What's the point of pre-ordering if you don't get the game on release day?

[Twister]

A few years ago I transitioned to pre-ordering my games online through Best Buy because I had GCU, so I would pre-order and have them delivered. Everything went fine for the first few games and then I was heartbroken when Super Mario Odyssey delivered 4 days late. It was the game I purchased a Switch to play and I was really looking forward to playing it that weekend. "No big deal though," I thought, it was a one time thing and I lived on a college campus at the time so mail was always a bit iffy.
Since then, I've noticed more often than not, my games do not arrive on release day despite all of the promises these companies feed you. Best Buy, Amazon, GameStop, none of it matters. None of them get games to you on time.
I had one day this week where I could sit down and play Super Monkey Ball and get to relive one of my favorite games of all time and I was looking forward to playing it today. Yesterday, I come to find out that Best Buy will not be delivering it today and in fact, have not even shipped the game yet. There's not even an estimated delivery date. When I tried contacting support they told me that the game is "currently unavailable in my area" which I don't even understand considering every store around me has it and it's a shipment so it being available in my area or not shouldn't matter.
It just begs the question, what's even the point of giving these companies my money early if there's no benefit to me? They promise release-date delivery but don't deliver. I might as well just walk into a Target on the day of release and buy the game then.
Is this just me or does this happen often because quite frankly I'm kinda tired of it. I know it's a small problem in the grand scheme of things but I'm a very schedule-oriented person who likes to plan and get excited for things and stuff like this has ruined a lot of days for me. It's even more upsetting that not once have any of these companies offered an apology or given me so much as a $5 for a late delivery like Amazon used to do. It's like they don't give a shit that their customer experience sucks.

 

[RobertNAdams]

The point of pre-ordering a physical game is to ensure that you have a physical copy, ideally (but not guaranteed) on release day. Some companies are better than others at actually delivering the game, and retail is still probably better at this. (As for digital, there isn't much point other than preloading a bit early and (probably) getting some neat-in game cosmetics.)

If you're continuing to have awful experiences, then yeah, maybe you should shift to pre-ordering in a store. It's clear that they're failing to meet your expectations.

 

[Deleted member 19533]

It may be where you live. I had similar experiences, meanwhile others I know always got games a day early.

I just pre-order and pick up in store at Best Buy these days.

 

[shaneo632]

It's just logistics. It happens all the time in the UK too. The retailers often don't know their exact release day allocation or the day they're going to be delivered to their warehouse until the week of release, so it's not easy to ensure every paying customer gets it day 1. With bigger games like Rockstar/Naughty Dog they might not get their shipment until Wednesday or Thursday if it releases Friday. Throw in unreliable mail and it's easy for games to take 2-4 days to arrive.

It's annoying, but I've also had a lot of the opposite where a game has turned up 1-5 days before release. I had No Man's Sky turn up 6 days early and I got to play the horrendous pre-patch version lmao.

Generally I'd say if you absolutely need a game day 1 you're always better off going to a physical store for retail copies, inconvenient though it is. If you're taking the day off to play a game in particular, ordering online is pretty foolish because you can end up flushing a whole day off down the toilet if it doesn't turn up.

 

[Kid Night]

Shipping. During a Pandemic.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

For every game I'm interested in, I see people complaining that Amazon or wherever isn't going to deliver their game on release day. Just today I saw someone mention it about Metroid.

I don't buy physical so I can't answer.

 

[OmegaDL50]

Best Buy has never delivered any pre-order I made on time. Even when they specifically state in the shipping "Release Day delivery"

It's more like they SHIP on release day and not deliver by then. Also I've learned to never buy any digital game from them either. They won't ever deliver digital keys in an adequate time frame. It was particularly annoying when MK11 had Beta Access a couple of days before the release and said access was based on actual code being redeemed to download it in the first place. Suffice to say I got my code the day of release and not when I was supposed to for the Beta period.

I've only bought from Best Buy because of the GCU program, ever since that ended I really don't have any any incentive to buy from them, except for the rare occasion they thrown in a $10 gift card with the purchase of a new game, case the point with Cruis'n Blast which I used said $10 voucher towards Metroid Dread so it made sense in this case.

Amazon has done some weird shit like this too. Like tracking number indicates the package is in my city but they decide to just not put out for delivery on the same day and hold off until the next day, this is especially when it arrives in my city so early long before the cutoff for delivery. This only happens when Amazon uses their own courier service, no such issues when USPS is involved strangely enough.

