**UPDATED 9/14** It's leaking out already!
http://rated-m.blogspot.com/2007/09/halo-3-ships-and-already-some-claim-to.html
In a recent store E-Mail sent out to all GameStop and EBGames locations in the US and territories, GameStop revealed some juicy nuggets of info regarding how Halo 3 will be shipped...and what will happen if the boxes are opened early.
According to the E-Mail, Halo 3 begins making it's way to stores as early as September 13th. By September 18th, all retail stores should have their copies. Not a huge surprise here though. Who DIDN'T expect this game to ship early?
The different versions will ship separately in boxes that don't say Halo anywhere on them. The E-Mail describes what the boxes will look like however, saying they will have distinctive stickers to point them out. I believe the box housing the Legendary has a sticker that mentions Helmets for example.
But here is the news worthy part. With leaks recently of Bioshock and Stranglehold for the 360 by retail chains, GameStop has decided to impose strict penalties for employees who open the shipping cartons before the midnight launch. If you break the tape, even if by accident, you will be fired on the spot. It doesn't matter if you are an hourly peon or the store manager...or even the district manager. If you break the tape, you will be fired.
I can't say I blame the organization for doing this, though I felt the accidental thing was a bit too far. I mean accidents happen, right? And just because you accidentally break the tape on the shipping carton doesn't mean you're gonna sell the game early, right? So I called GameStop corporate, and the lady on the other end confirmed just that. Even accidental cases of breaking the tape will be met with firing.
So there you have it. If you happen to get a copy this week, cause you know, they "fall off the truck" sometimes, I probably wouldn't play on Live. As tempting as it sounds, you may get a 9999 year ban for something that is the retailer/shipper's fault.
Stay tuned for more as this breaks!
Sadly the "accidental" part is necessary otherwise someone who breaks the tape could just claim it was by accident.
It just means if you are a GameStop employee you should double check what box you have before you open it for the next 2 weeks.
Posted on 11:38 AM
All of this makes sense.
Posted on 9:06 AM
Yeah, we got the email too. The weird thing is, usually the emails have a place for each employee to sign, stating that they read and understand it.
This email did not. My manager simply threw it away.
Anyways, our shipments arrived today, and like the email said, it doesn't say halo on any of the boxes, and they were stacked and locked in the back room. Our manager reminded us to not touch em AT ALL.
Posted on 3:02 PM
My manager at Wal-Mart threatened the entire Electronics' department's jobs if we mess with the boxes.
In fact, the boxes are now under lock and key as we speak, and only management has the keys. I mean we can get in the lock-up cage and all, but we need to have a manager open it. And guess what? They stand and watch us now...
This is some crazy shit for a video game...
Posted on 3:08 PM
What I think is funny is all these pople saying it isn't true. I saw the e-mail with my own eyes. I know I wasn't tripping on fucking acid. Stupid ass kids these days. what the fuck.
Posted on 3:15 PM
This is absolutely true, I was in shock when I first read the email.
My friend works at GameCrazy and they got a similar email.
Posted on 3:22 PM
Haha there are people who don't believe this? Must not work at a Gamestop then. Hell I don't even work there and saw the e-mail. I am friends with the guy who was working that day. He printed it out, read it over, and tossed it out. I was just about to blog about it myself when I saw this article. No use now, but atleast I can add to it a bit.
Posted on 3:29 PM
i worked at gamestop when H2 came out and they had a similar rule. my manager opened the boxes and he didn't get fired. honestly, how would anyone know unless there was a rat at your location? and besides, how are you suppose to count to make sure the inventory is correct?? wait till the night of? when gamestops shipment come in, they has to process it that day. what if i'm missing a legendary edition from the box? i just lost 130 dollars. not on my watch!
Posted on 4:08 PM
Fuck that, we get boxes in sometimes that have tape cut a little, not unboxed or ripped or anything, but if they are that strict... people may get fired for no reason.
Posted on 4:09 PM
A friend of mine got fired today for this very thing. I thought he was full of shit.
But now I believe him. I'm gonna tell him to write in with his story when he gets back from the unemployment office.
Posted on 4:13 PM
sucks for me....i work at gamestop
Posted on 4:58 PM
>>>But now I believe him. I'm gonna tell him to write in with his story when he gets back from the unemployment office.
Wait, so your friend gets fired from his $7/hr job at GameStop and goes to collect unemployment? Are you serious?
I mean, other than the fact that he can't collect because he got fired, he's doing it for a $7/hr job? What will he get, like $100 a week?
Well, I guess that could by him a whole lot of Halo 3 branded Game Fuel...
Posted on 5:06 PM
"I mean, other than the fact that he can't collect because he got fired, he's doing it for a $7/hr job? What will he get, like $100 a week?"
Actually the State of New Jersey is fighting on his behalf as they called it awrongful termination. He claims to have never seen the e-mail. And yes, he will get the unemployment check after the case is resolved.
Posted on 5:10 PM
i work @ GS too. we got half our shipments. we expect like 50ish huge boxes to sit in our backroom for 2 weeks. there's like close to 500 reserves on that in my store alone. the email is stupid and a little extreme. "fired on the spot?" weak!
Posted on 7:34 PM
Fired for an accident!? Thank God I'm union!
Posted on 1:48 PM
well, if guys want a copy that bad just check on ebay and for only 135 plus dollars, you too can have an early copy of halo 3.!!:)
Posted on 4:58 PM
Masterchief dies at the end of Halo 3. He sacrifices himself. In order to shut down The Arc, he needs to use his suit. There’s a huge electrical discharge, which kills him. Don’t believe me if you want, but it’s true.
Posted on 3:03 PM
Sounds like I need to get hired for a day open and buy Halo 3, and then promptly get fired. Sounds like a plan!
Posted on 4:38 PM
What would they do if the tape broke during shipping?
Posted on 10:16 PM
My buddy in Puerto Rico told me that at the Sam's club that hes working at, the head manager went and opened up the box and had had one of the employees start stocking them over night, only when one of the employees pointed out that they werent suposed to be stocked yet, one hour before opening, did he go and have them take them down and put them back, needless to say, 4 copies went missing in the process, and the manager was telling everyone that it was no big deal, and not to look for them... If it wasnt for that one dumb ass, a whole lot of people would be playing Halo right now... including him...
Posted on 11:19 AM
spooky :|
Posted on 11:56 AM
there are some people already playing H3...
check the xbox.com H3 forum.
Posted on 11:36 PM
Who cares really? I work at an EB, and I would steal one, get fired, and get charged, just to play Halo early! Or maybe not.
Posted on 3:41 PM
hello
Posted on 4:45 AM