Too good to be true: Wal-Mart cancels Brawl preorders

by Eric Caoili { Jan 11th 2008 at 10:00PM }

Disaster!

Just as we assumed, the epic Super Smash Bros. Brawl preorder deal we featured this morning was a total boner on Wal-Mart's part, as evidenced by the now-missing product page. But instead of honoring the $19.82 price for anyone who ordered the game before its listing was pulled -- like we all hoped the retail giant would do, despite our usual pessimism -- Wal-Mart has canceled the reservations, presumably refunding all charges.

Already, notification emails are being sent out with the following message: "We have received your request to cancel the item(s) listed below from your order." We tried arguing over the phone with a Wal-Mart customer representative (1-800-966-6546, not 1-800-966-6456, the number the email advises you to call) that we had made no such request, but our protests found no purchase; we were told the distributor canceled all orders, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl will be relisted online tomorrow with its regular $49.99 price.

We haven't been this sad since we saw that episode of Fresh Prince in which Will Smith reconnected with his father, only to find himself abandoned by his dad again shortly afterwards.

[Via Our Heartbroken Inboxes]

Tags: preorder, smash-bros-brawl, ssbb, wal-mart, walmart

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

seetrapp @ Jan 11th 2008 10:10PM

Dude, I was pretty much holding the tears until that Fresh Prince part.

By the by, Will Smith should do more acting like what was in that episode.

Perry @ Jan 11th 2008 10:11PM

I just got my email a few minutes ago. Insulting how they make it sound like I personally cancelled the order when I did nothing of the sort. Typical WalMart.

Jeff @ Jan 11th 2008 10:11PM

bastards!

Well, i guess what seems to good to be true often is exactly what it seems like. :\

Adam Crownoble @ Jan 11th 2008 10:12PM

I got the same email. I tried calling customer service but I didn't feel like waiting on hold for who knows how long. If anyone else has any luck actually getting the game for $20 please let me know.

Perry @ Jan 11th 2008 10:13PM

Wasn't there even a page on the Walmart website saying they were having a big pre-order sale? Pretty sure I saw it on digg or somewhere and thought it looked legit enough to try. Anyone got the link? Or a screengrab?

BPM64 - The Second Attack! @ Jan 12th 2008 2:39AM

Ask, and ye shall receive:
http://kotaku.com/343825/preorder-ssbb-from-wal+mart-for-20

Jeff @ Jan 11th 2008 10:15PM

hahah. I just tried calling the number on my cancelation notice email (1-800-966-6456) and it just picks up and says "Please enter your pin" then (no matter what you do) replies "That pin is invalid. Please enter your pin."

After repeating itself a few times, it hangs up.

I generally NEVER shop at WM (in store or online) and now i remember why. They're awful in nearly every way.

seetrapp @ Jan 11th 2008 10:24PM

Oh god, shopping at the store itself is like the inquisition, except it smells like Subway.

Jczajk1 @ Jan 11th 2008 10:20PM

I feel EVERYONE who did preorder this through Wal-mart to pre-order somewhere like BestBuy or Gamestop or something. I personally am boycotting Wal-mart, I don't care about their Typeo policy, thats ridiculous.

TriptychR @ Jan 11th 2008 10:21PM

Nice touch with the walrus.

SoshiKitai @ Jan 11th 2008 10:24PM

Muahahahahahahaaa!!!
-haha!!
-ha...
-ha..... ha...

Sorry guys. I didn't try to preorder it there, but I think it was kinda' obvious that Walmart was dumb enough to do this...
... I go buy straight from a WalMart with cash, go in there quick and get out quick before horrible customer service takes over.

So... just goes to show you: Be careful with Walmart, especially online... (though I have bought an Anniversary ring there online before)

christian @ Jan 11th 2008 10:27PM

Well despite the bad news duders just remember that if you trade in any used Wii game (or I believe any current gen game) at Gamestop towards the pre-order of Brawl, they give you an extra 20% trade in credit.

Chaunches @ Jan 11th 2008 10:30PM

I emailed them since i did not have a f*ckin pin so i emailed them a nasty letter. Lets see how they respond

s @ Jan 11th 2008 10:34PM

It said right on the order page that an order can not be canceled once it is confirmed. It then speaks of their return policy.

