Pre-Ordering or Buying off of the Shelf -- Which is Faster?

Jason Beaudoin · October 10, 2001, 08:27

I'm wondering if anyone in Canada has tried pre-ordering the game. I have access to a Electronics Boutique store, and they usually have the game a couple of days after release, but I'm wondering if I would get the game sooner (maybe even on the release date) if I pre-ordered it.

Lee Johnson · October 10, 2001, 10:00

My experience in Toronto is that you are better off waiting for it to hit the store. Pre-ordering might be a win if you're in the States, but I haven't had much luck with it. There are few things as distressing as seeing the package on store shelves and not knowing when your copy is going to show up.

If the game ships out October 30 from EB's distribution centre, it will probably be in Toronto EB stores by November 1 or 2. It might even be here October 31, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Anyway, I'm locked in: I returned Pool of Radiance (shudder) and applied the credit as a deposit toward my Cookie Tin Edition preorder.

Sarxis · October 10, 2001, 10:02

I have heard horror stories when it comes to mail pre-orders. I suggest you find the hottest software retailer in your area, and just wait at the front door on the day of release.

Provost Harrison · October 10, 2001, 10:05

Yeah, as all the online retailers in this country are still saying the game is not going to be released until december, I am more inclined to just go into the city centre in the morning and buy it in person, and drive back at 80mph through busy Hull streets to get back home as soon as I can with my little darling

LaRusso · October 10, 2001, 10:30

argh. why do i live in this deceivingly metropolitan city. phew

Lee Johnson · October 10, 2001, 11:35

Quote:

and drive back at 80mph through busy Hull streets

That's, what, normal traffic speed in Hull?

Col Bigspear · October 10, 2001, 14:39

1. What is the rumored release date in England?.
2. I'll be in College until December 21st (I think) and it's a 20 minute walk from there to the Trafford Centre (my local EB, HMV and GAME etc..) I just don't feel like going there straight after Chrimbo, It'll be packed. Even when it's not packed I always seem to get stuck behind a slow coach. GET OUT OF MY F*CKING WAY

I NEED TO GET TO A GAMES STORE NOW. I only go there to get something or watch a film, most people just wander round aimlessly. MOVE MOVE MOVE

connorkimbro · October 10, 2001, 14:44

i've never had to wait when pre-ordering at my closest electronics store, and picking it up there. they always have it ready to go on the day of release.

Crouchback · October 10, 2001, 15:24

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee Johnson

That's, what, normal traffic speed in Hull?

It depends on whether the clubs are open or not, if the two universities are in term, and which direction the wind is blowing (it's always blowing in Hull). Lived there for two years and hated it, apart from The Room.

But I don't expect to get my copy from Amazon.co.uk for three days or so after release. Wish I had the time to find a shop.

David

BTW, Col Bigspear, the release date in the UK is the same as the US: 30th October. Confirmed in the gold announcement thread somewhere.

Inverse Icarus · October 10, 2001, 15:46

i ordered Tribes2 Rush delivery online, but FEDEX WENT ON STRIKE, AND IT TOOK 2 WEEKS TO GET HERE.

Lee Johnson · October 10, 2001, 16:07

I think the good Provost means Hull, Quebec, not Kingston-upon-Hull, England. But I liked your response anyway.

Crouchback · October 10, 2001, 16:11

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee Johnson
I think the good Provost means Hull, Quebec, not Kingston-upon-Hull, England. But I liked your response anyway.

You mean they have a Hull as well as a Winnipeg, man that country is cursed.

But then so am I if amazon.co.uk stick to 28/12 as the UK release date, which is what they are still saying.

David

dainbramaged13 · October 10, 2001, 16:16

doesnt provost live in england

Whitestar718 · October 10, 2001, 18:23

Pre-Ordering, IMHO, is a sham. Publishers LOVE pre-orders because they can (and have to) charge you full price, so as not to damage their pricing relationships with their distributors.

They can and will promise you the moon about getting the product "before everyone else on your block". Don't believe it. From what I have seen on message boards for other games, people who pre-ordered games usually end up with the egg on their faces, so to speak. In the big scheme of things, you can't believe that a publisher values your 40 bucks more so than a customer like Best Buy, who may buy 20,000 copies in a single purchase. Don't hold your breath my friend--your copy is not priority one at the pre-order store.

