games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 



I woke up at the crack of dawn this morning to buy a Wii for my dad. He's been playing stuff like Bases Loaded on his NES forever now because he finds everything else too complicated. Judging by the other moms and dads whom have been recruited on YouTube, I think this will go over well. He's recently quit smoking so I'm also hoping it will at least supplementally provide the crack he needs.

I knew Circuit City stores would have a few and there was one right around my block, so I headed out hoping that the number of guys who barely slept that were already there before me were outnumbered by units on hand. I barely made the cut -- scoring Wii voucher 7/9. Two other strangers soon joined up and the usual tenth guy offered us money for our vouchers. We were unmoved and passed the time doing what gamers do -- we talked about Halo. Nuclear war will break out and even the surviving roaches will still be talking about Halo.

Anyway, the store would eventually open and we would buy out all the units within five minutes, leaving late moms (and oddly enough, a group of firemen) circling around with empty hands. "Try GameStop, they have the Gamecube trade in program starting today.", I would offer. "And read Destructoid, you batches." As I stood inline for my turn I noticed that a few of my voucher bretheren were holding the spontaneously cancelled coupon that surfaced on the internet yesterday and had a lifespan of, say, 6 hours tops. I didn't a copy knowing what would happen, but these guys didn't get the memo. I wanted with eyes wide open to see the outcome. This would not end well...

The cashier struggled with the barcode scanner and dashed for the managers office, then returned 15 minutes later. She walked back with shit-face mode engaged. (As in "my boss is an utter cock and now I have to wear his cockface and policies the rest of the day, I hate my job.")

Shit face: "I'm sorry, the coupon doesn't work for this item."
Victim: "But look at the fine print, it doesn't say video games or Wii, etc."
Shit face: "I know, but my computer says it won't take it and my manager says we can't accept it for this item. Do you still want the Wii?"
Victim: "Yeah, I guess. But this really sucks!"
Niero: "They cancelled the coupon cause it received too much attention online after getting on Digg and every other gaming site. It's bullshit. Can I take a photo of you with the coupon for the site?  We need to show people what just happened."
Victim: "Hell yeah!"
Shit face: "Let me get out of the photo."

Indeed, the coupon says nothing of the sort. In fact, it is a very specific disclaimer that disqualifies specific brand name items like Apple but not Nintendo. The manager was not available for further comment. 

There you have it, captured on my greasy cellphone, proof that Circuit City is indeed not honoring the coupon at the checkout counter. I imagine that hundreds if not thousands of people will go through the same bait and switch situation across the nation this morning in stores down your block which will end in the same result -- people will buy the Wii out of desperation due to high demand, but they might have lined up at Best Buy, EB Games, or Target had this false coupon never circulated. 

Today the consumer lost. We can only hope that this story gets enough negative press that they'll give a shit and make it right or that the Better Business Bureau kicks them in the nuts. Repeatedly. If you were affected by this incident, we strongly encourage you to file a complaint online right now - it takes only 5 minutes.

 


Continue: More WHAAAAAAT? stories





prev next

28 comments | showing # 1 to 28

tazarthayoot's Avatar
tazarthayoot at 01/21/2007 12:04
The Circuit City near me had next to no one, mostly because there was 5 inches of snow dropped here in C.Dot over night. I drove by on my way out and noticed there was three people who trooped it out. They said they had been there since about 5-ish, and they were bundled up like Ralphie's brother was on Christmas Story.

I asked if they knew if the store even had any. They said they read online that they would, but weren't specific as to where (name dropped Dtoid), and were hoping they would get lucky.
Your Mom's Avatar
Your Mom at 01/21/2007 12:10
Take it easy on "Shit-face". It's not her fault the coupon got cancelled, nor is it her fault her store's management is a bunch of ass-holes. She's just a peon working for a shitty company.
tazarthayoot's Avatar
tazarthayoot at 01/21/2007 12:12
I was just about to say that myself, your mom.

I had to call every single ps3 preorder when our company decided they wouldn't be sending us ANY ps3's first day (we had 20 preorders). I got a full range of insults and threats, but again, it's not my fault Sony's a moron and launches with sub numbers, nor is it my fault that the company I work for are dumbasses. And same goes for shit-face.

