No Super Mario Galaxy 'R' Us
by Eric Caoili 
{ Nov 14th 2007 at 11:15AM }
Yes, we made the trek to Toys "R" Us yesterday to purchase Super Mario Galaxy and take advantage of the "Free $25 Gift Card" offer, only to come out empty-handed. We haven't been this depressed since James died in Good Times.We weren't the only ones who found ourselves sans Super Mario Galaxy, as many are reporting similar experiences with the toy superstore. Some locations only received enough copies to cover preorders, while others quickly sold out of their limited stock. In our case, as well as many of our reader's, we waited around for an hour with several dozen anxious customers before a manager announced that DHL hadn't made its delivery to the store. Hell was raised and magazine racks were knocked over, but to no avail.
How did your Toys "R" Us experience go? Were you able to acquire Super Mario Galaxy, the free gift card, and the preorder bonus coin without any problems? Or did you mope around all night like we did, walking aimlessly from room to room, head hanging dejectedly while the sad music from A Charlie Brown Christmas played.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Nutitta @ Nov 14th 2007 11:21AM
I actually was able to get TWO copies of Super Mario Galaxy at my local Toys R Us. Both unreserved and both with a $25 gift certificate!!!
Dane @ Nov 14th 2007 11:23AM
I was able to snag a copy of SMG from TRU (with the $25 gift card), but after much difficulty. Rude salespeople, misinformation, and deception appear to be the rule of thumb at TRU and I highly recommend everyone make their purchases elsewhere.
Waffala @ Nov 14th 2007 11:22AM
I got it with no hitch at all, although, some lady was having trouble getting Guitar Hero III, something about only enough for pre-orders, come back two months later blah blah. No line or anything though; I had actually overslept, I meant to get there at opening, but I guess it didn't matter.
Preston @ Nov 14th 2007 4:47PM
I actually bought my copy at Circuit City and they match other stores deals so I got the coin and the gift card. They also had about 75 copies left over
wei @ Nov 14th 2007 11:26AM
Picked mine up at the TRU in Times Sq NYC. Didn't reserve and got my $25 gc. I don't usually shop there, but figured they'd have the best stock. They had plenty yesterday afternoon when I dropped by. Everyone was really friendly there, too. I was impressed.
Everyone else on line was buying one, if not two, copies of the game. They had ample copies but were selling fast... Wouldn't be surprised if they sold out by now.
Todd @ Nov 14th 2007 11:28AM
My experience was great. I actually forgot about the $25 gift card offer. I stopped at the Hamilton Place store in Chattanooga, TN because I was driving through on business. No line and the staff was super friendly and helpful.
wei @ Nov 14th 2007 11:27AM
By the way, this game is fantastic. Just sheer joy and fun, the Nintendo way. My wife chips in with the second player. The quasi-coop is actually a lot of fun and makes the game really interesting sometimes. And if anything, it makes things pretty easy.
coldwind7 @ Nov 14th 2007 11:28AM
Copped this bad boy at Best Buy last night but where oh where was Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles?!?!?!?
vidGuy @ Nov 14th 2007 11:28AM
Bummer for you guys. I waltzed into TRU a little after two, grabbed my copy slip, checked out and got my gift card. There were at least a dozen, probably twenty, more copies there at 2pm. The cashier said that they had already sold 30. So, yeah, my store got 50 copies beyond their preorders. Wonder why there was such an uneven distribution?
BTW, I live in a Iowa town of 400,000, but there's only two TRUs in the area.
Dane @ Nov 14th 2007 11:29AM
And yes, the game is fantastic. Get it wherever you can!
Joop @ Nov 14th 2007 11:29AM
I got mine yesterday afternoon without a reserve. Got the $25 gift card and even got the pre-order coin, too.
@3 I'd still put up with all of that if it means not being asked if I want the strategy guide, to pre-order 7 more games, or reminded for the umpteenth time that I can trade in any of my old games.
vidGuy @ Nov 14th 2007 11:30AM
Dane, that truly sucks. My personal experience has been way different - Toys R Us has ALWAYS been very helpful, well informed, and most importantly has the stuff IN STOCK. I've actually bought all my Wii stuff from that store, just a few blocks away from me, because they had the remotes, Wii Point cards, and games in when no other store did. Plus, they give great deals if you look for me.
DaveTehWave @ Nov 14th 2007 11:32AM
I went @ 10AM to the Sterling VA store.
Got mine, with only one person in line ahead of me.
Then again, I did go the day before to 'pre-order' a copy.
I used the $25 to buy another Wii Wand.
unreal mccoy @ Nov 14th 2007 11:31AM
I went to Toys r Us yesterday to get the game, and it was no where to be found. People were getting pissed.
