More Like Worst Buy.

Apparently I am an incredibly difficult person to buy Christmas gifts for. I admit it. Most things I would want for myself, I just buy, cuz there really aren't that many of them. I'm usually content with the same old games of warcraft, or with writing or basically doing the same things I always do, so I don't need new clothes, games, etc. Makes it hard to shop for me. So I always let it be known that Best Buy gift cards are always enjoyed on my part, because Best Buy stores are everywhere and they have all sorts of games, movies, and electronics that I like.

So I came out of Christmas with $100 in Best Buy money. Woot.

The other weekend Tania and I rented Soul Calibur 3 for the PS2 (becuase she liked the previous games) and we played for a bit and got hooked. So here is a video games that my girlfriend will play with me, which is like the coolest thing ever to a gamer like me, so I figure that's a good way to spend half of my Best Buy money. During that weekend we happened to stop by one to buy a second controller for her and I see a copy, but at that point we hadn't played it yet, so I didn't know if I would want to buy it or not. It's a relatively new game, so I figure it's not like some obscure game that will be hard to find if I do decide to get it.

Except that when I go to the local Best Buy... they don't have it. Ok, it kinda irked me, becuase I had gotten all addicted to it while surfing the web and finding information about the secrets you can unlock etc etc (while I was "working") but it's not like it was really their fault for not having it. I mean, I thought it was annoying they didn't, and they SHOULD carry it, but I didn't bother to check before I drove there, so not their fault.

At this point I'm set on buying it that day so when I get back home I check online for which stores near me actually have the game. Only 1 of the "nearest you" 6 stores actually had any in stock, so I call them on the phone to make sure. No one answers, after all at this point it's an hour before closing, so I figure they just stop answering the phones some time before they actually close. Now this particular store is something like 20 minutes away, farther than 3-4 other ones nearby. But I really want the game at this point. When I get there, they don't have it.

Now let me clarify. It's not that they, say, only had one copy when I checked online and someone got to it before me. Their computer STILL said they have 4 in stock. But they don't. Apparently games ship in bundles of 4, so one bundle must have gotten lost and no one has told the computer that.

Trips to Best Buy: 2.
Stores with the game: 0.

Now I've essentially given up on stores near me, so I order one for pick up in Riverside, since I go there all the time anyway. I know their computer says that have some in stock, but I don't take that at face value this time. But the next day they send me the confirmation email, to let me know that yes, we have your item waiting for you, so you can come with a photo ID and the confirmation number any time you want to pick it up. As it turns out, Tania decided to visit me on Saturday instead of me going to Riverside/Redlands, so she stops by the store with the number and an ID etc.
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THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY.

Maybe it's just my high expectations, but to ME, when you have something in stock according to your computer, you should actually HAVE that item in stock like you say you do. But even then I understand that things get lost and the computer isn't always right. But when you send a *confirmation* email saying that your item is ready for pickup... let's just say they should be glad that Tania was the one who showed up at that point, becuase if I had to deal with them not having it when they said they did... again. Well I would have made quite a stink about it, asked to see a manager or something, maybe demanded money back for my gift cards because Best Buy never has anything even if they specifically say they do and I don't like to buy from liars.

I wonder if it's possible to get gift cards from like... amazon.com. If so I'm going to make a point to ask for that next year, or EBgames or something. Anything but Best -but only if we have it, and just cuz we say we do doesn't mean we actually do- Buy.


At this point I used my gift card to order the game online and tell them to ship it to me from whatever mystical magical closet of theirs actually DOES have the game in stock. I just got an email saying my item has been shipped. I'll believe that when I'm holding the game in my own two hands - not before.