Texas Gamer sings the "Pre-Order Blues"

Posted by Marc Kravitz

11:53 AM, October 13, 2006

I'm a little frustrated over the way one specific retailer is handling the Pre-Ordering of the new consoles. I won't name names, but like most gamers, it's where I stop to buy games.
This past week, on two seperate occasions, I stood in line for hours wanting to be one of the first to pre-order the PS3 and Wii. I was the third in line for the PS3 pre-order and the first in line for the Wii. Surely you would think I've locked myself in to be one of the first to be enjoying my new Wiimote and Blu-Ray DVD play..uh, I mean PS3.
But in an attempt to make sure their coorporate arses are covered this time around and not have a repeat of last year's 360 pre-order fiasco, this retailer is making every attempt to make sure consumers know that putting down a deposit does not guarantee you a unit on launch day. In fact it goes on to say that by pre-ordering you now have the right to be in line with the rest of the folks who pre-order in hopes of getting your hands on a system.

And this my gaming friends is where they crossed the line. The fact that my place in line when I pre-ordered, as well as the fact that I payed for each of the consoles in full has no bearing on my ability to actually receive a unit is ridiculous. I just payed a fortune for what, essentially, is the right to stand in line, yet again, for the chance to pick up the system for which I already payed for!
For example: One store that has a boutique of electronics takes 10 pre-orders. I'm the first in line to pre-order my system. Launch day arrives and they only recieved 5. That means five people that pre-ordered are not going to get a system. Those unlucky 5 are not the last ones who got their pre-order in, it's the last ones who show up to claim them. So you can be rest assured that on launch day, the folks that pre-ordered will get out there and camp out for G-D only knows how many hours ahead of time to make sure they are first, just in case the quantities dont arrive as expected.
So I have to do this again?! And at the risk of still not getting a system?! Wouldn't it have been fair for the retailer to, upon pre-order, simply issue each customer a number, in order of your place in line, with a second priority being to those that didn't simply put down a deposit, but paid in full?
I can understand the retailer adopting a CYA attitude and to make sure they dont encounter the same angry mobs or upset customers from the 360 Launch. And I get that they can not guarantee the exact amount of systems to arrive because they have no control of production or shipping from the manufacturer, but I am at a loss for why they can't go about the limited pre-ordering campaign with a little more class and fairness.