My situation is that I preORDERED through GameStop online for an instore purchase just to get the beta Key in April. I figured I would cancel that and decided this past weekend to order the digital copy from ArenaNet so I didn't have to stand in line. When I went to apply the serial #, the site told me I was already registered for headstart and the game in general. In other words, I got myself in April into a PrePurchase which doesn't charge me until the box arrives. ArenaNet is dragging their feet as I either try to apply the new purchase to my existing account and cancel my GameStop Purchase, or to leave teh GameStop purchase on the account, pick up the stupid box, and ArenaNet credit me for the 2nd purchase. What I don't want is two purchases of the same thing. I guess worst case is that I can always give a friend the latest purchase. I should have learned my lesson with SWTOR and GameStop that their unclear selling verbiage never ends up to be what they state. Going forward, I'm just going digital direct.

never never never buy from gamestop!!!

Hey,

  I found out the answer for you OP. When I paid in full at my local gamestop they gave me a code for a 1 day headstart on my receipt. This confused me because the pre-purchase was supposed to be a 3 day headstart plus the heroes band. Last night I went to gamestop and asked them if I was set up as a pre-purchase in full or if this was a pre-order receipt instead. They had me under pre-order even though I had paid in full. So I had my local gamestop remove me from pre-order status and switch me to pre-purchased status. They printed a new code that gave me access to download the client imediately and printed out the 3 day headstart bonus serial code on my receipt.

  TLDR: Make sure your code is based off "pre-purchase" and is not listed as a "pre-order". Pre-order from gamestop gives you a 1 day headstart only and does not give you early access to download the client. I would suggest either contact their customer support to switch you to pre-purchase or go to a local store and request it from them like i did.

P.S. I know the TLDR is long, but its still shorter then my original post. So nyah.

Originally posted by Wakygreek

Hey,

  I found out the answer for you OP. When I paid in full at my local gamestop they gave me a code for a 1 day headstart on my receipt. This confused me because the pre-purchase was supposed to be a 3 day headstart plus the heroes band. Last night I went to gamestop and asked them if I was set up as a pre-purchase in full or if this was a pre-order receipt instead. They had me under pre-order even though I had paid in full. So I had my local gamestop remove me from pre-order status and switch me to pre-purchased status. They printed a new code that gave me access to download the client imediately and printed out the 3 day headstart bonus serial code on my receipt.

  TLDR: Make sure your code is based off "pre-purchase" and is not listed as a "pre-order". Pre-order from gamestop gives you a 1 day headstart only and does not give you early access to download the client. I would suggest either contact their customer support to switch you to pre-purchase or go to a local store and request it from them like i did.

P.S. I know the TLDR is long, but its still shorter then my original post. So nyah.

I wish this was totally accurate but in my case I found out it wasn't. I preordered in April from GameStop only to have ArenaNet tell me the Serial # in their system was a PrePurchase with a 3 day headstart. Then I called a 2nd time to GameStop and now they are saying it was a prepurchase and they will charge my card when the box arrives. ArenaNet just gave me a credit for the 2nd order I placed since I thought the GameStop was a PreOrder not a PrePurchase. GameStop is so tricky with everything. Never again. Either way, whether at release it ends up to be 1 day or 3, I don't care anymore. Ill be playing for a long time hopefully and 2 or 3 days wont matter.

I purchased a copy online from Gamestop.  They sent me a code for the game in e-mail.  The subject was "Your exclusive Guild Wars 2 Beta Code from GameStop".

I would call their 800 number and ask about it.  Looking back I had purchased the game 7 days earlier then the code.  Maybe it's taking them time to verify and e-mail the code?

Originally posted by Wakygreek

From my understanding you cannot pre-purchase through retail store, unless of course you bought yours online. If you bought yours online I would contact anet support. If you went through your local store I thnk they only allow pre-orders which are not being taken at this time. I had a simmilar problem with gamestop

I pre-ordered retail in a GameStop in Denmark.

I got a DVD cover with nothing but a gamecode. I went home, registeret it on http://account.guildwars2.com like the note said and then I could download the client when it was available.

It is possible to pre order retail and pre-download. Its just if you purchase the standard edition, which you get at launch, instead of the pre order version only containing a cover and a serial key.

Check :https://account.guildwars2.com/download

Originally posted by Epic1oots

never never never buy from gamestop!!!

