.:razz::booty:[/QUOTE]

And so your point is that we shouldnt buy a game at any B&M stores anymore on the chance that Amazon MIGHT have it cheaper some time?

Would love to see the quality of games coming out if everyone out there had THAT mentality.
 
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