SlashGear Japan
I’m sure that by now you’re shocked that I haven’t posted my in-depth review of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. Unfortunately due to some shipping issues I have not yet received my copy, but you can rest assured that I’ll give you my full report once it makes its way here. Until then, here’s a little nugget of joy.
By joy I of course mean pain. If you went to your local Walmart to pick up your copy of the game, you already know what I’m talking about. Until now we’ve been informed that the Xbox 360 bundle will feature a Les Paul, and the PS2 will have a Kramer controller. However, if you went to Walmart and didn’t look closely at the box then you very likely found either an X-plorer or SG instead.
I’m sorry, but that’s just not cool. Many people were excited to get the game, took it home and were sorely disappointed to find an old controller in the box. Now depending on how strict the person is working the customer service desk at Walmart, you’ll find yourself stuck with the old controller, as their policy doesn’t allow for returns on opened video games.
So lets say you did notice it, what if that’s the only store in your town that sells games? You could try to drive your ass over to the next town, but by then all of the stores have likely closed from their midnight launch. Had you know Walmart only had the old controller, you likely wouldn’t have even bothered to go to Walmart in the first place, would you?
I had a couple of my close friends from my hometown fall into that category. They showed up at Walmart only to find X-plorers where the Les Paul should be. They drove to the next town, but found the stores either closed or sold out. What a waste of time and gas.
Yes, there is an upside to this “exclusive” package that Walmart apparently had. It’s $10 cheaper. Sure, if you’ve never purchased Guitar Hero before, one controller might be just as good as the next. But if you’ve already got an X-plorer or an SG, you’re not really going to want another one when there’s something different on the market.
I think this could have been easily prevented by some simple communication. Otherwise this just comes off as a sneaky way to unload some spare guitars. Bad form.
5 Responses to “Walmart screws Guitar Hero III buyers out of a new controller”
Tdogg October 30, 2007
Yes, what you have heard is correct, i am a walmart employee and I am an owner of guitar hero II, I worked the day of the release of GH3 and was stocked to be one of the first to get it…i got looking at the package and noticed a picture of the guitar not only was it an SG it had a cord, i thought maybe what i heard was just a rumor that the controller was suppose to be cordless but yet again Wal-mart takes the cheap & easy way out…Don’t be fooled kids Wal-mart may “Sell for Less” but your getting the Least.
scincerly,
NeutralWalmart employee
Tdogg October 30, 2007
Fortunatley we have a policy were is the customer is always right and you take something back even if there is no receit so if you bought one in canda im sure the policy is the same at your local walmart too
-1Phred October 31, 2007
I’m also a Walmart employee. Never forget, Walmart sells for less because they deliver less many times, from clothing from China, covered in harmful chemicals to old controllers.
You get what you pay for folks.
NeutralBrian November 20, 2007
“They drove to the next town, but found the stores either closed or sold out. What a waste of time and gas.”
What’s purchasing online mean? :P
NeutralCharlie January 2, 2008
[quote comment="31326"]“They drove to the next town, but found the stores either closed or sold out. What a waste of time and gas.”
What’s purchasing online mean? :P[/quote]
It means not getting your product on launch day usually.
Neutral