Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Thread

**SageInfinite** · 07-02-2005, 05:48 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Thread

Anybody in NJ had any luck finding the game??

**mmowen** · 07-02-2005, 05:52 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Thread

For you looking in Atlanta -- I was at the CompUSA in Roswell, and they were unpacking boxes, didn't see anything, but they were in the video game area, unpacking freight....if anyone calls, post it here, I'm not calling, I'm not going to be one of those people calling everywhere for a video game, but I'd be interested to see if they are selling it.

**WallaceNails** · 07-02-2005, 05:52 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Threa

Originally posted by Flawless

A few people have called there nearest Gamestop, and they said CompUSA will be fined $5,000 for every copy of NCAA Football 2006 that was sold. Also, may lose privileges to sell later EA Sports titles.

CompUSA wont get fined for squat. What law have they broken?

**jahswill** · 07-02-2005, 05:56 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Threa

Originally posted by AJ21476

Anyone in NYC have any luck?

I tried the Comp USA on 37th and 5th but they said it hadn't come in yet so who knows? You here any thing let me know.

**Shockgeez04** · 07-02-2005, 05:57 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Threa

i just got done checking CompUSA in Wilmington DE said it hasnt come in yet

**RubenDouglas** · 07-02-2005, 05:57 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Threa

Originally posted by mmowen

I'm not calling, I'm not going to be one of those people calling everywhere for a video game, but I'd be interested to see if they are selling it.

been there done that.... it feels like you have nothing better to do in life and its just depressing.. at least when i called everyone. it's like, why the hell is I doing all this work for a stupid videogame? Can't i just wait a few days? lol we all get tired of it sooner or later. Why not later

**ninefall** · 07-02-2005, 05:58 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Thread

FROM IGN BOARDS--------------------------------------------------------

I will preface what you are about to read by saying I worked in retail from 1993-2001, at Software Etc (which is now part of Gamestop) and at CompUSA. I was a store manager in both chains, so I do have a background to understand a lot of this. I will share with you now what I found out today.

Last night, I posted a link to a thread over at MaddenMania with proof that a user over there bought their game at a CompUSA in Alabama. This sparked a number of threads, theories and discussions.

I went down to my old CompUSA this afternoon to talk to the General Manager there, a man named Brad Flipse, whom I worked with for most of the 4 years I was at CompUSA. Here are the facts:

CompUSA has no street date for NCAA Football 2006 for PS2 or XBOX. When CompUSA has a national street date they have to honor, the price for the product in their system will be listed as the date they can sell it. For example, if there was a street date on this game of 7/12/05, the price CompUSA would list it for in their system would be $71,205.00. This prevents people from selling it early, unless someone actually pays $71k for it. The price in CompUSA's system is $49.99. ALL CompUSA's can and will begin selling this product as soon as it arrives.

The CompUSA in Overland Park, KS, (right outside of Kansas City, MO) does not have it. Brad was able to look up the inventory reports for the entire company in their internal program (called JDA). He was able to show me that throughout the country, as of last night, there were 187 copies of NCAA Football 06 for PS2 and XBOX in-stock in CompUSA's across the country. I didn't write down each store and their quantites, but I specifically remember seeing Huntsville (AL), Pittsburgh (PA), Chicago (IL), Wilkins (NY), and a few others. The Chicago one in particular had 18 of them in stock. As of last night, SIX had been sold throughout the entire company. JDA is not real-time so it won't be able to tell how many had been sold today.

CompUSA has more locations in the USA than I would care to count. It's well over 300. For a company to ship their product individually to each of the 300+ locations cost a lot of money for overseeing it all. Usually, CompUSA has companies ship products to one of their 5 Cross-docks and the Cross-docks then distribute the product to the stores in their region. For high profile new products, however, many companies will choose to send directly to the retailer. EA Sports, with new product, typically does this. NONE of the cross-docks have any NCAA Football 2006 for PS2 of XBOX right now, yet there's a smattering of stores that do. This means the product is being sent directly from EA Sports, most likely by FedEx, directly to the stores. The stores closest to the EA Distribution centers are the ones that already have the game. I would say 90% of the CompUSA's will receive their product on Tuesday, July 5. If their warehouse personnel gets the product open, received and set for stocking in time, and the appropriate department personnel gets to their duties in time (which takes a miracle as they're usually teenagers) it should be on the shelf by mid-afternoon on Tuesday. No later than that evening.

I also spoke to a person at Gamestop today, and they do NOT have the game yet. They are still being told they will not receive it until 7/12, but I believe they will get new information next week. The game will probably be shipped directly to Gamestop's regional distribution hubs and managers in that region will be driving to those locations, picking up the quantity to fill their pre-orders, and returning to the store. Gamestops will probably have the game in the late evening of Tuesday, 7/5 and if there is enough demand they will stay open late to sell it. This is exactly what they did last year. A close friend of mine who is a Regional Manager for Gamestop (his name is Reid Roney and he handles the midwest area) will probably know the answer to this, but I haven't been able to get in touch with him today. His birthday is Monday so there's a chance he's out of town celebrating. If I can talk to him, however, I'll find out what he knows and let you all know.

These are the facts I know and the educated speculation I can give from them. Take it for what it's worth, as obviously I'm just some guy on the internet and I could be full of crap. I'm not, but I won't be offended if you think so. Rest assured, though, if the CompUSA in your area has it there is 100% no reason they cannot sell it. They do not have a street date to adhere to.