Bad form Walmart.

Mattmatt @ Jan 11th 2008 10:41PM

Haha, love the walrus D;

Otterly @ Jan 11th 2008 10:52PM

Somebody at Walmart.com is so fired its funny.

xPAULIEx @ Jan 11th 2008 11:10PM

Maybe they cancelled the preorder because I bought and paid for 20 of them. It is really funny how they cancelled the orders though, most places bite the bullet and go ahead and honor their mistakes, but the customer service representitive told me they reserve the right to cancel orders when pricing mistakes like this are made. Oh well we all tried.

Mr Khan @ Jan 11th 2008 11:15PM

I knew it was coming, even though i was unable to act on it (damn school)

Too good to be true, and it was...

Liet @ Jan 11th 2008 11:26PM

I too got my order canceled. What really irks me is that they made it seem like I canceled it so I thought they my account got hacked. They were very unprofessional in the way that the did this. I sent a complaint too.

Liet @ Jan 11th 2008 11:44PM

I just called them and they said that it was a typo error and because of the terms of the preorder we have no recourse. If anyone gets a different answer can out please let us know. Thanks

Vogna @ Jan 11th 2008 11:28PM

It's very distasteful how they did this -- they sent me an e-mail saying "We have received your request to cancel your pre-order" to make it look like I had e-mailed and asked for this to be cancelled. I had done no such thing. This whole thing leaves an incredibly horrible taste in my mouth. If they cancel the pre-order, then cancel it, and say "We made a mistake." Own up to it. Don't send me a lying, fraudulent e-mail that says "Well, we're cancelling this because you told us to cancel it" -- that's a flat-out lie

Secre @ Jan 11th 2008 11:46PM

That's the statement they make for all canceled orders. It's not like they're going to go in there and alter the automatic statement for canceled orders just because they made a mistake xP...

ScoTT @ Jan 11th 2008 11:36PM

I like the pic. I'm glad I reserved at Gamestop.

Secre @ Jan 11th 2008 11:45PM

As disappointing as it is, I never really expected it to last. I had hoped, but didn't expect. Either way, I'm buying it. I think I'll just preorder it over Amazon now, since I use them to buy almost everything else.

Carl DeVaughn @ Jan 11th 2008 11:46PM

I used their online customer service form and asked that they honor the order or face a class action lawsuit. There are laws againts what they are trying to do now.

Shinshoko @ Jan 11th 2008 11:53PM

I was just about to suggest that. Also, they contradicted their own Order Cancellation Policy. In their policy, it said "You cannot cancel your order after you click Place Your Order on the "Confirm and Submit" page." We ALL pressed the confirm and submit button, they CANNOT cancel our order. What they did could probably constitute as fraud. I don't think we should let this slide... At least not until we have some sort of public apology (or some sort of apology at that).

lpburk2 @ Jan 11th 2008 11:56PM

I'd encourage everyone who receives the cancellation notice to log on to the "My Account" section of the Wal-Mart page and send an angry email. God knows I have.

Archibold @ Jan 12th 2008 12:07AM

This makes me less upset that I missed it!

Still, it reaffirms my hatred for Wal-Mart. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have bought it from them anyways. God knows they can't lose a piece of their meager profits to honour their mistake.

Carlos @ Jan 12th 2008 12:11AM

LOOOOOOOOOL @ walrus pic

crosseyedjedi @ Jan 12th 2008 12:15AM

By law we who purchased the game today for the reduced price have a right to receive the game for the price we payed. They have no right to cancell our orders based on a mistake they made. Anyone up for a class action lawsuit against Walmart?!

Wiiman @ Jan 12th 2008 7:36AM

i am tempted to call up the better business bureau on this one.

BPM64 - The Second Attack! @ Jan 12th 2008 2:41AM

Please, Wal-Mart's been sued so many time, this would be but a minor annoyance to them.

All that would result is a few minimum wage workers get the cut to make up for money lost. Or prices go up to make up for money lost.

