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I get a lot of phone calls, many from phone numbers I don't recognize. I'm a man of technology, preferring to do my business over email and text messages, so I let many go straight to voice mail.

When a Texas-based call came in today, I hit "ignore" on my cell, instead deciding to fight with the slightly-broken Killzone 2 beta servers. When I checked the voice mail later, I was greeted by a high-pitched shriek in my ear. It was a recorded message of a woman named Ashley, calling on behalf of GameStop to remind me that they'd be holding a Wednesday midnight release for World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King.

"We invite you to join us early at 10 p.m. to join in the fun," she shouted excitedly into my ear, "including dressing up like your favorite character in preparation for the GameStop ultimate costume [unintelligible] national sweepstakes!"

It's the loudest call I've ever received; by the end I'm dizzy and my ears are ringing. Why GameStop would think that anyone, much less a World of Warcraft fanatic, would be OK with having someone call them up to shout promotional details in their ear is beyond me. Haven't they heard of subtlety? Couldn't they have gotten a WOW voice actor to deliver these details in a calm, even tone? Jesus. 

Best part: I didn't even reserve Wrath of the Lich King. Damn it.


Continue: More World of Warcraft stories





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42 comments | showing # 1 to 42

PySk's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:26
PySk
1) Oh my god, super annoying!!!!

2) @ Nick:
What do you mean with 'slightly-broken Killzone 2 beta servers'?
DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:28
DaedHead8
I got that Ashley bitch on my phone for Fallout 3 and Gears 2. Those two caught me by surprise (WTF phone number is this....). When I get the call for L4D, I'll be ready.
MrSadistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:32
MrSadistic
Hold on... almost there... and... I'm done fapping.

Next time I will know better to reserve a game at GameStop so I can keep listening to that sexy voicemail and touch my junk. She should be in the phone business, if you know what I mean (and I think you do).
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:32
Syn
I think she says "GameStop Ultimate Costume War"
Alexradl's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:36
Alexradl
Someone needs to stab Ashley in the throat.
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:37
Syn
I think she says "GameStop Ultimate Costume War"
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:37
Syn
I think she says "GameStop Ultimate Costume War"
vonneuton's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:38
vonneuton
Got it too. Man... and I thought it was HP calling about fixing a laptop that they've disregarded for about a month now. That was unpleasant.
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:39
Syn
err....sorry about that
Wexx's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:39
Wexx
I hate that woman. and that game.
mr spooky's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:40
mr spooky
Just leave her a dirty message. :)
BlackSheep's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:40
BlackSheep
and... my speakers thank u for that one.

really, they do.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:46
Dexter345
I miss Aeris from GameStop calling me. Wait, no I don't. But she was better than Ashley anyway.
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:48
wardrox
Your country is weird.
VTchina's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:52
VTchina
Lame. I'm still waiting for something as cool as when Charles Martinet called me in the Mario voice for my Mario Galaxy pre-order.
Niero's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:54
Niero
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE
CIRCUS OF VALUES
Stella Wong's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 17:54
Stella Wong
What happened to Aeris? XD she's the one that usually says what pre order you have-
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 18:00
Tubatic
I got that call today too, even though I switched my Lich King pre-order to Mirror's Edge yesterday. :)
Nick Chester's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 18:11
Nick Chester
@PySK:

I've been getting an error even trying to connect to the K2 beta servers; it's apparently one they know about. Samit and a few other people have gotten the same error (and can't play).

