GameStop Removes Coupons from Deus Ex: Human Revolution!

GameStop is facing a lot of heat today. It seems that they opened copies of the PC version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution in order to remove the free OnLive coupons added by Square Enix. Of course, GameStop turned around and sold them as new.

GameStop had this to say: “Square Enix packed the competitor’s coupon with our DXHR product without our prior knowledge and we did pull and discard these coupons”.

There are so many things wrong with this picture. One side, I feel that GameStop should have just pulled the games and asked for some without the code. That would have been the smart thing to do so that they aren’t alienating customers. The same customers that have issue with them opening new titles to have an empty box on the shelves. That’s a no brainer. On the other hand, I feel Square should have let them know about the coupon in advance, giving GameStop a chance to ask for copies without the coupon. Honestly, I doubt other places (like Best Buy) would allow product sold with coupons for competitors (Walmart). With that being said, GameStops actions were hasty to say the least.

Not to jump on the GS hate bandwagon, I do feel that they were in the wrong here. At the same time, I can understand their motives. We’ll have to wait and see what happens next as there has been no word from Square or OnLive at this point.

Source: GameSpy