Jedimonkey @ Jan 12th 2008 10:27AM

Read the Terms of Service contract you signed when you placed the order. They are fully within their legal rights to cancel our orders for any reason they want to. I am sick of all these whiny spoiled brats acting like they have been wronged somehow. Why should Wal-Mart honor a price when it will cost them tons of money?

GregZ @ Jan 12th 2008 3:26PM

Unfortunately that's not even close to correct. When you clicked submit on your order form to purchase the game, you didn't close the deal. You INITIATED the deal, IE, you made an offer to wal-mart to buy the game for $20. The web site listing the price was not an offer, but merely an invitation for you to make an offer to them for that price. They can, of course, reject the offer, as they just did. If they deducted money from your bank account, that would have acted as an acceptance, but I'm guessing that didn't happen to anyone...

rooftip @ Jan 12th 2008 4:13PM

My bank account was charged. They have my money at this point and are refunding the money and claiming I cancelled the order just like the email states. Wal-mart could have made a bunch of loyal customers for $30 a head.

Squashua @ Jan 12th 2008 12:22AM

Boo, Wal-Mart. You won't even let us evil you back.

AnOffday @ Jan 12th 2008 12:25AM

Wow. I was mad that I didn't get in on it, but now I'm even more mad for you guys. Wal Mart blows. I'll be buying my copy at Target.

nintendo1889 @ Jan 12th 2008 12:42AM

Walmart sucks. Go with Amazon or Bestbuy.

crosseyedjedi @ Jan 12th 2008 12:44AM

I just got done on the phone with a rep from Walmart regarding this tragedy. The rep stated that, "I do apologize for this" and "we have received a high number of calls regarding this situation." I pressed forward with charity knowing this poor women was caught in some morons mistake. I was told "if I'd like to receive a call back from a supervisor regarding this I could leave my number" and "you should receive a call within 24hrs." We shall see, Walmart I will not let you live this down!!!

Mysterio @ Jan 12th 2008 12:55AM

I am pretty drunk right now... and wanted to check my e-mail for some unknown reason. And to my surprise(well, not really) I received two separate e-mails. One pertaining to my "so-called" cancellation, and another one confirming my cancellation. At this point, I wasn't pissed... just disappointed. Well, whatever... I've always hated Wal-Mart, but couldn't hold back especially if I were able to get SSBB for that cheap, but now I hate them for more than ever.

It's just crazy that they can do this and get away with it... but guess they can since they are a billion dollar corporation. But still, not even that many probably bought the game for that cheap. Think of it as a "promotion" to attract more people to Wal-Mark. By canceling everyone's orders after they got a confirmation e-mail, that just made people hate them even more now.

Whatever. I am going to buy the game at GameStop.

vidGuy @ Jan 12th 2008 1:32AM

You ever notice how typing when you are buzzed/drunk is like playing Tetris? The best way to do it right is to concentrate really hard and go very slow!

Mysterio @ Jan 12th 2008 11:21AM

Hey, I think you have a point there. lol

I no longer care if they cancelled my pre-order or not. I should have known that they would have done it sooner or later in the first place. But oh well. It's all good now. :)

Ethan Giordano @ Jan 12th 2008 12:58AM

Mine cancelled too, who wants in on a class action. Someone call a lawyer, this is BS. The Mart needs to be taken down a notch.

driven2sin @ Jan 12th 2008 1:21AM

just rob that shithole - none of the workers have a pulse let alone care

vidGuy @ Jan 12th 2008 1:28AM

Walmart's protected here: they didn't complete the sale since they didn't charge cards or ship products, and they have a disclaimer against selling at mismarked prices online.

The only thing this did for me is guarantee that I won't be buying Brawl from Walmart. They should run a deal like TRU did with Galaxy...

D @ Jan 12th 2008 1:50AM

Actually they did charge my card.
I'm about to send them a lovely email saying that as quick as they charged me, they better refund me the same. Granted Im protected through my card, and can get the money back anyway, but I hate the hassle.

dcartguy @ Jan 12th 2008 2:39AM

yep, they charged my account as well (although it's pending), and they cancelled my order (bummer) but they never sent me any e-mail conformations. I had to go to "My Account" on Walmart.com to find out.

Boooo.. Walmart.

What about the other games that were on sale? Were those canceled as well?