@niero:

I wish I had thought of that before I threw together the video.
Technophile's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 18:26
Technophile
Mega ultra ROFL @ Niero
Pyroph's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 18:27
Pyroph
Good christ I didn't know that was a recording, I feel bad for everyone now.
Jordan Devore's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 18:39
Jordan Devore
Jesus H, who approved that shit?
Superfluous Moniker's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 18:40
Superfluous Moniker
Paranoia of this kind of thing is what compels me to go ape shit whenever any clerk at any store tries to get me to give out personal information, especially if I just paid in cash. Effing tools.
GunSlap's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 19:26
GunSlap
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.. ah I'm tired. Pretend I kept on ha-ing for like, another hour there...
Lasbrook's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 20:36
Lasbrook
Jesus Christ did that NEED to be autoplaying? Anyone else have a problem with all the vids on the front page autoplaying today or is this just a personal problem?
SLiFE's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 21:08
SLiFE
Dress up as my favourite character?
But my socially maladjusted shut-in costume is at the cleaners!
bipolar beers's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 21:56
bipolar beers
i got the same call for little big planet. it was ashley and the exact same horrible voice. i think this chick willl be famous.
Link39's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 22:27
Link39
Yeah, it's that same recording everytime you reserve a game.

Bonus: I have the number saved in my cell phone as "Ashley G".

That way, I know I can just ignore it, unless I forgot I reserved a game, or something.
xe-cute's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 22:28
xe-cute
American accents like that piss me off to no end.


Full of FAKE happyness.
deiga-the-semivaliant's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 22:28
deiga-the-semivaliant
At least Aeris didn't shout in your FUCKING EAR. GOD DAMMIT.
BADInc's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 23:26
BADInc
aw man you cut the video off right before the best part, just when you start to get use to her annoying voice, she ends the call with the most obnoxious goodbye in the history of goodbyes
zeroword's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 23:27
zeroword
I get that call for games I did not reserve....
hysterisch's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/11/2008 23:32
hysterisch
I got it twice tonight, once for WoW and then again for Rayman. I too miss the days of "Hi, this is Aeris, calling to let you know that 'your game' will be arriving " *click* (and 'your game' is actual quote)

Too bad I didn't see Ashley at the Gamestop managers conference. CSI has taught me that there's plenty of place to hide a body in Vegas...
XL1ska's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/12/2008 00:44
XL1ska
I got this slut in my ear for Banjo.

I first heard this particular whore the other day when my buddy got a call from "her" for his Gears 2 reservation. He just told me to put my ear up to the phone and listen (it was a voicemail). As soon as I heard it, my ears bled profusely. Pretty sure I died.
toast!'s Avatar - Comment posted on 11/12/2008 02:06
toast!
got it for fallout 3... that's pretty funny that you didnt even reserve the game tho haha :D
Mr Gilder's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/12/2008 10:19
Mr Gilder
I get about 2-3 calls from "Ashley" a week in refference to preorders. I actually had to change the number I had on my account at the store, because my mother yelled at me about all the robo-calls she received each week. I really do miss Aeris. Not only was she alot more subtle, but she was at least a tribute, and an indication that Gamestop actually knew something about games and gamers.

Oh well . . . I guess I shouldn't whine and complain. A perky girl who calls me very regularly with info on games? It's the closest thing to a girlfriend that I'm ever going to get.
The White Light's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/12/2008 11:24
The White Light
Yeah, their system is messed up. I received a call that Fable 2 would be available a week after I had already picked it up. I also received two calls for Little Big Planet, and no call for Fallout 3.
DR EGG's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/12/2008 13:35
DR EGG
GameStop may be the evil empire, but at least their midnight releases run quickly and efficiently.

Like a well-lubricated tractor.

Running over mice.
Jetsetlemming's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/12/2008 17:42
Jetsetlemming
"Win a piece of the world", oh mah god.

Also lol "Trade your console games for Wrath of the Lich King" All your gaming are belong to us.
amalgamut00's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/13/2008 02:57
amalgamut00
GameStop is a cheap company. Right now all the big shots want is money so there won't be any more special voices. The days when has been rock stars calling about Rock Band and Guitar Hero are over. Long live Ashley and all of the other 15 women who call customers about pick-ups.
saxiums's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/13/2008 10:55
saxiums
She is the only one that ever calls me :(
liqideos's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/13/2008 23:01
liqideos
We need to hire Crispin Freeman to deliver these calls.
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