Topic: Walmart has lowered price of 3DS early at some stores

Wow. You're right! You correctly assumed that I'm a child who has lived a "sheltered life" and that I'm nothing more than an innocent baby in a big bad world...

It's okay, though. I'm just going to take a little time to myself and "grow up." Hopefully by then I'll be able to "realise" how wrong I am.

Do I understand there's unfairness in this world? Yes.
Do I understand that with the economic system that America has adopted, goods can be sold at whatever price the seller desires? Yes.
Do I understand your inaccurate analogy to t-shirts? Well, no lol that's just emphasizing patience for price drops and deals, which I completely understand. I got 1 t-shirt the day it came out (I even waited for the store to open at midnight! lol) and someone waited for it's value to decrease to purchase one for themselves. That's how it works these days.

I merely stated my opinion that I find the situation "slightly annoying," only to be bombarded with claims that there certainly must be something wrong with me, that I'm a completely selfish fool, that I'm hateful towards others, and that I'm just a dumb consumer whining about free stuff. I'm sorry, but can you all please point out where I threw a tantrum?

I'm 100% satisfied with my 3DS. I bought it once I had enough money in May and have been enjoying it ever since. I'm overjoyed that Nintendo is offering the Ambassador Program and I have never once complained about it. I've been happy with my system and now Nintendo is offering me some of their best games to download for free?? They have no obligation to offer this to their customers. In the long run, it indeed is probably just another act to earn more money, but Nintendo is a business, correct? Of course that's their goal. I'm also happy with the price drop. Now my friends and cousins, who previously didn't have the money to buy a brand new system, can join in on the fun of being a 3DS owner.

However, in my opinion, I find it unfair that people are gaining access to the 20 games that were intended to only be available to those who bought their system early. Yupp, I said it again. Give me a moment to brace myself before I'm denounced as a horrible human being, unworthy for life. Then again, apparently that's just how it works these days; you state your opinion and attacks from those with differing views are inevitable.

I suppose I just didn't "realise" that that would occur earlier because I still haven't grown up.

Do I understand there's unfairness in this world? Yes.

This isn't unfair though. It's business, and it's entirely fair. You're making the mistake of applying human morality to business, and in doing that, you are acting quite juvenile.

To say it another way: a business' ethical responsbility is to its shareholders, and it would be entirely unfair of it to fail to take advantage of a favourable situation.

Well, I'm just happy for the gamers who get a great deal like this, and I'm equally happy that I get the free games.

Anyway, the amount of people who utilize this deal isn't probably that big, as the casuals probably don't know about the ambassador deal, meaning they might wait a few days before they get the system and miss out on the free games.

I agree with you - Nintendo's intentions are perfectly clear. I was pointing out that people were not 'cheating' the system because the system doesn't directly have anything to do with what you paid for a 3DS - it is based around when you connect it to the eShop.

I admit, my post was unduly harsh. I agreed with you for part of your post, but you lost me again.

My 'incorrect' T-Shirt analogy was not perfect - I came up with it in a few seconds. I'll happily admit that. However, you claim to understand waiting for a better deal, but somehow that doesn't apply here? I don't follow you. This is exactly, to paraphrase you, a "price drop and a deal".

As for the Ambassador program which is "intended to only be available to those who bought their system early": Nintendo has set a clear date delineating 'early' from 'late'. That date is August 12. Therefore, people who register their 3DS before said date are in full compliance with the rules, are, according to Nintendo, early adopters, and this is all regardless of what they paid for the system. No cheating is occurring. People have simply spotted an excellent deal and are taking up the offer.

I should not have equated people who are complaining to sheltered children - it was uncalled for. I was just trying to point out that it's pretty immature to label people who are legally obtaining a console and registering for a good deal 'cheaters', simply because you paid a higher price for a product than they did. Part of buying a given product at any stage is realising that a better deal may come along at any time - it's up to each consumer to take the plunge when they feel the time is right.

If you had left it at 'slightly annoyed', as you stated in your first post, I would have let it slide - in fact, I wouldn't have really cared. I'd be slightly annoyed too, but them's the breaks. It was your second post that attacked people who bought a discounted 3DS that prompted my reply, so please don't play the victim here. I'm at fault here as well, and I don't want to play the 'you started it!' game, but I feel like I should defend myself to some degree.

By the way, I should state that I am not a 3DS owner.

Then you should hurry out and buy one for $170 before the 12th! lol also, no sarcasm there; might as well take advantage of the opportunity while it's there.

This is a silly argument and I feel we're all just wasting our time. We could keep going back and forth, nitpicking each others comments and refuting to no end, or we can just return to spreading our enthusiasm for Nintendo, which I'm sure we both have a lot of!

I'm opting for the latter option lol

I just bought it today, and I call it "lucky". Stuff like this happens sometimes. If I had bought it at launch, heck yes, I'd be bummed, but, hey, I still had it long before those of us who bought it in that past couple of days.

So should I whine and complain that its is unfair for me that I miss out on the free games and the price drop cause I want to wait for the Flame Red model to come out?

I am not cause its my choice to wait just like it was your choice to buy the 3DS when it came out in March.

