Maybe It's Just Me
But when I get screwed over, I don't like to sit on my ass if I can do something about it.
However, today, I found out that DH (and evidently lots of people who play City of Villains) did just that.
Long story short: DH purchased the pre-order copy of City of Villains from Best Buy. The pre-order allowed you to play the game two days before it went live, and one would assume, (and it was implied) continue to play after the game went live. Well, whether it was Best Buy or one of their distributors who dropped the ball, that didn't happen. Best Buy did not receive the game until a full four days after the game officially went live; they refused to refund money because "they held up their side of the bargain," and then they became rude and dismissive to boot.
Well, seeing as how we don't exactly have money to burn, I want our $10 back. So, I am doing what DH and a bunch of other online gaming geekheads did not. I wrote a letter:
In late September, I purchased the pre-order copy of City of Villains with the understanding that by purchasing a pre-order copy, that not only would I be able to start playing the game two days earlier than when the game, a massive multi-player online role-playing game, went live, but also with the understanding that my game play would be allowed to continue uninterrupted and a smooth transition would be made when the game itself went live.
This was not the case. Best Buy Company, whether through their fault or the fault of their distributors, did not receive the actual game until four days following the game going live online. When I learned of this, I returned to Best Buy to receive a refund of my monies placed on the pre-order package. Best Buy would not refund my money, claiming that they held up their side of the bargain by allowing me, and many other customers who purchased the pre-order, to play the game two days early.
I feel that Best Buy did not hold up their side of the bargain, because it was understood that game play would continue seamlessly, without pause or interruption and such was not the case . By not receiving the game in time and providing it to their pre-purchase customers, Best Buy did not allow for continuous game play and failed to live up to the expectations of their customers.
Not only was I misled and denied what I paid for, but the staff at the Best Buy store at [store address], were dismissive and rude. When I explained that the entire advertising campaign and reason behind the pre-order was to allow customers who did such to gain a two-day head start, they refused to acknowledge or further discuss or escalate the issue, simply dismissing me and my complaint with a rude statement of "Well, that's not our problem."
I, and many others, were forced to forfeit my monies and purchase the game elsewhere.
I would like for Best Buy to refund my pre-purchase monies for the City of Villains games. In addition, I would like to request that Best Buy apologize to the public, admit their mistake and that they misled customers and misrepresented themselves in the pre-purchase marketplace. Admitting error and refunding monies as expected is the only civil and professional thing to do.
In the past, I have had many good shopping experiences with Best Buy. The staff has always been friendly and the prices are competitive and extremely good. However, after this, I will always consider my options to shop elsewhere before going to Best Buy and I will advise family and friends, and many people I know in the computer gaming circles, to avoid shopping at Best Buy and to certainly buy their pre-order products elsewhere and from companies who will not mislead their customers or misrepresent themselves.
I hope that Best Buy will work to restore my faith in their company and their company practices.
Comments, questions, suggestions, additions? I will be mailing this to the Customer Service Relations dept at the local Best Buy and I will also be cc'ing a copy to the Customer Serive Relations department at their headquarters. I'm going to be nice and not cc a copy to the Better Business Bureau until Best Buy has been given an adequate amount of time to respond.
(Also did I mention that I caught the Creeping Crud, so I had to leave work early and come home sick? So yeah, I'm at my bitchiest when DH tells me this.)
However, today, I found out that DH (and evidently lots of people who play City of Villains) did just that.
Long story short: DH purchased the pre-order copy of City of Villains from Best Buy. The pre-order allowed you to play the game two days before it went live, and one would assume, (and it was implied) continue to play after the game went live. Well, whether it was Best Buy or one of their distributors who dropped the ball, that didn't happen. Best Buy did not receive the game until a full four days after the game officially went live; they refused to refund money because "they held up their side of the bargain," and then they became rude and dismissive to boot.
Well, seeing as how we don't exactly have money to burn, I want our $10 back. So, I am doing what DH and a bunch of other online gaming geekheads did not. I wrote a letter:
In late September, I purchased the pre-order copy of City of Villains with the understanding that by purchasing a pre-order copy, that not only would I be able to start playing the game two days earlier than when the game, a massive multi-player online role-playing game, went live, but also with the understanding that my game play would be allowed to continue uninterrupted and a smooth transition would be made when the game itself went live.
This was not the case. Best Buy Company, whether through their fault or the fault of their distributors, did not receive the actual game until four days following the game going live online. When I learned of this, I returned to Best Buy to receive a refund of my monies placed on the pre-order package. Best Buy would not refund my money, claiming that they held up their side of the bargain by allowing me, and many other customers who purchased the pre-order, to play the game two days early.
I feel that Best Buy did not hold up their side of the bargain, because it was understood that game play would continue seamlessly, without pause or interruption and such was not the case . By not receiving the game in time and providing it to their pre-purchase customers, Best Buy did not allow for continuous game play and failed to live up to the expectations of their customers.
Not only was I misled and denied what I paid for, but the staff at the Best Buy store at [store address], were dismissive and rude. When I explained that the entire advertising campaign and reason behind the pre-order was to allow customers who did such to gain a two-day head start, they refused to acknowledge or further discuss or escalate the issue, simply dismissing me and my complaint with a rude statement of "Well, that's not our problem."
I, and many others, were forced to forfeit my monies and purchase the game elsewhere.
I would like for Best Buy to refund my pre-purchase monies for the City of Villains games. In addition, I would like to request that Best Buy apologize to the public, admit their mistake and that they misled customers and misrepresented themselves in the pre-purchase marketplace. Admitting error and refunding monies as expected is the only civil and professional thing to do.
In the past, I have had many good shopping experiences with Best Buy. The staff has always been friendly and the prices are competitive and extremely good. However, after this, I will always consider my options to shop elsewhere before going to Best Buy and I will advise family and friends, and many people I know in the computer gaming circles, to avoid shopping at Best Buy and to certainly buy their pre-order products elsewhere and from companies who will not mislead their customers or misrepresent themselves.
I hope that Best Buy will work to restore my faith in their company and their company practices.
Comments, questions, suggestions, additions? I will be mailing this to the Customer Service Relations dept at the local Best Buy and I will also be cc'ing a copy to the Customer Serive Relations department at their headquarters. I'm going to be nice and not cc a copy to the Better Business Bureau until Best Buy has been given an adequate amount of time to respond.
(Also did I mention that I caught the Creeping Crud, so I had to leave work early and come home sick? So yeah, I'm at my bitchiest when DH tells me this.)