Matt @ Nov 14th 2007 4:21PM
My friend picked up 2 (by himself--they let him pick up 2 copies with 2 gift cards!) I paid him to get the second after I found out the one I could get to from my house only had enough for preorders. He gave it to me today in class (which will only last ~1 hour more) and as soon as I'm done for the day, I'm gonna start it up! Can't wait!
garu29 @ Nov 14th 2007 11:34AM
I went at noon yesterday to TRU and after waiting in line for about 15 to 20 minutes I was able to get Super Mario Galaxy and the gift card. I didn't preorder so no coin for me, but I don't mind! Yes one of the sales people was rude, and it took me a few minutes to realize the store was a mess and I couldn't even figure out where the Wii games were, but just get on line and hope for the best. I thought I heard someone say they were out of the games, but they were out of the Wii consoles (it seems they received 12 the day before).
Based on the line I waited on I can't say I'm surprised that they are running out of copies. The store itself was packed! Plus they will only sell one to a person, so too bad to the people who wanted to buy 5 or 10 to sell on eBay. Get back on line again!!! And yet if you look on eBay there are a zillion that I hope will sell for $25 or less.
And this was in Paramus NJ, just a few feet from a Best Buy where I suspect a employee of the store was probably walking around at the same time announcing he had the last copy of Super Mario Galaxy, -only to pull another one out of his or her ass 30 minutes later.
Dane @ Nov 14th 2007 11:40AM
VidGuy, if TRU didn't have such great deals from time to time, I would never set foot in those stores again. It's always a terrible experience for me.
Mann @ Nov 14th 2007 11:35AM
No problems for me. I preordered and i got it.
racecar @ Nov 14th 2007 11:35AM
The maddening thing for me about my TRU SMG experience was that the guy wouldn't tell me on the phone that they had run out of copies. He said, "I don't know, you'll just have to come in and see." Thirty minutes later, no SMG. I didn't yell at them as I had wanted to about that, since there was a guy blowing his top off at one of the employees saying that he was there when they opened and was told to expect to get a copy, but didn't. I held my breath and figured that they were having a crappy enough day that they didn't need me adding to it.
Oh well, I guess this means I'm back to the eBay/Gamestop trade-ins option for picking this up.
-racecar
http://everybodyvotes.blogspot.com
jceggbert5 @ Nov 18th 2007 9:34PM
I reserved a copy a TRU and got it right away.....
The person in front of me, AND the person behind me also got the game (I saw a glimpse of the Reserve slip).
There is also a collectible player's guide that I got also ($30). That is what I used my $25 gift card for.
Jason @ Nov 14th 2007 11:41AM
I got my copy at a Toys-R-Us in Wisconsin. However, when I went to the store at 9:00 AM (when they opened), I was suprised to find only one other person waiting for the doors to open to buy SMG. The other two people waiting in line were probably waiting for Tickle-Me-Elmo, which also came out yesterday.
When the doors finally did open, we both went back to the elctronics department only to find out that DHL hadn't arrived with their copies yet. So - off to work I went.
I went back to TRU at around 11:30 AM (during lunch) to find the products did arrive - and they had enough to fill all Preorders and then some. So, I walked out of the store with my copy and the $25 gift card (and I didn't even have to preorder it!) They had about 20 copies left when I picked up mine.
Hearing some of these other stories makes me feel really lucky I got one. Now...what should I spend that $25 gift card on? I think I am going to wait until next Tuesday, when Link's crossbow is released!!
L @ Nov 14th 2007 12:35PM
Ha! Suckers! I bought it in store a day AFTER it was released, got the $25 gift card, AND got the free pre-order coin even though I didn't pre-order it. Yay!
bc @ Nov 14th 2007 11:44AM
Your post = my experience. "We only had enough copies for preorders, and we won't get more until next week, and we can't/won't take your money now for a game then, and we can't/won't do anything to make good on our ad & thus keep your business in the future."
TVGenius @ Nov 14th 2007 11:44AM
Anybody have any idea how limited the gift card deal is? I'm on vacation and the closest TRU's an hour away, and I won't be able to get there until Friday. The ad says the deal's good through Saturday, but also included "Quantities Limited".
vidGuy @ Nov 14th 2007 11:53AM
TVGenius, the gift card deal ends Saturday. If you get a copy at TRU before close Sat night, you'll get the $25 giftcard.
Everyone does know that TRU doesn't guarantee a copy until 5PM Tuesday, right? If you went AFTER 5pm you have something to complain about and may be due some compensation since they guarantee it.
Michael Sliczniak @ Nov 14th 2007 11:58AM
I went at 9am to find-out when they should come, they would not give me any info. I called a lot, basically every 20 minutes, but the lady that would usually answer was continuously rude to me. I was always very polite. At one point I got a guy at the games that told me they would probably get them at noon and have them out by 1 pm. I called at noon and that rude lady told me they did not have them. I called a few more times and she kept telling me they did not have any. At 1:40 I had my wife call and that same lady told her that they had them in!
