Lesson Learned: Never Order a Launch Day Edition Console from Amazon

In July, I purchased a PS4 Launch Bundle from Amazon. I don’t know about you, but the PlayStation 4’s asking price was a huge deal for me, and I scrimped and saved to be able to make the payment. This was to be a combination birthday/anniversary present for my boyfriend, as well as something I would do for work here at GameSkinny. 

Today was going to be a day of learning the PS4 interface and playing Killzone: Shadow Fall, Contrast, and Resogun. 

Also as a point of reference, I live in a city with a very large Amazon distribution center. On a good day, if I really felt the urge, I could probably walk to where Amazon keeps stacks of goodies waiting to be delivered to paying customers. 

I’ve had to call twice today to find out that I am, in fact, not getting my Launch Bundle at Amazon. At least not today. This isn’t just a problem because the first call center staffer told me, guaranteed me to the point of offering a refund if it wasn’t true, that I would have my package delivered today. Nor is it a problem that a several-month, recurring system error on Amazon’s end makes it so I can’t track packages myself and have to call in. No, it’s the fact that the second call informed me that my not getting the Launch Bundle on Day 1 was my fault. I’ll probably get it tomorrow. 

This is a big deal for several reasons. One, I took time off from my primary job today so that I could write about Day 1 releases. Two, they didn’t even ship the package until this morning, even though they said they wouldn’t charge my account until they shipped, and they charged me yesterday. I know they didn’t ship until today because the first call center employee told me so, and also they emailed me the shipping confirmation. If I had known that a Launch Bundle meant that they would ship it on Launch Day, I would’ve purchased my PS4 from ANY other retailer in my town. 

It’s also a big deal because Amazon has informed me that I will need to be at my house to receive the package tomorrow. I wasn’t going to be at my house tomorrow when a package would arrive. I have other obligations, which I will now have to reschedule because I ordered a Launch Day bundle from Amazon. 

Amazon has reiterated on the phone that this is “my fault,” because I selected “standard shipping” on an object that was traveling less than 10 miles. I figure it’s Amazon’s problem for shipping an object the day that it was supposed to be delivered. 

Either way I will never order a Launch Day pre-order from Amazon again, and I’d honestly suggest you do the same. People say that Big Box stores are dead, but at least I know when I order something, it will be there when they say it will.