Unless her name was in fact shit-face, that'd make me lawl.
Niero's Avatar
Niero at 01/21/2007 12:17
Nah, there are two ways to handle that. You can wear earnest apology Im-so-sorry-its-my-company's-bullshit-with-a-smile face or you can wear shit face. She chose my least favorite of the two
mrberns's Avatar
mrberns at 01/21/2007 12:20
Well hopefully by spending my $2k at amazon for the new tv I had been expecting to buy from circuit city for the last month or so, I've been able to ballance some of the misdoing a little.
GodLen's Avatar
GodLen at 01/21/2007 12:22
this is why we love you Niero, your unprejudice robot eyes see all.
DigitalD562's Avatar
DigitalD562 at 01/21/2007 12:42
A major company not honoring valid coupons? When the BBB comes knocking circuit city's gonna have a lota 'splaining to do.
parrothead's Avatar
parrothead at 01/21/2007 12:56
I have filed a complaint with the BBB, Also.
SubOrbital's Avatar
SubOrbital at 01/21/2007 13:12
whine whine whine whine whine.
TheBrain's Avatar
TheBrain at 01/21/2007 13:12
I used a similar coupon to get my Wii for 40 bucks off last November. I guess they caught on.
stagl's Avatar
stagl at 01/21/2007 13:13
complaint filed.
Fronz's Avatar
Fronz at 01/21/2007 13:21
Make sure you guys all file complaints.
Danzuke's Avatar
Danzuke at 01/21/2007 13:52
I got my Wii day 1 but I'm still gonna file a complaint, cause I just don't like Circuit City
Danzuke's Avatar
Danzuke at 01/21/2007 13:52
... or shit-faces.
Serpentish's Avatar
Serpentish at 01/21/2007 13:55
Good thing I told my little brother to go use that coupon yesterday. They let it go and gave him 40 dollars off a 360.
GENACON's Avatar
GENACON at 01/21/2007 14:23
I'll fill one out. Problem (not really) is though i live in australia.
Anyone got a US zip code they can give me?
Rainbowblack's Avatar
Rainbowblack at 01/21/2007 14:57
11717 Brentwood NY

also cocks
bhive01's Avatar
bhive01 at 01/21/2007 15:45
I'm not too convinced that filing a bunch of complaints is going to help much. CC will most likely never put out such an awesome coupon ever again. Damned if you do, damned if you don't I guess.
Nick Chester's Avatar
Nick Chester at 01/21/2007 16:22
Not leaving until you got rung up with the coupon works, too.
TheDayTripper's Avatar
TheDayTripper at 01/21/2007 17:07
I had no idea that people where still going through hell to get these things.I'm glad I camped out before the weather got shitty.

I've had my Wii since December,and I got it from Best Buy...but I'll file a complaint anyway.

Niero's Avatar
Niero at 01/21/2007 21:43
This is the fourth Wii I buy since we've given some away on the site and I always have to camp for them. By the way, it was a hit with the old man. He punched my nephew in the face repeatedly but the little one is mean at golf
TheDayTripper's Avatar
TheDayTripper at 01/21/2007 23:00
It's no surprise that he liked it.By now it's obvious that Nintendo achieved what they wanted to by appealing to different audiences.

When you can get boobtastic,scantily clad girls to hop around playing your console and post videos of it on the internet,you've done something right.
PITT sauce's Avatar
PITT sauce at 01/21/2007 23:05
When you say punched in the face are you referring to a wiimote accident?
mooboy's Avatar
mooboy at 01/23/2007 18:28
Yeah at the circuit city near my house, before they even handed out any vouchers, they put up a flyer with the coupon on it that specifically said it would not work with the Wii. Way to head it off at the pass...
suckputch's Avatar
suckputch at 01/26/2007 17:59
that is one handsome looking bastard on that pic!!!!
suckputch's Avatar
suckputch at 01/26/2007 17:59
that is one handsome looking bastard on that pic!!!!
suckputch's Avatar
suckputch at 01/26/2007 17:59
that is one handsome looking bastard on that pic!!!!
homegrownxxx's Avatar
homegrownxxx at 03/14/2007 01:06
Nick -Brutal- Chester says:
01/21/2007 16:22
Not leaving until you got rung up with the coupon works, too.

Yeah until they take your Wii away from you and sell it to the next person in line and kick you or call the cops. trust me, I've dealt with ppl who think they can win by just waiting it out. Guess what, i sold the lst wii to the next guy in line. Management backed me up so i win. :P Also cause you have no legal right to the Wii even with a voucher. Vouchers are just for fairness. They don't HAVE to sell it to you. :P
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos




    Win this!
    Reminder: We're giving away six copies of Magnacarta 2!



    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Mahjongg Artifacts 2 review
    Dragon Age: Origins review
    Lost Winds: The Winter of the Melodias review
    Osmos review
    Space Invaders Extreme 2 review
    Half-Minute Hero review
    JU-ON: The Grudge review
    Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble review
    Thexder Neo review
    Domino Rally review
    more reviews
    PS3's 256-player MAG
    Rooms The Main Building
    Skate 3
    Hudson's bringing back the Bonk
    James Cameron's Avatar
    Bomberman Battlefest
    Calling
    Bad Company 2's multiplayer
    Partying like it's 1959 in BioShock 2's multiplayer
    BioShock 2 through the eyes of Big Daddy
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 49609 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing

    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: How to respond to a videogame review





















    More Destructoid Originals




     Popular now more
























    Destructoid's editorial lovefest is:
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Dale North
    News Editor
    Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor
    Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Letters to the editors
    tips@destructoid.com
    Associate Editors
    Ashley Davis Jonathan Holmes
    Brad Nicholson Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Chad Concelmo Matthew Razak
    Colette Bennett Tom Fronczak
    Conrad Zimmerman Topher Cantler
    Dyson Samit Sarkar
    Contributors
    Adam Dork
    Ben Perlee
    Daniel Lingen
    Joseph Leray
    Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Will Maddock
    Stella Wong





     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online
    seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap
    our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?




    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006