I generally stopped pre-ordering unless there is some significant incentive such as a discounted early edition of the game or it includes some sort of bonus that I wouldn't get otherwise if I bought without pre-ordering.

 

[NinjaScooter]

The digital option is there if you really need to play it on minute 1. If you prefer physical this is simply one of the concessions you are going to have to live with. Amazon used to be great for me for day 1 releases, but during the pandemic things got (understandably) worse. I remember specifically both my TLOU2 and Ghost of Tsushima pre-orders went from "Day 1" to "we don't know when we will ship this to you" so I just cancelled and went digital.

 

[Druffmaul]

My original reason for preordering was to guarantee I got a copy on day 1. I used to go to EB or Gamestop on launch day, and sometime around 2003/2004 what started happening was, I'd tell the clerk I wanted to buy whatever new game was coming out that day, and they'd say "Sure. Do you have a preorder?" No. "Sorry, we only got enough copies to cover our preorders. Come back next week, we'll have more then. Too bad you didn't preorder. You really should have preordered. Don't forget the preorder next time." The first instance or two, I assumed it was a fluke. Soon it was obvious it was part of their corporate strategy, so I'd go to other stores, Target, Sears, whatever. They would always say "Sorry, we don't have that game in stock yet. Come back next week." It didn't take long for me to get tired of being dicked around on games I'd been looking forward to and wanting for fuck only knows how many months or years already, so I started preordering. It became a habit, and then later when I started preordering online I fell in love with the convenience of having the game waiting for me when I got home from work on launch day with no need to waste my time going to a brick and mortar store, and I've never looked back.

 

[Bane]

It's incredibly rare for me to not get something by release day from Best Buy. It really sucks but it seems like you've found a solution: don't do it anymore if you're unhappy with how it goes. Or, if possible, start doing in-store pickups from places. The only issue I've had with that from Best Buy is sometimes the preorder bonus isn't in until s couple of days later. I'm talking things like the Mario Golf bag tag and such, stuff that I just don't bother to go pick up.

 

[The Albatross]

In the age of digital retail, I don't really get the point of pre-ordering... Other than that a lot of publishers now give you a perk for pre-ordering, like a unique gun or character skin or something, or some other digital trinket. I think you can pre-install games without buying them these days, right? I could see that as another perk as well.

But pre-ordering in general is just an old habit in the games industry when supply was limited for games. Back before big retail stores like Best Buy, Target, and so on, you'd usually buy from a much smaller store or a mom and pop retail store that might only get ~10 copies of the newest game, and they wouldn't know when they'd get a restock of the game... Shipping was slow, you didn't have this over night shipping logistical infrastructure that you have today. Games would literally be shipped on trains or trucks that might take a week+ to get across the country and eventually get to the resupplier that handles inventory for your mom & pop store. So you used to pre-order a game to guarantee that you could get it at launch, and then the store would use those pre-order numbers to order more or less weeks ahead of time.

The practice just kinda carried over into the modern era because publishers and analysts still use pre-order numbers as a predictor of success, and so companies still push pre-ordering to help their metrics... so they bundle in the unique trinkets or in-store perks because the incentive within the company is to do that, even if there's really very little point these days.

 

[Curler]

Supply chain and delivery stuff is really messed up right now, but what's worse is when companies keep using FedEx who, even before last year, was REALLY dropping in quality. Sometimes I won't get stuff from them for 2 weeks... Despite what companies say, it's all on the delivery companies to try and make those dates and due to a variety of reasons, they just, haven't :/ I still think, moreso now than before, that pre-ordering if it's NOT a big game release, is important, with so many titles getting smaller and smaller print runs. It's still the one way to assure you get a copy (eventually...) Gone are the days of walking into a store and expecting like a whole shelf of copies of things (although this can really be YMMV).

 

[Ashes of Dreams]

The best way to pre-order a game is in-store at Gamestop but nobody is ready to accept this fact.

 

[Curler]

The best way to pre-order a game is in-store at Gamestop but nobody is ready to accept this fact.

Click to shrink...

If it's anything like my local store, shipments for a lot of stuff have been late too. It's not a single delivery problem, it's all over the place :/

 

[Ashes of Dreams]

If it's anything like my local store, shipments for a lot of stuff have been late too. It's not a single delivery problem, it's all over the place :/

Click to shrink...