I drove over they were out, but that same fellow I had on the phone earlier pulled-one out from under the counter and also a coin and sold it to me. He said usually some people don't come to get their pre-order.
So one really not-cool employee and one super cool employee. I got the game for my cousins and used the coupon for Zack and Wiki for me and my kids. Wow Zack and Wiki is a great game, very easy for an adventure game but it is fun to play it together with my kids. With me hinting a bit they really get a sense of accomplishment as they figure-out the puzzles.
mike bell @ Nov 14th 2007 12:07PM
yeah, i went to toys'r'us around 2 pm to find out that they hadn't received shipments yet!!!??? seems kind of sinister to me...
luckily there is a best buy right across the parking lot, so i just went over there and gave them my money. way to drop the ball t'r'u
teddy_kgb75 @ Nov 14th 2007 12:09PM
damn. i bought it from gamecrazy...didn't realize this deal existed.
Quaddw @ Nov 14th 2007 12:10PM
Went at uh 3:20 PM. Got ot game section, and no copies on shelf at all. Went to register to check, theres a lady in line with like 50 million things in her cart (none of which are video game related) and theres like 5 different people in the section rining her up. So after waiting like 5 or so minutes, I finalyl get to ask someone if they had any copies left, which they did. Got the gift card as well.
Phoenix Hawk @ Nov 14th 2007 12:10PM
I tried to get it at the ToysRUs here in AZ - All stores are sold out they only got enough copies for their pre-orders, or so they told me. They have no clue when they are going to get more.
Brandon Kuehl @ Nov 14th 2007 12:15PM
I walked into a Toys R Us in a typical suburb around 6pm yesterday. They had plenty of copies down below and in the window. I think 1 or 2 people came in to purchase it while I bought mine. I hadn't pre-ordered, and the cashier automatically set up the gift card. If I remember correctly the ad I saw said that it started at 5pm.
Morris @ Nov 14th 2007 12:18PM
Toys R Us was sold out, so I took their sales flyer to Best Buy and they matched the deal. This was in North Atlanta, but hopefully they'll do it elsewhere. There was no hassle, and they'd had several other people take advantage of the same deal, including the woman in front of me when I was at the Customer Service desk.
SpexFox @ Nov 14th 2007 12:20PM
I fell victim to the Toys R Us offer too. Unfortunately, no games were available outside pre-orders at the store I went to. I canceled my pre-order at EB games for it too. Luckily the guy at the store was nice about it and gave me a pre-order coin anyway when I went to get my copy. They aren't ALL bad ya know =P
nintendolink007-entertainment @ Nov 14th 2007 12:22PM
I regret not preordering but when i stopped by before i headed off to work, there was a long line obiously for the game and the wii....so i just left and got the game somewhere else. But im gonna still try again since its all week long, and either i can give the gift to a friend or i can always take the game back to the other place i bought the game :)
Binja @ Nov 14th 2007 2:42PM
Called the store on the 12th. Was told they had it. Drove 35 miles. They did not have it. Complained to the manager. Was assured that he would hang onto one for me tomorrow. Went back on the 13th. Was told that they only had preorders. Called the district manager. A scene ensued. Left with the game and two free 25 dollar gift cards.
iMarc @ Nov 14th 2007 12:41PM
I work near a TRU, so I called them at about 10:30 and they had just gotten them in stock. Went down at lunch and picked up a copy, no problem.
Jarrod @ Nov 14th 2007 12:39PM
I haven't seen the point in preordering things, so I didn't. Went by the TRU at about 10am, they had not received the shipment yet, blah blah, no way to tell when it will come in. So I call again at 1, and yes they had got them in (I work maybe 3 minutes from the only TRU in town) so I was there in no time, and I found no Mario Galaxy slips to be had, I spoke with the person I talked to on the phone and as we walked to the front of the store, a lady was buying the last copy :(
I want my $25 gift card so I can justify getting Umbrella Chronicles......So does anybody know their restock policy, or when the unlucky ones can expect for them to get it in? Cause the employees sure do not have a clue.
Spliffdizzle @ Nov 14th 2007 12:47PM
I stopped in on my lunch break at about 11am, and they had a box full of them sitting behind the counter. I was a little worried, but it all worked out in the end, and I used the $25 gift card to buy some clearance GBA games for my nephews.
Jeffrey Morgan @ Nov 14th 2007 12:51PM
I tried two different TRUs in MA and neither got their shipments. I was told at the second store that none of the TRUs in the region got SMG.