MH

Provost Harrison · October 10, 2001, 18:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee Johnson
I think the good Provost means Hull, Quebec, not Kingston-upon-Hull, England. But I liked your response anyway.

Nope, Crouchback is correct, I live in Kingston-upon-Hull, England.

And the speed limit the whole of the way back from my house is 30 or 40mph! The joke is that I will be speeding like a rally driver to get back to my house as soon as I can

Oh, and Crouchback, did you ever go to Spiders? I have only been to the Room once or twice, would like to go again but have no one to go with

It's a lonely old life in Hull...

Lee Johnson · October 10, 2001, 21:44

Ha, the joke's on me! Your quote from Isaac Brock threw me off--I thought you were in Canada. And this is ostensibly a Canadian thread. I hope you don't mind.

JellyDonut · October 10, 2001, 22:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Col Bigspear
1. What is the rumored release date in England?

Infogrammes says October 30 for UK and US release.

I'm probably going to pre-order it. The closest software store is EB, 50 mi away from here

So I'll probably get it early November and spare the two hours in the car.

Simpleton · October 11, 2001, 05:06

I'm from Canada too (Edmonton) and I looked into Pre-ordering it but I saw that the shipment could take anywhere from 5 to 10 days from the states. I used to (before napster, audiogalaxy) order lots of Cd's from various internet sites and I always found the delivery at the high end (in this case probably 10 days) as opposed to the low end of what they say. Sooooo I decided I'd wait till I saw it in stores. There's an EB in Edmonton so it should have the game fairly quickly (1 week or less).

Besides I still have to upgrade my computer and I want it preinstalled with Windows XP and most stores can't sell it until the 25th so I may have to wait anyhow depending on when I can get out and pick up a system. Any suggestions? A little off topic now but this is what I was thinking of (ASUS A7M266, AMD Athlon 1.2 , 256 DDR, Asus GE force2 MX400 are the main components --> sound good?)

Sava · October 11, 2001, 07:34

Quote:

Originally posted by Jingo
i ordered Tribes2 Rush delivery online, but FEDEX WENT ON STRIKE, AND IT TOOK 2 WEEKS TO GET HERE.

LOL

Didn't it suck when you finally got Tribes 2 and found out that it sucked a$$? Tribes 2 has been the worst game I ever had the pleasure of shelling out 50 bucks (US) for.

Sava · October 11, 2001, 07:37

I was wondering about which would be faster also. I was thinking of ordering Civ 3 from BestBuy.com and then choosing to pick it up at the store. Basically, I'm just reserving a copy. I have a feeling that pre-ordering from amazon.com, or anywhere else, would be a longer wait because of the shipping. Plus I would cry if on Oct. 31st I was at BestBuy and saw 50 copies on the shelf while waiting for mine to come.

Provost Harrison · October 11, 2001, 07:46

Judging by some of the horror stories I have heard, I will just go to the shops on the day of release. It is what I have done in the past with civ2 and SMAC...

Sava · October 11, 2001, 07:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Judging by some of the horror stories I have heard, I will just go to the shops on the day of release. It is what I have done in the past with civ2 and SMAC...

Harrison, you ROCK!

I thought you were Canadian, though. Now I have to imagine you as a UKer, saying words like "****er" and "yank". Britain was smart, they sent all their criminals and religious fanatics to America. And they all became politicians. Maybe, I'll move to the UK.

Sava · October 11, 2001, 07:57

I can't say ****er? wtf

Col Bigspear · October 11, 2001, 18:59

I just thought of something (haven't read most posts so I don't know if it has been said), if it does come out on 30th Oct, then I'll probably get it on 31st...... Halloween. I'll (hopefully) be playing like mad, when all of a sudden....Knock knock..trick or treat.... some little sh*ts will be knocking at my door. WTF trick or treat GET OFF MY FUC*ING DOOR STEP! NOW BI*CH's ME IS PLAYING CIV3

Juggernaut · October 11, 2001, 19:20

Pre-ordered from amazon.com. Will probably take an eternity.

TechWins · October 11, 2001, 19:39

If my calculations are right Nov 1 is a Friday. That is the day Best Buy is supposed to be receiving the game. Which is the place where I've already spent $10 on my pre-order. Now somehow I need to find a way to stay home from school on Nov 1. I can already tell you how I'm going to be spending my Nov 1-2-3 weekend.

Lee Johnson · October 11, 2001, 21:41

Of course, November 1 falls on a Thursday.