They shouldn't be late for new video game releases. Publishers tend to make sure that shows up on time.
Anything other than video games is a gamble though.

 

[Curler]

They shouldn't be late for new video game releases. Publishers tend to make sure that shows up on time.
Anything other than video games is a gamble though.

Click to shrink...

But they have been. There's been a couple times I called to ask about a pre-order, to find out they didn't get them in for another day or so. That's just how it's been lately.

 

[Sieffre]

I ended up preordering Tales of Arise from Best Buy. They gave me a tracking number two days before release, but then never actually dropped the package off at FedEx. I contacted them three days after the original expected delivery date, since it hadn't even shipped yet, and they shipped me out a new one, and I ended up getting the game about a week late.

 

[Pokémon]

Once I wanted to pre-order a game at a GameStop store in Germany when the employee told me that pre-ordering a game doesn't entitle you to get the game on release date but to get the game at all. I thanked him, turned around, left the store and got the game a few weeks later at another retailer (2 days prior to release date because they broke the street date lol).

 

[Tailesque]

Yesterday, I come to find out that Best Buy will not be delivering it today and in fact, have not even shipped the game yet. There's not even an estimated delivery date.

Click to shrink...

This happened to me exactly with Monster Hunter Rise, wow. Best Buy is shit when it comes to game pre-orders, and I learned the same way. I cancelled it, swapped to pre-order from Target, and that went smoothly.

 

[Twister]

This happened to me exactly with Monster Hunter Rise, wow. Best Buy is shit when it comes to game pre-orders, and I learned the same way. I cancelled it, swapped to pre-order from Target, and that went smoothly.

Click to shrink...

Wow that sucks. I really hope this isn't going to be the case

 

[Sanatana]

For physical copies I completely understand it. There is only so much a company is willing to release due to the costs of box art, DVD's and such. I honestly don't understand it at all for digital releases though.

 

[Musubi]

That's why I go digital. Pre-loading means I can play the second the game is released.

 

[CubeApple76]

Not sure if they still offer it (last physical pre-order was Cyberpunk), but Amazon gives a 10% discount for pre-ordering, so if I know I'm getting the game, and if I don't mind physical, I'll just get it on that

 

[OmahaGTP]

Shockingly GameStop US has started getting me my preorders on release date for no additional cost.

 

[Rhaknar]

the point of pre-ordering for me is to take advantage of discounts. My local stores do 15% discounts of pre-orders, and for digital shit, I sometimes pre-order if the discount is nice. I would never pre-order with no discount, I don't see the point.

 

[aiswyda]

Shipping preorders has always been hit or miss. Back when Amazon has preorder discounts I used to preorder via them bc I would routinely get games a day early. Then it shifted to being a day or two late, so I stopped using Amazon.

now if I want anything on release date I preorder at a store for physical pick up or buy digitally. Ive been burned by wayyyy too many delays across all retailers via online shipping to trust otherwise

 

[regenhuber]

now if I want anything on release date I preorder at a store for physical pick up or buy digitally. Ive been burned by wayyyy too many delays across all retailers via online shipping to trust otherwise

Click to shrink...

Yeah, the range for delivery has been all over the place for me. Sometimes I get it 2 days early, sometimes 2 days late.

Just get your ass to the store or pay the premium for digital.

 

[Artistic]

Just get your ass to the store or pay the premium for digital.

Click to shrink...

Problem solved.

 

[Lucreto]

I rarely get the game I preordered on launch day. Living in Ireland all post is slow. Most of the games come from the UK and they don't deliver for release day to Ireland. GAME take a full week to deliver to Ireland. Stores in Ireland charge more and still miss release day.

 

[Paquete_PT]

I allways select the option of picking the game at the store when I preorder physical copies. And I only preorder because it gives me 15% discount where I live.

 

[Wackamole]

No point. I never do it anymore. Or i pick it up at the store.

 

[dskzero]

Doesn't happen to me, either by GAME or Amazon.

 

[TaySan]

No point in pre ordering unless you are getting a good discount and you are 100% sure you were going to buy the game anyways. Wait until launch and see impressions/reviews then buy.

 

[the lizard]

I couldn't tell you the last time I pre-ordered a game.

I also couldn't tell you the last time I bought a physical game.

 

[Thorrgal]

Amazon EU offers some sweet deals normally, like 10€ less in PS5 games (Miles, Valhalla, Demon's Souls and 20€ for Returnal) and always deliver on time so that's why I do it.

