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Why is ZM deleting my TESO sale posts on the forums?
MarkAnd81
Member Posts: 19
I made a few posts on the official forums that point people to Walmart sales and Best Buy price matching to get the base game for $9.99.
They have all been deleted and I was given a warning! What is going on, does ZeniMax not want more people to join their game? I even posted a receipt for a few people to get Best Buy to price match, but that is the thread that got me my warning. What is going on with these guys?
Look at my threads:
http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/112715/eso-is-just-9-99-at-walmart
Not my thread:
http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/110120/dafuq-9-99-at-walmart
There are a few more, but they are all being deleted as soon as they are created! Why is ZeniMax doing this? They can still be read via Google's cache system, but ZM is deleting them like there is no tomorrow.
Really, can someone please tell me why anyone would delete sale threads on the official forums? Is saving other people money that bad? Heck, they are even deleting the Amazon threads where people post the game is $29.99.
I love the game so far but their CSR's seem to be really crappy and Nazi like.
Comments
I don't live in the states and I don't have a clue why ZM is deleting your posts IF the information you provided is 100% accurate.
Out of my curiosity, can you post the Walmart or Bestbuy links? I already bought ESO, but some people I know might be interested
http://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Elder-Scrolls-Online-PC-Mac-PC-Games/20895851
43$
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/video-games/the-elder-scrolls-online/pcmcat322500050019.c?id=pcmcat322500050019
59$ sold out of imperial editions.
I believe it may be over now. As of today actually. I told a few friends about the sale, and most managed to snag it at $9.99.
I learned about it from this excellent review http://www.amazon.com/review/R2M7PSMDT36F1L/ which I got to while browsing the Amazon TESO page after following another link from the official forum saying the game was on sale for $29.99. Saddly the official TESO forum thread has long since been deleted. No idea why????
After I followed that link, I saw the review and it mentioned Walmart having the game for $9.99. Calling a few stores around me, I managed to find a copy for $10, and had them hold it for me. The price is in store only, not online.
Ebay was also recently full of the Walmart versions of the game that sold for a very low price. Look here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Elder-Scrolls-Online-PC-MAC-2014-Walmart-Exculsive-w-20x16-Cloth-Map-/121360474031?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item1c41a5dfaf
Just today the price seems to have jumped back up, but Amazon still has it for $29.99, and some ebay sellers are still selling the Walmart copy for $15-$20.
I'm not going to go read the ESO forum rules but sometimes posting links to commercial entities can get your threads deleted and/or your account banned (in general, not just ESO).
MMORPG.com for example has these rules:
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It has been stated several times (in other threads from MMORPG.com as well as other sites) that the $9.99 offer only goes towards physical copies of the game at that particular store. This goes for both Walmart and Best Buy.
Wow. Don't even think SWTOR went to 9.99 that quick. Sales must be horrendous and they are liquidating their physical stock.
"You are all going to poop yourselves." BillMurphy
"Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone."
As we are all Zenimax employee's, hang on...no we are not, so we have no idea. You could put a help question in on the official forum?
I notice that Walmat online price for TESO is 43$, if you can get it cheaper, good luck to you.
It was $9.99 at my walmart a few days ago- I posted about it then and what ended up being the case (not going to try to find the post/thread) -
I was curious as hell if it was mismarked- It wasnt. Evidently most wal marts were doing this (but not every one) so believe it or not- This is real. Why zenimax would delete these threads ? I dont think it looks good....
Promoting retail companies is probably against the ESO forum rules.
It could also be argued that those posts are of little value on the official forums, seeing as the greater majority of those forum folk already own the game. At worst the post could be seen as an attempt to troll by insinuating that the game is dying because it's "in the bargain bin".
As for Walmart (or any major store) liquidating physical stock, it's quite normal 3 months after launch. They have to clear shelf space for new launch games that will be "hot sellers". No MMO in history has kept on selling at launch-month volumes indefinitely.
If the price of the digital copies drops dramatically, then it would be safe to conclude that "demand has dropped significantly".
