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Circuit City's Paper Mario Scam

April 13, 2007 in Industry News comments 15

I feel bad. Yesterday I posted an article about how the nice people at Circuit City would give the unhappy customers who did not receive Paper Mario on opening day a giftcard of $20 if they did not have it. Because of my tiny, little, Asian beady eyes, I did not see how fine the print really was. Aaron emailed us to tell his story:

I get to Circuit City and stand in the customer service line. I see they'd erected a little sign reading Super Paper Mario sold out. I'm bummed that they don't have it but I think at least I can get a $20 giftcard so I can get the game later at a discounted price.... I ask him about the offer in the weekly ad. He says I don't get a giftcard because they did have the game in stock-earlier... He said I would have only gotten the giftcard if their supply never came. SHADY!!
tekmosis via kotaku.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Apr 26, 2007

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  • 1
    Sakura Apr 13, 07
    Well that's not cool. Fine Print is soo not cool. Oh well, at least I got my copy of the game.
  • 0
    George Apr 14, 07
    I'm sure everyone hates fine print.
  • 0
    Dio Apr 14, 07
    That promotion was deceiving.

    Damn fine print.
  • 0
    madtown Apr 14, 07
    >_< What a rip-off I wish people would be more up front about that kind of stuff instead of wasting peoples valuable time.
  • 0
    Chad Apr 14, 07
    Wow, that is pretty bad. They should have at least given them a five dollar gift card for consolation. That really looks bad for Circuit Citys all over the world.
  • 0
    Mishtram Apr 14, 07
    How unfortunate. It just goes to shows that quite often deals just aren't worth following up with. =/
  • 0
    Gary Apr 14, 07
    That is very shady indeed, basically it seems like they're trying to make themselves out to be customer friendly by offering the gift cards then adding fine print like that so they don't have to pay out.
    • 1
      Sakura Apr 14, 07
      I have never found them to be that great of a store anyways. I usually go to Best Buy. It's a lot better in my opinion. Although, I got my Super Paper Mario game at Gamestop. I just don't really go to Circuit City, and this makes me just not want to go there period.
  • 0
    luigi jean Apr 14, 07
    Wow, it's so hard to get something free. I thought that Circuit City was good, but the small print is always there. Always.
  • 0
    dmf_dynasty Apr 14, 07
    This will enforce all of the articles I've been reading about Circuit City on the decline. There were plenty in stock when I checked Walmart, but I didn't get it.
  • 0
    Vampire Lord Alucard Apr 14, 07
    I would kinda like to see a picture of the original ad.. who is Aaron? Maybe it wasnt as shady as it sounds, and he overlooked something obvious.

    EDIT: http://circuitcity.shoplocal.com/circuitcity/Default.aspx?action=browsepageflash&storeid=2397159&rapid=383828&pagenumber=1&prvid=CircuitCity-070408&promotioncode=CircuitCity-070408

    "(3) Offer valid this week only for select video game New Releases on the advertised release day from 2pm until close of business. In-store only. **Gift card good for future purchases only. Items and conditions are applied to gift cards"

    I don't see where it says anything about recieving shipment or not. Aaron should have been able to recieve the gift-card, unless I missed something..
  • 2
    Redemption* Apr 14, 07
    It's not uncommon for big box stores to "make up" rules and regulations on the spot to cover their illegal false advertising practices. I have been hit by this time and time again. During the week leading up to the Boxing Day sales in Vancouver Rogers was advertising this amazing deal for an Xbox 360, hyping up a low price combo that included Gears of War. On Christmas Day they put up small signs warning people that all their advertisings were a "misprint". And yet the ploy worked, MANY people lined up or rushed the Rogers Video stores hoping to get a good deal. I've seen other examples, where you arrive and they tell you that the offer is only available under some unrealistic circumstances.
  • 0
    Cool Blue Apr 14, 07
    We once had problems with Circuit City too. We reserved a PS2 but they sold our PS2 to someone else before we got there. But still, that isn't fair. You should really complain... a lot..
  • 0
    black doom Apr 14, 07
    That sounds proposteriously crude and shameful. Although when have people not been like that.
  • 0
    Kitta Apr 26, 07
    Is that really a scam? Would anybody honestly believe that a store would give EVERY customer a $20 gift card just because they were sold out of the game? Can you imagine how much money the store would lose if every Joe Shmoe could come in and claim that they wanted Super Paper Mario? Every ad has fine print, but honestly in this case you shouldn't even need to read it to realize that Circuit City isn't actually going to give you a $20 gift card just because they've sold out.

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