As stated before the Ambassador program isnt for people who bought there 3DS early its for people who connect to the eShop before the 12th. People could have bought a used 3DS at Gamestop for example a few weeks ago for less than 250 and connect to the eShop and get the games. Is it annoying cause they did that?

First of all, let me state that I have nothing against those of you who got/are getting it at Wal-Mart or Target before the 12th to get the free games. You're just taking advantage of an opportunity, which is a shrewd move! I congratulate you!

My question is this: Can these stores do this without any penalty or repercussion from Nintendo? Isn't this something like jumping street date? Nintendo was lowering the price on the 12th. Will Wal-Mart & Target simply get away with this?

Now, I'm not an idiot. I know Nintendo will also benefit from a frenzy to get the 3DS over the next day. However, the WHOLE POINT of the Ambassador's program was to reward those who bought it at full price, and the other people to get it at a discount, but miss out on the games! There was a fair tradeoff. Get it for more before the 12th and get free games or after for less and get no free games. There was balance. Not now.

It just feels like Wal-Mart flaunting that they are Wal-Mart and are above following rules. They can even get away with discriminating against 1.5 million female employees at will and keep doing it since the Supreme Court threw out the class action lawsuit! With the glut of Wal-Marts everywhere, there'll be so many who've gotten the 3DS early to get the free games that Nintendo may as well give EVERYBODY the games. Declare everybody an Ambassador! This just blew the point of the program out of the water.

If this is "Wal-Mart flaunting that they are...above the rules" I give them free reign to bend the rules any time they want.

@BetelgeuseWC77: First off the Ambassador program isnt for people who bought the 3DS at launch its for people who connect to the eShop before the 12th.

Second No Wal-mart cant get in trouble for it more than likely the 169 3DS have different SKUs than the 250s so Wal-mart is more than likely wanting to get rid of the old 3DS with the old SKU before the new ones come in and screw up their inventory systems.

Well if they're going to start pulling stunts like this without fear of consequence from Nintendo, they darn sure better start breaking street dates!

I doubt that will happen anytime soon lol I went to buy Ocarina of Time 3D from Walmart on the 19th (which is when the game was officially released) but the worker's little scanner stated that she couldn't sell the game until midnight of the 19th, so the 20th. Luckily I was there at 11:30pm, so I just found a bouncy ball and that kept me occupied until she would finally sell me the game at midnight lol The game was released on Sunday, June 19th in America, correct? Aw well, it's the last time I go to Wal-Mart to purchase a new game lol

I do realize it's for people that connected to the eShop, but when you get down to it isn't just their means of separating the people who got it before the 12th from the ones who got it on or after the 12th? Their way of telling who got it at the $250 price and the $170 price? At any rate, it's done. I'll get my free games and I congratulate all others that do too on what'll be a great lineup, regardless of when they got it or how much they paid. I just don't like the cancer that is Wal-Mart. You'd have to set aside an hour of your free time if I posted everything I hate about them and what they stand for.

There would be absolutely no stipulation on what price the 3DS is sold at by retailers. As far as I know (at least in Australia) it's actually illegal to do so. Nintendo sells Wal-Mart the consoles at a certain price, and it's up to the latter to decide what they want to charge for it. To do otherwise would, in fact, be Nintendo not following rules.

I agree - I've had my say, and I'll drop it.

Truce!

I couldnt agree with you more on Wal-mart dude, I am the same way. I dont shop at Wal-mart at all I dont care what deal they have or not. Personally I would love to see your post on why you hate them. I am sure we will have similar thoughts lol.

I second that request to see just why you hate them so much =P I'll excitedly keep my eyes peeled in the Off-Topic board in search for your thread, if you decide you want to rant about them and get some of it out of your system hahah

It's not whining,its saying that if you bought it for the more expensive price, then you should be an ambassabor because you paid that £$80 more than the other people who paid the less expensive price who don't become the ambassadors and then
Wal-mart come in and sell it cheaper and they still become ambassadors and pay less money, which would annoy anyone who who bought the system at the early price because they should pay the more expensive price and be an ambassador or pay the cheaper price and not be an ambassador, not both

However, the WHOLE POINT of the Ambassador's program was to reward those who bought it at full price, and the other people to get it at a discount, but miss out on the games!

Tell me; where Nintendo ever stated that?

You won't be able to. The closest you can get is an implication that that was the point of the program. Implication is very different to WHOLE POINT.

It just feels like Wal-Mart flaunting that they are Wal-Mart and are above following rules.

What rules? The rules retailers must obey are called regulations and laws, and I can assure you, they are not breaking any laws to do this.

Well, things seem to vary depending on the press release:

No designation of having to pay full price there (or in the rest of the press release). Sounds to me like just buying a 3DS at any price means it's fair game.

However...

Not that people or retailers are breaking any "rules" or laws by purchasing the systems. Just putting this out there. I paid my $250 for the 3DS and though it's not the greatest device in my opinion, I feel no anger towards people nabbing this deal. More power to them.

Hmm, that's interesting - they really didn't pick a very good choice of words for the latter two! (In that there is no practical way to determine the price people paid).