**jwhitener33** · 07-02-2005, 05:59 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Thread

If that is the case it sounds like it is EA's problem and the rest of us may be getting the game next week.

**ASB37** · 07-02-2005, 06:00 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Thread

Originally posted by SageTheInfinite

Anybody in NJ had any luck finding the game??

Just called the one in Paramus NJ The guy apologized profusely and told me that it is completly sold out.

Looks like we missed the boat.

**unc12003** · 07-02-2005, 06:01 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Threa

http://www.maddenmania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99320

"I am a manager at a local video game retailer and here to post about the < early release > of NCAA. The reason I am here is because it is the consumer and the retailers that are fighting a losing battle and I believe you deserve to know why.

Another retailer has released NCAA early and our stores are taking a hit. Just over the course of this morning - early afternoon we have had no less than 20 people return to our store wanting their money back they had used to pre-order NCAA. Alot of these customers had paid the game off in cash, and it was bad enough that we didnt have enough money in the register to return everyones money. ( We did refund everyone though eventually )

This looks bad on us. The consumers know we have the game, and yet we are not allowed to sell it. On behalf of the few companys already releasing the game, they have made a profitable decsion if they choose to make it known. According to faxes received from our parent company, the fine for releasing early was 50,000. That is 50,000 for the corporation to pay....not 50k per game, not 50k for the store and 1k per game etc...as people have been told. By eating a 50k fine, it is easy to see how a company could market this to their benefit. Millions of people buy NCAA games. It would take 1,000 games sold only to make up that 50k fine going off of nothing but gross profit sales. I am well aware we pay for the game as well, so for speculations sake....lets say 2,000 games sold to cover the loss. My store by iteself has pre-orders for over 300 games, and Im in a small community. It is easy to see how an early release profits thus that release early, and punishes those that dont.

Having said that, there is nothing we can do. Customers have brought in copys of the game, receipts, etc... and wanting to know why we cant sell. This is pissing me off. I am in the business to serve the game community and I am not allowed to. My company has still been told that until EA gives the go ahead to release early, even though others have broke the date...that we must still hold onto our copys.

This does nothing more than irratate the consumers. We have lost business now because of this and I, for one, am not happy. I tell all the customers the truth and have built a great reputation for our store here. I am bewildered at the fact that I am in the business to serve the game community by selling top titles at the earliest convience, and yet large corporations are allowed to take that business that we cater to, eat the fine, and we are STILL not allowed to sell our product.

I expect by the end of the evening, we will have lost about 50 preorders, and many more will find a way to obtain the game by various other means, thus making our loss more significant. Worst of all, we have lost the customers trust.
Why would you go give your hard earned money to a company, that is guarenteeing you a copy as soon as its availible.....if you can go to the local big retailer and get it ....EARLIER....and with out pre-ordering.../boggle Makes no sense to me.

I sent a more formal letter to EA. They need to get with the program. They have done nothing more than to irritate the consumer base by this latest move, and by having a few retailers sell it early and not giving the go ahead for the other companies to sell. I also sent a formal email to the head office of our company and have stated that we need to just go ahead and eat the fine, and release the game to the public in order to regain consumer confidence in us. It is a sad day when our parent companys are scared to pay a 50k fine, in order to make the millions of customers we have happy. It is the customer that keeps us in business, not EA.

So a heartfelt plea goes out there to the other retailers out there. Other companies have broke the date and we are all losing customers to them. Give our loyal customers a reason to come back to us and release the game. It is the least we can do.

Disgruntled Store Manager"

**RubenDouglas** · 07-02-2005, 06:04 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Threa

and to think I was at compusa here in new mexico yesterday morning looking for some pc stuff. lol. didnt even remotely think to look for the game.

**ohoover** · 07-02-2005, 06:04 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Thread

Called Coconuts in Cary NC. They have them in but won't sell until the 12th. There is a possiblity of Compusa having them tomorrow....

**ODogg** · 07-02-2005, 06:05 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Threa

Originally posted by Rback21

Thanks Gatorfan...I was just about to leave the house and go to the one in Alexandria. You just saved me from getting stuck on the beltway and getting across the WW Bridge. Has anyone else checked elsewhere in VA/MD?

NO one anywhere in Richmond has it, spent all day driving around. CompUSA up off Broad Street did say they'd have it "soon" and to check back Tuesday so I'm hopeful I can score the PS2 version Tuesday night.

**unc12003** · 07-02-2005, 06:05 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Threa

Originally posted by ohoover

Called Coconuts in Cary NC. They have them in but won't sell until the 12th. There is a possiblity of Compusa having them tomorrow....

are you talking about the Compusa in Raleigh, if so what exactly did they say

**GatorFan1963** · 07-02-2005, 06:06 PM

Re: Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Thread

I just tried two FYEs in the DC/Virginia area and both did not have it. When I asked the guy at one of the FYEs he said the game was supposed to be out on the 10th.

I find it odd and somewhat sick that I am spending my Saturday running around town trying to find dumb sales associates who will sell me this game.

Oh well...back to drinkin and eatin wings...

Official "Where Is It?", 'When Will I Get It", "Who's Got It?" Release Date Thread

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