Wal-Mart offers gift card as apology for pre-order fiasco

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 19th 2008 at 2:00PM }

What? Haze for $30? Smash Bros Brawl for $20? Really?

The internet went ablaze when it was discovered some suspiciously low prices for various pre-orders on Wal-Mart's website. We predicted that the conglomerate would cancel the orders ... and they did. We didn't predict that they'd give a $10 gift card to all users affected by the ordeal. "We apologize for our recent video game pricing error and the incorrect information included in our follow up e-mail correspondence with you. As we are always striving to provide a positive customer experience, we will be sending you a $10 electronic Gift Card toward a future purchase as an apology for your recent experience."

Well, well played Walmart. We knew we wouldn't get the deal, but we appreciate your efforts to please the masses.

Tags: wal-mart, walmart

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

wonway01 @ Jan 19th 2008 2:15PM

Got mine yesterday. I was pleasently suprised.

naxe @ Jan 19th 2008 2:26PM

good job playing a big corp. like walmart. but little do you know the trouble you might have caused for some families. do you honestly think WAL MART would just give away money? i dont think so. the person that was responsible for this mess was probably either fired and or had his wages taken away until they are compensated for each and every 10 gift card. it seems like a free gift card but its not. and the problem probably wouldnt have hit as it did had it not been broadcast.

you might think im full of it. but anyone who has worked retail knows any amount of money your short comes out of your paycheck. no matter how big the manson your boss lives in. it comes out of your paycheck.

so you didnt play the corp. you played some poor sap. that made a mistake.

good luck sleeping at night!!!

godlovesugly @ Jan 19th 2008 2:51PM

I'm sure we'll cope

Carlton @ Jan 19th 2008 3:47PM

Fight the power, dude!

Seriously though, you ARE full of it. Your little idea about them taking the money out of some poor sap's wages is ridiculous. That would be HIGHLY illegal and no major corporation would dare to try and pull a scam like that.

You're right that they wouldn't just give away money though. That's why they give away a gift voucher. Any small company would just cancel the order, but for a company like Walmart it is better to give away a gift voucher to avoid bad publicity. To redeem the voucher you still have to spend money with them, so if you buy something that has a markup of $10 or more, they would absorb the cost with that sale alone.

Giving away a gift voucher doesn't harm them at all, and from a PR perspective it is actually beneficial. They get free publicity on PS3fanboy for starters.

So I guess people that received a gift voucher can sleep easy tonight.

Chaunches @ Jan 19th 2008 2:40PM

are they sent by mail?

Dehshizknight @ Jan 19th 2008 3:11PM

Like the post says, its an electronic gift card, so you might get it in the mail or you'll get an e-mail.

Foxhound @ Jan 19th 2008 2:51PM

i dont know about the guy who made mistake
but this is really good move from walmart, they give you the 10$ so that you will for SURE buy from them
well played and smart move, but i hope no one was hurt

wonway01 @ Jan 19th 2008 3:15PM

Wow this naxde guys is tripping. I ordered something online. It was priced wrong and it got canceled. I didnt say or ask for anything and they sent me a gift crad for the error. Rememeber it was thier error. If someone got in trouble its because they deserved it. They made the error.

russell @ Jan 19th 2008 3:32PM

your mistake was when you bought something from wal-mart.

russell @ Jan 19th 2008 3:19PM

whoever still shops at wal-mart is a moron.

naxe @ Jan 19th 2008 6:40PM

it was a joke. common do you think i would really care if someone messed up and got canned? who ever took advantage of the deal congrats. nothing really caught my attention. i guess am a moron cuz i love walmart. walmart is my one stop shop. got my girlfriend mario galaxies for 37.89 couple weeks ago. one day sale.

so all in all it was a joke. iam as heartless as the next gamer.
just didnt take advantage of the exploit. w.e

evilJaze @ Jan 20th 2008 8:30AM

Maybe M$ could learn from Wal-Mart's example with its Live fiasco.

Consolcwby @ Jan 20th 2008 9:46PM

@ naxe: Oh, come on - don't be ball-less! Show some backbone! If people here want to flame you for your opinion, let them! Who gives a shit? Besides, backing down shows them you're weak, and like anywhere else, some people prey on weakness!

So, in response to your earlier post: I agree. Some people have benefited on some poor schmuck's mistake, and now - like the parasites they are - are feasting on the rotting decomposing flesh of that person and their entire familly. FOR SHAME PEOPLE! Tell Walfart you care and give them back that stupid gift coupon! =P