Target Begins Cash Back Program for Game Pre-Orders

[DoctorFinger]

In an attempt to secure a larger chunk of the gaming market, Target has announced an incentive program for game pre-orders.

Starting this Sunday gamers can purchase a $1 reservation card. If they bring that card back within seven days of the release of the game, they'll receive a $5 gift card in return.

The program won't cover all games - don't expect to be able to reserve obscure JRPGs for the DS with this system - but Target promises that most of the major releases will be covered under the program.

[Siraris]

huh? So if I want to reserve a game, and then cancel my reserve they give me $5?

[rinichanraar]

Originally Posted by Siraris

huh? So if I want to reserve a game, and then cancel my reserve they give me $5?

Nah, I think that if you preorder a game, you have the option to buy a $1 reservation card. If you go back and purchase the game within a week of its release, you can exchange that $1 card for a $5 gift card.

But then you'd technically be only making $4... unless that $1 is like a down payment on the game.

Seems like an okay way to get people to actually pick up their preorders. I know I've preordered some games before and not picked them up till kind of a long time after they were released.

[rein]

Is this really going to work? I thought EB/GS preorders were confusing to customers. Let me preorder or reserve the game and then let the POS automatically give me a $5 discount if I pick it up in the fist 7 days. Why make me purchase a $1 card to trade for a $5 card that I will be handing right back to you when I make the purchase? Or is it one of those, has to be used on your next purchase type deals?

[Abyssion]

You probably preorder the game for a dollar then get the card. Then you pick up the game within the first week with the card you got when you put down your preorder. Most likely youll be given a $5 gift card to be used on a future purchase.

[Spacetronaut]

Originally Posted by rein

Is this really going to work? I thought EB/GS preorders were confusing to customers. Let me preorder or reserve the game and then let the POS automatically give me a $5 discount if I pick it up in the fist 7 days. Why make me purchase a $1 card to trade for a $5 card that I will be handing right back to you when I make the purchase? Or is it one of those, has to be used on your next purchase type deals?

I think an automatic discount would cost them more money, as there will be a certain percentage of people who never use the $5 card once they get it.

[Wraith]

Originally Posted by DoctorFinger

Starting this Sunday gamers can purchase a $1 reservation card. If they bring that card back within seven days of the release of the game, they'll receive a $5 gift card in return.

Sweet. That's a pretty good deal compared to Gamestop, especially if the $1 goes toward the price of the game.

Originally Posted by DoctorFinger

The program won't cover all games - don't expect to be able to reserve obscure JRPGs

Dangit!

[bone_matrix]

The buck goes towards the purchase price of the game. You get the gift card on the same transaction with the game. It will go something like this:

-Scan game
-Scan preorder card
-$1 off game
-Cashier scans $5 gift card, and hands it to you
-You pay for game, receive game and gift card, good on next purchase

Not a bad deal, especially if you were going to get the game anyway, and don't want to go to GameStop.

[Iron Past]

Buy twelve get one free!

Seriously, though, if you're going to pick up a game you might as well. Target usually has gift card deals on bigger releases anyway, so maybe they can combine for some decent savings (on future purchases). It's apparently cheaper to reserve at Target now, too, foregoing the normal $5. Not a big deal, but I can usually scrape up $1 somewhere to impulse reserve something whereas with $5 it has to be deliberate. Then again, I doubt I can move that $1 around at Target should I change my mind.