Well, here we are again. I didn't think I'd be writing in a second ticket, but seeing how things are going I decided to write in again. I do so not out of malice, but out of frustration.
First, thank you for listening to everyone and deciding to generate more codes (see, I knew you could do it) and distributing them via receipt print ups. By the time I heard of the second run it was the afternoon and I had already gone out to do errands, but I figured I'd go to my local GameStop the next day just as it opened (being it was a Sunday this mean 11 am). And I did, they had opened just 10 minutes before I arrived and a handful of people were in it.
So I got on line, but just before I got to the counter the person in front of me asked about the codes. And the employee told him they were out. I spoke up, saying that a new batch of codes were sent out and were being printed on receipts. The employee said those were the codes they're out of, they gave most of them out yesterday and only had a few left today; what I missed was when they opened up there was a big line of people however many of them went home empty-handed after the first few got the last codes. Then, when I got home, I read some articles & forums about people who either got lucky & got one or were like me & didn't and learned each GameStop only got an additional 50 codes.
So I want to quickly mention the two mistakes you made:
1. SHADOW DROPPING THE RESTOCK: Why did you not make an announcement you were sending out restocks until you did? When I got the news I was already done with my day, I foolishly thought that instead of rushing out to GameStop just before it closed I could wait until it opened tomorrow, surely they would make sure there was enough codes this time. I heard from a friend that also went to his GameStop the next day, he was told they ran out of codes on the day of the restock! And our story isn't unique, many of us may have had gotten our codes if we only knew they were coming. Of course, us getting a code just means someone else didn't because...
2. YOU ONLY GENERATED 50 MORE CODES: Day 1. DAY ONE. All the codes were gone. You knew that for most GameShops, especially those in big cities (hello from Queens, New York), not only ran out of codes on the first day but it was within an HOUR of opening! And there were a lot more people who didn't get a code than did. So why, when generating more codes, codes which were being printed on receipts so you didn't need to make a special card for them, did you only make 50 PER GameStop! You've should have generated like 1000, 500 if you want to be conservative, per GameStop; Maybe even more for GameStops in big cities!
So, the question is, what now? Being we still have two weeks of this event I guess there's enough time to do a third restock via receipts: This time please announce the day you're doing it and generate at least 500 if not more codes per GameStop (I promise, this time I'll be on line before the store opens).
Of course what would be better is if you just did a online distribution (to change it up you could have it be the correct Shiny Box Legendary instead of swapping them for no reason). Or, for at least the people who pre-ordered Pokemon Legends: Z-A from your own online store, could maybe drop a code in our package as a bonus when you deliver them in a few weeks. Like, I know those of us who did are getting a cute plush of one of the Starters, but an additional bonus is always nice, especially one so easy to generate (note that since we ordered the game through your store that meant we didn't with GameStop thus missing out on the in-game trench coat).
Finally, if you're going to do something similar again in the future (please don't, just do online distributions), may I suggest something: Bring back the Pokemon Pass. Yeah, remember that app from 2019 you had us get and released a few events for? While we still had to go to the store, at the very least as long as we had a Trainer Club account we were guaranteed a code when we scanned the QR code they had set up; didn't even need to talk with the employee at the counter. Looking back it was pretty convenient, you should think about updating it and trying again; people will probably cheer for its return after the mess of this event.
To the person reading this, thank you. My anger and frustration isn't toward you as I know you're just a customer support rep thus have nothing to do with event distribution. However, if you could, sending someone part of event distribution my suggestions would be appreciated; I sincerely think my suggestions would be helpful. And I know I'm probably going to receive an automated response, it's fine, if you do I won't make a response back. Have a good day.