Media Markt used to do something similar for PS4 games, 50€ flat if you traded in and old PS3 game.

If there's no discount then I won't ore-order and pick it up a week later on a second hand app.

 

[Sprat]

I'm more bothered when I preorder a game and they decide to do midnight delivery without telling me and wake the entire house up banging the door down.

 

[WyLD iNk]

I have never pre-ordered with the intent to get it on release day. All I care about is securing a physical copy.

 

[Pancakes R Us]

I hardly ever bother with pre-ordering, only if I want a special edition like the Metroid Dread LE. I'm rarely bothered about playing on launch day and would never take a day off to play a game, so it doesn't tend to affect me. Funnily enough, for the games I've ordered for launch, they've always arrived on time.

 

[cowbanana]

I never really pre-order long before release, except for physical collector's editions I want. If it's just a regular physical game I'll order it a few days before release and have it in my mailbox on the morning of release day (I use a local online store that delivers on time almost without fail).

If I buy a CE from Amazon it'll arrive a few days after the official release as it ships from Germany (no local Amazon in Scandinavia).

I'll never understand people who preorder digital games months in advance though. Why?

 

[Hitcher]

Here in the UK pre-orders tend to arrive a day or so early.

 

[Hitcher]

I'll never understand people who preorder digital games months in advance though. Why?

Click to shrink...

Why not? No money is taken until a few days before release and can be cancelled for a refund anyway.

 

[GamerEDM]

i feel your pain man . I preordered the oled switch console from bestbuy canada and the console comes out in 2 days and i have not heard a single thing from them. I should of learnt my lesson after preordering a PS5 console on launch and not receiving it on release.

 

[Azzello]

Here stores ship the game a day earlier and it always comes the next day. I still prefer to pick them up myself in the store though, preordering it gives a nice discount of ~10 eur or so.

 

[dreamlongdead]

I always get my pre-orders day one from GameStop and Best Buy without any problems.

OP should stop deliveries, because that's the problem. Going into the store is the best shot at playing day one.

 

[Silvergun-Blue]

A decade or so ago the main advantage of preordering a physical game for me (UK) was the fact that you were almost certain to get it before release, usually the day before but I actually got Deus Ex: Human Revolution three days early. It was almost always cheaper too.
These days they come on release day, I've never had a game come late but my post comes in the early afternoon so depending on other commitments for the day I'm often quicker just going to the shop myself.

 

[MrBanballow]

I like to pre-order ahead of time generally with GameStop or Amazon, because I can pay things off a bit at a time. $5 here, $10 there, and when the release date arrives, I don't have to worry so much about having the extra cash. Particularly helps when there are a cluster of games coming out within a short stretch of time.

 

[Zephy]

I remember when I used to receive my preorders a day early with Amazon. I almost never preorder now, only one recently was Lost Judgment and I got it on launch day, in the afternoon. I saw a shop selling it the day before and considered cancellling my preorder, but it was 10€ more so I waited.

 

[PugSith]

Free shipping has reached and gone past critical mass.

The days of not paying for delivery are behind us IMHO, in years to come I think the options are going to be (a) pay for shipping (b) go pick it up from the store. The UK has become hooked on having legions of below minimum wage slaves delivering all kinds of nonsense to their door and it's not sustainable.

I say this as "release day shipping" is evidence that the system is close to breaking point and while people running shipping companies are probably making bank like bandits the actual companies are run on a "lowest cost possible" system. There's going to need to be a massive influx of cash into this at some point in the future.

Oh and Amazon prime isn't compensation for shipping anymore. Way back when it used to be they'd treat your amazon prime delivery better but now it's thrown in the same pile as everyone else and you're lucky to get it at all. More than once I've ordered with Amazon and had it turn up late and a complaint has gotten me "yeah sorry about that but nevermind" where before you'd at least get a months worth of prime.

 

[Thera]

"What's the point of pre-ordering" is the true question.
In France, pre-ordering give you a massive discount. That's the only reason I do it and rarely play the game immediately. Patiently waiting the patches.

 

[RobertNAdams]

The best way to pre-order a game is in-store at Gamestop but nobody is ready to accept this fact.

Click to shrink...

...most of the time. I did this with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The GameStop (and all others in my region) were summarily shut down on launch day due to the pandemic. :\