Szu @ Nov 14th 2007 12:54PM
There was a little confusion at my TRU in NY Times Square. SOme of the store clerks were telling us that the actual sale will begin at 5pm. Thanks to my persistent checking, I found out they got their shipment at 3pm and started to sell it. I work only 5 minutes away, so I ran right over there.
I was able to get two copies and two gift cards. Woo-hoo.
Ten Grand @ Nov 14th 2007 12:58PM
Wow I didnt know this was happening at other TRU's. Here in Vegas they told me the same thing, their shipment never arrived because DHL had a problem. There was a Gamestop right next door which im sure benefited from TRU's little mishap, I would have went there if it werent for the $25 gift card. Ill make my second trip to TRU today and hopefully be walking out with my copy of SMG!!!
lucky.m3r3 @ Nov 14th 2007 1:13PM
picked up my copy with no problem at about 3:30, plus bonus coin w/no pre-order. BUT I believe that next week TRU is running a buy 2 get 1 Free on Wii games...? Definitely planning on using my gift card then!
acefondu@hotmail.com @ Nov 14th 2007 1:18PM
No Mario where I live in Toys r Us land. Michigan that is to say.
Aluvendale @ Nov 14th 2007 1:21PM
I went during my lunch break and they had a whole shopping cart behind the counter full of them! Yay $25 gift card. On another note, someone tried to waltz out without paying while I was in there. They called the cops and started running out the door after the woman. It was kinda cool (not for Toys-R-Us, of course).
mags1587 @ Nov 14th 2007 1:27PM
I went to Toys 'R Us about noon and found that the truck hadn't arrived yet. There was a line of people waiting, and I asked if it was worth it to come back after work since I hadn't preordered. They said they had about 80 preorders but didn't know how many they were getting. It wasn't out of my way so I went back after work.
When I got there at about 5:30, the truck still hadn't come and a few people were really seriously chewing out the employees on issues that they really had no control over. To their credit, all of the sales clerks were very patient and basically let these people yell at them. There were two other people hanging back with me and watching because none of us wanted to add to the yelling but we did want to know what was going on. Eventually managed to extract himself from the group that was yelling and came over to us to fill us in on everything. He said no idea where the truck was or when it was going to get in, but they took down names and phone numbers to call when they got the games in store and said that everyone would get the gift card.
It's a rotten situation, to be sure -- you really should make sure the product is in the store when advertised, but I thought the clerks at that store handled it as well as anyone could have.
Kai Cherry @ Nov 14th 2007 1:35PM
its so cool to be old sometimes. I LOVE the picture that goes with this story....where did you find it, Eric?
I need a good copy of that image...I can think of many a time its the appropriate reply to idiot emails i receive.
Oh...and for the rest of ye' lot that have no idea...its Iron Eyes Cody...Keep America Beati....ah nevermind.
Calvin @ Nov 14th 2007 1:44PM
I put my money down a day before it came out at a local game shop, there getting there shipment today and I'll be checking right after school. Can't wait to play it, and I hope they sent him some preorder coins!
jan_halmes @ Nov 14th 2007 2:53PM
I went to TRU in Peabody MA. Many staff members standing around, ignoring customers, basicly non-verbal in the face of direct questions like "Do you have Super Mario Galaxy" and "Do you work here?".
Eventually I was told that they didn't get their shipment in, but I'm not even sure that's true. I was acually buying the game for some friends, as I pre-ordered my copy from GameStink months ago.
I'll check back again before Saturday, but based on yesterday I aint too optimisitc.
Alisha Karabinus @ Nov 14th 2007 1:53PM
I'm in the no column... they sold out before I got there. :(
dursin @ Nov 14th 2007 2:02PM
I called a Toys R Us in Sanford, FL about 11am yesterday and was told they hadn't come in yet. An hour later when I was on lunch, I stopped in and was told that they had come in and sold out except for pre-orders, but that I could check back later. I left and called another Toys R Us down the road in Altamonte Springs and was told that they had them in stock even for people who didn't pre-order. I got there within 10-15 minutes and was told that they had a huge line and had sold out. Was angry that I wasn't told that on the phone and asked to speak to a manager. Wound up talking to probably the stupidest manager and assistant manager I've ever encountered. The manager looked like a brain dead surfer who just stared at my without saying barely a word, while his big dumb assistant basically insulted me for not pre-ordering it. After a few minutes of staring the manager finally was able to put a sentence together and tell me "I don't think there's anything I can do for you". I left and realized I had 6 or 7 Toys R Us bucks from McDonald's that expired yesterday so I went back to the original TRU to buy candy bars or Hot Wheels for the kids. I checked back in video games and the girl there (who was very nice btw) said she was sorry, but they still didn't have any and just as she said that, she opened a box and pulled out six of them and said she could sell it to me since all the pre-orders were all ready covered so after nearly 20 miles of extra driving I got my copy.