Have not personally confirmed this myself. There were a few people saying that this was going on. Someone made a joke about not even buying it at that price. Though I'm pretty sure they did regardless.
If it's still going on I might go pick it up just to have it on my desk. Probably won't use it until the game goes Free to Play and I get some kind've premium status for owning the game before the -- some would say -- inevitability of such.
There are numerous online cdkey resellers that me and my guildies regularly use, that sell ESO at below 20 now, and in CBT at less than 30 (and totally legit, quick and professional). Not providing any links as apparently it's against mmorpg.com policy.
Google is your friend, one of the very few examples for which globalization is good
Same for 60d gamecards (for ESO and other games), quite the bargain - 2months at same monthly rate of the 6month official sub price..
As for the OP: they are deleting because they want to sell directly their overpriced rate of 59.9 or whatever it is on their website..
It's just select stores believe me, we've been checking...My WIfe works between two Walmarts in the pharmacy in our area, she's been checking ever since that thread popped up.. Still the walmart asking price at both, there have been no sales in our area.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Links?
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Maybe it is being deleted because Zenimax want you to buy the digital download from them?
Anyway its $29.99 on Amazon .com for the retail box copy with free shipping.
$29.99 from Gamestop for the retail box.
Or you can buy the digital download from Amazon .com or GameStop for .... roll of drums .......$59.99.
Warning: your shopping experience may vary. You can pay more. You may also find cheaper prices in selected stores.
Maybe he edited later but it says "Not providing any links as apparently it's against mmorpg.com policy."
Wa min God! Se æx on min heafod is!
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
The stores in your area probably sold their entire stock already, so they don't have any "loose units" to clear off the shelves.
The customer profile for each store is not identical, so certain things may sell faster than others. I'm sure the individual stores are allowed to clear excess stock or discount slow-moving items.
Hmm. Very lame policy if they don't want to save their subscribers money. MMO's like TESO make money from sub sales, not game sales.
Getting more people into the game at $10 is a lot better than not getting anyone in at $60.
Whatever. Stupid policy is stupid.
I also love how some people go out of their way to point out the deal doesn't exist because on line prices don't reflect that, even if Amazon is selling it for $29.99 anyway. Apparently it is also incredibly difficult to google Elder Scrolls Online $9.99, see countless threads, receipt screenshots for price matching, etc. Or you know... Actually call a Walmart.
The game going down in price is a good thing. Stop pointing people to the official site. If they can't buy a Walmart or Ebay copy (some are selling at $14-$15 for the Walmart copy), then they can still buy from Amazon for half the price that ZM wants for it.
When did gamer's get so mean and vindictive?
Been that way for quite some time now, well, at least on these forums anyways.
I agree, getting more people into paying a sub would seem to be the goal, but perhaps somehow retailers like Walmart have a deal with Zenimax that they only have to play them a portion of the final selling price. If so, then 9.99 sales might really be cutting into the profit margin.
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Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
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Nice little site for comparison purposes.
"I also love how some people go out of their way to point out the deal doesn't exist because on line prices don't reflect that, even if Amazon is selling it for $29.99 anyway. Apparently it is also incredibly difficult to google Elder Scrolls Online $9.99, see countless threads, receipt screenshots for price matching, etc. Or you know... Actually call a Walmart."
It seems some Walmarts are offering at this price in selected stores. But I am basing that purely on posts here, I googled "Elder Scrolls Online $9.99," and did not find one receipt screenshot, I looked at price matching sites and found 20 to 40$. Perhaps your Goggle is better than mine?
I am not sure that industry insiders would agree that it is all about the sub. The baulk of players only play for one or two months and then leave every MMO for the next one, or go back to solo games. Certainly though reducing price will mean more end up on the sub.
I share your opinion.
I wonder whether Zenimax insiders over-ruled their instincts; became the latest team to think they could emulate WoW; fell into a "sales don't matter, its all about the long term subscribers" approach. Believed maybe that they could get 20M subs by Christmas. Will they change course when they launch the console version?
There will be reasons why certain content gets deleted on forums, even you dont understand why..