I hate to say do not support your local brick and mortar stores, but in my experience, Gamestop employees are poorly informed about PC titles.  Especially pre-order/purchases of mmorpgs.  I have had numerous poor customer service issues of the years are various Gamestop locations in regards to MMO pre-purchase/orders.  One involved a district manager giving my pre-purchased collectors edition of the game to another customer who only prepaid for a standard copy, and then proceeded to argue with me about the refund but no more collector's editions existed in his district. 

From my experiences, they do not care about pc titles, have terrible customer service, and will not hesitate to give away your copy of a game regardless if you paid for it in full.  Their EU counterpart is failing/failed business and honestly it needs to happen to their US end.  Terrible company.

Cheers!

UPDATE:

I have called AMEX and cancelled the transaction.  I gave gamestop every opportunity to address the situation.  I didnt even get a key code yet.  I finally heard back from a customer service and told them to credit me even though I already talked to AMEX.

I then went to Amazon, purchased the game, got the key code and was directed to the GW2 site were I downloaded the game.  Poof!! Just like that.  Now THAT is good service.

Originally posted by bmw66

UPDATE:

 

I have called AMEX and cancelled the transaction.  I gave gamestop every opportunity to address the situation.  I didnt even get a key code yet.  I finally heard back from a customer service and told them to credit me even though I already talked to AMEX.

 

I then went to Amazon, purchased the game, got the key code and was directed to the GW2 site were I downloaded the game.  Poof!! Just like that.  Now THAT is good service.

Glad to hear you got fixed.

I too hate to take service away from a physical store if i can help it, but my god, Gamestop's continued incompetence as a company is staggering. This is not even close to the first  game this has happened with.

And as others have mentioned, they just do not care about PC titles. Which is fine...if they want the entire PC gaming community to turn to Amazon and Steam.Their loss.

Originally posted by bmw66

UPDATE:

 

I have called AMEX and cancelled the transaction.  I gave gamestop every opportunity to address the situation.  I didnt even get a key code yet.  I finally heard back from a customer service and told them to credit me even though I already talked to AMEX.

 

I then went to Amazon, purchased the game, got the key code and was directed to the GW2 site were I downloaded the game.  Poof!! Just like that.  Now THAT is good service.

Yep,  gamestop screws p literally every major game release in some damn way.  You think it is not possible, but they prove you wrong everytime.

Originally posted by cyress8

Originally posted by bmw66

UPDATE:

 

I have called AMEX and cancelled the transaction.  I gave gamestop every opportunity to address the situation.  I didnt even get a key code yet.  I finally heard back from a customer service and told them to credit me even though I already talked to AMEX.

 

I then went to Amazon, purchased the game, got the key code and was directed to the GW2 site were I downloaded the game.  Poof!! Just like that.  Now THAT is good service.

Yep,  gamestop screws p literally every major game release in some damn way.  You think it is not possible, but they prove you wrong everytime.

I've never had an issue with my local EB Games (Gamestop in Canada)

The people there are friendly and know what they should.   I really don't understand the hate.

That being said I bought GW2 online directly from ArenaNet.  Why get a physical copy these days unless the copy has something special... in GW2's case there is nothing that makes a physical copy worth the trouble.

Originally posted by Bainwalker

I've never had an issue with my local EB Games (Gamestop in Canada)

 

The people there are friendly and know what they should.   I really don't understand the hate.

 

That being said I bought GW2 online directly from ArenaNet.  Why get a physical copy these days unless the copy has something special... in GW2's case there is nothing that makes a physical copy worth the trouble.

EB (Electronics Botique) was another company that was bought out by Gamestop. I think they still use the old branding in some areas. They also were a lot better than Gamestop ever was. Wish we still had them here.

I've sadly had a lot of problems with GS over the years. They don't tend to be very knowledgeable about their products...they pretty much only pay attention to maor PS/Xbox releases. I understand they won't know every game...but they tend to know nothing about anything.

Tack on some of the corporate policies (Buying your game for $2 and selling it for $20, not providing emplyees with important information about serial numbers in situations like GW2, accidently giving multiple people the same codes, and let's not forget the Deus Ex fiasco..) and I'm done with them. It's a shame, because I'd like a decent local game store to go to, but it is what it is.